Restaurant Review: Thai X-ing

Some sad misconceptions about Thai food in the US that I want to clear up:

 

1)  Adding peanuts to a dish does not make it Thai.
2)  Thai people don't use chopsticks.
3)  Pad Thai is not actually popular in Thailand.

Being Thai and having a mother who was a very good cook leaves me to be highly critical of Thai restaurants in the area.  I was particularly curious to check out Thai X-ing after the reviews I had read.  It was absolutely necessary to make reservations in advance before dropping by this rowhouse which is nonchalantly located in the Shaw neighborhood of DC.

 

It's a $30/pp Chef's Choice menu with a BYOB benefit. So what was on tonight's menu?

• Stuffed Cucumber Soup and Papaya Salad

• Pumpkin Curry, Beef Kra Pow
• Red Chicken Curry
• Pad See Ew
• Sticky rice in banana leaf
• ...and a cabernet sauvignon from home (only because the riesling wasn't properly chilled)

 

I think the "cucumber" in the soup is actually called bittermelon.  At least, that's what my mom called it growing up.  The soup was a light, flavorful broth that you don't typically find available at local Thai restaurants.  I enjoyed this soup because I haven't had it since I was a kid when my mom would still make it.

As for the papaya salad, this salad is from the Isaan (northeastern) region of Thailand.  As a result, cityfolk (Thai people from Bangkok) don't make this as well as the countryfolk.  While I could be wrong, I think the chef is from the Thai countryside.  And I have the say that this was one of my favorite papaya salads that I've had.  It was a bit sweeter than other versions that I've had and the papaya was very tender (a result of being hit by the mortar and pestel quite hard).  I loved it.

The curries were very fragrant.  I enjoyed the pumpkin curry in particular because most Thai dishes that I've had don't have many vegetables.  Many Thai restaurants in the US have added veggies like broccoli, red pepper, etc. but the authentic versions don't actually use these veggies.  The pumpkin absorbed the coconut milk rather well.  It was also a nice thick consistency. 

The fresh noodles in the pad see ew.  I also loved the banana leaf sticky rice dessert -- a welcome departure from the mangos and sticky rice that have become so mainstream in the US. 

All-in-all, I would give Thai X-ing 4.5 stars out of 5.  The food was "good" -- like I said, I'm a hard critic of Thai food.  It was much better than the average Thai restaurant in the DC area...and they are almost ALL average.  However, I also enjoyed the friendly service and casual ambience that made me feel like I was eating in someone's family home.  And at the price of $30...it's no wonder that it's considered a DC area best bargain.