Esaan

After finishing my work, I quickly called my friend to invite them out for dinner. This marks our third visit to Esaan, a restaurant we both enjoy. The owner kindly offered us a special drink that is not yet on the menu: draft beer mixed with premium grade green tea from Japan. I requested the owner to recommend a few intriguing dishes for us to try. We started with the crispy fried shrimp salad. If you’ve never tasted shrimp that can be eaten whole, you must try it at this restaurant. Paired with the draft beer, it elevates the flavors, creating a new dimension of taste. Next, we enjoyed the grilled pork neck, which features tender pork collar with a smoky aroma. It is complemented by a unique dipping sauce made from tamarind and fresh lime, enhanced with the fragrant notes of crispy roasted rice powder. Finally, we indulged in the New York strip steak served with Thai rice flour noodles. The flavor is reminiscent of dining at a five-star hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, bringing a touch of luxury to our meal.

Very special Northern Thai cuisine. Been there several times and it never disappointed. The Cornish Chicken is a must try! Came again and tried their deep fried rock fish and special grilled soft shell crab and both are very delicious.

Blows other Thai restaurants in the area out of the water. The standard Thai dishes are good but where they really shine is the north Thai food. Been over 10 times and every time I get a special its unbelievably good. The crab curry is one of the best things Ive ever had and totally different from anything I've had at other Thai restaurants. The cocktails are also incredible.

I had a very good dining experience at Esaan. The Tom Yum soup was a highlight with rich broth and fresh ingredients. The pork shoulder was also delicious. The Panang Curry was okay but not amazing. We had the banana coconut milk for dessert, but there were mixed views about it around our table. The staff were attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The restaurant was clean and well maintained with a welcoming and cozy atmosphere.

Very unique Northeastern Thai flavors in a great location in McLean. The chicken was crispy and the soup was really favorable. For the price though I was expecting slightly more, however was an enjoyable experience.

Came here recently for dinner Saturday night with friends—my first time trying this place and it didn’t disappoint! Service was good and overall food was delicious! Top favorites were: Esaan Pad Thai with Shrimp, Massaman Chicken, Kai Tod Samoon Prai (fried chicken) and Pla Tod Samun Prai Rock Fish—everything was well-flavored! The rock fish was pretty big with lots of meat but lacked enough sauce so it was a bit dry in some parts. Tom Yum Soup with Chicken was really good. Wasn’t a fan of the Esaan Crispy Spring Roll, wasn’t too tasty, probably because there was no meat inside, just veggies. Cocktails were tasty—enjoyed both the Esaantini (infused vodka with fresh lemongrass) and the Esaan Summer (cucumber vodka). And drinks were reasonably priced!

Tiny, hot dining area with someone's motorbike parked among tables. Poorest quality of Thai food ever. Most of the glowing reviews appear to be AI or done by a service that posts such reviews. Honestly, the food quality was bad.

Dinner was DELICIOUS. It does not have a lot of seating but what they have is nice. They have few outdoor tables. Food was amazing. I had a chicken and vegetable green curry special and our table mates had a beef dish and a shrimp and noodle special. Everyone raved about their food. Cocktails were also excellent and a nice wine selection. Will absolutely be back. Probably next week 🤣

Stopped by for a late Sunday lunch and it was empty! That's crazy because the food is absolutely fire. My husband and I love northern Thai food and Esaan absolutely delivered. We tried the iced Thai green tea latte, the crispy rice salad special, the Khao Soi, and the Khao Mun gai Tod. Everything was fantastic. I particularly loved the crispy rice salad. I hope to return to try more of the northern Thai specialties like their som tum or their meats with sticky rice.

Cornish hen is was well seasoned with Thai herbs but that also made us come off bit too salty. Especially when you put the spicy sour sauce on top it becomes extra salty. Definitely needed the rice to counter it, would be helpful if there were side veggies with the chicken to help refresh/cleanse the palate. Pad Thai has a more sweet and soy sauce flavor compared to the common orange-colored tamarind variety. Portion size was a bit small and noodles came out already clumped together, but it was decent to satiate a pad thai craving. Seating is pretty small/limited as well as parking, so better to visit at a non-peak time.

Solid 3.75. The fresh rolls had a sauce that was THE BEST DIPPING SAUCE EVER!! Papaya salad was fresh and we asked them to kick it up a notch and they obliged. The Penang curry and pad Thai were way too sweet (for us). I didn't taste much other than sugary ness which is a shame as it was obvious there was so much other complexity in jt. Cute tiny interior and fantastic service!!!

My co-workers and I ordered food for pick-up at Esaan Restaurant in McLean on 10/8/24. This is our first time to try their menu but we think we will not be ordering from them again. We ordered the Tofu Pad Thai, Chicken Panang, and Green Vegetable (Bokchoy) and it cost us about $60. We gave them 3 stars only. The taste of their food is good. But we were discouraged with their small portions because their prices are quite expensive. We were deceived by the photos on their website. Pasa Thai Restaurant is much better and have reasonable prices on their menu. Their food also taste good and they give decent portions too. Now we know, when we are craving for Thai food, we will just order from Pasa Thai Restaurant. They have the eggplant dish that we so much love and will recommend to try for anyone wanting for Thai food. It is not on their menu but they will cook it for you.

Wow. Essan really was delicious. I was the mood for Thai and my friend recommended them. I did take out and ordered the Panang chicken, Tom yum soup, pad Thai, massaman chicken. All was so flavorful and delicious. The pad thai was good but didn't have the flavors of the Panang or massaman. It's a lighter dish I find. Overall I would absolutely recommend if you're looking for traditional Thai with different flavors. Will def done again.

4.5 stars for really solid Thai spot. My wife and I were looking to grab a bite to eat one evening somewhere in the McLean area. I fired up the Yelp app, looked at my Washingtonian Top 100 bookmarks, and saw that Esaan was located nearby. We drove over to a rather unsuspecting plaza (which has another Thai place located about 100 feet away) and walked inside. We encountered a fairly small venue with a register up front (seems like this place does a lot of take out) and tables that were pretty close together. The hostess/waitress took us over to a table and handed us the menu. She was actually one of my favorite type of servers were she was attentive and answered questions, but not overly talkative and friendly aka providing just the right amount of service. After ordering some drinks from the menu, my wife and I put in our food orders. After looking over the Washingtonian's review, I decided to order the Somtum Muor, which is essentially a papaya salad on steroids, and the pla tod rock fish, which is $60 but is over 3 pounds! The Somtum Muor came out first and, while my wife was not a fan due to the fermented fish taste, I thought the dish was absolutely fantastic. All of the different flavors and ingredients seem a little random, but they actually work together to make a really tasty dish. My rock fish came out a little while after and, as you can see in pictures and other reviews, the presentation is definitely a show-stopper. Fortunately, the taste lives up to the hype as the lime dressing and cashews again present a combination that would seem random, but actually really works together to again make a tasty dish. Overall, you would see a place like Esaan from the outside and not think much. However, the excellent service and outstanding food revealed this spot to be one of Northern Virginia's hidden Thai gems. Definitely consider checking this place out next time you are in the area or ordering some takeout/delivery.

While in the area one night, I was craving Thai food but wanted to try something different. I decided to stop into Esaan. I had seen the menu here before and was intrigued. I enjoyed my meal and was not disappointed.   For appetizer, I tried the Hoy Jor. It was delicious, fresh-made, and I was happy with it. I also tried the Kai Kluk Ka Pi and Nam Tok Nue entrees. The Kao Kluk Ka Pi was a flavorful and thoughtfully made dish. It was a little small portion-wise and I would have appreciated a handful more meat and shrimp paste fried rice. The Nam Tok Nue was a classic Thai dish done well.   I like that the menu here strays away from typical Thai restaurants and offers more unique and authentic dishes. I would like to come back and try other options on the menu.

I stopped in for lunch during a weekday. It's a small little restaurant with a few tables and a bar in a shopping strip. I've eaten a lot of Thai food, but I think this was my first time at an authentic Esaan Thai restaurant. That being said, the menu options were different than what I'd go for at my typical Thai restaurant. However, I found a safe option, Pad Thai. Now, I wouldn't say that it was at the top of all the pad Thai that I've ever had, but it was decent. I feel a bit more tangy than what I'm used to. Service was great. Everyone was super friendly and for that alone, I'm willing to go back to explore more of their menu.

Esaan Thai restaurant in McLean Virginia is the most authentic Esaan North Eastern Thai food restaurants I've ever experienced. The food is spicy and done by authentic Esaan Thai chefs. The spicy dishes can be found. Service is very friendly. You will always find a Thai smile at East Thai.

About a 3.5: Esaan serves northeastern Thai cuisine, known for their usage of strong fish sauces and chili peppers. Their menu is pretty extensive, offering seasonal menus/specials, appetizers, salads, rice and noodle dishes, pork/chicken/beef/seafood/fish/veggie options, sides, and drinks. We came here for an early dinner, and I ordered: +the Esaan Pad Thai - stir-fried noodles with bean sprouts, chives, and tamarind sauce, topped with fried garlic; you have the following protein choices: tofu, chicken, or shrimp, which I opted for the shrimp; this was not as sweet as other pad thai dishes I've had, but I still liked how they cooked the noodles perfectly al dente and made the dish super saucy (which I like!); there were large shrimp as well. I also liked that they served the crushed peanuts and chili flakes on the side to top to your heart's content I also tried one of their appetizer specials, which was a crispy white sand whiting fish dish - these came as two, marinated in turmeric and topped with a salt fried garlic; note that this is bone-in. These were okay, and any fish lovers would enjoy it. A tangy sauce is provided, but you could also ask for just regular vinegar to dip it in. On the next visit, I'd like to give their Esaan Panang Curry Chicken, Kao Soi, Yum Khanom Jeen Pra Too, and Pia Koong a try. I do wish that they had better ventilation or the air on correctly, since I could smell some of the musty-ness, and it was kind of uncomfortably humid inside. Service was friendly, and the place itself is small and cute - part of a strip plaza, you may miss it - it's located around the corner from the Pulcinella Italian Kitchen. Plenty of parking in the shared plaza lot, but the lot fills up quickly! +Esaan Pad Thai with shrimp +friendly service +plenty of parking in the strip plaza lot

My partner and I went to Esaan to try out a new Thai placethat we read about online. Overall, I thought the food was unique and there were a lot of options. This is not the type of Thai place with pad Thai and drunken noodles and crab rangoon. The menu contained many dishes that I had not seen before, and you know it's a good sign when the dishes are also in Thai language script on the menu. We tried the crispy fried tofu, which came with a honey and peanut sauce, but the actual tofu did not have much flavor. The papaya salad was standard, though, there were multiple preparations. I also had crab in a peanut broth, which I thought was tasty. The beef stew was tasty but quite sour. This is quite a small restaurant and service was relatively fast.

I always have to stop by when im around dc area. One of the best esaan thai place on my list, never disappointed.

This is a Thai food lovers paradise with an incredible Japanese whiskey and Tequila selection! I live in Brooklyn , but I'm a chef by trade. I came across this place during a business trip and the food is outstanding. Recommend grilled shrimp and Fish Dumpling on the special menu

Esaan Northeastern is discreetly located in a mixed neighborhood with shops, offices, and restaurants (three doors down from another Thai restaurant). The cozy venue, tastefully decorated, includes a small bar and seats about 50 people. RSVP is recommended and come early to avoid the crowds. We decided on Esaan because of its location and the great Yelp reviews. The waitress quickly brought us a cold bottle of tab water to share. And I ordered the Blue Pea ice tea to go with their sweet, savory, and spicy dishes. The Grilled Squid and papaya salad appetizers are must haves - to share or have them as a meal. Grilled beef and crispy pork belly are delicious but portions are in the small side. Overall - Esaan is authentically Thai with McLean (rich) clientele.

Great family owned spot in McLean - friendly and prompt service and welcoming space. Really love seeing regional Thai food - the menu isn't your run of the mill Pad Thai, Masaman Curry, Grilled Chicken, boring old menu. We asked for authentic dishes we wouldn't get at other restaurants so we got everything they recommended. Started with the somtum muor - while I like unique flavors, this papaya salad with fermented fish sauce was just a bit too funky for me. The ingredients were fresh and the spice level was spot on, but the fermented fish was just too strong for my palette. Next we had the Chiangmai sausage which was excellent. Smoky from the grill, herbaceous, with a hint of curry spices - absolutely loved it. For main course I had the moo nam tok which was grilled pork shoulder - I have to say this was one of the best if not the best single dish I've ever had at a Thai restaurant. The lime juice was so bright and helped to highlight the mint, red onion, and chili - while the roasted rice brought a nice textural element - please do yourself a favor and order this! My colleague ordered kao soi which was fantastic - the noodles were cooked perfectly and the yellow curry broth was so rich and flavorful - definitely one of the better ones I've had. In total the bill was $65 which seemed great for the amount of food we had - will definitely be back!

It's no wonder this restaurant is empty while the other restaurants are packed. I was a bit suspicious when my online order was ready and packed within 5 minutes of placing the order and not a soul inside the restaurant aside from the staff. The food is not fresh with low quality ingredients, the restaurant cuts corners. I was duped and allured by the scrumptious photos on the website and seemingly authentic dishes. Hands-down the WORST Pad Thai with tofu. The slimy congealed noodles were clumped together with a weird rubbery texture. As other Yelpers have noted, the Pad Thai is bare bones with a handful of bean sprouts and scallions slapped together with dry lumpy noodles that seemed to be prepared in a large batch earlier than morning. The noodles weren't even rice noodles and looked like stringy Singaporean noodles. After a couple of bites, my toddler and I threw in the towel. The tofu was stiff and hard, and didn't taste fresh. The spicy Penang Curry with tofu was really runny with just blocks of tofu. It was the oddest presentation. Weirdly, there wasn't a single veggie in the dish. The chunky tofu faired better than the tofu in the Pad Thai and seemed fresher. The spicy curry seemed like it was prepared earlier that morning. I indicated mild and the curry was quite spicy and the experienced heartburn. It was served with white rice and there was no option for brown rice. My hubby enjoyed the Kao Mun Kai Tod with fried chicken and steamed chicken rice. The portion size was a bit small. I was really rooting for this business and wanted to support this local family-owned business especially as I observed a bored looking grand child stuck inside this prison of a restaurant. I just can't support a business that cuts corners while charging for pricy lackluster stale dishes served with stand-offish service. $50 down the drain

Came here on a Friday and the quality of the food was good but there were a few places that I felt they could improve. Ambiance: (2/5) It is a small restaurant, so we felt cramped next to people even though we were outside. The tables were not cleaned properly as there was so much pollen collected on the table. Price: (2/5) The price of the food was a lot more expensive than it was worth there were small portions and the area didn't justify the price either. 5 small fish dumplings were over $15. The chef specialty fish was $60 for one fish and not much else. It was very disappointing that we went home hungry (family of 4) after spending $200. Food: (4/5) The quality of the food was good. The spicy level was not overwhelming. The fish dumplings came with a great sauce. The pork was well seasoned. The fish seemed a little bland which seemed like the odd one out since everything else was seasoned wellZ Service: (4/5) The staff was very nice but did not come as often as I would have liked. It wasn't super busy so I didn't know why they weren't coming around more often. Overall, I would not recommend this place because it's not worth the money. There are plenty of other places that have the same if not better food for less than half the price.

This is definitely a different kind of Thai cuisine than the usual popular menu, but that's all great as long as the quality of food is good. Unfortunately this place is not. We went there for lunch and I ordered the chrysanthemum iced tea, which was supposed to be house-brewed, but it was nothing special other than some syrupy "tea" over a huge glass of ice, and it didn't even have much of chrysanthemum or tea flavor. I might as well should have had the ice water instead. We ordered 4 dishes. The veggie spring rolls didn't have much filling in it and it was gummy and doughy. The crispy pork belly was heavily breaded and tasted very dry. The Penang chicken curry was just strips of chicken breast with a few basil leaves. It was mediocre; soupy and did not have much curry flavor. Finally the beef brisket noodle soup broth was super salty AND sweet, and kind of greasy. The noodles were kind of al dente or a bit undercooked. Overall the quality of food was just mediocre at best, so unfortunately it's not a place for me.

My first visit to this delightful Northern Thai restaurant. The Essan Sour was like a "Martini"-dry Pisco Sour (but with no simple syrup, so not sweet at all), but sour and the perfect drink to open your appetite. The Kuaytiew Luisuan rice paper roll with tofu was delicate and fresh, and the dipping fish sauce was soooo good I could have drunk it by the pint! The Nam Tok Nue hot pot was intense with flavors that exploded in your mouth. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes!

We absolutely loved Esaan. The food is amazing. We loved that is it unique and North Eastern vs everything else in the area. Truly a must try!

My new favorite spot Esaan. It was my first time going to Esaan. Small Beautiful place I Went with my husband that has been here Several times and it was just like he described it. Nothing but amazing. Food is awesome and very tasty along with great service. I'll definitely keep coming here to eat authentic delicious Thai food.

The best of the best Thai restaurant . Every time I go back to my mom house I have to take her to this restaurant. She also requested me to took her there all the time . The menu is very different from any Thai restaurant. Here they're serve Esaan foods and all the foods came out like I'm eating in Thailand the Restaurant is cozy nice music I very recommend this restaurant for who want to try some of real thai foods I will come back there again when I'm go see my mom ... btw my mom have all food pictures lol I got only 1

Food is flavorful and the meat is very tender. They have some unique dishes that hard to find at other Thai restaurants. Service is good and the atmosphere is relaxed. The place is small, not that many tables. I always order carry out and they also prepare take-outs properly.

Esaan is a cute Thai restaurant tucked away in McLean. I came for lunch on a weekday so it was pretty empty and quiet, The natural lighting from the sun really lit up the dining area. The whole ambiance was very peaceful. I ordered the Panang curry with tofu. You get a side of white rice. The curry was delicious, a nice balance of red curry, peanut, and coconut milk. I also got a butt load of tofu which I very much appreciated. The tofu was perfectly fried - nice and crisp on all sides. Loved soaking up the curry in the tofu and rice. I do wish it came with a little more than just the curry sauce and tofu, maybe a few pieces of veggies, it would have made it a more wholesome meal. Service was good and nothing to complain about. Out food came out at a timely manner. I would definitely come back to try their other dishes.

I had some friends rave about this place and so glad they found it. Over the last couple of months I've dined here twice. Essan is that good! The menu is Northeastern Thai so you won't find some of your typical Thai noodle dishes here. Highly recommend ordering their Kai Soi Pu, Panang curry, Tom Yum Goong Morfire, Essan pad Thai, Crying Tiger, grilled squid and rock fish. Flavors here are on point. The Kai Soi packs some heat and theres some great texture with the fried noodles. The pad Thai was delicious and we wanted to order more. The Tom Yum was so rich. We finished that dish down to the last drop. The location itself is small so if you have a party over 6 it'll be tight. Food quality is high here and prices are high considering its Mclean.

This was my first time at Esaan and all I can say is Woooow!! Esaan it is absolutely amazing!! Service, food and atmosphere. I have been to numerous Thai restaurants. But not a single one of them has blown my mind like this place. Every single dish I tried was delicious. You can tell they only use fresh products and they put a lot of love and time to prepare every single dish. The presentation was also on point! You must try the soft shelf crab, either fried or grill! Highly recommend for authentic Thai food. I am Definitely ditching my to go thai place for Esaan.

Authentic Northeastern Thai food! Very tasty! Everyone is very friendly. I will come here again so sure!

Moved to Tyson's a few months back and now really finding the hidden gems of McLean. We drove past Esaan and I bookmarked it so we could try it the next time we were craving Thai. We ordered take out and noticed their prices were way higher than normal Thai spots and their dishes were more authentic it seemed -- no drunken noodles so this forced me to try something new. We ordered the Tom Yum soup with chicken, it was delicious! Perfect for a cold winter night. I ordered the moo nam tok and my husband got the pork shoulder. Of course we added a sticky rice for dessert! I will say the food was delicious. Probably some of the most flavorful Thai we've ever had. But the biggest reason why I'm only giving it 4 stars is the portions are kind of small. For the price you're paying for some of these dishes I would assume I'd be stuffed after -- not really. The rice that came with the pork shoulder feels like it should be on the kids menu. Maybe we'll come again, I'm not sure. The portion size just wasn't enough.

What a great Thai dining experience we had ! Pad Thai shrimp prepared w/ thinner (angel hair like) noodles was excellent; Not over- cooked nor over-seasoned like some other places. We would come back just for their whole rock fish (fried). I asked for some extra "sauce" ) which further enhanced the "healthy refreshing" flavors. It's made w/ fresh lime juice, ginger, red onions, lemongrass, basil. Massaman curry was also very tasty ! I highly recommend this restaurant. Ambiance is average enough but we came for their cooking and it surpassed our expectations for a small tucked-in place. It's located in a tiny strip mall but had no issue parking. I give 4 stars for the chef's skills and an extra star for a better marketing reach (that they're not best at like many other hidden gems!

I went back again today since I had to do some work in the area. I was so excited because the food was good last time. I ordered Pad Thai for lunch and order chicken wings, som tum and sticky rice for to go. Pad Thai was good, a bit greasy but it was good. My to go order is not what I expected. The chicken wings is to dry and burnt. I'm not sure how can they find the baby chicken wings at. The wing is smaller than my thumb! The sticky rice patty was so thin and small and also very crunchy. I paid $3 for uncooked sticky rice and $10 for burnt baby chicken wings. I don't think I will go back there for sure. So disappointed.

My favorite local restaurant! The service is always personal and friendly. The small restaurant is cozy and comfortable. Loved the Negroni with Cynar. My go-to dish is the Panang curry. On my last visit I tried the broccoli/ground pork and shrimp. Perfect for a warm evening. The crispy tofu appetizer is a winner too.

I had never tried Northeastern Thai food before and was really looking forward to eating here after my friend recommended it. We were instantly greeted as soon as we walked in. The menu can be viewed on your phone by scanning a QR code. I'm not sure if they started doing this because of Covid, but it seemed sensible enough. I was super hungry so ordered my go-to Som Tum (papaya salad), the Esaan sausage, Pla Tod Samun Prai (rockfish), soft shell crab, fried rice, and the banana and coconut milk (for dessert). Everything was amazing - from the presentation to the flavors in each dish. You really couldn't go wrong with any of the menu options here. My only complaint is that the portion sizes were a bit small for the prices. I definitely wanted more of each dish!

I went here to have lunch with my white friends lol to show them this restaurant serve the foods the same taste like Thailand . All my friends they're agree with me coz they just came back from Thailand . Today our order is Sumtum Muor, Moo Nam Tok , Fried Rockfish,crying tiger and special Sun Dried Beef plus We got cocktail too

Esaan Thai Cuisine (Northeastern Thai food)tuck away in McLean Virginia. Simply the best! Highly recommended.

I've had the pleasure of trying out the food here with some of my friends and I will say it did not disappoint. The owner made us feel welcomed and even took the time out to hold conversations with us and had us laughing a lot with his jokes. The service and the food presentation was on point. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We ordered a bottle of wine but were given wine by the glass. As soon they realIzed what happened they quickly brought us over a brand new bottle and made the first glass of wine we had complimentary. Now that's great customer service! I can't even name all the dishes we ordered since we did it family style. We ended up with at table full of appetizers, numerous main courses and everything in between LOL. We definitely all left the restaurant with a VERY HAPPY and a VERY FULL belly. I'll admit that good Northern food is hard to find here in VA. Being that my family is from Thailand this means that my tastebuds are always craving AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD. If you're like me then look no further, make your way over to ESAAN NORTHEASTERN THAI CUISNE, you won't regret it! :)

Amazing food at this restaurant!! I've not had some of the dishes they serve. Pad Thai - Grilled pork - Papaya salad - Fried mackerel -

I was in the neighborhood at lunchtime today, so I stopped by Esaan Northeastern Thai restaurant. I have eaten here twice before and had great experiences both times. This time was similarly awesome! I ordered Yum Kai Zapp (Fried chicken mixed with scallion, red onion, mint, cilantro, chili, and roasted rice) because I saw that it was popular with other reviewers on Yelp. This tangy delicious fried chicken dish was excellent. As usual it came with a little basket of sticky purple rice. I was trying to mix a bit of each favor and texture on the spoon with each bite -- rice, a piece of chicken, as well as some of the scallion, red onion, mint, cilantro, and tangy lemon or lime that really make this dish pop. On previous visits with friends and family I think we got the Nam Tok Nue as well as Moo Nam Tok and Pad Mee Korat, and all were very tasty. Definitely go visit!

When I want authentic Thai food I come here. The service is great and the food comes out quick and delicious. Save yourself some time and just come here if you want the real deal around the DMV area.

I was excited to see what Northeastern Thai food tasted like and how it differed from "ordinary" Thai food that we come across. I was pleasantly surprised by the decor of this place that transports you to a beach bar somewhere on a remote island. I did find that the food was slightly pricy but the ambiance could be something refreshing in the middle of Mclean. Food (4.5/5) - I really liked the Khao Soi (Coconut Curry Chicken Northern Thai Egg Noodle) (4.5/5) for its flavors. The quantity will definitely be something slightly less than an average Thai place, but it's nonetheless not lacking in flavors. The Koa Kluk Ka Pi (4/5) was good but nothing too surprising in terms of flavor. I wish that it would've come together for a different flavor when mixed. Lastly, the grilled octopus (4.5/5) was quite good. I just wish everything was a hair less pricy, but that's expected in Mclean. Service (4/5) - The service is solid and was pleasant. Cleanliness (4/5) - The place is doing everything to be covid-safe. Ambiance (4.5/5) - A relaxing place where I'd be happy to come back for HH!

Came here on a Friday night for my sister's birthday and the quality of the food was great, however there were other aspects that led me to rate this place a bit lower. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - It was a small restaurant, but the outdoor seating area was nice to complement the great weather. One issue we had was that the table seemed to be collecting pollen or some wood dust due to the location it was in their setting. Price: 2.5/5 - The price of the food was a lot more expensive than I thought and based on the portion size it was not up to par. We ordered an appetizer of the fish dumplings which came with 5 dumplings for $16. The chef specialty fish was $60 for one fish. I believe it was overpriced for the portion sizes given. Food: 4.7/5 - The quality of the food was great. The pork was well seasoned as I asked to make it as spicy as possible and the fish dumplings were complemented with a basil sauce that was perfectly blended. Food quality was fantastic. Service: 5/5 - Everyone in the restaurant was super friendly and nice. Overall, I would give this place a 3/5 due to the lack of food portion and high prices. The quality of the food does help its case though.

The place is cute, but there was some serious HVAC hum that was noticeable and annoying. I got the jungle fever drink and it wasnt great. For food we got the tom kha soup, mushroom larb, fried tofu, and the fried whole fish. If this, only the tom kha soup was great. The fried tofu and mushroom larb was mediocre. The fry on the tofu was really heavy fry in what tasted like old fry oil and the sauce was boring. The mushroom larb flavor and texture was nothing special. the mushroom seemed to be just white button mushrooms that were just kind of slippery but it was mixed with these small crunchy bits, so texture was slippery and crunchy...not the best. The whole fried fish was supposedly their specialty. It was fried perfectly but the sauce did not provide enough flavor so it was overall really bland. The entire meal was also pretty expensive, so it definitely wasn't worth it. I'd come back to try some classic Thai dishes like curry and pad Thai, but these unique dishes were not the move. The service was fine. We waited a bit for our rice, but besides that it was good

This restaurant is the best eastern Thai food style in the area. The food is amazing, the prices are very reasonable, the owners and employees are very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is cozy. We would recomend it to all our friends! If you haven't tried this cozy little place, make sure to stop by, you wont regret it!

I can't say enough great things about this gem. Mr Tu is a fantastic host and his offerings are even better. I've been several times and always leave wondering why I haven't been back sooner. My favorite starters are the grilled squid, Chang Mai sausage, the soft shell crabs (grilled not fried.) For the mains my go to is the Kao Soi or the top is the grilled Rockfish. Wow what a presentation. Ask him for the biggest fish he has.... Def make sure you leave room for dessert as he has a truly authentic dish ready and waiting!!! Cheers, Louie

I've been eyeing Esaan for quite some time, but it's tucked away deep into the suburbia of McClean, and so it can be quite the trek if you aren't in the area. Over the last couple years, I've been on a Khao Soi rampage. Whenever I visit a Thai restaurant, one of the first things I look for on the menu is if they have anything of the Laos / Northeastern Thai flavors, specifically that Khao Soi. It is an absolute flavor bomb (when done right), and fortunately Esaan did not disappoint. I ordered the Khao Soi Chicken, the Nam Tok Nue (Beef), and the Somtum Muor. Comparing the Khao Soi Chicken to others in the NoVA area, this is definitely at or near the top. The flavors are deep and intense, and with a "medium" spice level selected, still had quite the heat. It's slow, and creeps up on you. Think of Nelly singing in the background, "It's getting hot in here..." and that's pretty much what it feels like eating this. Not quite there, but you can feel it getting hot. If I had to complain about one thing, is that the meat portion for this dish was a little small with only one drumstick. Nevertheless, most folks should still find this dish filling as the soup is a thick and heavy broth. The Nam Tok Nue (Beef) was good in its flavors and spice. The herbs and spices (cilantro, scallions, shallots, etc.) really make for a nice marinade on the beef. I'd wish the beef was a little more charred/grilled, as it seemed more like it was lightly pan-fried or even boiled, but other than that this is a solid entrée for this who are looking for for some beef (it's what's for dinner). Lastly, the Somtum Muor (one of their many papaya salad-like appetizers) was quite the stank. Not in a supremely bad way, but just in a way that might be good for some folks, but may also be too much stank for others. There's a delicate balance when it comes to fish sauce and that "stank" taste. You want just enough to get some of that "umami" out, but not so much that it drowns out all the other flavors. I'd say this dish is borderline too much stank, but I still enjoyed it. If you are meh on fish sauce, I'd probably stay away from this one. TL;DR: If you're a Khao Soi fan, try Esaan out. You'll likely be quite pleased with their rendition of this classic dish. For the other ones, take your pick from a broad selection of Thai classics to Northeastern selects; either way it'll likely be good.

They have Khao soi!! Which has been a struggle to find in this area! The restaurant is small but has a rustic dark atmosphere which I enjoyed. I also tried the grilled squid appetizer which was very good and had some amazing citrus zest to it.

Northern Thai cuisine is one of my favorites and Esaan had been on my list for a while. It was easy enough to view the online menu, call in a takeout order, and find parking; staff was friendly and helpful, both on the phone and in person. The inside is small and cozy and I'm sure I'll eventually be dining in. I ordered two dishes that I always love: laab tofu and khao soi kai. The laab tofu is amazing. The tofu is perfectly fried and the roasted rice and herbs create a beautiful mix of colors and textures. It is addictively delicious. The khao soi was creamy and comforting, with plenty of noodles, though I would've appreciated more greens. I look forward to trying the somtum Thai and kor moo yang, among other dishes. Esaan has quickly become a new addition to my Thai rotation.

Great service and high quality food! Everything we tried on the menu was fantastic, deserts are to die for. Wine and cocktail selection is great too! My favourite Thai restaurant in DMV area!

Hands down the best Thai food I've had in the DMV. In fact, probably the best Thai food I've had outside of Thailand. The team here isn't afraid to take risks with the menu. Don't sleep on the cocktails. Can't recommend this spot enough.

I love LOVE this place. The food is light and so full of flavor. Best of both worlds. I love going here with my partner on a casual night and also, if I have friends and family in town - this is the first place I recommend to go. Even after they've left town, they tell me this still crave it. The Hot Pot Fish is a must, it's bright and seriously, the most authentic Thai you'll find in the area. A must!