Nomsters, Dok Khao’s been one of my favorite Thai spots in the DMV for a while now, so I was hyped when they opened a brand new location in Chevy Chase. It’s right on Connecticut Ave, just over the DC line in Montgomery County, and it brings their southern Thai and Bangkok street food to a whole new crowd.
I came through and ordered a spread, and the Phuket Chili Crab and Pad Thai were the standouts for me. If you’ve been meaning to try them but the other locations were a hike, this one’s a game changer for anyone up near the DC border. Southern Thai food doesn’t get enough love around here, so having a spot this good closer to the city is a genuine win. Here’s everything I got and what you need to know before you go.
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What Makes Dok Khao Stand Out in Chevy Chase
What sets Dok Khao apart is the focus on southern Thai cooking and Bangkok-style street food, which means bolder, spicier flavors and a lot of fresh seafood instead of the same handful of takeout dishes you see everywhere. I already knew I loved the brand from their Columbia location, so I walked in with high expectations, and the Chevy Chase spot delivered.
The menu’s huge (we’re talking 80-plus dishes), spanning small plates, curries, noodle soups, and a whole dessert and drink program. It’s the kind of place where you can come back a dozen times and still have a list of things to try. For southern Thai this good near the DC line, it’s absolutely worth knowing.
What to Order at Dok Khao Chevy Chase
Here’s everything I got this time, and it was all so yum, so trust me, it’s hard to go wrong.
Golden Bags
Start with the Golden Bags. They’re little fried pouches stuffed with ground chicken, corn, water chestnuts, and veggies, and they came out fried to perfection and almost too pretty to eat. Highly recommend grabbing these to kick things off!
Phuket Chili Crab
The Phuket Chili Crab was a standout for me. It’s crispy soft shell crab in a chu chee curry with pumpkin and coconut milk, and it comes with steamed rice to soak up all that sauce. It packs some good heat, so consider yourself warned, but they give you quite a bit of crab. This is the one to get if you want something a little different.
Pad Thai
Their Pad Thai is probably some of the best I’ve ever had. It’s always been a fave of mine, and I don’t care if that’s basic, lol. Pricing varies based on the protein you pick. There’s also a special version that’s the owner’s own recipe, but I actually like this classic one a bit more.
Volcano Thai Tea
Save room for the Volcano Thai Tea. It’s shaved thai tea bingsu topped with cream cheese mousse, ice cream, and graham cracker crumble, and it’s the literal definition of instagram worthy. This is a must if you like the drink, it tastes just like it but in shaved ice form.
A couple more things we tried that are worth your order:
- Steamed Dumplings: really solid, packed with different proteins including crab, and served with the most delish spicy sweet black soy sauce
- Ube Latte: my first time trying one of their lattes, and I actually really enjoyed it. I was worried it’d be too sweet, but it was perfect
What’s Southern Thai Food Like?
Since Dok Khao leans southern Thai, here’s a quick rundown for the curious. Southern Thai cooking comes from the coastal region near the Malay peninsula, so it leans on bolder, spicier flavors along with lots of fresh seafood, coconut milk, and turmeric.
It tends to run hotter and more intense than the milder central-Thai dishes most of us grew up ordering. That’s why something like the Phuket Chili Crab (Phuket being a southern Thai island) packs the heat it does. If you love Thai food but want to go beyond the usual pad see ew and drunken noodles, this is a great place to branch out.
The Vibe and Experience
The Chevy Chase location has a small patio outside if you want to eat in the fresh air. It’s a great pick for a date night, a group dinner, or a solo treat-yourself meal. It gets busy since it’s new and buzzy, so I’d book ahead on Resy if you can, especially on weekends. If you’re building a Chevy Chase food day, it pairs perfectly with a stop at Elena James for brunch earlier on. Between the two, you’re eating very, very well.
Good to Know
- 📍 8551 Connecticut Ave Suite 201, Chevy Chase, MD, just over the DC line in Montgomery County
- Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm
- Reservations: book on Resy, especially for weekends, since it gets busy
- Parking: use their lot, and it’s free with validation from the restaurant for up to 2 hours
- Seating: a small patio outside if the weather’s nice
- Ordering and delivery: online ordering through their website, plus free delivery on orders over $50 within 3 miles
- Good for: date night, groups, and anyone craving southern Thai with real heat
Is Dok Khao Chevy Chase Worth A Visit?
Short answer, yes. If you’re a Thai food fan, especially of the bolder southern style, Dok Khao’s new Chevy Chase spot is absolutely worth the trip, and it’s a huge win for anyone who lives up near the DC border. The Phuket Chili Crab and Pad Thai alone would bring me back! It’s one of my go-to Thai recommendations in the area now, full stop. If you’re rounding out your Chevy Chase list, Lia’s is another spot nearby I really enjoyed for Italian.
If you’re willing to head up the Pike a bit, Thai Chef Rockville is another one worth knowing, Bangkok street food done right and one of the prettiest dining rooms in Montgomery County.
Have you guys tried Dok Khao yet?! Let me know your order in the comments, Nomsters, and send this to your favorite Thai food lover so you can go split a spread soon.