REVIEWS

Crystal Thai

Best Bargain
Thai Arlington Forest 4819 Arlington Boulevard Arlington, VA 703-522-1311
"Open for lunch and dinner daily. Dinner until 10:30 pm Monday through Thursday, until 11 pm Friday and Saturday, 9 Sunday.

Although the number of Thai restaurants in the area grows each year, their menus are much the same. Crystal Thai distinguishes itself for both the quality and variety of its cooking, taking advantage of such seasonal specialities as soft-shell crabs, which it offers each summer. The dining room is attractive, waitresses are in traditional Thai costumes, and the cooking is very good. From the appetizer selection try Hae Kuen, ground shrimp and pork wrapped with bean-curd skin, deep-fried, and served with a sweet red sauce. The appearance is something like fried Spam, but the taste is considerably different. Also good are Rainbow Shrimp, stuffed, wrapped in seaweed, and deep-fried, and green-papaya salad, made with tiny dried shrimp. Soups are very good, and there's a nice selection of Thai curries; on a recent visit the green chicken curry with bamboo shoots and basil leaves in coconut milk was very good. Both Spicy Seafood and Spicy Squid are spicy as promised, the seafood combined with chili sauce, carrots, and basil leaves and the squid with chili paste, fresh chilies, and basil. The pad Thai is ideal: not too sweet, studded with shrimp and chicken, and crunchy with bean sprouts.

Washingtonian, September 1997

Additional Review (June 2001)

Additional Review (June 2000)

Additional Review (June 1999)

Additional Review (June 1998)

Additional Review (June 1997)