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Announced 1 week agoEastern Market (Blue, Orange)
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
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Just had a quick lunch here today. I got great service because I was the only one in the restaurant. The wait staff was quite pleasant and attentive.
I wish I had read the reviews first, as I had the Panang Curry and I'm reading the Green Curry is great. I ordered it spicy, but it wasn't spicy at all. It's always a crapshoot when you go to a Thai restaurant the first time to understand what their one, two and three peppers mean.
I ordered the lunch special, which included a tasty tofu soup with cabbage and a clear, fresh-tasting broth. It was served in a bowl not much bigger than a coffee cup and accompanied by a huge spoon. The proportion was strange to me--big spoon, tiny bowl. But then again, maybe I'm the one who's strange :)
I want to go again and try the green curry and some more dishes, but for now I'm giving it three stars for a less-than spicy Panang curry and strangely proportioned dishware.
After several years, I've come to the conclusion that this is my favorite Thai restaurant in the city. It is simple,but has a nice ambiance. It has outdoor seating, and the waitstaff seem to practice a sort of perfect kindness that is friendly and helpful without being overbearing.
At any Thai place, I always try the green curry. I've probably tried it at 10-12 different places in D.C. and theirs is my favorite. So creamy, spicy, and wonderful. The red curry is fine, as well, as is the pad thai. But listen, do yourself a favor. Go to Old Siam, order some spring rolls and the green curry and enjoy yourself.
Best thai food I have found in DC.
The entrees are very large and reasonably priced for the quality of food.
In particular, my friend had the Kee Mow Vegetable, which she ordered a bit less spicy than they usually make it, but was still excellent. I definitely recommend the Kee Mow, which is wide noodles with very fresh vegetables and delicious tofu. My tofu green curry was delicious as well. The tom yum soup was ok, but tom yum isn't really my favorite. The fresh garden rolls were particularly good, and only $3.95 during their happy hour, which runs from 5 to 7PM. My only complaint is that they do not have brown rice.
Seriously, this place is legit. They hardly speak English. Would definitely recommend! :)
Kinda bummed I keep missing out on the rocking experiences that everyone else has! I have this thing with any kind of cuisine where I like to try a lot of the menu, and so far I have yet to land on a decent dish from the Old Siam.
Every protein I have ever tried here (with the exception of tofu - haven't tried that) has been overcooked to the point where it is dry and stringy, with a jerky-like texture. I tried the "Crispy Whole Fish" - which was a fried flounder with a chili basil garlic sauce. The sauce was fantastic, the fish was the most disgusting thing I've ever had. The fish had been overcooked to the point that the top texture resembled that of a tongue: it had blistered and boiled up and created "goosbump" texture over the top of the flesh. There was nothing crispy about it. It was like chewing rubber.
Most Thai restaurant dishes seem to be on average $10 and up, with the Old Siam as no exception. I have yet to experience any level of bang for my buck, unfortunately, and am ready to move on from this place.
My roommate and I finally wandered in here one afternoon en route to do some light shopping at Eastern Market. Wow, we're we not let down by the food! The service, however, left something to be desired, but, hey, it was off hours on a weekday afternoon.
We started with a chicken salad of sorts: Minced chicken seasoned with lime juice and cilantro, served with greens and red bell peppers - delish! The minced chicken was especially unique: tiny morsels of fresh white meat seasoned perfectly. We then both ordered the $5 lunch special that consisted of the main course, a veggie spring roll, and a mushroom soup. Let me break it down like this:
-The mushroom soup was good. Woodear mushrooms in a vinegar broth, maybe too much vinegar, with a dash of chili oil (?) to give it a slight kick;
-The veggie spring roll was pretty standard, with a sweet and sour dipping sauce;
-And the only downside, if I had to point one out, of this lunch special is that the main course was the same chicken salad we ordered as an app. It would've been nice if the staff had let us know that. The chicken salad was good, so we didn't bother to say anything. Plus, I was happy with all the protein as I had just come from the gym.
Overall, the food at this place is better than you would think. Plus, shit, you can't be a $10 (ax and tip included) lunch with a couple cups of green tea that isn't some lame sandwich on the Hill. ;)
This place looks like it would be totally cute for a date. The decor is modern Asian, with an antique feel - somewhat like the houses of my Filipino relatives (haha). I suggest you check it out.
Fresh, consistent thai on Capital Hill. One of the best thai restaurants in the city, my husband and I frequented Old Siam almost weekly for the 5 years we lived on the hill.
The staff is always helpful and attentive, one of the guys even wrote us a list of must try thai dishes in thai script for us to take on our trip to Thailand.
Consistently great dishes:
Green Curry - The best thai curry I've had in DC hands down.
Pad Thai - Good sauce, well cooked noodles, fresh ingredients
Pad See Ew - Always fresh, tasty chinese broccoli and authentic sauce
Kee Mow Tofu Noodle - A nice option when you want to change it up, the tomato in this dish is a nice touch and the sauce is always spicy, but not over the top.
I wouldn't try ordering fancy cocktails, stick to win or beer. The bar top is uncomfortable in that the seats are too high to comfortably fit your legs under the bar top. Outdoor seating is quite nice in the summer, but be prepared to cover your ears when the fire station gets active as it's only two doors down!
The best part of our meal was definitely the red curry. Not as good as my hometown favorite, Planet Thai, but still good.
Tried the "Angel Wings" as an appetizer and would have say they're not really worth it. The battered and fried chicken completely overpowered the taste of what little crab meat was in the wings.
The vegetarian pad thai, was tasty, but had a mostly soy saucy aftertaste, which sort of carries through the dish in general unless you took a drink of water between every bite. Still the portion is huge, the tofu is perfectly sauteed and there are lots of nice veggies in the mix -- baby corn, string beans, broccoli -- that you don't get in regular pad thai.
And, once again, I've found that with Thai restaurants, no matter how nice the restaurant itself is, the bathroom is still dingy.
I thought I'd try a new Thai restaurant and this was OK but nothing special.
I had the spring rolls and tofu pad see euw. The pad see euw was dry, some of the noodles were still white from not getting enough sauce on them and the broccoli was yellowing.
I had take out so I'm willing to give it another chance but for my first experience I wasn't impressed.
Service would only get 3 stars- they forgot some of our drink orders and our server didn't' quite understand everything we asked, but he tried sincerely to figure out what we wanted and bring it to us.
The food was not a disappointment though. I had the papaya salad and the noodles with ground chicken and was pleased with both. Not greasy at all (which is hard to avoid at some Asian restaurants) but the food wasn't as spicy as advertised, though this is something you can cure with hot sauce.
My husband and I came here after doing some yelp research for a good Thai place near Eastern Market. I thought it was OK.
I ordered the Thai Iced Tea, which was tasty, however, I probably would not have ordered it had I known that they use some kind of cream or half-and-half as a base for this drink. I like dairy but it doesn't like me very much, so after a few sips I had to push it aside. For those who are not lactose intolerant and are looking for a nice cool, creamy, and rich beverage this would be the way to go!
For my main course I ordered my favorite Thai dish, the Kee Mow (drunken noodles) and I enjoyed it, but i didn't LOVE it. Kanlaya in Chinatown definitely has this place beat as far as the Kee Mow is concerned.
We enjoyed the outdoor seating and had a great service experience. My advice to yelpers who enjoy this place is to try Kanlaya over in Chinatown and see what you think.
The Old Siam preparing for its 5 year anniversary has updated its look.....a fresh coat of pinkish paint and its menu with a slew of new specials.
I tried the Choo Choo Lamb in red curry sauce and it was DIVINE. I told mgr. NOY that it is the best dish I have tried there. Very spicy and the lamb succulently cooked with green peppers and inions. The curry though made the dish.......I spooned up every last drop. Always updating their drink menu too.....I tried a few different spectacular fruity drinks during happy hour.
#1 on Cap Hill and in 1% in DC for Thai. (there are 30 Thais in DC people)
Their food is authentic…
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I am currently taking a reprieve from my high school students (ah, beloved lunch break) and I am enjoying reheated Pad Woon Sen from The Old Siam. From Friday. (some people might gag at the amount of elapsed time, Friday to Monday for leftovers, but it is a-ok people!)
This place gets 4 stars for a few reasons:
1) Days-old leftovers still taste EXCELLENT after having been microwaved. Splendid.
2) The portions are huge enough that I need to have leftovers!
3) Quality food, decent prices.
4) The Thai iced tea is the best I've had in a while.
5) Great, friendly service.
The Old Siam offers typical Thai restaurant fare. The Pad Woon Sen was delightful - big chunks of carrots, delicate mushrooms, peppers, all sorts of herbs - yummmm. The chicken was a little on the dry side, but the rest of the flavors of the dish helped to make up for that. My fiance's green curry was outstanding. The duck salad we had as an app was pretty good, not a home run but still good.
Biggest complaint would be the temperature. Coooooold!
Entrees are about $11 - more for seafood.
Great stuff. Big fan of Panang curry, pad thai, pineapple curry, and pad woon sen. Actually, I usually judge a new Thai restaurant by the pad kee mow, but I was disappointed by that dish here (they grind the chicken). I've eaten here about a dozen times, and it's always been yumyums.
Maybe next time I'll get something spicy. I got the Pad Thai, which is what I default to when I have zero clue what to get. And it was. so. bland. The bean sprouts were fresh, though! but where were the crushed peanuts? the lime that every other restaurant gives me? the...taste? Oh man, the chicken was so dry...
But the service was good, and the water didn't taste like pipe. I should make a list of places whose water doesn't taste like pipe.
3.75 stars.
Succulent roast duck curry, the duck breast still tender and edged with a glimmer of marbling, the pineapple and tomatoes bursting with sweetness and summer's ripe flavors, the curry base a rich mélange of coconut milk and hot spices. A surprisingly fruity house Shiraz. Six small dumplings stuffed with crab and shrimp, nicely steamed but unremarkable. A cozy dining space and unassuming bar, with kind servers. Loads of vegetarian options on the menu. Recommended.
We came here for just a quick get together. The food was pretty decent, the curries were very spicy in our opinion. The service wasn't that great, although at the very end of the meal, the waitress came back and said we gave her a 15% tip. We looked at her and said okay.... it was lunch time! THEN, the manager comes back and says... um, is there something wrong with the service? The tip is a little low.
SERIOUSLY?!?!?! Since when was there a rule that we HAD to tip 18-20%?!?! I thought a tip was up to our discretion!? Dude...
Anyways, back to the food. I had the Pad Thai. Not too vinegar-y! Food was pretty good to me! We had a Pan see ew to share and it was VERY good! Curry was not my thing though... very coconut-y and very creamy. Entrees don't come with the traditional sticky rice though, which was a little disappointing.
The desserts were excellent!! Get the mango and sticky rice! Very fresh and in season (the mangoes)
I might come back again... not too thrilled about the tip thing. But the food is good.
I was really underwhelmed by the food here.
Cadence R and I were the only ones who seemed to be eating here at the time, so we had good service---however the food was what lacked. I had the garden rolls (odd aftertaste) and peanut satay (at least the chicken wasn't dry, but it didn't taste great).
Also, the outdoor tables are the grated type--so don't spill your peanut sauce or it will easily be all over your pants.
SETTING:
Many a dinners.
CREW:
Always friendly and helpful. When it gets busy, it gets busy, but otherwise fine.
STYLE:
Usual mango-colored and orchids theme.
It's a chill place, without being too chill or too snobby.
Three rooms-ish and very-wide sidewalk seating with umbrellas for the afternoon sun.
Back room can be loud, but only when other guests are rudely loud... and tis not fully the space's fault.
Liking it better than Fusion down the block with minimal decor and too much back-of-house.
Fire Station sirens can be a bit much, but those are rare and they are just doing their job.
A slight upgrade on the restoom-access area and a few other touches would bump up my rating a bit more. (But this is common among many restaurants.)
ENTREES:
Tofu, wide rice noodles and a side of peanut sauce with a Thai tea.
A friend is a fan of their entree-style soups.
VERDICT:
Will go again, and not just b/c in my neighborhood. Fine for family, casual date, kids, etc. I believe dogs can chill outside with their owners.
Today I had the best unexpected lunch ever from Old Siam. It was just past noon and I was about to walk to the kitchen at work to heat up my lasagna. It's delicious, but I've had it nearly every day this week. Anyway, not the main point. So I'm sitting at the desk thinking of my lunch when someone from Old Siam (full disclosure: they are a client of my firm, but I have rated other clients low many times) walks in with a massive bag of delicious food for us!
I would highly recommend the chicken on fat noodles (the problem with not going and ordering is I have no idea what the items are actually called). The beef was pretty spicy and a little tough, but I'm keeping in mind that it traveled for a while before showing up. I was a big fan of the green curry. Also the fried wantons were good, would have been better with the sauce that they had brought had my boss not spilled the container.
I would definitely go back here if I was in the area. Worth paying for even if I didn't have to!
Man- I don't know why... but I really wanted to like this place... and it totally fell short!!
I went there with my husband just the other night before a free concert at the LOC. We started with spring rolls that I swear they purchased from Costco. I mean I have made them before... you know the frozen ones that you just throw in the oven... what a disappointment!
I ordered the tofu panang curry... that was SUPPOSED to come with mixed veges... I def. only got tofu in a curry sauce. The food was out before we could even finish our joke of a spring roll appetizer... which made for an puzzle like situation when it came to try to fit all the plates on the tiny table we were sitting at. The food was not bad... but it wasn't good either. I am a firm believer that your entree should arrive at the table after the appetizers have been cleared and with everything on the plate that the menu promised!
The longest part of our evening was waiting for the bill! It seemed like we were being rushed... which I can't understand because there was only one other party in the restaurant.
I was totally under impressed!!!
Of the three Thai places within easy walking distance of my office, this is far and away the favorite among me and my colleagues. If someone says "Let's have Thai for lunch," nobody asks "Where?" because we all know we'll be going to Old Siam.
Service is quick, friendly, and almost always accurate (I've only experienced one mistake in 3 years of eating here, and it was the right dish, just with tofu instead of chicken). There are three seating areas, plus some tables on the sidewalk, so you can choose from a skylit gardeny-feeling back room, a darker cozier area by the bar, or (when it's open) the larger room on the other side of the kitchen which works great for groups.
I am currently in a rut here with the Pad See Ew with chicken--even though I usually love spice, this dish seems to have the perfect mixture of salt and sweet, crunch and chew. I also enjoy the beef salad (that one is definitely spicy!), the chicken ginger salad, and the Tom Yum and Tom Kha Gai soups. The Rama Longsong chicken is tasty too, though a little sweeter than I'd like sometimes. I haven't tried all the various curries, but the ones I've tried have been good.
All in all, this may not be the absolute *best* Thai place in the DC area (so far, in my book, that's Duangrat's), but it's up there, and I'm glad I work so close by.
It's close to work and delivers to home. That's good for me. The vegetarian options are filling. The soups are good. The Thai ice-tea is usually good, sometimes very very wrong. I love the sticky rice and mango and have only had the mango be stringy once or twice.
Avoid the pad-Thai. I've had better in the mall. Go for the curries. Or the Rama Tofu, that's excellent.
Really good food, but the initial service wasn't the best.
I had the #10 lunch special, kudos to the owners for lunch portions and prices on the weekend! It was a brilliant yellow curry with lightly stir fried spinach with perfectly cooked chicken.
I asked for it extra spicy and it was still about a medium. Overall, it was still the best Thai food I've had on the East Coast.
This one star is not for their food, but rather for their service!
I just moved to Eastern Market and ordered take out the first night from here. ( since I had no foodage in the new apt). I ordered their tried and true pad sew ew, which was good, but a little on the cool side when I came to pick it up (right on time, it was lukewarmish, maybe they gave me someone else's?)
(removed rant)
Formerly, I had complained about a double charge on my credit card, and a dispute (I contested it, they contested it back, I contested it again because it was obvious that someone else had signed my second slip) . However, Old Siam contacted me and apologized about the credit card double charge, fixed it and made up for it, so I retract my former scathing comments as a courtesy for them being so quick and responsive.
I've been to Old Siam three times since my friend moved to Eastern Market, and it's not bad. That… Read more »
yummmmmmmy ..curry makes me smile :-) :-)
I ended up here as a back up plan but it did not disappoint. I do have to admit thai food is my favorite though, and honestly I rarely eat thai food anywhere and not like it.
First thing I have comment on was the cocktail. Normally I always get Thai Iced tea or just water when I go to a thai restaurant but I decided I'd be 'adventurous' and get thai ice tea with Kahlua. Candace H just went with a simple heineken. I didn't think much of my choice until they brought it and mine came out with this HUGE umbrella and orange and well... its a good thing I'm comfortable with my sexuality.... I paused for a bit to appreciate the irony of the girl getting a beer and the guy getting a cocktail.. but then I realized I didn't care. It was really yummy anyways (and not to many people were in there to see me/ im sure they wouldnt know me anyway)
I got the choo-chi shrimp (what an entertaining name). I could have swore it said it had coconut in it, but it didnt really look like it did when i got it. Regardless it was super yummy and nicely spicy. I also tasted some of the curry with pineapple candace got and that was really really good.
Overall it was nice and I'd definitely consider it if I was in capital hill area again :-)
Appetizers: chicken satay and the spring rolls. Spring rolls were very good as was the dipping sauce. I was told the chicken satay was awesome and I sampled a bit of the peanut butter sauce it came with and wished I had something to use it with, although it was so delish I would've eaten it with a spoon.
Entrées: Ashley had the Garlic and pepper chicken- which she loved. Jen had the chicken pad thai which she said was good but she has had better. Steve had the red curry chicken which he devoured (with many of the leftovers from everyone else). I had the Kee Fow Tofu noodle. Spicy, not exactly what I expected but pretty good. I cannot remember what my brother had but it was a steak dish with broccoli which he enjoyed.
The service was ok, a bit slow but forgivable since it was a Saturday night. They were very accommodating and even brought a complimentary thai custard with a candle to celebrate Ryan's birthday.
Cute place but nothing I'd really rush back to. But the food was good enough that if I was in the area and wanted thai, I'd give it another shot. We only ended up here because matchbox told us it was a 1.5 hour wait (they, for some strange reason do the opposite of the logical thing and take reservations everyday but FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. Retarded) and this place would seat us immediately.
I'm not a fan of custard. I wish they'd just comped one of the 3 bottles of champagne we ordered.
I have just been here once, but I would go again. The food was prepared well enough, and the restaurant itself was nicely decorated and comfortable.
We went on a Saturday afternoon, and we were the only ones eating in the restaurant. Like many Capitol Hill restaurants, it seemed like most of the business (at least that afternoon) was take-out. This place was pleasant enough and the service was prompt enough to be worth sitting down to eat.
Dinner at The Old Siam didn't change my life or anything, but it was tasty, cheap, fast and conveniently located. My friend and I wandered in here mostly because it was cold out and the place is right by metro. I was laughing to myself when we walked in because of the Halloween decorations plastered on every surface of the restaurant's interior - not what I was expecting to find in a Thai place . . . but I'm a total sucker for holiday anythings, so I wasn't really put off.
We ordered really standard fare - we started by sharing spring rolls to warm us up. The rolls themselves were pretty good, but the dipping sauce was a little too sweet for my taste. I ordered rama longsong, while my friend had the veggie pad thai. We were both totally satisfied with our meals - our food came fast, it was nice and warm, it went down easy, and didn't taste like a plate full of preservatives. The serving size wasn't as huge as you sometimes find in Thai joints - it was just enough for one meal without leftovers - but the price justified that.
Notes: The service was really fast and friendly. Some people would be happy to know that the restaurant was really kid-friendly - we saw several people dining with their babies (and no screaming!). Cute. Also, you may or may love the fact that there is a TV behind the bar - they had some football stuff on while we were there, but the volume was nice and low so we didn't feel like we were at ESPN Zone.
Order the Krapow (beef) which is my signature go to Thai dish (that and red curry). I was very disappointed. The sauce was perfect, and what can go wrong with basil everywhere? However, the meet itself was scary gray, bland, and stringy--it was really unappetizing. Now I'm the kind of girl who actually picks through the veggies in my meals so I can get to down to makin love to some meats...no dice. I had to actually eat vegetables and that made me sad. Also, they didn't add the hot chili's, at least not enough that I could see. Perhaps it was infused into the sauce, but I HEART SPICY! and would have loved to seen some actually chili's on my plate.
I can't speak to the service here seeing as I only order take out, but this is the best pad thai I've found in DC--the right flavor, right amount of moisture, great big shrimp. I've tried all the Thai places in the neighborhood and this is by far my favorite--though it's also more expensive than the others.
Just went here for lunch with my coworkers. They have lunch specials but they are more expensive than the regular menu items (possibly because they come with a spring roll?). Anyway, I had panang curry with tofu and it was delicious and filling, I even took some leftovers home. The service was great. I would advice sitting inside so as not to be asked for money by random people walking by (which happened to us 3 times in an hour!)
I really enjoyed this place. I went here for the first time a few days ago with a friend of mine. I had always walked past this place and thought, "Ooh... that looks like a fun place to eat." The atmosphere was very quaint and wasn't crowded, but that could be because we went on a Sunday evening. We were able to carry a conversation without being disturbed by people around us. Our hostess sat us in the window, and I'll admit... I spent a fair amount of time daydreaming while looking out of the window and looking at the passers-by. Dang my ADD! :-)
Anyway, the calamari and krapow with chicken happened to be some of the best I have tasted in D.C. I'm a big fan of Thaiphoon and Thai Tanic, but I'd say Old Siam is now my #1 choice for thai food. The portions at Old Siam tend to be a bit larger than Thaiphoon and a little less compared to Thai Tanic.
If you're looking for a quiet little Thai restaurant on the hill, this is it!
My search for the perfect mojito even took me to a Thai restaurant! Well that's not really true, I love Thai and would have come here anyway. But when I saw someone else order the mojito and I watched the care and expertise the bartender used in making it.... I had to order one or three. It's a damn good mojito! And the tofu dishes are awesome. I will usually always go for meat, otherwise what's the point, but here tofu does just as well!
The perfect treat after a morning Eastern Market excursion.
This is really good Thai food with a really nice atmosphere. I've been to all three Thai places on the hill and this is by far the best one.
It's amazing to think this location used to be that awful Mickey's bar not long ago.
I'm upgrading these guys to 4 stars because they have become my go-to take-out spot now. When they say "30 minutes" it always means, "10 minutes", which I consider record speed for delivery. They're SUPER friendly and always happy to take your order, and this thai hits the spot. Two words: DUCK CURRY.
If you are from the West Coast, The Old Siam may help you with your Thai craving, but it won't quite… Read more »
It's a lovely Yelp day here on the Eastern shore...ok, you caught me, I'm in my cubicle which is not anywhere near the shore.
Something that helps to take me out of my own personal fluorescent lighting hell is my memories of The Old Siam. Ahhhh.....
This cozy Thai restaurant masterpiece is one of our work lunch all time faves. We've been several times and we all suggest it almost every time we go out (which isn't too often).
The decor is refreshing. Not too over done yet not subtle. It has skylights in the back room as well as a window out back. The combination of the fresh orchid center pieces and elegant plants that surround the tables really make for a great escape.
Our group faves (aka things we always seem to order again and again) are Chicken Pad See Eew, Beef Krapow, Pad Thai, Shrimp Tempura, Spring Rolls, and their starter salads. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their Thai Iced Tea. It's an entirely different taste than anything. It tastes like super dark brewed tea with sugar and coconut milk in it....well, I think that's what it is made of, but it's great. I'd love some right now.
The prices are reasonable, the food has always been consistent and good. Hits the Thai spot always! I have noticed I like the new stuff I try too, so it's not coincidence that what I order is the only tasty-goodness.
I hope I'm going soon. This review has just gotten me all worked up and my angry belly is demanding Old Siam Thai food. Gotta run!
A great place to dine after spending time at the Eastern Market, Old Siam serves some of the most authentic Thai in the DC area and certainly some of the best.
It isn't much to look at from the outside (and the inside isn't supremely better), but please don't judge this book by its cover. The decor is comfortable, but nothing to brag about and they have some outdoor seating also (4 or 5 tables) which is great on a nice day. The service is solid and they don't balk at special requests (from Sally's like me). But let's move on to what's important here...the food.
While I am and will always be a fan of the Pad Thai, I frequently make a meal out of their appetizers: curry chicken puffs, tofu triangles, spring rolls, chicken ginger salad, mussels and the satay are all good choices. Like Alexis G, I am also a fan of the panang tofu, but remember to check the specials. I have a weakness for the phyllo wrapped banana with ice cream which is something I try to avoid succumbing to. It isn't always easy.
As a pretext:
Me: "I'd like a glass of plum wine please."
[presents completely legit PA driver's license]
ID: "UNDER 21 UNTIL 10/26/2007."
Intelligent Waitress: Uhh this date hasn't passed yet?
Me: [rolls eyes & mumbles to self] Yes, darling. It has. It's March 2008. And if it hadn't, then why would I be showing you this ID?
Candace H: "I guess that's one star off from your Yelp review."
That plum wine wasn't even all that good. ANYWAY, on with the show.
The Old Siam is one of the many enticing little restaurants in this quaint section of SE near Eastern Market. My roomie C frequents this place for takeout so we thought we'd try it out for a rainy evening of Lenten Friday dining. The space is actually a lot larger inside than you might imagine, so weekend tables aren't too difficult to come by.
I'm still learning and making my rounds in the DC Asian food circuit, but the Veg Green Curry and the Veg Coconut Milk and Lemongrass Soup are MAJOR. I'm still gushing over the luminous flavors. I'm more of a purist when it come to shellfish and the muscles were not so lovely, soaked in some heavily salted broth. And the nibble of a crab wonton that I tasted was...mm... meh.
The majority of the staff at Old Siam are great; I'll give our waitress the benefit of the doubt... Definitely will be back for more of this Thai spin on Mom & Pop.
And to think I'd almost forgotten how cute Barrack's Row is!
I finally made it through the doors of The Old Siam after passing by countless times en route from work to home, courtesy of an old friend who decided we were both starving and wouldn't make it back to Southern Maryland without a Donner-esque attempt to chew one another's limbs off.
The Pad See Ew and Spring Rolls with a simple Jasmine tea proved to be much tastier than my friend's body parts. The service was friendly and lightning quick, and attentive. The space itself was simple and easygoing, perfect for our ravenous, casually dressed selves.
To top it off, we ordered Sweet sticky rice with mango to share. I'd come here for this alone. Dessert without dessert guilt.
I'll admit, I know nothing about true Thai cuisine, but my hungry tummy sure liked finding itself in The Old Siam. Cozy, fast, tasty, perfect Friday food.
Pros: Tasty Pad Thai. Big portions.
Cons: Awkward service.
I went there for the first time two nights ago and was very happy with my dish. I had the old standby, Chicken Pad Thai, and thought it was really tasty. The chicken was on the dry side, but I liked it that way. Lots of crushed peanuts and fresh sprouts. I ate until I was stuffed, then still had some left over for lunch the next day.
My husband got the red curry with beef - I didn't like that as much. It was quite spicy, and just too thick with coconut milk for my taste.
We had the calamari to start - it's definitely the strangest calamari I've ever had. Instead of little rings, you get a bunch of 1"x1"slabs of battered and fried calamari. I wasn't thrilled at first, but they were delightfully meaty and perfect with the sweet & sour sauce. I recommend cutting them into a few pieces rather than putting the whole thing in your mouth - they're just too big & chewy to be bite-size.
Service was ok - wait staff hovered A LOT. I really dislike the feeling that someone is looking over my shoulder, waiting for me to be done.
Can't wait to try takeout from here!
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast
Category: Asian Fusion
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