Soi 38

Really good and enjoyable Thai food with classy interiors. The ginger tofu curry was very potent and flavorful. For the crispy noodle app, was expecting a fried egg as mentioned in the menu, but it was not an overt fried egg but incorporated strangely fried- could not tell it was an egg. Overall loved the food and place and highly recommend.

Stylish Thai restaurant, but food and service have room to grow We stopped by Soi 38 for lunch with a friend in June 2025. The interior was very nice, but the food quality was mixed. The Tom Kha soup was excellent. The duck salad had a strong, weird aftertaste, so we left most of it. The green curry was ok, not five-star though, as something seemed missing from the flavor palette. The noodles were excellent. The "crispy" duck entrée was ok but wasn't crispy at all and tasted more like a Chinese dish than Thai. Service was fast but not customer-focused. I explicitly asked not to bring entrées before we finished our appetizers and soup - common issue in Thai restaurants. Still, the entrees arrived just minutes after the appetizers and soup, leaving us to choose what to eat before it got cold. The interior and ambience were stylish and pleasant - not like a typical hole-in-the-wall Thai spots you often find in NYC. I’m giving this restaurant 4 stars and hope they read this review and improve. It felt like the potential was there, and they could elevate both the food and the service. Food ordered Yum Ped Yang (Roasted duck salad) - passable. It had a strong, weird aftertaste, so we left most of it. Tom Ka Gai (Tom Ka soup with chicken) - excellent, flavorful, having right thickness and spice level. Gaeng Kiew Wan (Green curry with chicken) - good, but something was missing from its flavor. Ped Krob Kra Prow (Crispy roasted duck) - not crispy really and tasted more like a Chinese dish than Thai. Pad See Eew (Stir-fried wide rice noodles with chicken) - excellent.

Why was I the only family eating in? This was an amazing gem with delicious Thai food. Crispy Duck was outstanding. Pork belly very nice. Not overly authentic, but I appreciated it was a good mix of western and Asian for my liking. Still true Thai food though, if not inspired by Thai tasted. It was expensive, but we shared 1x satay and 5x meals between 4x of us ~$160 for 4, but didn't need to spend that much. Venue and service was outstanding and just what the wife needed to fill her restaurant fix. We had just landed in DC and it was easy and nearby. We nearly walked away as the door was difficult to open and place was completely empty, but glad I pulled hard as it was a gem for the area. Certainly will recommend and when I'm in DC next time we will certainly come back for business or pleasure.

Taste: We were craving Thai food and decided to give Soi 38 a try after seeing some great reviews. The menu has all the Thai classics, so it was tough to choose—but we went with the drunken noodles, chili chicken, and shrimp pineapple fried rice. Everything came out super fast (like, under 10 minutes), and while the portions were a bit smaller than expected, the flavors made up for it. Everything was tasty and satisfying. Service: The service was solid. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Our server was helpful and made sure we had what we needed. The drinks especially stood out—really nice presentation and tasted just as good as they looked. Ambiance: The vibe at Soi 38 is really nice—stylish but still chill. It’s perfect whether you’re out for a casual dinner or dining with a group. The lighting and decor give it a modern yet cozy feel. Recommendation: If you’re in the area and in the mood for Thai food, Soi 38 is definitely worth checking out. Great spot with good food, solid drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. We’d definitely come back when we’re in town again.

I had never been to Soi 38 but it had great reviews so we decided to give it a shot and we will definitely be back, everything was so delicious and well made 😋

Soi 38 offers a great dining experience with a lively yet comfortable atmosphere and attentive service. Most of the food was delicious, with bold flavors and authentic Thai dishes. However, the mango sticky rice fell short of expectations during my recent visit. The mango didn't taste fresh unfortunately. Overall, it's still a solid spot for Thai food in downtown DC.

Disappointed twice in just a few weeks. I first visited in March for a work lunch celebrating a retirement. The food was fantastic, but the service left much to be desired. Our server repeatedly interrupted us with curt, borderline rude remarks. I chalked it up to a bad day and moved on. Three weeks later, I returned for a mini reunion dinner with friends—and things were even worse. It took far too long just to receive menus and place our orders. Throughout the meal, we had to flag down staff repeatedly just to get basic service. Meanwhile, three other tables who arrived after us were already eating their mains while we were still waiting on our appetizer (just spring rolls!). We had ordered sides to accompany our mains, but they were brought out with the appetizer. We asked for them to be taken back so they wouldn’t get cold before the mains arrived. About 10 minutes later, our mains showed up—and while the sides had clearly been reheated, the mains were cold. The crispy duck was soggy and overly breaded—possibly leftovers? It felt like our food had been sitting out the whole time we were waiting. Poor communication, slow and inattentive service, and a disappointing meal overall.

We went for dinner on Sunday and it was already late. They were nice and let us dine in. We got the shrimp pad se ew which was tasty, husband tried the pik kuar which was delicious and crispy. My friends tried the tom yum soup and a chicken dish that came with a very fresh salad (papaya or mango) and rice. The mango sticky rice was okay. Ambience is quite nice.