On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Loading...
It is critical that my softball team wins a few games this season, because Galae Thai is too close to the softball fields and the drinks are too good--the perfect storm for alcoholism.
Another loss, another shot of patron silver. But I've never seen it the way it was served--in a fairly large shot-and-a-half glass with salt and a lime. I usually just take it straight. Yeah, that's how I roll. Uh!
My teammates (half of them have to be women for us to play in this league, lame!) all ordered a mixed drink from their fairly nice drink menu. Thumbs up, they say!
For snacks, we ordered the spring rolls. They were cut, so they were easy to dip into the sauce. Now, the sauce was eh, but the spring roll was nice and crunchy and fresh. We also had a couple of orders of sashimi with tuna, salmon and... I think it was octopus? Delicious. Well done, it looked neat and tidy in presentation.
Oh, the decor! Man, the thai restaurants nowadays bring it! The artwork and sculptures in there are just awe-inspiring sometimes. And I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm tipsy as I type this. Just a few blocks away is Pasara, this restaurants' equal in that department. Who carved all these wood pieces anyway? You are a talented bastard.
I think this review would actually come as a surprise to my friends who have been here with me on several occasions, but...
I just don't like dining in at this place. The Thai food portion of the menu is quite good and I have nothing negative to say about that, but it also isn't anything special. Additionally, I've had MUCH better sushi. I find their rolls to be small in diameter in comparison to other places. Again, the sushi is edible, but nothing special. The a-la-carte sushi menu is extensive, but not inventive.
My absolute No. 1 Complaint, though, is the furniture and the atmosphere. The wooden chairs are hard, especially for me (I am thin and do not have much padding on my butt). It is ALWAYS freezing in the dining area and, again I'm thin - I get cold every time. And, it is always really dark, especially at night. Seriously, I would like to be able to see the people I am with a little more clearly.
Bottom line: if you live nearby and want some killer take-out, call this place and order up to eat in your own home... but avoid eating in their dining room if you can.
AMAZING!
This is the only Thai place I would go to in the MD/VA area!
Talk about an amazing atmosphere, they definitely did it perfectly, nice and soothing. Especially being such a small space it was done VERY very well.
The service is also very quick and friendly and the prices just can't be beat.
I always order the chicken pad Thai and I have to say it is the best I've ever had. Very delicious and fresh with the perfect amount of all the ingredients. As always you have PLENTY to take home. I call this dish the never ending dish! I get stuffed after seemingly forever of eating and I look down to discover a plate still full of food! Amazing!
I'd recommend any Thai lovers to come to this place, you will not be dissappointed in the slightest bit!
They also serve sushi which is quite good as well.
I love Galae Thai! Great food, love the artwork and the atmosphere.
Given the location of the restaurant in an upscale mini strip mall / movie complex I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is a great place.
Nice interior, very attentive staff, fast turnaround once the orders were placed.
I had the crispy spring rolls...very good, lightly fried, not greasy, and the drunken noodles with chicken. The rice noodle were excellent, lots of fresh basil and peppers...excellent! My compadres had panang curry (huge serving) and a fried Tilapia special.
The presentation of the meals was exceptional...very good deal for the money.
was my first time eating at this very nice thai place in alexandria. came in about 845pm, and there was not wait. the decor was stunning, they had Thai buddhist statues all over, and really nice trickets and paintings that gave the place a nice authentic thai feel.
the service was great, my drinks were refilled without being asked. the food prices were reasonable. i had the Pineapple fried rice. came encased in half a pineapple, full of jumbo shrimp pineapple chunks. great taste, and i let some friends try it and they liked it too. they also serve the traditional thai foods such as a wide assortment of pad thai, even sushi is served here.
overall nice place, friendly service, I wasn't disappointed by my visit
Went here with a group of friends who all happen to love some Thai food (and a few of whom are Thai!). The decor is really pretty, service was OK (I think our waiter had a hard time understanding some things and vice versa.), and since I am seriously not a fan of really spicy food, I ordered the sizzling beef skillet (I think). It was pretty good, with julienned ginger on the top, which gave it a nice little kick. They also seem to have some "fusion"-type cuisine here, as well, such as empanada appetizers, which were really, really good.
My only complaint is the parking situation (or lack thereof, really...one hour parking spaces? Really? And apparently they're pretty stringent about it, so don't park over an hour!) We parked over at the movie theatre and were lucky to even find a spot to park there.
A little more on the decor-This is one beautiful space. From the industrial ceiling to the dark grey rectangular floor tiles, the bas relief goddesses, the Buddha statues, and wooden carvings, statues, porcelain figurines in a two sided case/room divider...this is a well thought out , beautiful space. The tables and chairs are substantial and weighty, but comfortable. The dishware has that hand crafted Asian vibe that is simple but attractive. Given all the hard surfaces, the noise level is pretty low, and you can hold a conversation without shouting.
The food is very good. Shared the spring rolls-cripsy, hot, not at all greasy, and great dipping sauce. I had the Crispy Duck, with vegetables in a spicy sauce, with rice. The duck was tender with a crispy skin, and there was a lot of it. The veggies were just cooked until tender, and the spicy sauce was hot without being painful. If you're not into heat, ask for it less spicy. Husband had the sea pad, with chicken. Smaller portion, and not spicy, but very tasty. The Thai ice tea was very sweet (I would prefer they brought the tea, milk and simple syrup separately, so I can mix my own).
Service: We waited a couple of minutes at the door, until a waitress sat us-not a problem, but someone waiting to greet us would have made a better impression. The service was prompt, and friendly. When I ordered the duck, she told me that it was spicy, a good heads-up.
We eat here occassionally, usually after a movie at the AMC. Certainly the nicest restaurant in the complex. Great for a date nite.
Was craving sushi as I do when put in super stressful situations and need to relax and kick back and eat my version of comfort food! And I normally do not even consider doing sushi at places not specializing in Japanese cuisine (i.e. Thai places, Chinese places, Korean places), but I was desperate!
It was a short walk from the hotel I was staying at, and it was surprising to see such a nice interior/decor in a strip mall like area!
Was seated immediately, and was only one of three tables occupied. The service was great, and the sushi was DELICIOUS. Fresh and oh-so-yummy. I had the deluxe sashimi plate, and it was perfect! And it was definitely just super surprising to receive such perfect sushi in a Thai place. Really.
You should go.
IMHO: Great dine-in place for well-prepared and presented Thai food.
(+)Pro's & (-)Con's:
+Excellent food
+Nice food presentation
+Decor is unique
+Decent level of ambiance is created
-Some of the staff may be ESL?
-Can't recommend for carry-out or delivery due to the prices
# of Visits: 1
My Experience:
It's been a little while since I dined here and if I recall correctly I wasn't feeling too hot that day. Still, I remember that the food itself tasted great and was well-presented. I also recall that the decor and ambiance provided an ideal setting for a night out. The combined presentation of the food and atmosphere alone qualifies this restaurant as a place worth trying. I'd probably not call in for delivery as it would end up nullifying these highlights for the same cost. Otherwise, the service didn't leave any lasting impressions in either the positive or negative lights.
Galae is one of my favorite restaurants and in at least a dozen dining experiences I've never had an issue or complaint.
Absolutely my favorite meal the is the seafood Pad Thai and Poh Tack soup. I highly recommend both to anyone who loves seafood. The portions are generous and I usually split the entree with my g/f.
The chef at Galae has no issue with reducing "the heat" so to speak. I've taken several friends whom aren't fans of spicy food and have ordered dishes meant to be spicy, well, without the spice.
For fans of spicy food you can also order "Thai spice" which is the full blown, sweat inducing extravaganza.
The restaurant decor is really also a treat. Walking in the front door is almost shocking as the rest of the Hoffman center is so bland. Dark hardwoods are used throughout, along with several sculptures and interesting wall decor. Very nicely done!
Parking, especially on weekends can be difficult in the front lot. Ample parking is available because of the Hoffman 22 but be prepared to park across Eisenhower and walk over.
Ok I went with another Asian and she got a fork with her rice dish also, so I guess you only get chopsticks with your noodles! :)
The food is good thai food and it's very quick but the ambiance - it's awesome! Most people are… Read more »
It is only 3 hours later I am wishing that I had enough soft shell crab leftover to bring it home and munch on it now. The meal was so delicious. It was lightly battered and so crisp with a nice amount of crab meat. The sauce was only mildly spicy (I love spicy dishes) but it had a nice flavor to it. It might be too sweet for some but spicy/sweet is my favorite flavor combo so I was satisfied. It was topped with delicious crispy basil and served with steamed broccoli, asparagus, and I think bok choy. My friend had a basic fried rice but it must have been good because when she got done I don't think there was even one tiny bit of food left on her plate.
I hate going out to Hoffman as there isn't too much to do in the area before the movie but I would make the trip again just to have some more of that tasty stuff.
I live very near Galae Thai and visit frequently. I've not had anything on the menu I didn't like and their Sushi is amazing as well! Actually one of the better sushi restaurants in the area. However, the service is always slow. Something I've come to expect but if you eat at the bar, it's much quicker. When it is busy and they only keep on sushi chef on, it can take up to an hour. Other than that, I'd recommend this place to anyone. Great food, great atmosphere, and very friendly (but slow) service.
4.5 Stars! High-end atmosphere, great service with reasonable prices. I came here when they first opened and then again just recently. I have to agree with the trend of reviews that they have gotten better. Now, they are almost perfect.
First off, the atmosphere alone is worth coming here. You step into another world when you enter Galae. Dark floors, dark heavy wooden tables, dark wood decor, a waterfall and large metal traditional sculptures.
On top of that, the service is fast and perfect. I don't feel rushed when I come here, but when I want to eat quickly (to catch a movie) they accomodate. And they always refill my water.
I strongly disagree with anyone who says the prices are steep. My entree was $11.95 and I would expect to pay more for the atmosphere and the service I've received here.
I've had the papaya salad, the hot and sour soup, spring rolls and drunken noodles with tofu. And they accomodate my request for soft tofu. As far as their spicyness scale: my entree had three hot peppers next to it, but I thought it tasted medium spicy (i.e. sinuses weren't cleared). Everything is top quality - among the best thai food I've ever had.
This is a great place to go either before/after a movie at the Hoffman AMC22. It's moderately priced, and it has a great lunch special menu. Restaurant has a nice feel inside and, as other have commented, is very well decorated inside.
Excellent, attentive service, and the food was great.
The atmosphere is beautiful inside this place, although the seats are pretty darn uncomfortable (oddly shaped, all wood, no armrests).
Some of the more elaborate dishes are pretty expensive for Thai food at this restaurant (entrees up to $20). However, basics such as fried rice or noodle dishes are reasonably priced (around $10). This restaurant has my favorite pad thai in the entire DC area so far. It is a decent sized portion and the flavor is spectacular. It's just the right about of peanut flavor and oily-ness. I have to admit I've never ordered anything but pad thai here, but my husband likes the pad sei ew and the friend rices.
This is the place to go for pad thai. If you want some seafood or specialty dish, you'll get great food here but you'll pay a bit more for it than other thai restaurants.
I watched 2 minutes of the debate and then decided that the night would be much better spent playing video games. My brother told me about this Thai place that was close to his place. We decided to get some takeout.
We ordered up some pineapple fried rice and a duck dish with pineapple, onions, peppers, and lychee. His roommate ordered up Panang Curry. The pineapple fried rice came in a pineapple gourd and came with shrimp, cashews, carrots, peas, and onion. It was good, but not 17 dollars good. The pineapple gave it a nice sweet taste, but in the end, we realized that the pineapple gourd made it appear to have more rice than there actually was. The duck dish was good and tasted like Panang curry with more fruit in it. The duck was pretty tender and there was a decent amount in it. My brother's roommate was satisfied with his Panang curry as there was none left when he was finished.
I never walked in and don't know what the interior looks like. This place is a decent takeout option although a little pricey. I could be convinced to eat from here again, especially if I'm not paying. They also have sushi on the menu, but I tend not to order sushi from Thai restaurants.
It was okay for the money. I ordered the "Regular" Sashimi dinner which was okay. (It's a gamble with these types of meals. You never know what the chef's going to put on them; if they're in a bad mood, you might end up with the most horrible sea "food" with a texture of a tire.) Perhaps I should've gone with one of the Thai dishes.
I don't remember much about the meal itself, which is pretty telling, but I did enjoy the black-rice pudding.
As most have stated, the decor was groovy.
This place is close to my work and I have walked by it so many times. Finally tried it today. The decor is very nice and the quality of the furniture is top notch. They definitely dropped a lot of money into this place.
Wait staff was quick and efficient. They were pleasant as well.
Strictly from a lunch perspective, the prices are pretty steep. This will keep me coming back too frequently as I generally don't like to spend in the $15+ range for lunch.
Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area for work or a movie.
This much anticipated (at least for those of us who work at the Hoffman complex) Thai restaurant is a bit of a disappointment. The interior is beautiful. The service leaves something to be desired. The food is adequate. Expect to pay more than you'd like to for very average fair. Lunch dishes are $10 min, the signature dishes are all over $16.
Since they have a "captive audience" in the Hoffman employees, they may manage to survive. Out in the 'real world' I doubt this place would make it. [And the Hoffman folks may grow weary of their mediocrity and eventually take a pass on overpriced passable Thai food.]
I read through all the reviews already posted and saw a trend: sucked at first but getting better. Tonight we ate there and it was GREAT! Indeed, the decor is excellent (very clean, high quality, and themed). The service was better than MANY restaurants I have eaten at in the DC area. We had two waitors assisting: very attentive but not TOO attentive. The food portions were perfect (appetizer and entrees). The quality of the food was spot-on. The price was GREAT! I would recommend for a cheaper meal in the Hoffman environs to hit up Potbelly near the PTO if you are looking for something under $10. But if you are willing to spend $12 on an entree (a STEAL for the great food you get!!!), I recommend Galae Thai for the Hoffman area. It beats all the rest in my opinion.
Go to Galae Thai, go to a movie, grab ice cream at the Slab if you need a topper. It's a perfect evening to relax at Hoffman.
LOVE this place!
Stumbled upon Galae Thai after walking into the zoo of people at Ted Montana's. Sat at the bar, which I highly recommend, and manged to kill about three hours by experimenting with various food, mainly sushi, and some great drinks from the bartender.
I've been back twice and the experience at the bar overshadows the dining room experience which wasn't nearly as attentive. The decor is impressive in comparison to many other Thai restaurants and more importantly, the food backs it up.
I decided to check this place out after a movie at the Hoffman. I had a sampling of the seafood red curry and several nigri sushi and sashimi. Surprisingly the quality was pretty consistent across the Thai and Japanese selections. The service was friendly and the decor was handsome. A solid 3 stars if your close by. Plenty of better choices in VA and DC.
Went here last night and had a very good meal. I tried the sushi (california roll, dragon roll) and it was excellent. we shared a papaya salad appetizer that was spicy and delicious. my fiancee had the vegetarian drunken noodles and she loved it; she was pleased with the variety of vegetarian choices. I was impressed with the array of meat dishes and the fact that there's both thai food and sushi available. we'll be back for sure!
Pretty good thai, and you can't beat the location if afterwards you're planning on seeing a movie at… Read more »
I put in a delivery order for Galae Thai for the first time recently. Long story short, the delivery man got lost (I'm 2 minutes away by car, AT MOST) and by the time he got to my place the food was cold. The free soda he chipped in didn't make it all seem better either. I won't be ordering delivery from them again.
I'm only able to rate the take-out, as I usually run down quickly from work to pick it up.
Some…
Read more »
Firstly to address the complaints of those below me: To be honest, I don't understand why people are saying this place is expensive. Entrees ran from $11.95 for chicken to $14.95 for an enigmatic 'seafood' option which, since I don't know the seafood involved, could be on the pricey side, I suppose. Their cocktail list looked fairly appetizing (unfortunately I couldn't drink tonight!) and were all around $8-$10/drink, which in my opinion, really isn't that bad. I'm from New York, so maybe I'm spoiled, but considering the prices of Old Town, this restaurant is really pretty decent.
Additionally, the portions were pretty sizable. The spring roll appetizer had 6 mini rolls, and my Chicken Panang )this curry-ish dish with sliced chicken, coconut milk, red pepper, and other amazingness) was just enough to fill me up without making me feel bloated or gross. Not to mention that it was the perfect balance of spiciness, creaminess, and zing that makes me LOVE Thai food. My friend had the drunken noodles with beef, which were pretty good but not great, and actually a bit blander than I would have liked, but the dipping sauce from the spring rolls was so good that it earned back the star his entree knocked off. As for drinks, I also had their Thai Iced Tea which I really recommend for anyone who enjoys sweet tea. Their version is a bit sweeter than I've had at other restaurants in the past, but they add enough milk to make it absolutely perfect, especially for weather this hot and dishes this flavorful.
As for the decor, I'm not entirely sure I understand where everyone else is coming from. The pipes are sticking out of the wall, and some of the statutes/fountains are a bit cheesy, but the plates, menus, and check presenters are beyond gorgeous, and are a really unique and lovely touch. The waitress I had was really nice and attentive, but one downfall was that there was no hostess to greet us when we arrived, and we had to sort of awkwardly stand around in the dining area until someone came to seat us. To their credit, they looked a bit understaffed, but the restaurant wasn't really crowded enough to merit our wait.
All in all, I will definitely be coming back here again, and if you're in the area for a movie or whatever, I would highly recommend you stop by as well...I finished dinner 3 hours ago, and I'm still thinking about that Thai Iced Tea...
I go here over any of the options in Old Town -- as other yelpers have mentioned, the decor/atmosphere is really nice and comfortable. The thai food is better than average -- the ingrediants seem to be fresh and the dishes are well presented, but it's missing something in the spices/flavors -- the zing of truly authentic thai food, a la Thai Square in Arlington (it's a few bucks more expensive than than Thai Square, too). The portions are pretty generous, I often have leftovers when I order the drunken noodles and pad thai.
I haven't tried the sushi, but who orders sushi at a Thai place?
First off let me say that I am a huge authentic Thai fan... particularly spicy red curry seafood dishes. Where I used to live I'd go to a certain Thai place 3x a week. The chef couldn't even speak english and they were mean, but man, they could cook Thai food, actually being Thai and all.
On to Galae... I'm not very impressed. There "hot" was not Thai hot... thought I suppose for most people who don't enjoy sadistic burning like I do, this isn't a big deal.
My main concern is price to quantity ratio. The seafood curry is about ~$18.00 and I believe I pulled out two medium sized shrimp, one large scallop, and a few clams. Not to mention the portions in general were small.
I bet most of the $12 or so they made profit on the meal however they put right into the interior decor - which is impressive - but I won't come back to see a pretty interior.. I want good food.
I'm not just a grump.... Sawatdee by courthouse metro is recommended.... you get atleast twice the food for $15 and they're not afraid to make it spicy if you ask for it (doing what the customer wants goes a long way).
The atmosphere and decor here are so much nicer than you'd expect in this location, across from a movie theater. It is Zen-like and quiet. The service is impeccable, and the sushi is delicious!
i'm a bit surprised at the low ratings .. i really liked this place .. very good food (i don't eat seafood) and great decor .. perfect for dinner/movie nights
I agree with the first post. The interior is better than any other Thai Restaurant in the area. Their designer did a beautiful job. But it seems that more money was spent in the decor than in planning of the food business itself. My co-workers and I first dined here for lunch during their grand opening and the service was very slow and unorganized. When we finally got served our food (after about a 45min of sitting at our table) it was good but not great and the portions were just okay. We decided to try them again a few months later(12/2/07), via carryout service in hopes that they had time to improve (as we love the idea of having a Thai food place so close by), and they somehow managed to disappoint us again. We ordered several dishes with chicken and all of them tasted like the chicken was old had been soaked in bleach to preserve it. We were so hurt and disappointed that we wrote them an email requesting a refund. The beef dishes were adequate but the quality of these dishes do not match the prices. In order to pay for the decor, they need to invest more money in the food and service and the crowds will come in great numbers. They need to stop being cheap with their portions and the food quality so that their food matches their ambiance and price.
In the meantime I would love the name and number of talented one who designed the interior... :-) The management at this place needs a training course in good business. They already have perfect ambiance...now they need to concentrate on the real business of good food and service. If we don't get a refund, I won't be coming back. It's a shame that a place with so much potential could be so disappointing.
UPDATE (12/3/07): We paid a visit to the management today, with the old food in a bag, and they agreed to refund our money for the 3 chicken meals. They also offerred to re-do two complimentary meals to prove to us that their quality was excellent. "Ben" was very hospitable and gave us excellent service while we waited for our carry-out at the bar. This food was a BIG improvement and it showed us that this place is exploding with potential! Both dishes the Drunken Noodle Chicken and the Pad Thai chicken were fresh and DELICIOUS and a good size portion. We will be coming back as long as the service remains consistent.
This is one of my favorite places-I've been here several times. The sushi is excellent, the Thai entrees always taste fresh and flavorful. I would highly recommend this establishment for dates...the ambiance is romantic and the service has always been friendly and helpful. I would give this place 5 stars but I am relatively new to the area and don't know if this is really "as good as it gets."
Food was sugary and straight out of a can, but that's forgivable. They put a lot of effort into the decor. The disturbing: All the black people were seated in the back of the restaurant, where there wasn't as much decor. Even though there were available, better tables in the front and center of the room. WTH? It was dark and I guess nobody noticed, but I couldn't believe they would be so bigoted until it become obvious - there were 2 perfectly fine, empty 4-person tables in the middle of the room and the manager called the hostess to the back, so they could piece together 2 of the smaller tables so a group of 3 black women (in suits and dresses too) could be shown to a table in the back. There was no way it could've been a coincidence. I'm not one to play the race card, but that is not right. But nobody seemed to notice, not even the people being escorted to the back. I wanted to talk to the manager, but I didn't want to embarrass any of the customers who were in the middle of the meal and he didn't seem like he spoke English anyway. Maybe it's a cultural thing, and the owner was just ignorant. But that's no excuse. I was so angry. I'm never coming here again. ZERO STARS. Racism is not something to support.
I found the service incredibly lacking. The sushi left much to be desired for - I've actually had better sushi over at Whole Foods. No free refills on soda.
On the plus side - incredible decor. If they only put the same effort into their service...
Overall...not worth your money.
I agree too. I was impressed by the decor..by far the best decor that I have ever seen for a Thai Restaurant. The sushi, I wasn't too impressed. The soy sauce was saltier than normal. The rice too soft and wet. the wasabi wan't hot at all. The service was okay.
Alexandria, VA
Category: Thai
Alexandria, VA
Category: Thai
Fairfax, VA
Category: Pool Halls
Alexandria, VA
Category: Thai
Alexandria, VA
Category: Sushi Bars
