SURA Restaurant
Thai restaurant · Dupont Circle ·
Spicy Thai street food with unique fusion entrees and cocktails
Spicy Thai street food with unique fusion entrees and cocktails
"This family-run underground lounge landed in Dupont in spring 2022 with a star cast of Thai talent behind the wheel. Former sushi chef Billy Thammasathiti brings the heat with quail egg wontons, fiery papaya salads, boneless duck laap, and spicy beef or pork skewers, plus experimental orders like Parmesan-dusted egg noodles with tom yum herbs, bacon, and roasted chile jam or bite-sized calamari dressed with garlicky salt. Andy Thammasathiti of Baltimore’s Mayuree Thai Tavern whips up passionfruit daiquiris and Sichuan baijiu cocktails behind a racy, red-lit bar fit for Bangkok. Billy’s aunt Satang Ruangsangwatana, of Fat Nomads supper club fame, also contributes destination dishes like khao soi. The 50-seat lair swings open at 4 p.m. Know before you go: The stairs are steep, so it’s best to read the Thai newspaper-wrapped walls while going up (not down)." - Tierney Plumb
"A family-run underground lounge landed in Dupont in 2023 with an assortment of delights like quail egg wontons, spicy crudo, fiery papaya salads, and spicy beef or pork skewers. Andy Thammasathiti of Baltimore’s Mayuree Thai Tavern whips up lychee Tom Collins and baijiu cocktails behind a glowing red bar. The 50-seat, subterranean space swings open at 4 p.m., with walk-ins welcome but reservations encouraged. Happy hour lasts till 6 p.m., with $7 wine, $6 beers, and $8 mystery cocktails that Thammasathiti either whips up on the spot or pulls from the Thai-influenced specialty cocktail menu." - Tierney Plumb
"Former sushi chef Billy Thammasathiti teamed up his aunt behind the popular Fat Nomads supper club to create a Thai street food menu at this 50-seat restaurant full of quail egg wontons, spicy salmon crudo, wok-tossed tom yum noodles with roasted chile jam and more. Andy Thammasathiti of Baltimore’s Mayuree Thai Tavern whips up passionfruit daiquiris and Sichuan baijiu cocktails from a red-lit corner reminiscent of a bar in Bangkok." - Missy Frederick
"Sura serves up piping hot Thai street food in a laid-back basement space in Dupont Circle that’s great for a quiet, casual dinner with a couple of people. The menu changes regularly, but might include rice topped with rich spicy pork belly or tempura-style calamari. Don’t skip the lychee martini or the crème brûlée." - tristiana hinton
"This family-run underground lounge landed in Dupont in spring 2022 with a star cast of Thai talent behind the wheel. Former sushi chef Billy Thammasathiti brings the heat with quail egg wontons, fiery papaya salads, boneless duck laap, and spicy beef or pork skewers, plus experimental orders like Parmesan-dusted egg noodles with tom yum herbs, bacon, and roasted chili jam or bite-sized calamari dressed with garlicky salt. Andy Thammasathiti of Baltimore’s Mayuree Thai Tavern whips up passion fruit daiquiris and Sichuan baijiu cocktails behind a racy, red-lit bar fit for Bangkok. Billy’s aunt Satang Ruangsangwatana, of Fat Nomads supper club fame, also contributes destination dishes like khao soi. The 50-seat lair swings open at 4 p.m.; reserve a seat or order takeout or delivery." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff