We had a wonderful meal at Sura. We started with the Black Mushrooms. And had several other dishes (that I can't actually remember the names of them) that were all fantastic. There were dumplings and an excellent crudo. They have a secret menu that you have to ask about... we ordered it, Chicken Curry, it too was really good.
Of all the items ordered, I loved the mushrooms best. The photo I have of them is blurry, which is too bad. They were delicately prepared with a tangy dressing.
Decent service, he was a bit too bent on getting us to order the most expensive menu items.
The food came out of the kitchen incredibly fast.
Gratuity was automatically included. The first time I'd seen the practice but I really liked it. I always overtime anyway, so this takes the math out of it.
We would definitely visit again. Highly recommend!

Loved absolutely everything we ordered!
1. Quail egg wontons - very good
2. Essan sausage - very good
3. Beef horapa(must try) - spectacular (my favorite)
4. Chicken himapan - very good
5. Lychee crème brûlée - amazing

The food came super fast, servers kept checking if we need anything, the ambience was great. The check included the tip, which was clearly communicated to us so we don’t double tip. The food is not your traditional Thai, it’s more like a street food type.

Creative food with super tasty and rich flavors! The presentation was nice, and portions were enough to fill us up lol

We ordered the dishes in the first three photos, and it was around $30 per person. But after adding the staff’s recommendation from the secret menu, the price jumped to $50+ per person 😂. Definitely ask about prices beforehand

If you're looking for a unique dining experience that blends the lively atmosphere of a nightclub with the comfort of a cozy restaurant, this spot is a must-visit. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm, inviting ambiance, accompanied by a nice selection of music that enhances the overall vibe without overwhelming the conversation.
We started our meal with the cucumber and corn salad, which was a perfect blend of refreshing crunch and a subtle kick of heat—a great way to awaken the palate. The fried tofu was a standout, with each piece perfectly crispy on the outside while remaining tender on the inside, and the portion size was generous enough to share. The chicken dish served is with rice. The chicken was delightfully crispy, and the addition of cashews provided a satisfying crunch, adding another layer of texture. The sauce leaned on the sweeter side, but it was well-balanced, allowing the other flavors to shine through without being overpowering.
The service was also good. The staff was friendly and making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. For the quality of the food and the experience, the pricing was very reasonable.
Overall, this restaurant offers a fantastic blend of authentic Thai flavors and a vibrant, yet relaxed, atmosphere. It's the perfect place to enjoy a great meal with a bit of a nightlife feel, all in one. Highly recommended!

The food was really good. I really liked the quail wontons, duck, and brussel sprouts. The special chili noodle was delicious, it has pieces of bacon and I added the shrimp and it was super tasty. None of the food blew my palate, they all had a good balance of heat and flavor. It is in a basement so there’s a certain musk when you first arrive but other than that it was great.

Sura is a fantastic dining experience with delicious and well portioned modern Thai dishes and Thai twists on classic cocktails.

The ratings are high for a good reason! Everything we had (spicy belly rice, cucumber corn salad, sausage, quail egg wontons, pickled mustard greens, and the dumplings) killed me. You must go and try everything. Cocktails too!

Not your typical "American" Thai place. These are more authentic street-food/bar style dishes. Place is cozy with a casual vibe.

Everything was delicious and shareable sized, we split 3 dishes between two people.

Served really quick after ordering. Staff is attentive & friendly. Hands down the best Thai food I've had state-side so far!

Delicious & flavorful.

Great service!

I had a fantastic meal at SURA! Tucked away in the basement, SURA had an unforgettable vibe. The food was fresh innovative and spicy. Service was on point and the drink menu had a lot of creativity. The highlight for me was the salt and pepper spicy shrimp appetizer and I'll definitely check it out again when I'm back in DC

Overall pretty good experience. The food was pretty good - although I did find a few items to be a bit greasy. The curry and the noodles were really good though.

The atmosphere -was a bit left to be desired. Seats were uncomfortable and I didn’t really get the whole disco/lights thing they had going on. Just my opinion - but I didn’t appreciate it.

Really great service, all of our food + the cocktails were outstanding too. I got the Pork Belly Rice and the lychee cocktail, would recommend.

The food here was SO good. Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts and the pork belly. It’s small plates for the most part, so it’s great to get a bunch and share a little of everything.

The wait staff was very attentive. We sat down around 6:30 on a Tuesday evening and the restaurant got a little busier as we enjoyed our meal. I really appreciated that the wait staff made it clear we should enjoy our meal at a leisurely pace and didn’t rush us to leave.

Also the lychee creme brûlée was amazing. Definitely save room for dessert. Yum!

This place had a cool vibe and good food. My only two small gripes are 1) the deposit required to make a reservation...I ended up changing my reservation so I had to pay the fee twice. Although I was refunded one fee, the other fee was never deducted from my final bill and 2) we went toward closing so our dining experience felt kind of rushed. The staff were cleaning up around us and we got a 15 minute kitchen closure warning. The reservation was only for 9 pm which didn't seem that late to me. I had the quail egg wontons, the chicken dumplings and a beef and rice dish as my entree. My dinner companion has the calamari and a salmon entree. I enjoyed all of my dishes although I wish the beef dish were a little more spicy. The cocktails were okay, we ordered French 75s. Although they were in a hurry the staff were great, very friendly and attentive.

Loved absolutely everything we ordered!
1. Quail egg wontons - very good
2. Essan sausage - very good
3. Beef horapa(must try) - spectacular (my favorite)
4. Chicken himapan - very good
5. Lychee crème brûlée - amazing

The food came super fast, servers kept checking if we need anything, the ambience was great. The check included the tip, which was clearly communicated to us so we don’t double tip. The food is not your traditional Thai, it’s more like a street food type.

We had a wonderful meal at Sura. We started with the Black Mushrooms. And had several other dishes (that I can't actually remember the names of them) that were all fantastic. There were dumplings and an excellent crudo. They have a secret menu that you have to ask about... we ordered it, Chicken Curry, it too was really good.
Of all the items ordered, I loved the mushrooms best. The photo I have of them is blurry, which is too bad. They were delicately prepared with a tangy dressing.
Decent service, he was a bit too bent on getting us to order the most expensive menu items.
The food came out of the kitchen incredibly fast.
Gratuity was automatically included. The first time I'd seen the practice but I really liked it. I always overtime anyway, so this takes the math out of it.
We would definitely visit again. Highly recommend!

Awesome Thai

Hands down one of the best spots to eat in DC. Cozy, great atmosphere, great happy hour.

Sura is a fantastic dining experience with delicious and well portioned modern Thai dishes and Thai twists on classic cocktails.

Came here for dinner, it was DELICIOUS. Highly recommend the grilled shrimp kari rice, quail egg wontons and the lychee brulee!!! The staff was so kind and I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant.

It’s underground, a little bit too crowded, noisy as well. The foods was creative and well flavored! Small portion, a little overpriced comparing to the service and the environment. Automatically 20% tips added.

อาหารอร่อยมากค่ะ🙏🙏🙏 ส้มตำาลาว ลาบเป็ด 🤩🤩🤩

Wow, great service (super fast) and food to die for. Would go back daily for lunch and dinner if i could. Chicken Himapan and Special Chili Noodle especially recommended!

Please put some acoustic ceiling paneling or something, wood slat with foam or whatnot

5 star restaurant at its price point (very reasonable). I try to eat here 1-2x a month. Some frequent favorites. Spicy belly rice. But it’s ALL worth trying.

Creative food with super tasty and rich flavors! The presentation was nice, and portions were enough to fill us up lol

We ordered the dishes in the first three photos, and it was around $30 per person. But after adding the staff’s recommendation from the secret menu, the price jumped to $50+ per person 😂. Definitely ask about prices beforehand

Beautiful ambience and tasty food.

Every. Single. Thing. Was excellent. Awesome experience!

this place was great!! food was delicious (got the mushrooms, dumplings, rice chips & peanut dip, chile noodles & sausage). super cute atmosphere and good drinks too.

GREAT! All dishes were super tasty and loved the cocktails. Great service. I docked one star for lighting. Space is cute but lighting could be softer/dimmer for a better vibe. We’ll be back.

The food was really good. I really liked the quail wontons, duck, and brussel sprouts. The special chili noodle was delicious, it has pieces of bacon and I added the shrimp and it was super tasty. None of the food blew my palate, they all had a good balance of heat and flavor. It is in a basement so there’s a certain musk when you first arrive but other than that it was great.

Great, inventive takes on Bangkok Chinatown food. I've tried their cashew chicken, braised beef with purple basil and the lychee creme brulee, and highly recommend them all.

20% gratuity was added without asking. Be aware

The ratings are high for a good reason! Everything we had (spicy belly rice, cucumber corn salad, sausage, quail egg wontons, pickled mustard greens, and the dumplings) killed me. You must go and try everything. Cocktails too!

While the vibe of the spot was cool, the food wasn’t great. The concept of the pork dish simply didn’t work. The chicken was okay and at least had potential.

If you're looking for a unique dining experience that blends the lively atmosphere of a nightclub with the comfort of a cozy restaurant, this spot is a must-visit. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm, inviting ambiance, accompanied by a nice selection of music that enhances the overall vibe without overwhelming the conversation.
We started our meal with the cucumber and corn salad, which was a perfect blend of refreshing crunch and a subtle kick of heat—a great way to awaken the palate. The fried tofu was a standout, with each piece perfectly crispy on the outside while remaining tender on the inside, and the portion size was generous enough to share. The chicken dish served is with rice. The chicken was delightfully crispy, and the addition of cashews provided a satisfying crunch, adding another layer of texture. The sauce leaned on the sweeter side, but it was well-balanced, allowing the other flavors to shine through without being overpowering.
The service was also good. The staff was friendly and making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. For the quality of the food and the experience, the pricing was very reasonable.
Overall, this restaurant offers a fantastic blend of authentic Thai flavors and a vibrant, yet relaxed, atmosphere. It's the perfect place to enjoy a great meal with a bit of a nightlife feel, all in one. Highly recommended!

We were misled by o line reviews/adverts. We are reviewing the experience 3 days later and nothing memorable comes to mind.

Sura is a tiny hidden gem located in DuPont Circle right on P St near 23rd St.

This Thai restaurant caught my eye on Instagram a few years ago when I saw a post about their lychee creme brûlée. Umm yes please!

A old friend of mine was in town from California and was also in the mood for Thai food, so we made our way over to Sura for an early happy hour and what a treat!!

We ordered a few appetizers including the quail egg wontons and Brussel sprouts. While our food was quite tasty, all I could think of was devouring their lychee creme brûlée.

It did not disappoint. It was a creamy, lychee custard caramelized to perfection. A tantalizing, Thai twist on a classic dessert.

Sura has what I would say are slightly, non-traditional Thai dishes that are worth exploring if you want to try something new and unique.

Great, fresh Thai in a cool setting

We went to this restaurant first time and we were hoping to get good food like we are used to having at thai restaurants, but we eere disappointed. Restaurant was empty and stuff was not friendly. We were not welcoming to that restaurant and food wasn't good. We don't recommend this restaurant.

Very good service, Poor quality food.

Great goose. Reasonable prices. Restaurant was very loud.

Great food. Fresh, innovative, Thai inspired menu. Relaxing, informal, inviting atmosphere. EXCELLENT House Specialty Cocktails. Check out Happy Hour! 5 Stars.

The food had surprisingly large portions and it was all very tasty. The staff is small, but they're able to provide excellent service for all the tables they have.

Excellent, excellent food. Kind of a Thai-Japanese Izakaya type place. Quail egg wontons and Old Skool satay are marvelous. Salmon Crudo also good. The guy next to me had Chicken Himapan. Looked great.

One thing: This place is small and VERY good. Either get there early in the evening or make reservations.

Always one of my favorites.

Food is not bad,I like the spicy belly rice. Didn’t love the bonesless duck dish. The restaurant is very loud that we literally had to scream at each other.

If you make someone pay in advance for making reservation, you bet the experience is going to be amazing. Nah ~ ~

Serving Bangkok Chinatown street Thai food inspired dishes aint uncommon now days. Generally the drinks and food is tasty and good but nothing to shout about except for trying to have a conversation. Music was so loud and sometimes louder made it so so uncomfortable to dine and chit chat with your company. On top of that, one of the hostess was a little sassy i’ll say.

The brussels sprouts we ordered was pretty charred (as you can see in pic). Chicken Himapan’s deep fried chicken bits were worst than Panda Express. Those were the two dishes that was pretty disappointing.

Added gratuity for you on the check just totally turn one off. At least we were not told to leave at a certain time for turnover like it happen to other reviewers.

So decide for yourself if you wanna come.😌😌

After reading that this was a recommended DC restaurant on the eater blog, I booked in advance for our DC visit. I was disappointed in the experience, I’m sorry to say. It’s a mystery to me how this restaurant made it onto a food blog’s radar. With respect to atmosphere, you are in a low ceiling, subterranean room with music that becomes excruciatingly loud as the night goes on. We basically had to shout across the table to have a conversation.

The menu is definitely overpriced for DC, perhaps because of the food blog popularity. We sampled a wide assortment of dishes among the four of us. The chicken himapan was not good. The chicken meat was incredibly overcooked to the point that they seemed like small rocks. The duck was okay. The dumplings seemed frozen and reheated in a microwave, the filling was dense and ordinary. The chili noodles were the exception, flavorful and nicely cooked. The shrimp were okay, came with an interesting sauce. The Brussels were not crispy but charred beyond recognition and doused with a sweet sauce, inedible. Drinks were decent but NYC prices.

Also, they add a 20% “service fee” without asking so you’re giving a generous tip even if you receive poor service. They also make you pay a refunded at check in $10/person deposit to make a reservation. Lame. This place is just cashing in while they can. Won’t recommend or revisit.

Best Thai food we have had in DC! Note, this is not americanized thai food. The food was authentic and delicious and the flavors were really well developed. The menu is not extensive but every dish has been perfected and was prepared with care. The salt and pepper shrimp was so good we had to get a second order. Chili noodles are also a must!

Only go if you’re willing to pay ALOT of money and AUTO GRATUITY.

So order 1 appetizer , and 2 meal , 1 alcoholic drink , and a Thai tea. =$90 something close to $100 .
Food - it was good but not worth the price good
Alcohol- friend stated not great
My Thai- average and a little too sweet but still better than Thai tea at a boba shop (that’s very sweet)
Appreciate the authenticity and vibes but the price was a little much.
My friend and I both were not full from everything we order.
We also didn’t appreciate that gratuity was added for 2 ppl. Or liked that we were told out table would be given to a reservation at 6pm . We finished food around 5:50pm and there was literally only one other table in use. There were so many empty tables .
Lastly we were taxed after gratuity was added so paid even more .
So we weren’t too happy but made the best of it .

Great menu super fun restaurant. Really enjoyed the salt and pepper shrimp, pork rolls, and dumplings. Delicious noodles and cashew chicken.

This place was fine. The drink flavors were muted, but not in a good, intentional way. The food tasted nice enough, but nothing was interesting or exciting. The place itself was very loud. I’d much prefer the average, neighborhood Thai spot.

This is a thai restaurant that serves street-food styled thai dishes with chinese influences. The interior is very dim and intimate. We came in without a reservation, and the staff was nice enough to seat us at a high top. We ordered the calamari, the old skool pork satay, and the spicy pork belly rice. I thought the old skool pork satay was pretty standard, though I had hoped the portions would have been a little bigger considering the cost. The calamari was good. It was battered and fried to a good ratio of squid to fried batter. The slicy pork belly rice was also nice.

I am visiting DC and will back to SURA for sure. Fun, great food and service. Went for happy hour, which was a plus. Can't say enough how good the food was. See you next year on our yearly visit to DC. The price per person did include drinks

Great food. Different, and distinct. Spicy dishes are 🔥.

We found the place on google as from the outside is not very visible. It was just awesome. Thai food in a new spin and great cocktails

We stumbled upon Sura near our AirBnB while on a short trip to DC. We had an appetizer and two entrees, which were very reasonably-priced, and also some of the best Thai food I've ever had. Everything was EXCELLENT! In fact, we liked it so much that we went back there again two nights later. Everything was just as good as the first night.

No joking, every dish they offer is delicious and creative. Not typical Thai food but I really love every single dish here. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. If you like spicy Asian food, this is the place for you.

Look: the food was very good, the atmosphere was good. However, the service was dismal. We (a party of 5) came in at 6 PM WITH A RESERVATION on a Tuesday and promptly got told that we would have to leave at 7 PM. We didn’t even have the check at 7 PM but we did have it at 7:15, they refused to divide it into anything other than equal amounts, and they told us we HAD to get out as soon as we got the cards back. Won’t be back.

Everything was 5 stars but BEWARE the credit card reservation fee. I reserved a table for 4 and put my credit card down to guarantee the reservation. I called to let them know that my colleague wouldn't be able to come due to a delayed flight so it was only 3 of us. We showed up, we ate, we left. Then I was only refunded the reservation deposit for 3 people and they kept the deposit for the 4th. Tacky. I mean, we still used a 4 person table (like we would have if the 4th would have joined) and we still spent over $100 in food and drinks. Just these small things leave me never wanting to go there again. Like, come on. Do you need my $10 deposit that bad?

Sura, what a vibe! This spot has aesthetics on lock, and the menu is a work of art. The real showstopper? The “Special Chili Noodles”—a total game-changer, a must-try. We also got in on the secret menu with the Softshell Crab—so much garlic and green onion goodness, it was fire. The calamari was legit, perfect portion, and not greasy at all, major win. Now, the quail egg wontons, not my jam. Cool concept, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Overall, Sura sets the stage for a killer date night or a spot to mix it up with a variety of flavors. It was a vibe!

The service was surprisingly fast! The restaurant is intimate and on the smaller size. The cocktails are tasty, and the food is very flavorful. They also offered to adjust the spice level for me because I’m not a fan of overly spicy food. Highly recommend

Wonderful food with the freshest ingredients.

Not your typical "American" Thai place. These are more authentic street-food/bar style dishes. Place is cozy with a casual vibe.

Everything was delicious and shareable sized, we split 3 dishes between two people.

Served really quick after ordering. Staff is attentive & friendly. Hands down the best Thai food I've had state-side so far!

Came here for Valentines Day dinner, and it didn't disappoint. It was our first time and the flavors were strong and fresh.
Appetizers:
Pork Satay 5/5 - peanut dressing was rich, coconutty, and savory
S&P Rolls 5/5 - light and crispy! It's paired sauce was yummy. I could eat the whole order by myself 🤤
Dishes:
Beef Horapa 4/5
The beef shank was super tender, we like spicy but it couldve had more spice. The fried egg could've been more fried.
Shrimp Kari Rice 5/5
The shrimps were wonderfully plump and juicy, and the curry over rice was to die for. Super rich from the egg, and seasoned well.

The lychee creme brulee looked so tempting but we were soo full by the end of it. Would def come back and try some other options!

Was surprised how amazing it was here, portions are great and food it awesome.

we ordered more food after the first round. can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. everything tastes good together. got here at 6:30 ish on a monday and it filled up fast. actually forgot to take pictures of the rest of the food but the empty bowl should say enough

We walked over to the bar to grab some drinks and witnessed a small roach climb up the wall and across the bar in the middle of the day. Needless to say we left.

Excellent food and friendly staff.

Everything was delicious. Will definitely be coming back.

Maybe the best price point in DC. Creative tasty dishes, great service, awesome cocktails. Highly recommend the beef entree and the old fashioned. Our go to feel like going out for high quality food but not spending 50$ each spot.

Cucumber & corn salad was unique and very flavorful. Excellent calamari with a wonderful sweet chili dipping sauce. Entree was Beef Horapa which was solid but a bit boring unfortunately. Cocktail was overloaded with ice. Somewhat annoying that a down payment is required for a reservation but also understandable considering the restaurant size. However, a mandatory 20% tip for a small party is obnoxious. Would I return? …I think so because I appreciate that it is SO authentic; it has bits of brilliance to be treasured as well as critical flaws. Enjoy the experience.

Food was great but the portions were pretty small. Two of us split dumplings, two “large” plates, and a dessert, but we didn’t leave very full. Our meal was $72 without any drinks.
- Dumplings: tasty, 4/5
- Beef: best thing we got, 5/5
- Chili Noodles: weird but not bad. Almost like an Italian/asian fusion… “tasted like pizza,” 3.5/5
- Banana Coconut egg roll dessert: just okay, 3/5

Lovely place! I love the food (especially special chili noodles they’re so good) and price of the food is insanely reasonable and even considered to be on the cheap side!!!! Awesome drinks and atmosphere. You first walk down one floor and restaurant is located in a basement. Speakeasy vibe ish! Recommend :)

What a hidden gem in DC . Mustry if your into great food and cocktails 🍹

Amazing food and drinks every time

Delicious dishes included spicy chili noodle, braised beef shank, and S&P rolls

Very fast service. Flavorful, fun and creative Thai dishes (Bangkok street food style). Not too spicy.

The salmon crudo was amazing. The service was really nice and the dishes recommended were great.

The food was delicious. Gluten-free options are clearly marked on the menu.

amazing!

Cool subterranean vibe. Thai influenced. Had two of the best salads of my life. Cucumber and corn. And the Black Mushroom. Sooooooo tasty. I want go back again and again.

This basement Thai confection in DuPont offers a warm, cozy, atmosphere and a menu of spicy delights. Inspired by Bangkok Chinatown's street food, the cocktails are unusual but memorable -- try the Praya Naga. Food highlights include a zesty crudo, chicken and shrimp dumplings, chilled black mushrooms, and a delicious duck laab. This place offers a convivial affordable food adventure!

Great food and service. Amazingly delicious Thai flavor(we thought it was more “American style” Thai when we first saw the restaurant on google. the salmon and quail egg wontons are sooo good. The duck laab is also a must try.

The presentation and taste of all the dishes I got was 10/10! And the service and atmosphere are great. Highly recommend the bean curd app, shumai, and pickled cabbage. Cocktails looked really fun.

Ridiculously good food, everything we tried was amazing. Also ridiculously strict about their reservation system, I had to show them a picture of my friends swollen ankle to not get charged their cancellation fee when 3/4 of us still showed up. Staff was very nice after the photo was shown lol. Would definitelyyyy return.

The food was good but I would say the portions were on the smaller size. The lighting was low and it was a little struggle to read the menu. The place is a little loud but I was ok with that. We ordered Jek Pas dumplings which were flavorful , calamari and Grilled shrimp Kari rice. The grilled shrimp was delicious but most of the dish was white rice.

Ok polecam

Great food!

Fantastic food. We ordered several starters and one main dish. Everything arrived quickly in no particular order - it was all delicious. I’d recommend ordering several items and sharing as the best way to appreciate the menu. The cocktails were ok.
Be prepared for the noise level which is very high. The service is very quick.

The food isn’t what you would typically find at a US Thai restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, the ambient noise was way too loud. Maybe I will come back when they are less busy.

Food was great…just be aware it can be rather salty.

I had a great experience. Something very different from your typical Thai restaurant. The food comes with an explosion of flavors. The presentation of the food was impeccable, and crew was very polite and welcoming. I’m definitely going back. A family business restaurant that deserves your support because of their fantastic offer.

Loud, dark, but delicious. That about sums it up.

We needed the flashlights on our phones to read the menu. The place is small w low ceilings so sound absorbing tiles would help. It is hard to hear the person you are eating with. All that said, the dishes we got were excellent.

Delicious!

If I lived in the neighborhood, I’d eat here regularly. Not your usual pad Thai! Little loud so it’s not a relaxing place to eat. And I always feel a little weird having a nice meal in a basement. But that’s probably just a personal fear of basements. Overall, very very good food. Nice server who happily took back a cocktail that was just a super weird drink. Sorry can’t remember what it was called but it tasted like brine. Dumplings were ok. The chili noodles were very good and I recommend the Brussels sprouts.

Awesome atmosphere. Delicious food - definitely try the salmon crudo. Nice service!

Mixed but ultimately bad experience.

Ordered the signature beef - although somewhat flavorful, it was cold and very fatty. Rice was also cold and dry. Food came extremely fast with no pacing. Salmon crudo was good.

Great pork belly.

Nice concept but questionable execution. Menu borrowed heavily from other Asian cuisines—all SE Asian street food borrow from each other—with many dishes Thai-alized with the addition of peanuts. Dishes reduced in size and up in salt (a lot!) such that you have to order more and drink lots. Not a huge problem but combined that with extremely low lighting making it impossible to ID food, super loud music you must shout over, a fancy reservation system with refundable deposits and finally an automatic 20% gratuity, it starts to grate on you how hard this place tries and not delivers.

The beef horapa was great. Recommend if you like spicy🔥

4.5/5. food is SPICY holy f beware yal. i can normally handle some spice but just the normal spice that comes with most dishes is FIRE🔥 food was great, authentic thai. service was fabulous. place is really cool below ground reminds me of thailand honestly.

Some of the best Thai food I've ever had! Super cool place, cocktails were delicious too! Spicy Belly rice was so good, and the Chili Noodles too. Highly recommend coming here, reserving in advance is a good idea. Thanks for an incredible meal!

This place is amazing! The food and drinks are delicious. I had to adjust my reservation and the hostess was v understanding.

My recent dining experience at Sura, a family-owned restaurant in Washington DC, was an absolute delight. The welcoming, personable touch often synonymous with family-run establishments was evident throughout our visit, adding an additional layer of warmth and charm to the overall experience.

The service was exemplary; the staff was not only efficient and attentive, but also brimming with a genuine love for their work that could be felt in their every action.

Salmon crudo is legit

Wowowow everything was amazing. Every single dish was absolutely incredible! Cannot miss the salmon crudo, salt and pepper shrimp, and duck laab. Amazing value and family owned. Must experience - SO GOOD!

Sat down for drinks, and the Lychee Collins was superb. Def recommend coming here for a cool atmosphere in the heart of Dupont

Outstanding food. Friendly service. A bit loud.

Everything about this place is great!

As someone who grew up in Bangkok, I can say with certainty that SURA is a phenomenal Thai restaurant. Although they describe themselves as "non-traditional", the dishes are very authentic. The "non-traditional" aspect comes from the ingredients they use to create their dishes, adding their spin to traditional Thai dishes and flavors.

We started off with some Quail Egg Wontons, Beef Skewers, and Boneless Duck Laab. Let me tell you, the Duck Laab is one of the best Laab's I've ever had in Washington, D.C., the flavors are perfectly balanced and it tasted like what you would get on the streets of Bangkok - highly recommend.

For mains we got the Beef Shank Horapa and the Special Chili Noodles. The Beef Shank Horapa tasted like Kaprao - a classic Thai dish, but with braised beef shanks that just simply melted in your mouth. The flavor was impeccable. I really liked the taste of the Special Chili Noodles, the bacon and chili jam really brings out a unique flavor.

Many review says the food here is spicy. It is not. It is just spicy enough so you get a taste of it. Spice is an essential part of Thai food, so it is a must have when eating this cuisine.

Highly recommend this restaurant if you want some authentic Thai food. Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Made a reservation for 6 pm. At 5:46 pm received a text saying my table was ready. Upon arrival at precisely 6 pm, my reservation time, the host asked if I wanted the bar or a table. As a solo diner on frequent business trips I get this question a lot.
I answered that I wanted a table - he then grimaced and said "can you give the table back by 7:15 pm?" I said ok as I clearly had no choice...But their website very clearly says 90 minutes on tables when you make a reservation via Tock. The clear unspoken message was - I hereby give you 75 minutes only because you dare not sit at the very cramped bar in the entryway! I asked if he understood that I had a reservation and he said yes. To say the least, this really soured my mood for the whole experience - particularly when I left at 7:13 pm and there were 9 empty two-tops and 2 empty four-tops left in the restaurant.

Maybe all of this would have been redeemable if the food had been as "wow" as hyped, but it just simply was not.

Food rundown:

Quail egg wontons - much hyped but definitely would not order again. The hard boiled texture quail egg was dry inside - the scant sauce did nothing to offset this fairly bland dish.

Pork satay (Old Skool Satay) - one of my street food mainstays in Thailand so I was extremely excited and unfortunately very disappointed. The peanut sauce was bland. The pickled veg on the side didn't add much. The pork was chewy and with less char caramelization than I would have expected.

Duck laap - the duck came chopped in very large chewy chunks that frankly had little flavor in and of themselves. The rest of the salad components were good but the duck just felt a bit off. Note: this dish was marked as spicy but it was not at all to me.

I then attempted to order that day's secret menu item - Massaman curry. As of 6:36 pm they had already run out! They created a new secret menu item with noodles but it didn't sound particularly appetizing so I didn't order it. (For the record, there's not really a secret menu - the secret menu is one item that is that day's s

Beef Horapa - the beef was very tender and tasty. I would order this again. The beef itself wasn't spicy but the sauce resting at the bottom of the dish was.

For the record I had planned to order more (was planning on lots of leftovers for takeaway from the get go in an attempt to try lots of the dishes) but I ran out of time given my 7:15 pm curfew.

The very polite and nice waitress asked if I wanted desert at 7:06 pm but I informed her that the host wanted me out by 7:15 pm. He was standing there and overheard this. Neither of them said "oh don't worry, you have time for desert."

Drinks - I ordered the two that had mezcal as an ingredient, a Spicy Paloma and a Yaowarat. The first was very refreshing, the latter was basically a Manhattan with mezcal.

Pro tip - the table next to me made the mistake of ordering all their dishes at once. They all came out within 15 minutes of ordering and they had to send half full dishes away just to make space. I'm not sure how you master the pacing of orders versus time limited tables. I could've done it with a full 90 minutes...but whatever.

I'm afraid to say there are better Thai restaurants in town. This place gets three stars because the food was good but not mind-blowing-crave-worthy good. The prices for DC are abundantly fair. But to Sura DC's chef/owner - get yourself a new host. The foul taste he left in my mouth means I will never return nor recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Im Thai and the waitress convinced that the food would taste authentic. This is far from being true. All was really sweet and the owner came to the table to educate us that it was Izakaya style. When one of us said she lived in Japan and this was not Izakaya by any standard, then he accepted that it was just a concept…

Then when the bill came, the auto gratuity was added. We tried to ask why it didnt come as suggested tips, the manager came to argue that it was written in the menu and that we could have protested since the beginning. But in fact, it was mentioned (and not very upfront) only in the drinks menu!! So, beware of this. Honestly, they dont deserve a single cent of tip given their rudeness.

Seeing how enthusiastic they were with arguing with customers, the restaurant staff should go for a debate contest rather than being at service industry.

We’ve been to Sura three times and it never disappoints.

The Son in Law Eggs are such a treat. The eggs were boiled first and then deep fried. They were served with this amazing, sweet and tangy sauce which pairs beautifully with the eggs.

The Tom Yum chicken soup is packed with flavors. It’s spicy, sour and filled with ingredients. This soup is the cure for loss of appetite for sure.

The Grilled Pork Belly is to die for. The rice in my bowl disappeared quickly. If you like pork belly, get it!

We had Lychee Creme Brulee for dessert. Didn’t know what to expect since lychee is such a delicate fruit. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The fruit was hidden in the custard and you can really taste it.

The space is cool and the service is swift. I cannot recommend this place to people more.

I would say “premium authentic Thai”
Very recommended.
Thai staffs are very friendly

Absolutely delicious!!!

Had a great meal here before going to the Improv. Started with the Chilled Black Mushroom app, which was delicious and different. Jek Pa's dumplings were perfectly cooked and balanced. The beef skewers were tasty and helped balance the meal with some protein. The highlight was definitely the Special Chili Noodles, which were spicy and loaded with flavor.
The overall menu is small but it is packed with many dishes that were new to us.
The cocktails were also delicious - my wife loved the Lychee Collins.
I highly recommend Sura and hope to dine here again soon.

This place surprised me! They nailed the Thai dishes we had!

-Quail wontons, so good but need more sauce be star it’s that good!

-Noodles with bacon, wow so rich (only get if you love that bacon)

Crispy chicken, gimme all that

Lychee brûlée, what a way to end the night. Just GWOW!

Vanilla ice cream, creamy as ****

This was def an adventure, and the setting is a mysterious subterranean dining room. I’m down to do it again! What a way to spoil my taste buds! Art sprinkled all over is a plus.

Don’t eat here with a big group. They will charge the reservation fee but won’t take it out of your bill.

Hit or miss, when we arrived, the place was absolutely empty we were the only ones there besides wait staff. The Special Chili noodles were amazing, spicy, savory, sweet it was super flavorful and delicious. The Chicken Himapan however wasn’t great and could’ve benefited from some more flavor and spice. Also a little hard to find given the fact that it’s in a basement that looks slightly abandoned from street level and signage for the restaurant is non existent.

Okay

For being in a basement, the vibe is good. We ordered 2 Cocktails (so and so, not recommended for $13 each..,) and 3 dishes (very good, packed with flavors but a bit too salty). 20% service fees automatically added to the bill.

fantastic Thai food, and the drinks are creative and great also, cool how they recycled cans for the cocktails

We tried multiple dishes, all were delicious. It’s a cozy and wonderful restaurant.

Sura is just a vibe. the Salmon Crudu is a must. Yes.

Amazing food & very cool atmosphere

We loved the food at Sura. The pork belly rice and the shumai were particularly delicious!

I’ve been a regular here since it opened and the food is honestly great! The the staff is awfully rude and treat you horribly. I will not be going back after my recent experience where the food was delayed extremely and when we followed up we were yelled at and spoken to like they are doing us a favor by even serving us. The male server with glasses is especially rude. You simply shouldn’t be serving if you don’t like it or respect your clients!

I hoped for more. But it was just solid Asian food. The standout was the salmon crudo. Vibe is also speakeasy exotic down in a basement. Just don’t use your rice spoon for mixing!

Walked in the door, looked down the stairs and saw this and turned around and walked out.

Sura is a Thai restaurant that serves Yaowarat-inspired food and drinks. The dimmed lighting gave the restaurant an intimate vibe. We didn't have a Tock reservation but it was early enough that they had a table for us. We enjoyed the Muay Thai "Thai Tea" IPA, Thai Iced Tea and
Esaan Skewers. The Essan Skewers consisted of three skewers of tender beef marinated with esaan essences. It was served with a sweet and tangy tamarind sauce dusted with rice powder.

I went on Friday, February 24th. The meal I had was one of the best I've ever had in DC. Every dish was, at the very least, very good. The beef skewers were the 'least amazing' and they were excellent. Get the wontons, the duck laab, and the salmon.

Not a bad item on the menu. Herbaceous, spicy and savory dishes. Glad to see a restaurant like this that shrugs the trend of bland Americanized Thai food. Very affordable to try multiple dishes

Nice place, great foods. 👍

Impeccable Service and Amazing Food everytime.

Rohan said the drinks are 🔥🔥

My wonderful significant other took me on a surprise date to Sura recently and I was not disappointed. We tried so much of their menu. It was a fantastic date to say the least. However, I was pretty upset because they placed us near the door while there were plenty of other seats open around the restaurant. It was 20% full by the time we arrived. Not sure why after we request multiple times to be moved. Nevertheless, we were hungry and were excited to try the food. We started off with drinks. I tried the old fashioned and it was great. Next we tried the Jek Pa’s Dumplings, Crispy Shrimp, Essan Skewers, and Quail Egg Wontons to start. They were amazing. The quail eggs were especially delicious. They looked pretty interest by exceeded expectations. Our main course was the Special chili noodle which were fantastic. The level of flavor was fantastic. We closed the evening with trying the Lychee Crème Brûlée, Mango Ice Cream and the Banana + Brie Springrolls. To be honest I loved every food item I tried. I just did not enjoy the placement of seating especially on a cold day.

The food was absolutely incredible! Proper spice and the flavors were completely on point. If you love Thai, this is the spot.

Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, or came at a bad time, but I got their duck dish and ordered online. It told me to come about an hour later and when I got there had to wait 30 minutes for my order (which I don't mind but I know would anger some). The portion was tiny, which is whatever, but it also had cilantro which wasn't listed as an ingredient specifically on the menu and I've got that genetic trait that makes it taste like soap, so I had to pick around it. It wasn't that spicy unfortunately, but was incredibly well seasoned to be fair.

I'd probably try them again and maybe order something else, definitely don't order takeout though, your best bet is probably dining in

Cool and cozy with fantastic drinks, delicious food, and thoughtful service

Amazing service and some of the most interesting Thai inspired food I've had in the city. Service was wonderful - this place is a gem. Can't wait to go back!