Gaithersburg keeps proving it’s one of the most low-key stacked food towns in Montgomery County, and Thai Tanium is my latest reason to say so. I hit this Kentlands Thai spot with my friend Minje for a weekday lunch to take advantage of their lunch specials, and we were so glad we did!
The short version: the Beef Drunken Noodle is the reason to come, the lunch deals make it easy on the wallet, and the whole meal was so good. It’s a proper sit-down Thai restaurant that’s been around since 2006, so they know exactly what they’re doing back there. If you’re anywhere near Gaithersburg and you want real Thai that isn’t going to wreck your afternoon budget, keep reading, because I’ve got the exact order you want.
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Why Visit Thai Tanium in Gaithersburg?
Here’s what won me over. First, the weekday lunch specials (11:30 to 3pm) are a genuine deal, most land under $13 and the portions are not shy. Second, you can make it a set for just $4 more, which adds a soft drink or an appetizer, so a solo lunch turns into a full spread fast. And third, this kitchen’s been dialing in these flavors since 2006, which shows up in the little things, like that real wok char on the drunken noodle.
The menu’s deep too, from curries and drunken noodles to pad thai, tom yum, papaya salad, and a full bar if you want to make it a whole thing. For real Thai around here, Thai Chef in Rockville is another Bangkok-street-food spot I’m a fan of, and Thai Tanium holds its own right alongside it.
What to Order at Thai Tanium
Beef Drunken Noodle ($12.98)
This was my hands-down favorite, and it’s the dish I’d drive back for. The beef was SO tender, the wide noodles were perfectly chewy, and the whole thing had that smoky wok char taste (Thai cooks call it wok hei) you only get from a screaming-hot pan. It’s savory, deeply satisfying, and easily the best thing we ordered. Highly recommend, Nomsters, get this one!
Chicken Pad Ka Pow ($11.98)
A close second and a great order. The portion was generous and the flavors were on point, all that garlicky, basil-forward punch this holy basil stir-fry is known for. My one honest note: the chicken was a tiny bit dry. Not a dealbreaker at all, still a great order.
Tofu Green Curry ($11.98)
This was my least favorite of the three, though still yummy, so don’t skip it if green curry’s your thing. It came a touch too salty for me, but real talk, I’m salt sensitive, so your mileage may vary. Still a yummy bowl if green curry’s what you’re after.
The House Salad and Thai Iced Coffee
Minje ordered a house salad that came with a peanut dressing so ridiculously good it could’ve made drywall taste great, easily the sleeper hit of the meal. She also grabbed a Thai Iced Coffee and loved it. Pro tip for the heat-seekers: ask for their spice rack and dial these dishes up to whatever you can handle. One thing to know, the prices above are the weekday lunch specials, the regular dinner menu runs a bit higher.
What Is Pad Ka Pow, and Is It Spicy?
Yes, it can be, but you’re in control here. Pad ka pow (you’ll also see it spelled pad kra pao) is a Thai holy basil stir-fry, usually made with garlic, chilies, and your choice of protein, traditionally served over rice and often crowned with a crispy fried egg. The holy basil is what gives it that peppery, almost anise-like aroma you don’t get from regular basil. At Thai Tanium the heat is approachable out of the gate, so if you want it to bite back, that’s exactly what the spice rack is for.
The Vibe and Experience
Thai Tanium sits in Kentlands Market Square, that walkable town-center stretch of Gaithersburg, so parking’s easy and you can wander after. Inside it’s a comfortable, proper sit-down restaurant, not a grab-and-go counter, with a full bar and outdoor seating when the weather cooperates.
It works for a casual weekday lunch, a low-key date, or a family dinner, and they do takeout and delivery if you’d rather post up at home. Gaithersburg’s genuinely stacked for Asian eats, Pho Nom Nom right in town serves some of the best pho around if you’re building a list.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 657 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg, MD, in Kentlands Market Square.
- Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30am to 3pm and 4:30pm to 9:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 9:30pm.
- Lunch specials: weekdays 11:30am to 3pm, most under $13, add a soft drink or appetizer to make it a set for $4 more.
- Prices: moderate. Lunch specials run about $11.98 to $12.98, the regular dinner menu is a bit higher.
- Good for: dine-in, takeout, delivery, and reservations, plus a full bar and outdoor seating.
- Ordering: online through their website, or by phone.
- Dietary: vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and you can adjust the spice level (ask for the spice rack).
Is Thai Tanium Worth A Visit?
Yes, especially for lunch. That Beef Drunken Noodle alone earns it a spot in my Gaithersburg rotation, and the weekday specials make it an easy, affordable yes when I want real Thai without the full dinner-menu commitment. It’s a great pick for a quick lunch, a casual dinner, or a family meal. If you’re building out a nearby Thai and Lao list, Eat A Lao in Rockville does incredible Laotian food and makes a fun follow-up.
Have you guys tried Thai Tanium yet? If you go, get the drunken noodle and tell me if it hits as hard for you as it did for me, Nomsters. Save this for your next Kentlands lunch, and send it to your ride-or-die Thai food buddy.