Mae Ornnit Thai Kitchen

“ Best calamari I have had in a long time Cozy little place, friendly employees Food was ready in minutes Really pleasant Will definitely order again ”

“ We came back for a Saturday lunch and decided to try a few dishes that are normally not on our Thai food staple list. We had tom kha gai soup, the fish cakes (tod mun plah), garlic sauce tofu (pad kratiem), tum lao, and crispy watercress salad. We also had Thai iced tea and a mango sticky rice dessert. Both the soup and the fish cakes hit just right. The soup had a good ratio of coconut milk in it. I think some restaurants overdo this so the soup ends up being "coconut milk soup with spices and lemongrass." There was a lot of chicken, some sliced white button mushrooms, and a lot of the inedible aromatics that add to the complex flavor of this soup. The fish cakes were good, just like the previous time. They were infused with slivers of kaffir lime leaf. The garlic tofu was good as usual. Very garlicky. The watercress salad was different than what we're used to getting, but quite good. The ground pork and seafood is in a classic larb-style base (tangy, slightly sour, slighty sweet, with a little spice -- I would actually up this from the standard spice level 1 to 2 or 3 next time). What was interesting about this dish was the crispy fried watercress. It was not oily or dense, but instead light and crunchy. Topping the watercress with jasmine rice and some of the minced pork and dressing made the perfect bite. There was a lot of seafood here: 4 good-sized shrimp, a scallop, and about 6-7 chunky pieces of squid. Finally, the tum lao. This is not for the crowd that sticks to pad thai and chicken satay. While those are good in their own right, this dish is intensely flavored. The menu describes it as the "north eastern Thai variation of papaya salad, green beans, tomatoes, carrots, olive, salted crab, homemade fermented fish sauce." I'm not a fan of this, but my dining partner is. The flavor is sweet and spicy umami-rich with salty brininess brought by the raw crab. This might be a challenge to some taste buds, but I can appreciate it and my dining partner said it was excellent. Oh, the mango sticky rice made for a great end. We were stuffed from the main dishes, but this dessert was light enough for us to enjoy without feeling over-fed. Overall, another excellent meal here. The service was great and the staff were very nice. We're bound to go back soon! ”

“ Went for Valentine's Day dinner and made early reservations. It wasn't busy when we first walked in, but shortly after, the place was packed. Both with eating customers as well as carry out orders. Waitress team was small, so they were busy attending to all the tables. Cocktails were tasty. Our second cocktail just took a little longer. Out of our food items, calamari was very tender. Enjoyed the calamari since it was just small pieces with lots of breading like other places. Plus, it came out nice and hot, which made it taste even better. The Ka Pow Bomb was great. The mixture of protein was a good and enjoyed the spiciness of it as well. The spicy ramen was a nice surprise. A little more spiced than we expected. Enjoyed the stature of the noodle, it was over cooked. Cute plating of noodles. The crab fried rice was my least favorite of the evening. Rice underneath the crab and eggs didn't really have robust flavor like the other dishes. It tasted like rice and soy sauce. It could use some veggies or other flavoring to balance out the dish. Would like to go back and try other items. Decor was cute. ”

“ We had a great experience at Mae Ornnit! The service was excellent, and we appreciated that the interior was still decorated for Valentine's Day--it added a nice touch, especially since many were still celebrating a little late. Kudos to the restaurant for allowing the latecomers to enjoy the holiday spirit! We ordered the fried rice, grilled pork, and volcano noodles to share family-style. The food was good overall, with the grilled pork being the standout dish--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The volcano noodles were definitely more about the visuals, but we'd recommend not filling them with veggies at the bottom. The yogurt drink was also a nice surprise and really enjoyable. Overall, a solid dining experience, and we'd definitely come back to try more dishes! ”

“ Decided to try mae ornnit with my sister based on the strong reviews they have. Our server provided excellent, attentive service from start to finish. Mixed reviews on the food: Papaya salad was a downer. Lacks that nice flavor with fish sauce and papaya slices were sliced a bit too thick. Tom kha gai and chicken wonton soups were a winner. Lovely coconut milk flavor for tom kha soup. Fried tofu was pretty decent. The sweet and sour sauce for crispy flounder rocked, but I was expecting a slightly fresher flounder than what we had. Overall a pretty nice experience and we may return if we pass by the area again. ”

“ Went out with the family at a local Thai spot and got a wide variety of dishes. We got a lot of the classics like satay, pad thai, drunken noodles and fried rice. I thought the food was solid. Not my favorite Thai restaurant, but they did have some good dishes. The Thai chicken katsu was crispy, juicy and had a tasty lime flavorful that complimented it well. The fried rice was also very flavorful and loaded with seafood. A decent spot for Thai food if you're in the Annandale area. Apps: Chicken Satay, Homemade Fish Cakes and Larb (Thai chicken salad) Entrees: Seafood Tom Yum Fried Rice, Pad Thai, Druken Noodles and Khao Gai Zab (Thai chicken katsu with lime and herbs) Drinks: Thai Coffee ”

“ Unassuming, authentic Thai restaurant in Springfield. Although the restaurant is located in an unassuming shopping center, the food tasted authentic. Really like the seasonal menu with the Thai fish cake. We also tried the chicken curry puff which was a little cold on the inside; finally, chicken dumplings were a great way to start off the meal together. For the entrees, we shared a Tom Yum noodle soup which had a nice sour and slightly spicy taste. Someone else ordered a drunken noodle which had some spiciness at the end however it wasn't my favorite as I like dishes with more vegetables such as the pottery shrimp. Similarly, kapow shrimp had a good mix of bell peppers and onions with fresh shrimp topped with a Thai sauce on the sweet side. Since it was Thursday night, restaurant wasn't extremely busy so service was attentive and polite. Like many Thai restaurants, I liked the colorful, festive decor with an homage to royalty. Finally, the restroom had some music that reminded me of a club; not my favorite but definitely kept the juices flowing. ”

“ As someone who's borderline obsessed with Thai food, my standards are sky-high. I've tried it all, from street food in Bangkok to upscale spots around here, so I know good Thai when I taste it. Mae Ornnit didn't just meet my expectations--it exceeded them. This place is the real deal! Vegetarian Friendly: One thing I really appreciated was how vegetarian-friendly the menu is. Almost every dish has the option to swap out the protein for tofu or just go heavy on the veggies. If you're vegetarian, you won't feel like an afterthought here--it feels like they genuinely care about catering to all diets, which is awesome. Decor: The decor is a total win. It's vibrant, colorful, and feels really upscale without being pretentious. It honestly looks like they put a lot of thought into the atmosphere, and it shows. Food Highlights: Let's talk about the food because wow. I got the Pad Thai, and it was perfection--tangy, sweet, nutty, just all the right flavors. My friend got the Mai Thai, and of course, I had to try it. It was equally rich and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice. Honestly, both dishes were 10/10. No notes, no tweaks haha Portion Size: For NoVA, where prices can be steep, the portions here are super fair. You're getting a good bang for your buck. I left feeling full and satisfied, but not like I overate--a perfect balance. Service: Here's where things were a bit off. When we got there, we had to seat ourselves, which felt a little disorganized. The servers were very kind, but the language barrier was noticeable. They also didn't check on us as often as I'd like, but again, their friendliness made it hard to be mad about it. Price: Pretty standard for the area. Solid flavors without breaking the bank. Would I Go Back?: 100%. I don't have many pictures of the place, but trust me, it's worth a visit. The food alone makes it a must-try, and the overall vibe is just the cherry on top. I'm already planning my next visit! ”

“ Mae Ornit Thai Kitchen is absolutely fantastic! The food is incredibly flavorful and fresh. The service is friendly and efficient, making the whole experience even better. We ordered from their specials mostly and every dish was great. Highly recommend this place for anyone craving great Thai food! They were very busy on Friday night, so make sure to get there early. ”