Thainatown

Chinatown may seem like a counterintuitive place to find great Thai food. Yet tucked among the Chinese food joints (which, by the way, are growing more and more rare as places like Zengo and Matchbox take over the neighborhood), there is Kanlaya, an exquisite jewel box of a Thai restaurant.

I actually can't take credit for finding this one. My sister and Megan came across Kanlaya when they were in town, exploring the Chinatown area. She's been raving about it since, so it's been on the list of places to track down.

In the mood for something light, I had the sweet and spicy Tom Yum Goong soup, with shrimp and mushrooms in a tangy lemongrass broth, which definitely hit the spot on a chilly February afternoon. I also had the Yum Gai Krob salad, comprised of bits of crispy chicken with onion, celery, pineapple, tomato, and chili paste over greens, and topped with a lime dressing. The combination of sweet, savory, and acidic flavors was both comforting and palate-cleansing.

Jason ordered the Red Curry with chicken, which he asked for "Thai hot." The guy likes it incredibly spicy, and he's constantly trying to convince servers that he can handle it if they make it so. Alas, he was a bit disappointed, as his curry came out no spicier than an average Americanized curry. Despite that minor letdown, he said it was a perfectly respectable version.

Service was attentive, prices were quite reasonable, and the decor was very chic for such a casual little place. It's definitely worth checking out if you find yourself in that neighborhood.

On a sidenote, next time I'll have to try Burma, located directly on top of Kanlaya. Looks promising.

Good to know:
Kanlaya is located at 740 6th Street, NW. By Metro, exit at Chinatown/Gallery Place Metro (Green, Yellow, or Red line), and exit on the north side of the Verizon Center. Walk east for one block on H Street until you get to 6th. Kanlaya will be on the right-hand side near the corner of H and 6th.

Photo by Flickr user Afagen.