I have only been to lunch francophile. You are absolutely correct, the service and level of attention is indescribably good, and the food, just wonderful.

And don't get me started on the dessert francophile-it's heaven, simply heaven :D

Som Tom (hold the dried shrimp) and only 5 chilies please, I dont want to cry even though my Thai girl friend thinks its cute.

Sticky Rice and grilled chicken on Phi Phi Island ^

Its difficult to find real Thai food in the US unless you head into an oriental district. China Town in Washington DC has some real Thai food cooked by Thai families.

Really? There are lots of restaurants in the DC area owned and operated by 1st-generation Thai immigrants. Most of these restaurants are in the suburbs of Montgomery County (e.g. downtown Bethesda has lots) in MD and Fairfax County in VA. Such restaurants employ mostly Thai-speaking waitstaff - you can ask for a dish to be "Thai-style".

Also re:Chinatown in DC - I find that Chinese who don't live in DC proper rarely go there. The real chinatowns are in the suburbs - e.g. Rockville in MD and perhaps Falls Church in VA.

I am am embarrassed to say that I don't recall the Thai name, but my favorite is the salad with julienned green papaya and various other ingredients.

The best that I have ever had (and indeed one the best dining experiences that I have ever had overall) was at the Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai, where they had a station to make your own. They had the green papaya, shredded carrots, the unbelievably hot Thai green peppers, dried shrimp, peanuts, limes, and a handful of other items. One makes ones own mix of ingredients, then they crush it for you with a pestle and bring it to your table.

Som tam.

Larb Gai(laab)

Dessert, indeed. The only Thai dessert I've ever really loved I ate at Sala Rim Naan, and I just haven't seen it on the menu elsewhere... it was multicolored rice(?) balls in a warm coconut broth... outstanding.

It's often claimed that the best Thai restaurant in the US is (off-the-strip) in LAS.

But the best Thai in the DC area is certainly not in DC's Chinatown. You'll find it, for the most part, in suburban strip malls. There's Dungrats on Route 7 near Bailey's Crossroads... Sakulthai on Van Dorn .. and by far the best Thai restaurant in the District is Thai X-ing, a one-man mostly takeout operation.

Good ol' Pad Thai for me. Usually w/chicken and shrimp.
I also like Pad See Ew very much so.

Right now, trying to plan a trip to Thailand around Christmas time.

Excellent thread.

I'll take your dried shrimp and raise you some chilies, love this dish.

this is becoming less and less true, I'm finding it easier to find Thai (and many other ethnic cuisines) in the US. I also don't believe that just because one is Thai that they can cook Thai better than someone who is not, there are some crappy Thai cooks as with any cuisine.

What helps emerging ethic restaurants is if the gen public gets out of the chains and explores their surroundings.@:-)^

other Thai favorites:
laab/larb (so easy to make at home)
almost anything with Thai basil
Pad Woon Sen (better than pad thai IMO)
Tod Mun (spicy fish cakes)

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Pad woon sen is my favorite, but you have to save room for the mango and sticky rice dessert. Fabulous!

The miser in me is grateful for the cheap Thai noodle shops around my neighborhood when you can get two meals' worth of good food for about $7.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
(We all know what this is, right?)

Pad Siew
(Pan Fried Wide Noodles, Chicken, Broccoli, Egg, and Sweet Soy Sauce)

Yellow Chicken Curry
(Chicken, Curry, Coconut Milk, Carrots, Potatoes-Medium Spice)

There are lots of restaurants here in Los Angeles (Thai Town) which is sort of South East Hollywood.

Yes, the desserts at the lunch buffet at Sala Rim Naam were good. But I truly fell in love with the millefeuille across the river at Le Normandie:

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/510000236.asp

Would you be willing to share the recipe and technique?

You must be referring to Lotus of Siam, the one restaurant I never miss when I'm in LAS. Insanely good food - don't miss the nam kao tod (sour sausage and crispy rice appetizer)