La Ong Thai Bistro — Restaurant in Reston

Worst customer service, this is based on my last two visits for takeout orders. I'll lead with this, NEVER do a takeout order from them, you will be disappointed. I'll give them this credit only, the food is/was good, but the sour taste left behind from the atrocious service just makes it a huge disappointment. I only went back a 2nd time because someone else in the house really wanted one of their dishes. I will never go back again.

We used to go all the time and during the pandemic started doing takeaway orders, always tipped well. However four months ago I walked in an inquired about my order and was harshly told that if it's not on the table it's not ready. She kept saying it wasn't ready. I waited and waited and finally asked another employee since it was well passed the time it was supposed to be ready, 20 minutes! It was there the whole time, on a rack behind the counter. Barely an apology, only when asked them why this happened and how it was unacceptable. I wrote an email to the restaurant and no response whatsoever.

Fast forward 4 months and I begrudgingly ordered again, figured it couldn't possibly happen again... I decided to get their after the time they gave me, so it should be ready to go. Nope. There were about 6 other people waiting. I finally got to give them my name and the person ran off and brought out one persons order. Some others noted how the wait was bad and they aren't helping anyone. It wasn't just me. Then I saw them bring out a order in a bag and place it on the table in the BACK of the restaurant. I joked that it was probably mine given my last experience, they all laughed. My order wasn't ready, so I waited. They asked my name again and this time I went over to their computer and pointed to my name. She went back and grabbed the bag in the BACK of the restaurant and gave it to me. It had been sitting there a solid 15 minutes. No apology again, I asked for the manger and she said he just slipped out. Sure... I then loudly noted that nobody should ever try takeout here because the service is horrible. In all my years this is the worst customer service of any restaurants I've been at anywhere in the world. And with that the longest restaurant review I've ever written. I recommend avoiding this...

The staff here is super friendly. Every time I went, I was greeted with a smile no matter if they were busy or not. I haven't taken the time to dine here so I cannot comment on the service but based on the staff that I get in contact with at the front desk and the amount of people there usually, I could tell it's a great service. The food is incredibly good. I order so much the staff remembers me now to the point where they just hand me my food as I walked in without asking me what's my name or what's my phone number LOL

The fried rice here is one of the best in class. Fried rice doesn't sound very adventurous for a foodie but trust me, this fried rice here is to die for! Get it with shrimp or crab meat or chicken or beef, it doesn't matter. I've tried all and all of them were good. All other Thai staples were also good. I usually rotate between the fried rice, pad see ew, drunken noodle (it's like spicy pad see ew), and pad thai. I get pad thai least because it's too sweet for me personally. Chicken larb and beef salad are bomb! I also get penang curry from time to time but I must say that one isn't the best I've ever had (it's a solid 7/10). All the other ones I mentioned are either 9/10 or 10/10.

Another recent one I've tried and really like is Nua Swan - the dried beef with sticky rice. That combo works really well. It's an appetizer portion. The veggie spring rolls I also highly recommend. I also occasionally order tom yum noodle soup. However, their noodles are quite too sweet for me so I don't crave for them that often. I tried the whole fried fish one time and I didn't recall it to be good so I've never ordered again. It's possible they've improved it since.

The place isn't huge so it's always packed. It has dark paints and dim lighting inside. I wouldn't be able to get very good pictures of the food indoor. However, this decoration is very modern, fresh, and clean. The plus side is that the friendly waitresses brighten up the place. La Ong is top tier Thai food in this area. Start with my recommendations above if you're not sure what to order. When I don't want to think too much and I'm hungry, I always default to La Ong...

Friendly, homey local Thai restaurant. Food is excellent - very tasty. Service is friendly and quick, although when they're busy they very occasionally forget to bring the tea. Which seldom happens.

We particularly like their falls-apart-in-your-mouth slow-cooked pork "special" (quotes because it's been listed as a seasonal special on the chalkboard for months now), (large tofu) summer rolls, (very fresh) spring rolls, chicken satay, seafood lemongrass soup (didn't like the tofu one as much), coconut-milk tom kha soup, tofu or chicken pad thai, drunken noodles, sauteed brussels sprouts with garlic, chicken panang, eggplant-minced chicken salad, pad see ew... I love their salmon when it isn't too spicy for me (my problem, not theirs). Good jasmine tea and brown rice... The ice cream is tasty too.

Nothing fancy; just some booths, a very few tables, and a small place to eat outside.

Tends to be busiest at peak lunchtime (about 12:15-1 weekdays); might have to wait then. Unless it's completely full and sometimes even then, it's nice and quiet. If you want to just go someplace and have yummy food and relax, this is a good one.

Other than during the peak of the pandemic, we have mostly eaten in. Have done takeout and delivery plenty of times also though. Have been happy eating their pretty much since they opened (before that, it was the very different Five Guys).

We have gotten lunch and dinner, dozens of times. They don't do brunch and as far as I know they don't do...