Dish of the Week: Khao Soi.

[ 0 ] March 3, 2016 | Johnna

Khao Soi

People watching from the second floor of Mango Tree restaurant in City Center D.C. just became my new hobby. I visited last week and mistakenly sat on the side of the table that allowed me to see everything tht was going outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. I could barely keep my focus on the fragrant Thai spices coming across my table. The khao soi that came to the table first snapped my attention immediately back to my purpose for being there: good food exploration.

The Khao Soi at Mango Tree is one of the most fragrant, flavorful

Braised Lamb Shank

thai dishes I have had in a long time. Khao soi reminds me of the salad at Rose’s Luxury where you are presented with this sectioned off dish of ingredients and you are encouraged to fervently mix the ingredients together creating an almost entirely different dish. Rice noodles, shallots, peanut and boiled eggs mixed with limes sold me at the very beginning. I have rule about Thai food because it is often done incorrectly around these parts. Until this introduction to Mango Tree’s Khao Soi, Thai X-ing was my ONLY destination when I have the craving for the Southeast Asian cuisine. The Khao Soi alongside supporting castmates, slow braised lamb shank (massamun curry) and the char-grilled hanger steak (isaan tamarind sauce/fresh mint/dried chili), have given me a change of heart.

I now have two places to get my Thai fix…and one of them comes with a view.

Tags: d.c., restaurants, Thai, Washington

Category: restaurant reviews, Reviews, Washington D.C.

About the Author (Author Profile)

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.