Thai Tanic

Thai Tanic is a cozy (see also: tiny) Thai restaurant on 14th St in Northwest DC that stands out with its enormous red sign. The area has seen numerous renovations and commercial tenants that have made a nice little neighborhood to explore, and can’t have a solid urban neighborhood without the following:

1. At least two coffee houses within a 2 mile radius
2. A proper Thai restaurant
3. A tranny named Phil…Philassandra whom you know on a first name basis

So! Thai tanic is an integral part of the 14th street corridor, and the area would be just another hot, caffeinated tranny mess without it.

The decor is pretty basic for a Thai restaurant. There is always some sort of underwater theme, as if the Thai people believe they are descendants of Mermaids and Mermen.

Seriously. Tell me you’ve ever been in a Thai restaurant that doesn’t have sparkly/glitter countertops, some sort of underwater theme, and waitresses in snorkels, and I’ll tell you that you’re a dirty effin’ liar, or that my theory is based on hilarity and not hard science.

The wait staff is friendly here, and Thai Tanic seems to be a local restaurant rather than a much hyped of-the-moment type place, which makes the atmosphere a good deal more relaxing.

There are a number of vegetarian appetizers and entrees, which are great in offering Jen some choices, although she always goes for her favorite, the Drunken Noodles with tofu. It’s a solid dish, and more often than not, there’s enough for her to box up and take home for another meal.

Drunken Noodles

I have a bit of a harder time picking through the choices, but I generally end up with a curry dish. So I had the chicken in yellow curry, with tomatoes and green peppers. It’s nothing too spicy here, your typical thai curry dish, but it takes out that Thai craving that I get every so often.

Chicken in Yellow Curry

Nothing too exotic to report here, that is, as long as you don’t consider Thai food really all that exotic. It’s a basic staple in urban cuisine, and as far as I know, one that’s been spared from the fusions that are all the rage with modern haute-coutre gastro-halls. Think of the frankensteinish possibilities. Swedish-Thai. Creole-Thai. Thai-Soul Food.

Actually, that last one doesn’t sound too bad.

If you’re on 14th street and can’t make up your mind on what’s for dinner, Thai Tanic is a decent spot to get a quick bite. The prices are inexpensive, the wait staff isn’t pretentious, and most importantly, the food isn’t half bad. Don’t expect anything too fancy or different here, although the menu does offer several signature house dishes for you to choose from. It’s the perfect answer to those nights when you’re indecisive about the food, but you want something a little different from the norm. ThaiTanic has two locations on 14th street, and you can find the original on a map here.

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