Tara Thai
12071 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852
Tara Thai Menu
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Address :
12071 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD, 20852 - Phone (301) 231-9899
- Website https://www.tarathai.com/rockville-Thai-Restaurant.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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Evelyn H.
Never dined here, just gotten carry out. So I don't have experience with the wait staff. This might not be the most authentic Thai place but the food is good and my kids love it. We always order pad see ew with beef and it's always devoured quickly! Noodles are soft and it comes with plenty of beef. The pad thai is great, always plenty of peanuts on top. The curries are also good, as is the ginger perfect dish, drunken noodles, and something with cabbage and mushrooms (forget the name).
(3)Yian Z.
Service was terrible. The sever was rude. I simply did not want the sauce with my order, but he continued on stating that it must come with the sauce. I have eaten at different locations, and never had an issue with this request. My friend and I ended up leaving.
(1)Mark S.
Was seated and never saw a server other than the one who was working the tables directly diagonal. She and I made eye contact several times but I guess we weren't in her section. After 8 min I " checked in " on yelp. I decided after more time passing that it was time to walk out. I also noticed they have scrapped their multi page menu for a double sided laminated one much like I Hop. No wonder the ratings are so low. This place used to be great but all I can say is don't waste your time
(1)Amanda S.
This place has gone downhill, big time. Extremely rude service. If you don't know how to speak to customers in a cordial tone,you should not work in the service indusry. The food was subpar. Thai iced tea dos not taste good. Will not be dining here ever again.
(1)Deneise T.
Two words. Americanized Thai. If you want authentic Thai food this is definitely not the place to get it from. Despite the faux-Thai food, the interior of Tara Thai is great. The colors and the decor give a great under-the-sea feel - which is probably the only authentic feel you will get. You know an Asian restaurant is not authentic when the only Asians you see are the employees. The food is very much Americanized. The tasty, rich, complicated and delicious flavors that Thai dishes offer are replaced by salt, just a big lump-some of salt. We ordered the Heavenly Wings and the mussels for our appetizer. Sad to say, but the mussels were overcooked and the wings weren't wings. THEY WERE DRUMSTICKS. The drumsticks or the wings were a little bland, but with the sauce that came with it gave the dish a better flavor. For the entrees we ordered Ka Pow and Deep Sea. The Deep Sea was too salty - it seemed like they were aiming for the actually sea water flavor and not the content - and I could not eat the curry without having to eat a spoonful of rice. It was that salty. The Ka Pow was salty as well and it wasn't as spicy as they promised. When my bf ordered the dish the server said it was going to be really spicy - it was 3rd level spicy on the menu - but when he tried it was only 1st level spicy. He was quite disappointed but he still finished it. Overall I would give all the stars to the interior design of the place and the service; none for the food. You can find cheaper Thai dishes for a much much better quality that actually have delicious and complicated flavors.
(2)David M.
It is just OK. It is solid. I dunno. I went once before and kind of hated it, but went back the other day and decided to go middle of the road. We had the spring rolls, and they were solid. Nothing special. I find that, compared to other Thai places I've been, their "spicy" scale is watered down. I had a 2 pepper rated dish and it wasn't the least bit spicy. Maybe they saw "white American dude" and turned the heat down for me thinking I want that. Sigh.
(3)Rob N.
Went with a group.. They had decent cocktails at a reasonable price, but the dinner I had (green curry with chicken) was uninspired.
(2)Jay D.
Came by here to get beef and rice and my favorite dessert. Mango and sticky rice. The silly waitress said that it was out of season because it's December. Excuse me but since when did mangoes become grown in Maryland in the first damn place? I called bull and made a call to Amina Thai five minutes away and drove over and had my favorite dessert. These Tara people are full of crap and think they're the only game in town.
(1)Jason C.
This establishment has really gone down from the last time my wife & I ate here a couple of years ago. The food was very bland and I recognizable from the Thai food we usually, and regularly dine on. We returned an appetizer and our only dish. The replacement food was not much better. Not likely to return.
(1)Judy P.
I come here all the time with my friends. I always order either the chicken pad thai or the drunken noodles with green beans and it never fails to satisfy my Thai food cravings. Some places have super dry pad thai but never here. I also request for no crushed peanuts on my pad thai because of my allergies and they always remember :) Their curry puffs are pretty good as well.
(4)Nathalie K.
Maybe I am not the the champion of Americanized Thai food, but my most recent foray into Thai cuisine left me as forlorn as the child whose anticipation of her three scoops of ice cream in one swift motion ended all up on the floor. My grief is great for all the varieties of food that looks miles ahead of of it tastes. Deception was the name of the game. While I am not a noodle person per se, the one thing that passed for acceptable was the pad thai my companion ordered. The "honey glazed" duck was no such thing and I wonder what state of mind the chef may have been in when pairing the meat with the sauce or even offering up drowned watercress as an acceptable presentation. It seemed more akin to an episode of CHOPPED where the chef is struggling to pair disparate food items harmoniously and somehow not quite landing it. My duck slices came with watercress, and this is a poor choice, should you choose to brave the waters of the duck meat. The only way I could choke down the meal was with the sticky rice that was more appropriate for for a store-brand sushi plate. Do yourself a favour and do not order this dish. Stick with their more "traditional" (in the americanized sense) meal options. Curry in this case will be your friend to drown out the blanched tasteless vegetables that lie wilted and pathetic in a sauce so frightfully thin its a wonder it covers the meager portion size - excluding the rice. Bland. The food all around was bland and I was shocked when the final sticker price came for a meal that left half the dining party sorely disappointed. The one thing that was actually nice was the satay skewers that we ordered as an appetizer, but even there I have had much better prepared meats and peanut sauces. The hybrid chicken-pork-fish "drumstick" combo was more akin to a lightly fried shrimp dumpling because by the time I bit into the fried, it had gone soggy. If you're looking for a good Thai experience, this is not the place to go, even though the charming underwater decor make it a perfect place for an intimate date night. (Location of the venue notwithstanding).
(2)Jeff S.
Usually went to Tara Thai for the Pad Thai. Not bad for that dish, but the service is lackluster. Was better several years ago. Today tried to order on Eat24. After a hour and a half of waiting I called the place only to have them tell me that they hadn't gotten the order. They then had me hold and said "got it" and then hung up. Called back to see whether it was on it's way only to be told it hadn't even been made yet. Canceled order. Can't say that I'll go back. This was the final straw.
(1)Naid A.
I am not a picky eater at all, I will eat basically anything and be happy with it, but this was quite the disappointment. I only tried one dish, the pineapple fried rice, and it was the blandest, and least flavorful "thai" food i've ever had. The shrimp tasted like it had just been fried without seasoning, the pineapples and peas were obviously canned, and the rice tasted like they made white rice in a rice cooker, then mixed in some soy sauce. I can't believe I payed $15 for a meal with less flavor than a regular panda express. I will say that the decor and ambiance of the place was very nice, but the food is bland, bland, bland!!
(1)Lillian C.
When people go out to eat Thai, bland is not really an adjective they want to use for their meal. Somehow, Tara Thai manages to be one of the blandest restaurants I've encountered in the area. I'd say it's probably at Silver Diner level bland if not blander. With so many local, family owned Thai restaurants in the area that care about flavor and authenticity, without negating their own cuisine (a description read "tastes better than it sounds", really?) this should probably be the second to last place to look for Thai food, with the last being a Chinese restaurant with pad thai on the menu. When I try restaurants for the first time I try the most "standard" offering because of they can't get the most popular dish right, they're probably not doing anything else right. I ordered chicken pad thai which was bland as bland could be- the only discernible flavor was sweet. I know that asian restaurants pride themselves on incorporating sweetness into savory entrees but it was like the kitchen received some memo that said that the challenge of the day was only using sugar to season food. The calamari, which you would expect to be a bit salty because it's deep fried, tasted like it was not even remotely seasoned (so like a rubber band essentially) and served with syrupy sweet chili sauce which, again, had no prominent flavor other than sweet. The only reason why I even went was because they have a dedicated cocktail menu which is a rarity in Montgomery County. A few of the other Thai places have a full bar as well, but they don't have a cocktail menu and if you do order a drink, it's your waitress/waiter guestimating what to put in it. At the price we pay for booze in this neck of the woods, it's totally not worth it. I believe I ordered a Singapore sling or some type of punch and it was pretty standard- not amazing but not bad, it went down well and warranted the second star. Overall, I'd skip dinner here but I'll probably continue to hit it up for drinks.
(2)Bryan J.
Eh. This place is dying. Lunch special was very Americanized and forgetful. I recommend skipping this spot altogether.
(2)Khondker I.
Great place to dine. Lot of varieties to choose from. Love the steamed whole rock fish. It rocks! Reasonable price . You will love it.
(4)Maya H.
I may not have food poisoning but rather a stomach flu that was going around. The food is ok (pad thai).
(3)Morgan J.
Tara Thai is one of my FAVORITE restaurants. Not sure if I usually eat at the Rockville or Rio location, but it it always delicious and I recommend this place to everyone. I usually stick to just appetizers because I love to get a variety of food, because it's all so good! My top three favorites are: the shrimp cakes, they are so unique and served super hot and they're just the bomb, never had anything like them. I also love the satays cause I'm a sucker for peanut satays. But the thing that ALWAYS brings me back is the coconut-lemongrass soup with chicken. I usually get another bowl to take home and I just eat it for days. And you can get all three of those items under $20. Great food or an even better price!
(5)Dave L.
First time here on a business trip and decided to order some take out. I waited at the bar for my order fully expecting to enjoy a beer while I waited. Several staff members were in and out from behind the bar and I was never once even acknowledged. The manger/expediter brought the order out and tossed it on the far side of the bar and walked away. After sitting there for several minutes I took it upon myself to look at the ticket and saw that is was my order. In the short time I was there the only person who even looked at me was the the young man at the host stand who also took my payment before I sat at the bar. I've had better service at Wal Mart. That's pretty sad The order was simple; pineapple fried rice and Pad Thai. Both were awful. I've seen other reviews on this place refer to "Americanized Thai Food" and I wouldn't even be that complimentary. Cheap frozen ingredients thrown together by a clearly untrained an uncaring staff. Nothing fresh or remotely appetizing about it. The shrimp in my rice had shells left on and other shells mixed into the rice which is a choking hazard. I guess I'm lucky I didn't bring my kids here. Don't waste your time or money. What a joke
(1)Good D.
I used to love this place, but that was years ago. Maybe back in 2010. I'm not going to review about the food because I never got to try it. I'll talk about the service instead. Recently, we made a reservation over the phone for a certain number of people. The guy on the other line confirmed. So my party and I were all excited for some Pad Thai. We get there at exactly 7pm. We wait at their tiny lobby for a few minutes as the guy hosted the 5 people in front of us. It was freezing cold so we shivered everytime the door opened. When the guy came back and we told him our name, he gave us a look of "Oh my gosh!" It turns out he gave our table to the 5 people who were in front of us. His excuse was he called us. My phone was with me the whole time. No missed calls and the signal was full bars. No messages were left neither. Besides, we were on time... So it didn't make sense at all. A woman came out and wanted to put us on a table, near the door! It was freezing! So we said no thank you and headed to Benjarong instead. We left the woman and the guy in an argument.
(1)Lauren Y.
When I think of Thai food, I think of happy smiley flavorful food. But for some reason, this place gave me the complete opposite. Putting the order through the phone was super easy. I actually ordered something that was not on the yelp menu, but got it anyway. The food was ready and we brought it home. Leaky container you can't help. Thank goodness the double bagged it. Angel wings were delicious. But the Pad Thai was just too sad. There was no color in the dish. The noodles were clumpy and grey. There was hardly any flavor. The tofu looked like it had smeared lipstick on it. The soup we got was bland. The basil chicken was smothered in brown. Maybe it was because it was take-out that I didn't feel so good about it but all that for $40+ just didn't seem right.
(3)Ernie Q.
Not bad but having just come from being stationed in the Far East... it really can't compare.
(3)Nikki S.
My food tasted like soggy trash. My friend who I dined with said his meal tasted like cigarettes. We both got specialty drinks and mine tasted like they dumped the entire bottle of rum in it while his tasted like there was no alcohol in it. Not pleased. Won't go back.
(2)Carson H.
Soggy! This is the kind of spot you take your lady after you've been dating for a while and just wanna do something different. The lights are too bright to be romantic, the seating is really close to other patrons and the place feels like your eating Asian food in the little Mermaid part 3. I guess the underwater theme is appropriate because both of our meals were really really soggy. I think the food was actually decent, but it just seemed excessively moist. All is not lost... Parking is free and they have a giant stuffed penguin at the door. ;-)
(2)Shelby W.
Perhaps I have been spoiled by Paragon Thai in DC but I was not impressed at all with my chicken pad Thai.
(3)Dee B.
Wow, I had low expectations going in since most places that are in shopping centers tend to be pretty low brow. I think the high overhead keeps them from using good ingredients and hiring great cooks. Such was the case at Tara Thai. When I entered the "hostess" gruffly addressed me then lead me to a table where she literally threw down the menu and walked off. Not sure what I could have said other than telling her how many were in my party that could have pissed her off. I also noticed that she didn't do it with the other guests so it was definitely something personal. The waiter was very kind and patient and kept checking back for my order. I really just wanted something light so I ordered the wonton soup (which I was suspicious about in a Thai restaurant!) and the spring rolls. I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor of the broth and thought the soup was a winner. That is until I bite into one of the dumplings. Ugh! Funky flavor. I unwrapped the remaining dumplings and placed them to the side. The spring rolls are not even worth mentioning. They were more like a bad version of a meatless, flavorless lumpia than a traditional spring roll and they were cut in half for some reason. The fruit punch which sounded amazing on the menu was pretty good, but not as good as I expected. I never plan to step foot back into Tara Thai. I rarely give one star reviews, but I say avoid this place.
(1)Tim H.
I love Thai food. I've visited both Rio and Rockville locations, and I thought they're about the same as far as quality and services go. Over the last year or so, I think the Rio Tara Thai has begun distancing itself from Rockville. Fortunately Tara Thai's appetizers are as advertised - fried tofu, green papaya, and spring rolls are as you'd expect - sweet, crunchy, and spicy. Instead of getting the spicy papaya salad, which I've always enjoy, I decided to try something new. The shrimp and crab meat with cellophane noodle in clay pot sounded great. As it turned out, while the food is warm, the clay pot is cold to the touch. I'm thinking why bother with a clay pot if it's cold...wouldn't it be easier for everyone to just use a plate? I'd preferred hot food hot, and spicy like Thai.
(3)Thomas M.
I'm writing this review because I am so sad about what has happened to one of my favorite places. Tara Thai used to be our "go to" Thai restaurant in the Maryland suburbs, which is saying something given how many Thai restaurants exist here. We like Thai food so much that we went to Thailand simply to immerse ourselves more fully in the Thai dining ethic. Sadly, since we used to regularly patronize this Tara Thai 5 or 6 years ago it has gone down 1 or 2 notches on everything. The beautiful decor, designed to make you feel that you are looking up at the surface of the ocean from a tropical reef, has deteriorated, mostly due to unfocused lighting, which shines directly into your eyes without illuminating the menu enough to read. Unused tables and chairs are stacked at the end of the dining room making it feel like a joint, not a fine dining restaurant. Weird. The service is very fast, suspiciously so. Moments after ordering our appetizers appear. The spring rolls - normally crisp on the outside and nuclear hot on the inside - seem to have been re-heated (two notches down - not inedible, just not great) The mussels (Hoi Ob) were fine, but previously came served in a wonderful lemon grass broth and now are served dry. They are still good, but just one notch below past experiences. The entrees, similarly, seemed comparatively uninspired. I have loved their fried soft-shells served in a chili garlic sauce, but they were out. I ordered the crispy tilapia with the same treatment. Again, the flavors were there, but the crispiness was missing - and the fish was a little dry instead of steamy and flaky. Good, not great. My wife's panang curry chicken, usually one of their standbys, was likewise good, but not great, and was a smallish portion with very little accoutrements in terms of veggies to add color and texture. Speaking of smallish, my wife's martini was served in a shotglass sized martini glass. Half the size of a normal martini. This is still a reliable neighborhood Thai restaurant, but it pales in comparison to its early days when it was, without question, one of the top ethnic restaurants, let alone Thai restaurants, in the area. I find that the cuisine at the somehow related Tara Asia in Rockville is a much better experience with a slightly broader array of choices and none of the negatives I see at this Tara Thai.
(2)Katie B.
Tara Thai is not a place I would recommend. The server was not inclined to take our gift card. When he did, tip was included and we did not notice. We paid the guy (who was slow as molasses) 38% extra...18% plus an addition 20%. AND HE NEVER BROUGHT US CHANGE. It's the holidays and my friend was basically robbed. This place should be ashamed. I'd consider giving this guy 38% if he did something great - but no. Go here if you want jerks for servers
(1)Errol B.
Excellent experience all around. They accommodated the baby in the group and found us a table where we could all sit comfortably with room for the high chair. Food was nice and aromatic - excellent flavors. And the one dish we got confused about, they took back and brought out the one we meant to order (even though it was our fault!). Love that they carry Singha beer. Couldn't ask for better.
(4)Ivy P.
I think the food is okay. I had seafood fried rice. It didn't have much seafood tho. The service was okay little slow during lunch and dinner. I don't know if I will come back.
(3)David D.
I was a customer for over ten years. The last two times we ordered the carryout was mishandled and this time the "son of the owner" didn't even bother with the delivery, then blamed us, then told us he we would get it in fifteen minutes, and then thirty minutes later, told us he still hadn't sent it out but would deliver the cold order and give us a 20% discount the next time we ordered. That would be never. Of course, he was very efficient in taking my credit card information when we originally called. We'll see how good they are at refunding it. Never again.
(1)Craig S.
Food was fine but staff was not attentive not friendly. No one brought us water refills or checked on us during our meal.
(2)Eric J.
Terrible pataya noodles dish. Gaithersburg does it much better.
(2)Katrina L.
By no means do I claim to be a Thai food expert----I'm just an American girl who likes spicy food and good service. And at Tara Thai, I recieved both for a great price. I've been to Tara Thai twice and I've tried four different items, all of which I found delicious and yummy. I don't know what others may have ordered but my bill only came up to $36.65---and that was including TWO entrees, ONE appetizer, an alcoholic drink, AND a specialty drink...this place should really only have one dollar sign. Point blank: if you enjoy PF Changs then you will enjoy this place. Better food, better price. It's Americanized Asian food, but that should have been obvious considering its location. My boyfriend and I had been visiting Thai Pavilion at the Nat'l Harbor and this is way closer and much tastier. Only complaint is the size of the restaurant...its quite tiny and there's some random plastic on the wall that hints to a possible remodeling. 4 stars..great food, great price, nice quiet ambience...I will be back.
(4)Ron R.
We have been BIG fans of the Rockville restaurant for over 10 years, dining there about 2 times per month. We visited there last night after being away for two months and were VERY disappointed. The menu was changed from book format to a single laminated sheet, like at a diner. They have reduced the sizes of the plates for entrees from full-size dishes to cup-sized bowls with wide flat borders. That cut the portions in half!!! Of course, the prices have stayed the same. We did not recognize any of the servers. Ours, Pat, was efficient, but very assertive. It appears that management of this restaurant has changed and they are cutting back. We will try them again in a few weeks to see if anything improves. We hope that we have not lost what used to be a real gem for good Thai food.
(2)Kathy B.
When I was younger, this was the place to go for Thai food. We heard about it often from friends and family. It was hip and happening. Somewhere between the combination of growing up a bit and maybe discovering other Thai restaurants (my favorite is Amina Thai near the White Flint area). I've since gone back to Tara Thai and was surprised to see on a Friday night that it was not crowded. I ordered a salad as an appetizer. It looked and tasted like not a lot of effort was put into it. I basically got a big chunk of lettuce wedge and big chunks of tomato. That set the tone for the rest of the meal. Nothing stood out as good. The food was edible but I wouldn't go back there. The Thai iced tea was good and service was neutral. Kind of sad because I love Thai food.
(2)Charlotte S.
Nothing special here! The restaurant is a lot smaller than it looks like from the outside - I always imagined it stretching way back but have to remind myself that there's a parking structure pretty much right behind it. I'll start out by saying that I probably won't come here again. It's not the worst Thai place I've been to, but possibly second-worst. Also, I'm not really in Rockville much. The food was fine - edible, tasty enough - huge portions, though. Definitely enough to take home! The service was pretty good, save for one server (not ours) who was just leaning over the wall/counter and on his phone, literally right next to our booth. It made for a good 5 minutes of awkward dining. Our server was really nice and prompt - they've got that part down!
(3)Democritus J.
Very disappointing. My wife and I eat Thai food regularly, and this restaurant has some of the worse food in the area. The kapow jae was disgusting, with what seemed to be rehydrated tofu, and the chilly and garlic sauce was a sweet chilly paste. Gross. The goong phuket was a mess. The shrimp were covered with a shredded crab and chicken mix that was not fresh or flavorful. Hard to understand how this place stays open with such bad food. On the plus side, the rice was cooked okay, and the spring rolls, although greasy, were somewhat flavorful, although certainly not great. We will not eat here again.
(1)Kay V.
I've gotten this when I was too lazy to go out and get good Thai. And every time I regret the decision. The only positive is that they deliver, the food always sucks. I've gotten a couple of ttheir noodle dishes, appetizers, and tthe panang curry. There is MUCH better Thai elsewhere. I suggest amina Thai in n. Bethesda and sala Thai in Bethesda.
(2)Whaler In Maryland W.
I was really hoping this place would be good, seeing that it was so close to our home. But..... It's not, soggy / watery unfortunately best describe our Meal, I do not recommend this place to anyone and will never return.
(1)Timothy C.
Ups and downs. My favorite Thai dishes, green curry and Pad Thai with shrimp, were well done and delicious, but the soup my wife ordered was completely underwhelming and she didn't finish it. And I ordered some BBQ duck breast that was served with about 1000% more times tasteless, crispy rice noodles than anyone could ever need. No reason to go back with so many other good Thai restaurants around.
(3)Alicia G.
Eh. Stopped in on a whim to get take out on the way home from Target figuring it would be better than whatever I could scrounge up at home. I ordered your basic Pad Thai and some golden tofu triangles. The tofu was still crisp when I got home so I was pleased with that. However, my pad Thai was pretty lackluster. It didn't really have the pizzazz that I was hoping for. The flavors just weren't there. Would I return? Maybe. The staff were very friendly and the food came quick. But I'm definitely in no rush.
(2)Jeff H.
Green curry was disappointing. Not much coconut milk yet very oily somehow. Completely lacking on flavor and spice. The kee Mao goong-gai (wide drunken noodles) was sweet and with a little spice kick. Much better than the curry and I would order it if I was forced to come here again for some reason. The curry was just so disappointing that I had to give an overall 2 stars to this place. If they have better curry, then I didn't get a chance to eat it.
(2)Helen B.
I love thai food so I was excited to try Tara Thai. The place was pretty full when I arrived so that added yo my excitement thinking that it would probably be great food. Unfortunately, the food was bland at best. Even the rice did not seem neither high quality or fresh. The amazing thing is that there are many tara thais all over town! I am baffled how they manage to survive with what they are offering.
(1)Claudette H.
After eating here regularly for 20 years, I am sorry to report that Tara Thai has gone seriously downhill. The shrimp cakes are now nearly inedible, so they have increased the serving to 4 cakes. Over salted, tough, and lacking any taste or color of shrimp. My maim course was Pad See Euw with shrimp. I got 2 tiny shrimp, 2 mussels, 2 tiny bay scallops and several rings of calamari, none of which tasted good. Go to Thai Farm instead.
(1)Saby M.
I come here at least 2 times a month and I'm never disappointed. I love the Thai iced tea, the gaeng jae, and the golden triangles. The outside seating is nice when weather permits. This is definitely my go to place for Thai food! Plus it's in a super convenient location with plenty of stores and the rio walking path right outside the door.
(4)Andrew R.
i'm actually pretty surprised by all the negative reviews on here. i've been to quite a few thai places, and tara thai consistently serves well prepared thai food. i've eaten at the vienna location 6 or 7 times and never been disappointed. tonight i had the spicy eggplant and it was excellent. the only thing is i wish it came with more rice. i could have used a little more.
(4)Dee B.
*3.5 stars* Nothing fantastic, but certainly nothing objectionable about this place. I was perfectly content with my green chicken curry - and the price ($9.99). I still prefer Amina Thai.
(4)Florian K.
Maybe I am spoiled with New York City Thais but this was just awful. This is bad food for medium prizes. I had the house salad, a soup and a curry. Parts of the salad were kind of dried out, the soup was raw vegetables dumped into coconut milk without any flavor and the curry was poor as well. Don't go there.
(1)Ben S.
Good Thai place. Easy to park at, with a large garage right behind the building, and then the service was quick and friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. Restrooms also quite clean.
(3)Kien P.
I should've check this place on yelp before eating there.Their "ka pao" was disappointing, we ordered 2 of them, one with regular meat and the other with sea food, surprisingly that both of them are very salty! Not only that, the "Singapore noodles" is also salty too. Their service is not bad, but not so good either. One of their waiter seems like he was having trouble at understanding English, we asked for a straw, he brought out a cup of tea. He even messed up the name of the order too (I ordered a "dragon noodles", he brought it out and said it was "chao foon noodles", which resulted that my relative ate my order. He only corrected the name after I asked for my food, but it was too late.) Overall, I'm very disappointed with this place. Their foods are a little overpriced.
(2)Mark L.
This place is disgustingly bad and I usually love thai food. My duck dish amounted to a few slivers of duck in this bowl of sauce. the duck slivers were gamey like no duck I've had anywhere. I never realized duck bologna (not sausage) even existed! The dish was 90 percent tomato curry sauce, 8 percent cherry tomatoes, and 1-2 percent duck. I would never eat at this place ever again. It's odd that there are so many locations. I just can't understand it's appeal once if you've had any decent thai food.
(1)Kelly R.
The place looks really nice from the outside, but really small and simple once inside. The service is kind of weird, the bartender could not speak English very well, and the food is overpriced. But its decent Thai food, and probably more reliable than a mom and pop shop. I would go here if I was driving by and I was craving Thai food. But I would not go out of my way or anything.
(3)Min X.
I was hoping to go to a decent place near my house and this place is a disappointment. I hope by writing this review, they would change and make a better restaurant. I ordered the Green Papaya salad and it was not fresh. The green papaya was very mushy. All I tasted was mushy and fishy from the over usage of fish sauce. I played it safe and ordered the Pad Thai and that was overly oily and sweet. I didnt know I had an ordered a dessert because it sure tasted like a dessert. I would not come back to this place again. I hope they would change their cooks. How can someone cook so poorly and work in a restaurant.
(1)Lyly T.
Drinks: water- tasted like metal, really not what you want to start out with before you eat. Had to order thai ice tea to wash it down, that was okay. Kinda more milk than what it should be. Entrees: shrimp pad thai- tasted really bland and sour. The noodles were extra chewy and slimy. It was overpriced for what it was. Duck- do NOT get this. Its tiny slices of duck with sauce on crunchy noodles. It didn't look appetizing and the duck had a rough texture to it. The sauce it came with was very sugary and didn't compliment it at all. The noodles it sat on, I would guess as edible decoration, but it wasn't very edible. It was stale and old tasting. The very white coloring of the noodles contrasted the duck and wasn't good. Service: I went on a Thursday night, it was very empty so the service was good. They checked on us and brought it out in a timely manner. Food is overpriced for what it is, would not come back.
(1)Séamus C.
Went here for lunch at the request of our teen daughter. Although personally I think Thai food is generally over-rated, I enjoy well prepared Thai dishes. The food here was forgettable and not particularly satisfying. Given that every diner appeared to be the typical suburban non-Asian customer probably speaks to the lack of authenticity. Kudos for friendly, quick service, but I can't think of a compelling reason to return to this establishment.
(2)Christina A.
Winner of worst Thai food I have ever eaten! Far worse than I make at home with those little jars of prepared paste. Disappointing. Rice was super dry. Packed the curries in a plastic container that was warped by the time we got home. Flavorless.
(1)Chris S.
I love Thai food. I had been here with my son several years ago. After an exhausting shopping trip (next door) I decided to have a late lunch. I walked in right before 4PM and was give the lunch menu. I ordered from the lunch menu. After receiving my appetizer and Thai beer the waiter came back and informed me that I was now going to have to pay dinner prices (+50% higher!), but I would get more food. I don't think so. I cancelled my order and told him that was wrong. He tried to blame it on the computer's clock - I'm sure there is a way to adjust that! I normally tip 20%+ - he lost out on a nice lunch order (appetizer, 2 beers and entree) and ended up with a $2.00 tip - which he really did not deserve. Watch out for this place. The food and the prices are NOT WORTH IT!
(1)Tom H.
I went with a group when I visited this Tara Thai. We decided to have a family-style dining experience, ordering several appetizers and entrees trying some of each. Everything was very oily. The drunken noodles were the drunkest I've encountered. We tried one type of seafood appetizer (don't recall what kind of fish) and it was extremely fishy. What makes that all the more surprising is that it was fried, which tends to take away from some of the fishiness. The service was nothing to write home about, but not bad either. My only issue with the experience was the food. Our tab came to around $70 for four people, which considering we were there for lunch and didn't have any drinks, wasn't all that cheap, either.
(1)Joyce K.
Very rarely do I find food at a restaurant actually bad. A lot of times restaurants can be mediocre, but Tara Thai is just hugely disappointing. I went with a couple of co-workers and one of them ordered pad thai, which is a very safe dish that is hard to mess up....it ended up being horrible and he had to order something else. It even looked bad, just transparent noodles without the usual orange-y coloring. My dish was overly salted and overly drenched in sauce. I will not be going here again.
(1)Chaz C.
Kind staff and tasty food. Will go again.
(3)Donna C.
My daughter and I were visiting the area and heard about the Rio so we thought we would give it a try. This place was pretty good. I am not a Thai food expert but I have a few dishes that I like so I stick to them. Loved the pot stickers and the house recipe soy sauce was so unique with a mysterious blend of sweet and sour. My daughter order the chicken curry which was seasoned to her request and tasty. I had a chicken and wide rice noodle dish in a sweet soy sauce that I thought was delicious, the noodles were cooked to perfection and the chicken was sliced thinly and moist. The mango martini was "plain" but enjoyable with a zing. Te decor will overpower you when you first enter, almost a Vegas type vibrant, but kinda cute once the fish grow on you..... Granted, if you are thai food snob, and from the other reviews there are some out there, all I can say is I had a good time and was happy with my selections while I was eating them and was satisfied when I left....
(4)Kevin P.
Food was meh... it was ok, and the portions are small. Kind staff and cool interior, but i dont think i'll be coming back
(2)Cait K.
So, as a disclaimer, I don't claim to have the most distinguished palate when it comes to Thai food. I am still fairly new to the cuisine, and have not ventured too far from Pad Thai, spring rolls, and other introductory dishes. However, out of the handful of Thai restaurants I have tried, this one is definitely a favorite. I have been to this location several times, and have always enjoyed my food as well as the service. I have found the staff here to be very friendly, and I have never really had to wait for a table either, which is awesome. With most entree dishes under $10, I found the prices to be very reasonable as well. I have never ordered any alcoholic beverages here, so I can't comment on the bar. I also thought the deep sea decor of the restaurant was pretty cool, but then again, I am really into novelty decor like this (Rainforest Cafe, anyone?).
(4)Tough C.
Reliable. Great peanut sauce on the satay.
(3)kates h.
Ambiance: Average Food: Average Service: Average Would I return? Nah, don't think so...
(2)Sokha A.
The only thing I'd recommend here is the Deep Sea, it's a seafood curry with a little kick to it. It's the only thing I've liked here, but this is the only place I can get it. The staff have always been nice and hospitable to us. My kids LOVE the underwater decor and sea creatures hanging from the ceiling, I don't care so much for it - but as long as they are happy and I am happy!
(3)Fina A.
Forgot what I had when I went to this place, Pad Thai maybe, but as I remember it, I like it, and not too pricey too. Always the Thai food lovers, never get disappointed with the green or red chicken curry anywhere I go to Thai restaurants. Would go back to this place again, nicely served.
(3)Duy N.
It's Tara Thai, not the most authentic Thai place, but it's decent. I usually get the green curry or pad thai. After going to more authentic places, i can tell the difference and typically prefer the smaller family owned places.
(3)Trevor M.
Tara Thai no More. I'm not sure if this ever was a good place. It's limited in it's chain offerings. If you ever wondered what fish must think when trapped in a bowl with everyone tapping on the glass...this is the place. At least in a good tank/bowl the water is changed daily. Food: For starters the Hoi Obb, spring rolls, and Larb Gai are passable at best. The Chicken Satay was dry and my personal favorite is the Kanom Jeeb. It's not a favorite here. Dumplings should be tender, juicy and with Kanom Jeeb, the crab and pork are supposed to have a texture and melding of flavours that make it unique. It's like a little brown golf ball. I will say that the Typhoon Soup had a nice spiciness to it and the seafood was pretty good. The Tom Kha on the other hand...was flavorless, missing galanga and the chicken was tough. I like Kee Mao Goong-gai. It is Wild rice noodles with chicken in a spicy basil based sauce. This was drowned in so much brown sauce with salt...that I ordered two glasses of water to deal with it. How do you mess up Pad Thai...the national dish...How? Egg was over cooked along with the shrimp. The noodles were dry and clumpy. There was very little fish sauce. Service/Staff: They try....they really do, but it's the kitchen that's the issue here. Bar/Drinks: Good looking drinks. But it had to be the foulest lychee martini that I ever had. It actually reeked. Price: Moderate pricing. Return rate: Not again. Bottom line: I've been to two of their locations. The Rio in Gaithersburg and in Rockville. I found hair on the dish that my fiance ordered in Rio. When I complained...they hesitated and argued about taking it off the bill. Won't go back there. This Rockville location made me sick literally. For a small chain of restaurants...where is the quality control? Where is the attention to cleaniness? Where is respect for the food? Not worth your time or money.
(1)Sara G.
Unfortunately I will never be eating at this restaurant or any of its locations again. My husband I both got violently ill after sharing tofu green curry and tofu with steamed watercress broccoli and peanut sauce. We are both vegetarians and do not usually get food poisoning since we do not need to worry about meat being fully cooked. The tofu was greasy, and maybe the vegetables were not washed or there was something in the sauce. Regardless, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. There are much better Thai options out there.
(1)Heather J.
I used to think that this place was great. Then I tried other Thai places and realized how sub-par this place is. It's about the same price as other places, and they have most of the typical Thai dishes, but the food is really not great. The pad thai is especially blah here, and I haven't been particularly impressed with any of their other dishes, either. It's convenient, but that's about all it has going for it.
(2)Irene F.
I am going to venture to say that this might be the worst Thai restaurant in Rockville. It's completely commercialized, the food is mediocre at best, and when there are sooo many other options to choose from on the Pike alone...it just doesn't make sense to spend your money here.
(2)Jae S.
Well, it's ok food. Too Americanized... I was hoping more of a authentic Thai food... I ate Pad Thai and other things there and it didn't impress me much. I will be trying Sala Thai in Bethesda soon.
(3)Mark C.
Ehh.. the food is okay.. The food isnt amazing since ive been to many thai restaurants. Not sure what makes this place different from the others. Went here on a Saturday night. Of course, the place would be busy since people hardly cook on weekends. Food: Food was okay. Spicy in some cases. Some appetizers come up 1/4 of cabbage freshly cut. Not sure if the app included a side of cabbage. I guess they wanted it to be a salad as well.. Their Ka Pow is spicy... but the taste is barely there. If you like spicy food, this dish will make you satisfied. Appearance: Restaurant looks kinda old. I didnt like the decor since it makes the place look dull. Service: The staff were very nice and caring. Food came out within 10minutes so no complaints. Overall, this place is okay if you are looking for average thai food. There are other great Thai restaurants elsewhere.
(3)Joe Y.
Might be the worst Thai in DC. Over fried. Under spiced. It is moderately priced, but it is not cheap. Some of the dishes we ordered were just plain inedible. Never again.
(2)Andy K.
Truly disappointing. Cold, dry duck. Overly sweet Pad Thai. Even our 15-year old son, who likes most everything, couldn't get past his second bite. No wonder it was all but empty at 8:00 on a Friday night.
(1)Grace C.
3.5 i like tara thai for standard/safe thai dishes. although they're apparently not "authentic" enough, they're perfectly fine for me! I've been here multiple times and i LOVE their fried rice (lame, i know). But mix the fried rice with a curry (i like panang) and it's so much tastier than using the steamed white rice. The peanut sauce for the satay appetizer is not overly sweet with nutty (obviously) undertones. There is a beef dish (kapow, i think) that is pretty spicy, but SO GOOD. the sauce is great on it's own! I tried thai tea here for the first time, and i really like it. Papaya salad is often better here than other thai restaurants i've tried.
(3)Debra M.
Chic satay flavorless, Tom Ka Gow ( beef appetizer) like shoe leather, shrimp cakes taste like fried in burnt oil.If only the waiterr or mgt cared about the food we sent back, was told kitchen let it sit to long. Not one apology and $70 dollars later I felt totally ripped off for dinner for 3 with no alcohol driving the bill up, taking my dollars elsewhere next I want Thai. BTW don't look up, dirt and dust just waiting to drop down on you from the once cute decor. In the fair side, Siamese beef was ok enough and so was the Thai ice tea.
(1)JT G.
Recently on a business trip to the DC / Maryland area and out to lunch figured try and find a Thai restaurant. Yelp seemed to list several and so from the road it was pretty hard to miss this place with it's teal blue exterior. Small wait during the lunch rush, but the staff was super friendly and responsive. Ordered some spring rolls as an appetizer and I'd have to admit they were pretty good. However my main course was only so-so and while I ordered Hot the "heat" scale at this Thai restaurant is on the mild side. Overall not bad, but I've had better Thai and expected more from a place as "flash" as this.
(2)Ms. B.
This has been a meeting point for me and some friends on occasion. They make a kapow dish with tofu in it and thats usually what I get when I'm in town and go to this place. Their spring rolls are delish as well but could be a little larger....They seem pricey for the size. For some reason I have always gotten the same crappy waiter every time. I don't know his name but from my observations, unless you are a pasty blonde haired woman he doesn't act too friendly towards you. Too bad for him because I believe in giving big tips based on personality, skill, and service...mostly on personality though. To the sorry waiter that I have gotten stuck with a couple times, here's a clue: When you act like a jerk who doesn't like customers you don't usually get a large tip.
(3)Alex C.
I had tara thai twice. And I think twice is all I will ever have. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like thai food or that I'm hating on this place. This place just isn't THAT spectacular. I had the pad thai once, and some shrimp fried rice another time. Both times were "okay". I really enjoyed the Thai iced tea though. =) Very sweet. The restaurant layout when I went felt kinda tacky. It was about 9:00PM at night. The restaurant was fairly empty.
(3)Lynne D.
Salty, bland Westernized Thai food for the masses. I peeped back thru their kitchen area and all I saw was all El Salvadorean and some other Central American "Thai Chefs" preparing the food. Try Thai Pavillion in Rockville Town Center. Tons better even if further away.
(1)Sooj H.
The good: Usually somewhat empty, so the service is quick. They are attentive and really nice. Also, the Pad Prik King is really good! We were impressed by the spice and flavor. The bad: Other dishes. The Pad Thai was way to sweet and lacked the authentic Thai flavor. Drinks are too sweet. Appetizer (spring rolls) were too greasy. Pad See Ew was too chewy and flavorless. For the overall price, this place isn't terrible. But there are yummier options nearby. I guess it's what I would expect for a chain restaurant in a strip mall.....
(2)Stacie T.
2.5 Stars. Yelp definitely used the right phrase to rate this place, "Meh. I've experienced better." This is definitely not a place you go to when you're craving amazing authentic Thai Food. Don't get me wrong, it's good but it's not going to send your taste buds out of this world. When choosing this restaurant it's one of those, "oh, well the wait is long at _____... let's go to Tara Thai." You'll have good food and good service, I'm just saying you can have better.
(2)Susan F.
I have had much better Thai. I remember really liking Tara Thai the first few times I went. I don't know if it is because I have tried many other Thai places that I just like them more. The food is mediocre...there isn't much spice to the dishes and they taste very bland to me. Service was okay... the server was slow on drink refills.
(2)Tim R.
Seems like this place used to be better. Service was mostly ok, but the food was not as good as I remembered from a couple of years ago. Had a beer that seemed watered down and had stuff floating in it that should not be there.
(2)Hannah C.
this place has been around forever. i have literally eaten at this place a countless number of times since high school. i didn't know what thai food was supposed to taste like until i moved to new york, where i went ahead and became a food snob. but it's hard not to when there are thai restaurants on every other block and you get to taste so many varieties with so many choices. so with that said, i don't know what other people are talking about when they say that this is the best thai food that they've ever had. but i don't blame them, it's because they don't know the goodness of real thai food that's out there! seriously, this place is tasteless! but anyways, for a somewhat not-so-snobby review, the only thing good at this place is probably their curry puffs, but even those are just sub par. i have nothing more to say.
(2)Roz D.
Pros: Fast service (do you need to be out the door in 15 minutes?), large selection of cheap drinks, interesting decor, clean. Six shrimp in the Pad Thai. Cons: Bland, overly-sugary, poor quality food. Tiny martinis with poor quality alcohol (but they are cheap ;). A bit cramped and rushed. Small selection/variety of dishes.
(1)Oscar S.
Tara Thai is the bomb! Get the chicken Pad Thai, you will not be disappointed. I got something different this time around as an appetizer. I ordered this chicken soup made w/ coconut milk...delish!! Perhaps why I keep coming back. I've never had a bad experience here w/ the food.
(4)Valentina P.
it's just your average thai restaurant. decor is "under the sea" looks kinda tacky, but cute i suppose. APPETIZERs: their beef jerky appetizer is by far one of my favorites at thai restaurants but the dipping sauce was too sweet-but they give you quite a bit for only $6.95. the shumai dumplings tasted like it was frozen and steamed with cabbage and carrots run amuck. ENTREEs: chicken fried rice - don't get it.. it's bland. pattaya noodles was the off the hook! (if you like those sweet and greasy kinda noodles) their curry is passable. duck curry isn't so bad either. pad kee mow is ok. their food always comes out fast (less than 10 mins) and service is always good.
(3)Art S.
We were in the area for business and came out here. They had a number of items on the menu. I ordered some vegetarian egg rolls which were good, and then a special curry that was quite tasty. Prompt and courteous service as well.
(4)Sara C.
Inexpensive Thai food. It's not the best but it's not terrible and it's a quarter mile from where I live. I'll definitely go back when I want some Thai but wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone.
(2)Priscilla R.
We stopped in today at lunch for take out and it was delicious and speedy. We got kapow chicken - it was SOOO spicy and flavorful. Loved it. The spring rolls were crisp and tasty without being greasy. All in all we were pleasantly surprised given the reviews and would return.
(4)Katherine K.
After being here a few times, I can only describe Tara Thai as bland and generally not worth it. Ambiance is lacking unless you're attracted to neon Miami Vice signs and Golden Girls dusty pastel decor. Unless you're having a Thai food emergency, go to Benjarong instead.
(2)Cliff W.
Ok. This place is just bad. Everything is like mush and no distinct value or taste, not mention greasy. I won't be wasting any more calories here
(2)Chris L.
Love the Beef and Chicken Kapow. The pork dumplings topped with crab meat a good. Pad see ew is great, wasn't that big of a fan of the pad thai. The gong puket is good.
(3)sonia g.
this place is BAD. i was with a group of 4 other people, all with different tastes. nobody liked their food. besides tasting funny and having all sorts of odd colors, the food was also cold.
(1)Magan T.
This is some of the best thai food I have ever had. The Panang curry is rich and full of flavor and spices. The Kee Mao is my favorite though, with just the right amount of spiciness. I love the shrimp and vegetables in it. I also really liked the Pad See Eaw with the broccoli. If I lived closer I would eat there more often, but I have to settle for when I'm driving through from NY to GA.
(5)Kenneth P.
I think the Thai food here is always the same just perfect the spring rolls and the Kapow must have those two and if you like spicy food the beef fried rice number 6 is very good!
(4)Vannie N.
Worst service ever!! and the food is nasty =X I am never coming back to this place. I have nothing good to say about this place. Avoid this place!!
(1)John L.
The pad see-ew is kind of runny, the salads are middling, and the portions are alright. It's a pretty standard Thai restaurant, and you could do worse.
(3)Eric L.
I've been to Thailand as well as a disproportionately large number of Thai restaurants here in the U.S., and I can definitively say that Tara Thai is one of the worst Thai places on the planet. The food is disgusting. Thai food is supposed to be light and well-balanced, but Tara only seems capable making every dish a bowl of grease. Just a few bites of this fatty garbage is enough to make you feel like scheduling an angioplasty. Adding insult to injury, Tara wins the prize for rudest service at a Thai restaurant. The famous Thai friendliness and courtesy? You won't find it here. They are, however, quite happy to charge you restaurant prices for sub-fast food quality fare. Tara Thai sucks. There is no reason to eat here.. stay the hell away!
(1)Anya M.
Lived in the neighborhood for years, never gone inside this place. Well, now that I've tried it, I'll keep right on passing it by. Although the staff was nice and the interior is appealing, the food was... over sweet. I mean, my pad see ew tasted like dessert. Our party of five also did not get all their dishes at the same time, the last person had to wait at least 10 mins before he got his Kapow (but he says it was good). Bummer. Would have been nice to have a good Thai place near home.
(3)Joan K.
Food is subpar. I LOVE THE COCONUT PUNCH. I don't really know what's in it but it's the only reason I'll go.
(2)Lee T.
I normally don't eat at chain restaurants, and will continue this policy. With that said, it seems everyone knows where Tara Thai is, so I end up eating here a couple times a year. Food isn't great but it isn't bad and it's about as authentic Thai as any of the Hunan places are authentic Chinese.
(3)Silver S.
Clean, cute decor. The tables were cleared of sugar/salt dispensers, which was classy. The service was fast and friendly. The portions were big. Two of us has three appetizers together and we were stuffed. Very healthy and fresh, but I'd agree a bit on the sweet side. But I'd go back.
(3)Bhumika K.
Gets one star for no hot sauce. WTF?!
(1)Mark D.
Bizarre Thai restaurant. The food was average, but the setting was...bizarre. The main dining room has an underwater theme, including a dummy of a diver above your head. I was really hoping that a peg-legged pirate would greet us. Maybe it has something to do with the diving destinations in Thailand? Or maybe it's just a refurbished Long John Silvers? I dunno but I was disappointed that the hostess didn't even have a patch or a parrot on her shoulder. Anyway, we sat outside which was nice especially on a beautiful evening and it had a nice view of the lake/lagoon.
(3)A A.
If one thing stands out it's the Seafood Fried Rice. It is delicious and very flavorful. Just a friendly reminder it is pretty spicy. As per the other items on the menu such as panang, green curry, pad thai, etc, this place is an average Thai restaraunt in my eyes.
(4)Goodbers G.
OMG, what the hell happened? I leave the DC metro area for a decade and all the good food places go to shit. Went there yesterday for dinner with the in-laws. No adjustments on spice level for several dishes (guess they make it all ahead of time). The Siamese beef was tasty but nothing special. Red duck curry sucked. Pad thai was mediocre at best. And for $50? Screw that.
(1)Ethan D.
Not a bad restaurant. The ambiance is not so bad either. I don't usually come here for the best thai food in town, but I do enjoy their papaya salad and baked rock-fish dish. Their pad-thai unfortunately is not so great. Overall a pretty nice place to dine.
(4)Ina C.
People who know Thai food do not go to Tara Thai. In this area, you will find plenty more restaurants with far better food than at this restaurant. Try out Benjarong and Amina Thai, also in Rockville; Neisha in Tenleytown. However, if you are new to Thai food and you don't like things that are too "authentic," then Tara Thai might be the place for you.
(1)Heather S.
Tara Thai is one of my favorite thai restaurants in the area. Their pad thai is awesome and I rarely get anything else there other than their appetizers (their curry puffs and chicken dumplings are very good.) Sometimes the service isn't super, but I like their food and thai iced tea and my sister really likes their coffee. They also have an alcoholic drink called the hurricane that my boyfriend really likes. My only complaint is I once decided to be daring and I ordered the green curry with chicken. The menu had one pepper listed, meaning semi-spicy, and I asked the waitress to make sure it wasn't too hot. When she brought out our meals, she told me the kitchen could not adjust the spiciness, and that if it was too spicy I could order something else. The first bite wasn't too bad so she left, but halfway through the meal it became too much to handle (and I don't have a low tolerance for spicy food!) You'd think the spiciness would be adjustable, but if it's not, I wish the waitress had told me beforehand. As long as I stick to pad thai and thai iced teas, Tara Thai is the best!
(4)Jed S.
Tara Thai is good Thai food. It's not unique, it's not special when compared to other Thai restaurants, and I can't even go so far as to say that it is better then other Thai restaurants in the DC area. Personally, I far prefer Neisha in Tenleytown. Nevertheless, it has a good location and if I have a yen for Thai food while in this area, I go here, and I am comfortable recommending that you do the same.
(4)Oj M.
My dining partner ordered Seafood Fried Rice and that was tasty. Heaping plate of spicy fried rice with lots of squid, shrimp, scallops and mussels. My dish of Tofu and Veggie Green Curry had small pieces of chicken in it. Vegetarians beware - check to make sure that the dishes are fully veg when you order.
(2)Raquel O.
I was really surprised to see this place not ranked higher. I love Thai food and have been to countless restaurants in the area. I've also been to Thailand, so I know what the food is supposed to taste like and to me, Tara Thai is one of the best. It's consistently good. I'm not a fan of fish sauce, and theirs is never too fishy. The Ka Pow is delish, but I also really like the Penang. I recently tried Amina Thai because it had better reviews and I was SO disappointed, couldn't believe it ranked better than Tara Thai. Yes, it's been around for a while and the decor may be tacky to some, but the food is tasty and reliable which is what matters most to me.
(5)Jen L.
A solid chain of Thai restaurant that I can depend on for my Pad Thai fix. I have since discovered Thai Pavillion, which makes the Pad Thai slightly more moist and more sauced (the way I like it), but Tara Thai still makes Pad Thai better than almost all of the other Thai restaurants in the area. I am not Thai, so I do not know how authentic this chain. I doubt it's authentic Thai food, but I really don't care. I like their food and that's all that matters to me. The ambiance has a modern cool vibe, which seems to be the trend for Thai restaurants.
(4)kevin k.
good ambience. good food. good location - next to bn. eat good food then go read book while indulging on startbucks. something about good thai restraunt. they have good theme for the restraurant which is unique to me. something not always true for other ethnic restraurant. they must know thing or two about running restraurnat biz. anyhow, good food go try.
(4)