The Needle: Rabieng

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli

Rabieng

5892 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
Phone: 703.671.4222

Cuisines:
Thai

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
None nearby

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Intimate

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Lychee "dumplings"; chicken soup with galangal; shrimp-and-pork dumplings; fried catfish salad with chili and lime; roast pork in red curry; grilled half chicken with lemongrass; coconut-tapioca pudding.


 

Reader's Rating:
No Reader Reviews

It’s rare that what’s in a curry is equal to the sauce, but the braised pork in red curry at this slyly elegant cafe is one of the exceptions. The lusciousness of the curry is amplified by the tender juiciness of the meat, sliced thick and shingled à la Sunday pot roast. If nothing else reaches such heights, the kitchen, with its devotion to country-style Thai, pumps out brightly flavored hits: wok-roasted cashews and hot peppers, excellent dumplings, a salad of Chinese sausage and marinated cucumbers, and a stir-fry of crispy catfish with leaves of thin and crunchy basil.

This review appeared in the August, 2008 issue of The Washingtonian.