Thaiphoon of DC

Yummy, fast, decently priced! Got pad thai and yellow curry and both were great!

I wanted to love this place as the food was really tasty and delicious. Sadly I was not able to as I asked the server if the drunken noodles could be made less spicy and she said «yes we will make it mild». Apparently less spicy was misinterpted somewhere along the way as «as spicy as possible». My co-​worker, who loves spicy food and eats it all the time even said it was very, very spicy. So I was sad, and hungry and just gave up. I probably should have said something or ordered something else, but I was frustrated and my mouth hurt from just one bite. Great place ‘m sure if you love the spice.

We found the food delicious! Had the crispy shrimp & chicken satay first. Crispy shrimp was light and tasty with yummy sauce. Chicken was excellent — not overdone as some places do and sauce was nice. For entrees, we had ramen with duck & chicken pad Thai — again both very tasty. Ambience isn’t the greatest but acceptable. I would come back again when we’re out this way again!

Short and sweet: ³⁄₅ stars, because their lunch specials were just smaller portions for slightly less money and their cooking simply didn’t impress me. It’s basically your neighborhood mediocre Thai place, except their prices are higher than they should be because they’re in Dupont and need to pay rent. Longer review below.
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I went here with a bunch of friends for a weekday lunch. Thaiphoon has the nice Thai food name pun going for it but nothing else really excited me here. I will disclaimer that we didn’t order the most exciting or extravagant dishes, since almost all of us ordered off of the lunch menu. But unfortunately, Thaiphoon left us wanting more — both in flavor and in portion size.
I’m willing to say that their lunch special prices are simply proportionally smaller dishes at the same overall price to food ratio. I ordered the drunken noodles and as a whole, the table ordered the pineapple fried rice, pad thai, red curry with duck, tom yum soup and vegetarian green curry in addition to my noodle dish. The small portion size disease that shrunk my drunken noodle entrée spread to the pad thai and pineapple fried rice as well, because all three of us left hungry and grabbed fast food afterwards. The tom yum seemed more like a powdered soup base than a from-​scratch traditional soup and while the curries had more volume, the sauce: protein:rice ratio was skewed heavily towards the sauce. Overall, I paid around $ 13 after tax and tip for what was ultimately a small portion of noodles, which were okay in taste but was lacking in texture and felt like a dull heat instead of a lively spice.
It is conceivable that getting dinner here is a better value than lunch, if the dinner portion of my noodle dish and my friends’ dishes were all significantly larger than their lunch-​sized counterparts. Maybe their fish entrees are the kings of the menu, I don’t really know. But their basic Thai dishes all fell flat in both the flavor and the portion size and life is too short to keep eating mediocre food.

Good food. We came here on a Saturday night and got two appetizers (you get 10% off with Unilocal!) and an entrée. I would advise you all to try this food — yummy :)

Ate there ⁰⁴⁄₂₀₁₆. Service adequate as was food. No more, no less. Ambiance was lacking. Staff not overly helpful or friendly, but could have been inexperience or languages barrier. Will try again to see if I am being too critical.

We went here for the first time tonight since are staying nearby at a hotel. We were very pleased with out dinner! The staff is prompt and courteous, the food was well executed and very fairly priced. Our drinks were always full without us asking, and when we checked in with Unilocal we were given a 10% off an appetizer coupon which they happily applied for us. Definitely give it a go if you’re in the area. Great Thai food!

We ate Thaiphoon last night. The Pad See Ew was delicious, garlicky, and full of black pepper. The papaya salad was a little disappointing and sweeter than I’m used to. They only had three servers last night, and the service was also a bit slow. But the servers were very friendly and did the best they could.

I’m in DC with a group of nine others (10 in total) and we decided last minute to eat around Dupont Circle and then that we wanted to try Thai food. Only two of us had had it before. We showed up to Thaiphoon without any notice and they seated us at two tables (had there not been a trio of ladies sitting at the table next to us I think we would have wound up together) in under five minutes.
We were promptly offered water by I believe the owner, and then our orders were taken.
The one mistake, really one of our own, was that there were at least three drunken noodles and the one that came to me was incorrect. (I suspect that one of the girls at the other table ordered the veggie and tofu and forgot that.) They promptly made another drunken noodle with chicken and brought it right out!
All in all, very satisfied and our group had a great time. When I’m back in DC I might just have to make the trek back to DuPont Circle to grab some more!

Decoration is quite nice, and so is the location. Food was average. The menu lacks adequate vegetarian and vegan options. Service was average. Prices are quite high. There was a strange smell about the place, that reminded me of the kitchen at my old military base. I do not believe that we would return.

Oh, Thaiphoon has gone way downhill. They have apparently revamped their menu recently, and it was really not good. First of all, there are far fewer GF options than there typically should be at a Thai place. Secondly, I ordered the wanton soup and it was inedible. They have created these «fancy» wantons with a whole shrimp in the middle, but the tail is still on the shrimp. How do you navigate eating that in a soup without wearing the broth? And on top of that, it was bland. One of the worst restaurant meals I’ve had in a while, and we came in hungry so we would’ve been happy with almost anything decent!

We are here at least once a week maybe two times sometimes. This restaurant is the best little gem in downtown/​college park area. The variety of local sourced items on the menu are perfect. There is never a dish that disappoints. The atmosphere in and out are both excellent.

I came here for lunch. The staff are all very nice and the service was good but the food is mediocre. I got pad Thai, which is one of my barometers for a new Thai place. The noodles were strange, flavors meh, and too sweet.

I came here today and ordered for pick up. I got the Veggie Spring Rolls which come with 3, and the Veggie + Tofu Regular Fried Rice with NO FISH SAUCE.
The thing that attracted me to this place was that they specifically said on the menu what can be made without fish sauce. This made me trust the restaurant a bit more — being that I am paranoid about eating at most Asian restaurants, as a very strict vegetarian, considering many of them include fish sauce in dishes that claim to be «vegetarian». So I’m glad the menu specifies what has fish sauce, what doesn’t, and what can be made without it.
Anyway, even though I got my order to go – the presentation inside the containers was lovely. When I opened my spring rolls, I was surprised to see them so nicely placed and presented. They also hit the spot and I was given just enough sauce to go with them.
The fried rice was also good — the tofu was cooked to my liking in regards to texture, but it missed out on flavor for me. I wish more flavor seeped into it. Because flavor seemed lacking, after a few pieces, I pushed them aside and stuck to the rice. But the vegetables were cooked great.

I don’t understand the bad reviews for this place. This is an excellent neighborhood dining option with consistently good food, great portions & value for money.
It is not the most authentic or innovative food but if you are looking for a good pad thai & red curry then this is your place.
I’ve ordered takeout & dined in multiple times and never been disappointed. Some of my favorites: crispy duck with basil, chicken pad thai & penang curry.

I’ve eaten both at the restaurant and ordered take out twice. Good flavor and portions fit the price. I’ve been pretty happy with my food here. I haven’t been too impressed with many Thai places in DC. This place is has been consistent and soothes my appetite when I’m craving Thai.

I got the Chicken Pad Thai and my BF got the Veggie Pad Thai. Both were good but not amazing. The chicken pad thai was way better than the veggie.

The food was good, but nothing special. They were really accommodating with splitting the check.

I’m not a huge Thai fan but went for dinner. The steamed dumplings app was just alright. I got the wonton soup but had to send it back bc it was way too salty. They were nice about it and I got the fresh roll instead (rice paper, mint, cilantro type wrap). That was alright. Fresh.
My sister got the red curry with tofu and said it was too spicy.
My mom also got the dumplings and thought they were good but too spicy for her (they were barely spicy). She also ft shrimp roll and liked it.
Basically, too spicy for us and wouldn’t go back. But if you like that, might be worth a try. But staff was very friendly.

Food wasnt good at all, chicken satay wasnt cooked all the way through. i ordered the chicken pad thai, yuck, it was a stick glob!
Service was poor, they brought out wrong apps and out server asked us to clear the table to make room for out entrees.

Hey, what do you know, a Thai restaurant within walking distance of my neighborhood that includes in its online carryout orders, a «no fish sauce» box. Check! Note to other Thai restaurants, get on board with this.
The lemongrass tofu and vegetables I ended up with was palatable, though a tad disappointing on portion size. Only a few pieces of tofu and some mixed vegetables alongside (there wasn’t a «no broccoli» box, to my dismay, though only a few deadly florets were in there). The actual lemongrass was a tad fibrous (it’s a tough sort of bamboo-​like plant so it really has to be ground up to not be annoying). The spiciness was on the fringe of noticeable. On the upside, they did have brown rice available for a non-​crazy upcharge (again, other restaurants take note). Takeout was ready before I got there, so fast.
Between the good and the bad considerations, I end up solidly on three stars. Wouldn’t hesitate to go back, but wouldn’t go out of my way either.

Friday lunch and the restaurant was less than half full. There were 2 rushing waitresses and no busboys. When the chicken curry quickly arrived (tasty, but ring of oil not so appetizing) the waitress quickly slung it on the table. Then it took a few minutes to notice me flagging them down to get a napkin and fork. Tables next to me also had to flag the rushing women to order and get their check. No one came by and asked how the food was or refilled water in 45 minutes, even though my glass was completely empty since the curry was a little spicy. They were too busy to clear the dirty tables next to me. No eye contact whatsoever or attempt to welcome the customers.
There are other Thai restaurants with just as good food and much more hospitable.

I got the yellow curry with tofu. It was alright, but the tofu was deep-​fried which I wasn’t expecting. Also, the mixed drinks are like $ 9.50 a pop. The food is seriously just okay and honestly not worth the price.

I live around the corner and Love eating in the tin room with big windows closest to the street. Calamari has a tempura batter which is different. To go food is hit or miss. My curry was full of grease. I always order either Panang curry with beef or the brown beef massaman curry. The level of spice is inconsistent.

Bland. Meh. Mediocre. I’ve experienced better.
The description Unilocal gives when you click on «Two Stars» is the perfect way to describe this. Might just go get thai for lunch today so I can make up for a completely average meal last night.
Whole fish for $ 20 is a decent deal though … I guess.

The bar is set really high for Thai food. Thai food is mostly excellent, and most restaurants that serve Thai know how to cook. Thaiphoon is an exception, I felt the food here was not authentic at all, and it was very salty but also very sweet with no spiciness. It was especially sweet, a hint of sweetness is good in Thai, but they added way too much sugar, if I was a diabetic I would be reaching for an insulin shot. The mussel in the Thaiphoon Seafood dish was also old, and tasted like it died way long ago, it had that funky taste and I didn’t swallow my second piece, wish I didn’t eat the first one. I came here on a 25% discount from Spotluck, thought I hit good luck but I actually hit bad luck!

Came to this place on a recommendation and boy are we never taking advice from her again!
Our server was friendly and helpful, but his recommendations did not save the meal. The drinks were ok, got the sakitini and monsoon. Food was awful, flavors were bland, noodles were undercooked or one big lump that resembled streak gristle, and the curry had some sort of gritty powder…

We were in town visiting our niece and chose a place close to our hotel. They did a great job and the prices were reasonable. Nothing special just good food at a good price.

I did not have the experience of Megan C. I thought the servers did a pretty good job, and when I go to a restaurant that serves food of a different country, I normally expect that the communication might be tricky in some ways. The food was delicious, and the drinks were good, too. If you like Thai food, you will like Thaiphoon.
One suggestion for the owners: Make sure the air conditioning is not too cold. We were a little chilly in the front dining area. I don’t think you need to turn the a/​c on to Arctic temperatures!

I was staying at a nearby hotel and was trying to figure out what to eat and I stumbled upon this Thai place. I ordered to-​go and as I was waiting, I was looking at all the Unilocal reviews and how so many people complained about the service. I had no issues making the order. The employees seem very friendly!
My review is based on the food though!
I ordered fried calamari, Thai Yakisoba, and a Thai iced tea.
The fried calamari was very simple and came with a sweet and sour sauce. I personally don’t like calamari that has already been seasoned/​messed with so this was good! The Thai Yakisoba was REALLY delicious. It’s pretty much like drunken noodles but the Siracha sauce really adds a kick. I really enjoyed it!
I’ll come back to see if the service is really that terrible as other Unilocalers say.

Love love love!
Best green chicken curry I’ve had in DC. Drunken noodles are delicious too.

I believe this is part of the same franchise as the Thaiphoon in Pentagon City but it does seem very different inside.
REAL QUICK I really want to recommend Thai yakisoba. It sounds quirky and I almost never stray from ordering pad thai at Thai restaurants (you can see all of my Thai place reviews to confirm that), but this was actually SUPER tasty. In fact, I tried some of my friend’s pad thai and I’d argue that the Thai yakisoba is the superior dish. It also comes with a delicious sauce on the side. Plus, there’s squid in it, and I just kind of loved that.
Okay, it was pretty quiet for a Friday evening here, but we were seated quickly and had very attentive servers. Also, my friends were marveling at their great liquor selection («Dragon berry YUSSSSS!») so I’m sure happy hour here would be a great option.
Not too much else to say, really, besides try that Thai yakisoba! Really.

Nice mid sized restaurant that’s several blocks away from Dupont Station. Been there several times and it seems fairly packed.
Food was decent and has a moderately sized menu. Funny thing though is that they «suggest» certain meats for their dishes (I think one said «not good with seafood»).
Ordered the Duck Curry (Red Curry) with less spice, instead they made it more spicy. Make sure order is communicated clearly with the server, triple check if need be.
Oh, I like the ambiance mostly cuz they had a bright Xmas tree.

I used to love Thaiphoon, but two days ago, we saw the biggest rat that I’ve seen yet in the District under our table scurrying around. I left immediately. I will probably never return.
Seriously, the biggest rat that I’ve seen, ever.

Solid experience again from Thaiphoon. This place is consistently good. We popped in on a Wednesday evening for dinner without a reservation… no problem.
My girlfriend had the pad Thai and I had the pad se ew. I think we spilt a veggie spring roll appetizer. Everything was great. The food is a little oily, but that doesn’t bother me. What I like about Thaiphoon is the seasoning. It was spot on for the dishes we had and was as advertised on the menu.
Our server was a really pleasant young guy. He made a few mistakes but was really nice overall. He made a few jokes and laughed at our bad ones. In fact, he was so personable, it’s that kind of service which is inviting to become a regular.
The place is nice. Not too big, but enough room to maneuver.
Overall, great dining experience. It’s not 5 star level but it is a solid 4. And for the price, it seems like a bargain given the portions. We both had more than enough food.
GF Quote: «What’s this place called? Ha! I get it.»