Dara
Thai restaurant · Washington Square West
1221 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Highlights
Flaky chicken puff, pineapple fried rice, panang curry
Flaky chicken puff, pineapple fried rice, panang curry
"Dara means “star” in Thai, and as it turns out, this casual BYOB may be one. In some ways, it’s like other Thai spots in town: papaya salad, crispy duck, and pad thai on the menu. But it’s especially useful for their generously portioned (read: huge) $16 lunch special and a laidback group dinner. A few dishes that have our undivided attention are the delicate and flaky chicken puff, pineapple fried rice with plump grilled shrimp, and panang curry that’s spicy without inducing sweat. There are constellations on the wall and a glowing moon behind the counter—it feels like they know the families and pre-night-out friends in the dining room will appreciate those warm, considerate touches just as much as the hint of coconut in the crispy duck curry (our favorite). And they do." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Dara means “star” in Thai, and as it turns out, this casual BYOB in Midtown Village is one. It’s especially useful for their generously portioned $16 lunch special or a laidback group dinner. The flaky chicken puff, drunken noodles with plump shrimp, and whole branzino should have your undivided attention, but the decor may steal some of the spotlight—there are constellations on the wall and a glowing moon behind the counter. But the families and pre-night-out friends in the dining room appreciate those warm, considerate touches just as much as the hint of coconut in the crispy duck curry (our favorite)." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Dara, a Thai place in Midtown Village, has such timely service that it feels like they’re also trying to make it by curtain time. And that’s exactly the fast, 10-minutes-until-showtime energy you need when you’re heading to the latest PHILADANCO! show at the Kimmel. Dishes like pad thai, crispy gui chai, and penang curry are all served in generous portions, so you’ll get a substantial sweet-spicy-sour meal that’ll have you considering a night on the couch rather than in row C." - candis mclean
"When you think of Thai food in Midtown Village, more than a few places come to mind. But none of them are better than celestially-themed Dara. The warm and friendly atmosphere and fantastic food—especially the fried branzino—is a great option for lunch or dinner. We're obsessed with the juicy fish for good reason—it's fried until golden, crispy, and served with a pickled mango salad and peppery sauce. Perfection." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Dara in Midtown Village is especially useful for their generously portioned $16 lunch special or an easygoing group dinner. The Thai spot has flaky chicken puff, drunken noodles with plump shrimp, and a whole branzino that should have your undivided attention, but the decor may steal some of the spotlight—there are constellations on the wall and a glowing moon behind the counter. But the families and pre-night-out friends in the dining room appreciate those warm, considerate touches just as much as the hint of coconut in the crispy duck curry (our favorite)." - candis mclean, alison kessler
