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Sala Thai

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by woopity, Jan 18, 2007.

  1. woopity

    woopity cdubs ya know!

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    We tried this place out last night. The service was great....the food wasn't shabby either. Anyone else got thoughts on this place...the location would seem key next to the two hotels off Waxpool, but it wasn't that packed. I still think i liked Orchid Thai by Safeway better.

    Too bad we can't get a true chinese restaraunt (Cafe Opera is good...but isn't the true chinese i'm looking for) out in the 'Lands. Wu's Garden of Vienna is KING...and i haven't had anything that touched it ever. I didn't think good egg rolls would be so hard to find.
     
  2. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Thanks for the info. Is anything else open over there yet (besides 5 Guys)?
     
  3. woopity

    woopity cdubs ya know!

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    there's a pizza joint open...but i can't remember the name. Moe's Southwestern Grill is either open, or almost ready to open. and when we walked from the car into Sala Thai---i saw a sign hanging over a window advertising "The Daily Grind" coffee house.
     
  4. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    I have a good friend who is Thai and I've been to every Thai place within 30 miles of here. Here is my opinion from both the American and Asian perspective.

    Orchid Thai is at the bottom of the list and that's not just my opinion, but also that of several in the Thai community who have tried it. Who knows, maybe they will imporove the kitchen, but right now it is considered fast food by the Thais. Next is Sala Thai. Nice inside and pretty decent food. If you were betting on which of the two may emerge, my money would be on Sala.

    Right now, the consistently best Thai food in Ashburn is Burapa Thai. Burapa Thai Classic just opened at Lansdowne Town Center and you heard it here first, when the weather warms up and Town Center starts booming, there will be a serious wait to get a table at that place. You may have to go to their location in Ashburn Villiage near Kirkpatrick's if you want to eat at Burapa.

    The two best Thai places within 15 minutes of here are Busara Thai in Reston Town Center and Thai Basil in Chantilly. Busara is an upscale place near Morton's, while Thai Basil is an authentic, favorite of the restaurant critics, having been featured in the New York Times Magazine this past year. (Thai Luang in Herndon is disqualified from the list and on my do-not-eat list after being closed on Friday night for a private party. Call me picky, but if I ever drive 15 minutes for a particular restaurant and is closed during prime time, I will never go back to the place.)

    As far as Chinese goes, it is slim pickings in the area. China Taste near the fire station in Asburn is a fast food, carryout level place, but their egg rolls are surprisingly good (if you like meat inside) for a place of that caliber.

    It may be somewhat far, but my pick for best Chinese restaurant in the area is Hunan Lion in Vienna, near the intersection of Route 7 and 123. Nice atmosphere, very good food, great service and the place is rarely busy. The lamb is a favorite of ours and it is good enough to cut with a fork.
     
  5. woopity

    woopity cdubs ya know!

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    oh noooooooooooooo!!! another Hunan Lion fan....i've recently been to Hunan Lion...and the food is good--but no egg rolls were to be found. i think i even ordered egg rolls--and they gave me spring rolls!!!

    have you ever tried Wu's? it's worth checking out--and order egg rolls :)

    Busara is good---i was very pleased when that went in at Reston Town Center....Neisha's over in tyson's always treats us right...and old faithful is Tara thai, also in vienna. :cool:
     
  6. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    You are totally correct about the egg rolls at Hunan. Not up to par considering how good the rest of their food is. In fact, China Taste has better ones, as scary as that sounds.

    Sure, I'll try Wu's sometime. Where is it located in Vienna?

    BTW, I forgot when I posted the earlier list, but Mark's Duck House in Falls Church is a favorite of the Asian community, especially those who like Peking Duck. I'm not a duck fan and the place didn't do it for me (probably because I ordered a non-duck dish), but there those who swear by that place.
     
  7. woopity

    woopity cdubs ya know!

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    right down 123---->from hunan--just head away from tysons, and as soon as you pass Westwood Country Club on your right, 123 bends to the left...and it's a 1/2 mile from there----very old looking chinese house on the right. can't miss it. essentially, it's across from the 7-11.

    i need to try this China Taste place...m.ight as well try some place close to home.
     
  8. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    Don't get your hopes up too high for China Taste. I stop in there on the way home from Kirkpatrick's and always leave a tip for carryout. The women at the counter are nice, they like me, I get my food quick and it is what it is. Sometimes the egg rolls are a bit greasy, but most of the time they done just right and pretty decent.
     
  9. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    We go to Cafe Opera for our nicer quality, sit-down type of chinese food and to China Taste when we want the plain old Chinese carry-out. I think China Taste is the best chinese place in the Ashburn area for the down and dirty chinese food, personally. Just wanted to add my 2 cents.
     
  10. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    I'm not a big fan of authentic Chinese, and I think twice about ordering seafood at those joints, but if you like that kind of thing, Mui Kee Cantonese on Route 50 and Annandale Rd. in Falls Church is the place for you. They are open very late, somethng like 2 a.m., and it is a favorite of those who work at Asian restaurants in the area -- and those coming home from the bars. They have things on the menu that are, well let's just say very interesting. And I don't have the courage to order them.
     
  11. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    Good point about Cafe Opera. That place is a tweener when it comes to nationality, but the atmosphere is great and the food is usuallly pretty good. Granted for every three hits, I've come across a miss -- I'm a crispy beef junkie and their version is neither spicy nor tasty -- but if you stick to something you like you'll likley be rewarded.
     
  12. christinaandrob

    christinaandrob New Member

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    Unfortunately I had the *worst* Pad Thai at Busara in Tysons. Twice. Their Chicken Basil is good, but not enough for me to go back.

    Thai Basil is also good. But you've missed one - Neisha! I think Neisha is pretty good. My very fav is in Arlington - Thai Square.
     
  13. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

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    x2. Busara has not maintained their high quality, we used to go there a lot but now its now worth the drive ... so I hope the Reston location is better.

    When I worked in Tyson's I ate at Thai Pilin (sp?) for lunch on a weekly basis... in the strip mall with Tower Records (is that still there?).
     
  14. surfboarder

    surfboarder New Member

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    For my money, Chengs in Countryside is the best Chinese by far in the area. It has been there for many years. Note that it is an upscale "fancy" place compared to the storefront places in Ashburn, but it is packed almost every night and without a reservation difficult to get a table on weekends. It also was one of the very few places open Christmas day and was absolutely packed.
     
  15. Merlin

    Merlin New Member

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    Just wanted to give another vote for Busara - YUM. I used to work in Tysons and frequented that one often. I was thrilled to notice that there was one in Reston Town Center. I'm also a big Tara Thai fan, but don't think they have any locations out this way.
     
  16. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    I can't speak for the Busara in Tyson's Corner, but the one in Reston is great. I'm told they brought the chef from their D.C. restaurant when they opened in Reston. If you want great pad thai, go to Burapa.

    I, too, Cheng's -- I just wish they would open at 11 for lunch. Pacific Grill is also very good if you are over that way.
     
  17. NoVa Barfly

    NoVa Barfly New Member

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    I tried Wu's in Vienna tonight. Boy was that a mistake. Sure, I can get over the 70s decour, but not the 70s-style, MSG-and-grease-laden food. Hunan Lion down the street near 123 and 7 utterly destroys that place, both in atmosphere and quality of food. In fact, China Taste, the average, fast-food place in Ashburn with zero ambiance even trumps it. I took a couple of bites of the lamb with onions and hunan beef from Wu's, threw it in the trash and made leftovers from China Taste.
     
  18. teak

    teak New Member

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    My opinion: Thumbs down for Hunan Lion. I rather eat at this hole in the wall place call New Dynasty in Falls Church than Hunan Lion. My preference is (forgot the name) this place in Tysons Corner near the car dealership. I want to say it's next to the Infiniti dealership. Ahhh I forgot the name.

    Tried Orchid Thai and it wasn't bad but not my favorite. I will drive to Court House for great Thai food (Swatdee???) Busara Thai is okay but not my favorite. I like to see more Thai restaurant in Ashburn. I like to see more mom and pop places than chains.

    -Teak
    Tara Thai regular
     

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