Pasara Thai, 360 Engelhardt Lane, Alexandria, VA (near the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, across Duke Street from the King Street Metro and near the Patent and Trademark Office), 703-299-8746 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) Yelp]
Definitely worth a try. I ate here after a talk I gave at Motley Food, in downtown Alexandria. They told me they were taking me to an “average” Thai place. I insisted they let me “speak sternly” to the waitress. It took a few rounds, some back and forth, and some visits from the kitchen. I told everyone that we were “serious eaters” and had been to Thailand and wanted the food “Thai style” and that I wanted their best dishes. I refused to order anything but simply repeated these instructions. They told me this would require an adjustment, but eventually it came, a meal for five people, hand-cooked by the chef.
It was one of the very best Thai meals I’ve eaten in this area -- ever -- superb in every way. The minced chicken with basil was especially good, also the drunken noodles and the chinese broccoli with small pork fritters. I can’t promise you’ll succeed in getting the same treatment, but like I said it’s worth a try.
I'm still reeling from the quality and the experience.
