Eat Great Cheap 2017Arin Lapakulchai’s tiny storefront—the lone Thai restaurant in the mainly Vietnamese Eden Center—isn’t the most boundary-pushing kitchen around. Instead, the chef turns out quietly thrilling renditions of takeout standards—succulent chicken satay, flaky curry-filled empanadas, vivid drunken noodles. That’s not to say her shortlist of hits shies away from spice: Ask for things Thai hot and she’ll more than oblige. Also good: Pad see ew; eggplant with ground pork; crispy pork belly with string beans; khao soi.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
