When three friends moved to DC from Thailand, they decided to share some of their most valuable possessions with their new community—their recipes. The trio had more than three decades of combined restaurant experience, and they were missing their native food, so they opened My Thai Place. Their extensive menu ranges from the meaty to the vegetarian, offering both cashew chicken and drunken noodles with mixed veggies and tofu. The chef's specials are particularly intriguing, including a honey-roasted half duck the restaurant promises is "unlike anything you are used to." 

The sleek decor at My Thai Place's two locations impresses almost as much as its popular food. At the original location, a blue backlit bar and shimmering tile mosaic bring color to an otherwise white space, and rectangular alcoves in the walls contain Thai-inspired sculptures. At the new Centreville location, crystal chandeliers, white-washed brick walls, and a wall with black-and-white polka dots fill the space.