Although I like Asian Fusion restaurants like Raku I’ve always been a bit dubious about restaurants that advertise themselves as sush / [insert other asian cuisine] restaurants so even though I’ve walked by Thai Chef and Sushi Bar hundreds of times and admired the design I’ve never dropped by, opting for places like Regent Thai if I’m in the mood for Thai food and a place like Japone if I’m in the mood for sushi in the Dupont area. On a whim I decided to try Thai Chef and Sushi a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised.

Cost - $$

Service - B
Nothing memorable however they did accommodate my obsessive compulsive desire to switch tables at least two or three times when I first arrive, without batting an eyelash so they get some brownie points for that.

Food - A-
Actually I was pretty damn impressed with the sushi at Thai Chef. I probably would say it is even better than Japone but not as good as Sushi Taro. I had a few standard rolls and also tried a few of the specialty rolls. It was so much food I wasn’t even able to finish everything (admittedly my stomach had not made a full recovery from the previous night out).

Decor - B
I dig it. They open up the street-side wall when the weather is nice, giving the place a nice, open feel. inside, it is well conceived although my one complaint would be that they don’t create a lot of privacy with their seating. Our first table was literally pushed next to another couple and I felt like we were a foursome. Now, the flip side to that would have been if their conversation was something worth eavesdropping on but it wasn’t so we asked to be moved to a different table.

Feel - B+
It’s a fun place that attracts a diverse, younger clientele. I’d say it was a good spot for dinner on a weekday evening but maybe not the best destination for groups or a romantic dinner.

Thai Chef is located at 1712 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009.

There are a few safe bets for people looking for good Asian fusion in the DC area and Raku definitely falls into this category. With two locations (that I know about) in Bethesda and Dupont Circle, Raku provides a consistent dining experience and lively ambiance that has made it a mainstay in DC.

Cost - $$

Service - B
Raku seems to have an entirely Asian workforce (On a side note - is it legal for a business to only hire Asians?) who can speak English with varying levels of proficiency. The service tends to be solid if not spectacular.

Food - B
For hardcore Asian cuisine aficionados, Raku is going to provide an average dining experience. They have Thai, Chinese, and Japanese dishes that individually don’t rank as well as restaurants that focus on these regions. However, the synthesis of all these different dishes provides a good menu and pretty good dining experience from a purely culinary standpoint.

Decor - B+
The decor is what differentiates Raku from most Asian fusion places and allows them to sell dishes at somewhat higher prices. It has a fun, open aesthetic that people seem to enjoy because the place is normally packed. I like the layout and design of the Bethesda location slightly more than the Raku in Dupont although the Dupont Raku has ample outdoor seating.

Feel - A-
As I mentioned previously, Raku consistently draws pretty decent-sized crowds and for good reason: they offer solid Asian food and a decent price in a fun environment. Their locations are also prime: in Dupont they are just off Connecticut and Bethesda they are right on Bethesda Row, so they have clearly made some pretty strategic decisions about location. Raku is a pretty safe bet for a weekday evening or dinner with friends.

Raku is located at 1900 Q St NW near Dupont and at 7240 Woodmont Ave in Bethesda.

Asia Nine is the latest endeavor by Boonrod Yotmanee and Nuthinepan Tantivejakul, the couple that runs Rice and Spice Thai Cuisine in Alexandria. As a person who spends most of their life in Penn Quarter, I was looking forward to the opening of a convenient restaurant with a selection of Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai cuisines. I had read that Asia Nine was going to be mid-priced and casual so on my first visit with Jiyan, I was a little surprised on how expansive and well put together the place was. Truth be told, the hooks for me here are the flat screen televisions at the bar, sushi and the extensive sake list.

Cost - $$

Service - B+
I have eaten here a number of times since the doors opened in March and the service has been consistently good. Like most new establishments, there are kinks that will have to be worked out but the attentive and friendly attitude of the staff as a whole makes up for it. Expect the grade for service to improve once the sushi chefs start taking sake bombs with me.

Food - C+
The drawback of restaurants, especially Asian ones, with menus that span a variety of cuisines (fusion aside). Although the food in general can be good, the offerings tend to be the more popular safe dishes. Asia Nine fits into that mold and the dishes and sushi range from pretty good to average. Some may find the number of salads on the menu a plus.

Decor - B
As I alluded to above, I have come to expect most casual Asian restaurants to be a little thrown together including decor that falls along those lines but Asia Nine differs here. The space is open with high ceilings but the use of red, gold and orange color palette helps maintain a comfortable feel. Overall, I would say it’s a stylish restaurant.

Feel - B
I recently had dinner on a weekend and the place was full with a good buzz. It was nice to see a diverse crowd of people that seem to range from people on a date to casual diners to those who looked like they were warming up for a night on the town. A consistent solid experience be it happy hour or a Saturday night dinner.

Asia Nine is located at 915 E Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 629-4355.

What’s the Buzz:

March 26, 2008 - Asia Nine (Washington Post) - “I haven’t seen cocktails in these colors since spring break!” A buddy makes a nostalgic, and accurate, point as three of us ease into dinner at the sweeping Asia Nine Bar and Lounge in Penn Quarter: Our spirit-laced drinks form a Day-Glo rainbow of pink, yellow and blue on the tabletop, which is all but hidden by multiple menus that have been distributed to each of us. Full article…

March 18, 2008 - Asia Nine (DCfabulous) - Penn Quarter location. Check. Sushi menu. Check. Looks of what can be a trendy place to have sushi. Check. Tables full of children and tourists…ummmmm. I have been waiting for Asia Nine to open for a long time. And I was excited when I stopped by last Wednesday for the soft opening. Full article…

The Regent, or Regent Thai, or the Regent Thai Cuisine (personally, I called it Regent Thai for three years until I wrote this review) is a relatively new Thai restaurant on the 18th Street corridor between Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. The owner is Chuchart “Bobby” Kampirapang, who worked as a waiter and cook at the former restaurant in College Park, Chef’s Secret.

Cost - $$

Service - A
The service is great, hands-down. This may piss some politically correct people off, but I am going to stereotype and say that I think Thai people are as friendly as they come. I honestly have never had a bad experience at a Thai restaurant with the service - particularly not at the Regent.

Food - A
The menu is the brain child of Saowaluk Wiyagul (of Busara fame) and it is pretty damn good. The ingredients are fresh and the dishes are mouth watering. This may sound strange, but the fact that the portions are European sized (you don’t get a big plate full of rice and cheap meat) furthers the appeal of the restaurant.

Decor - A
You may be noticing a trend with the grades that The Regent is receiving but I think the world of the place. I don’t know who Bobby Kampirapang got to direct the place, or if he decorated it himself, but it is just a sexy, cool place adorned with tasteful Thai fixtures and ornaments.

Feel - A
The place scores high across the board. In fact, the first time I ever visited the place was because Lauriol Plaza was too damn crowded and I was starving. That was the best decision I could have made because now when people want to go to Lauriol Plaza for dinner I tend to say, “why not just go across the street to a good place.” It is my favorite Thai restaurant and possibly my favorite restaurant in the DC area.

The Regent is at 1910 18th Street, N.W. Washington DC 20009. They can be reached at (202) 232-1781.

What’s the Buzz:

January 19, 2007 - The Regent (The Gourmet Pig) - There are a few restaurants on 18th St. just below Adams Morgan, a stone’s throw from where I live, but I’ve never really tried any of them out. The other night, though, James, Julie and I and were looking for somewhere to go and no one was particularly motivated to choose a restaurant, so when Julie suggested Thai, I remembered I’d wanted to try the Regent. Full Article…

January 19, 2007 - The Regent (The Gourmet Pig) - There are a few restaurants on 18th St. just below Adams Morgan, a stone’s throw from where I live, but I’ve never really tried any of them out. The other night, though, James, Julie and I and were looking for somewhere to go and no one was particularly motivated to choose a restaurant, so when Julie suggested Thai, I remembered I’d wanted to try the Regent. Full Article…

October 24, 2004 - Regent Thai Cuisine (Washington Post) - THE LOUD SIZZLE preceding the arrival of my beef entree, neua krata, seems out of place in the context of the serene Regent Thai Cuisine, where the only other sounds on a slow weeknight have been gentle background music and the tinkle-tinkle of a nearby fountain. Full Article…

Cost - $$ 

Service - A
Both proprietors came to the table to talk with us after we were seated, and the server had a perpetual smile on her face and was extremely helpful and gracious.

Food - A
They have a great menu, a good wine list, and the food delivers. They use fresh ingredients that are prepared to perfection. I’d say they have some of the best Thai food in the DC area.

Decor - B+
It has a modern, charming feel to it. It sort of reminded one of my friends of Rice in DC.

Feel - B
It is a restaurant in Ashburn, so you’re not really going there to socialize or meet other people.

What’s the Buzz:

December 23, 2007 - Bangrak Thai Cuisine (Drift Reality) - Yesterday evening I was down in Ashburn visiting some friends when we decided to search for a good place to eat before heading to watch I am Legend. Full Article…