Thai X-ing D.C.
Thai X-ing, pronounced Thai Crossing, consists of two restaurant locations in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. The original location on Florida Ave. NW began as take-out-only, with chef/owner Taw Vigsittaboot cooking traditional Thai food in the building’s basement-kitchen, and delivering it to Washingtonians via his bicycle. Nearly ten years later, Taw is still cooking in the basement-kitchen, but has since bought the second floor of the building [he did and remains to live in the one-bedroom apartment on the third-floor] and has expanded the business to a second location on 9th St NW, about a 10-minute walk. The eclectic interior design and authentic Southern Thai flavors have situated Thai X-ing within the D.C. ethnic eating circuit, and Washington City Paper readers voted it the reader’s choice award for Best Thai Food in 2012 and 2013.
Open six days a week, the restaurant offers a chef’s choice menu for a fixed price per head, and almost always requires a reservation on weekends. Upon visiting Thai X-ing, one can expect at least 5 to 7 courses according to that night’s theme [Vegetarian/Pescatarian; Meat/Fish/Vegetable; Vegetarian-only] and gluten-free and dairy-free options are always available. [Especially since Thai food uses little dairy]. While the Florida Ave [original] location is alcohol-free, the 9th St location has a full bar and allows outside wine for a corkage fee of $5.
Taw Vigsittaboot is himself an artist from Thailand, but has put his artwork aside in recent decades for the sake of his growing business. Thai X-ing also now has a location in Ranong Thailand, where tourists can stay in a guest-house built by Taw and go on river-adventures with the Maya-boat, a small vessel Taw built and named after his oldest daughter.
On the outside of Thai X-ing 9th St, Taw’s daughter Maya hung a sign that reads Syrian Refugees Welcome; Come Have a Meal With Us. I appreciated this subtle political move on the part of Thai X-ing. Taw says that the sign has only helped with business.
