Is Thai Thai?
Little Serow (DC) and Pok Pok (PDX) aside, American Thai fare is standard stuff. Noodlehead is 4sure better than average but not on their level..
Proteins are the first issue at N'Head: dry and salty chicken, old and gamey steak, simple pork.. the shrimp's the best protein they serve. The second issue is spice scale: 3 is barely spicy for me and 4 was only sinus clearing.. the descriptions are way off. 4 = "Asian hot" at Noodlehead but it'd be a palate cleanser at DC's Little Serow. No pain = no gain
The small menu of main dishes offers fresh Pad Thai that's complex, crunchy, and overall excellent, among the best I've tried. A unique lemon wedge adds oft-absent acid. The Kew Mew is a sugary take on drunken noodles but the bok choy fails to provide enough bitterness. It lacks acid and the large basil clumps fail to balance the sweetness save for the one bite where they dominate your fork.
Apps are similarly limited. The singular sticky buns are heavy on fish sauce and cilantro, and the beef is simple compared to DC's complex Toki Underground chicken version. The grilled beef app is overcooked strips slathered in cilantro and fish sauce, appropriately spicy but one note.
Would return for the pad Thai. Would eat the buns again. Wouldn't make the trip home for it. American Thai is not Thai.