The food was, ok, vegetables weren’t even cooked and there was no love in the curry. Drinks were better, service was pretty lackluster. No refilled water and had to go ask for the cheque myself when we were one of the only customers.
We have tasted authentic Thai cuisines when we're in a year ago. We high expectations but the lomain and the drunken noodles tastes the same. Both of them are sweet. Nothing fancy but they are pricey basing on the small portions they are serving compared to what we had in Thailand. Then came the fried banana rolls where they use the regular banana instead of plantain or anything with same texture. I think they cocentrate on their matcha drinks that what most people order. If I knew that I will be spending that much I would have gone to a steakhouse.
Having spent more than a year living in Thailand, I have eaten a great deal of Thai food, from small street vendors and family-run restaurants to more traditional sit-down establishments. Because of that experience, I came into Nalak Thai with a pretty good understanding of what authentic Thai food normally tastes like.
Would I describe everything here as completely traditional or authentic Thai food? Probably not. However, that does not mean the food is not excellent. In fact, I was very impressed with my meal and would recommend this restaurant without hesitation.
I ordered the Pad Thai with fried chicken, which was an unusual and creative twist on the traditional dish. During my time in Thailand, I never saw Pad Thai served this way, so I was not sure what to expect. The combination turned out to be surprisingly good. The fried chicken was very tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. It added a satisfying texture and a rich taste that worked extremely well with the noodles.
The Pad Thai itself was well prepared, flavorful, and filling. It may not be exactly what you would receive from a street vendor in Bangkok, Pattaya, or Chiang Mai, but Nalak Thai has clearly created its own enjoyable version of the dish.
This restaurant offers a fresh and interesting take on Thai food while still delivering plenty of flavor. Is it completely authentic? Maybe not. Is it worth visiting? One hundred percent.
If you are anywhere near the Fairfax area, give Nalak Thai a try. The food is pretty darn good, the fried chicken Pad Thai is memorable, and I would definitely come back again.
High expectations but pretty disappointing quality.
Interior looked amazing, hip and modern with a bunch of young folks in the restaurant. However, the food was average, almost not authentic for my taste. The regular som tum was Americanized, tasted like a refreshing salad without a hint of fish sauce. The khao soi noodles had one drum stick for $22…. Come on.
Only saying grace would be their grilled pork skewers, but nothing special from other authentic locations.
The owner has to seriously consider their food quality and price point. Looking good can only go far, it’s about the food.
My friend and I were so excited to try this Thai place and we were quite impressed! Their cloud strawberry matcha drink was one of the best ones I’ve had and I really enjoyed their Pad see ew! It’s a very cute location too with a nice atmosphere when it’s not super busy. Will definitely return and recommend to friends who like matcha and Thai food.