Yesterday despite the rain, Thai by Thai had a successful opening of its fourth location adjacent to the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro Station. The community came out to support husband and wife Chef Eed and Co-owner Matt Landon, who founded their first Thai by Thai restaurant in Sterling in 2007 and to also contribute to Inova Life with Cancer, a charity that focuses on enhancing the quality of life of those affected by cancer by providing education, information and support. Fifty percent of their grand opening proceeds were being donated to the organization. Eed and Landon said that they see their new location as another opportunity to share their authentic Thai cuisine with locals of the Tysons Corner area. The other three Thai by Thai restaurants are all located in Northern VA: Sterling, Fairfax City and Annandale.
Thai by Thai serves authentic Thai food in a casual affordable way, at four locations in Northern Virginia seven days a week. Eed Banchanurat Landon, the Chief Chef at Thai by Thai, has been cooking traditional Thai dishes since she was a young girl growing up in the center of Bangkok. She absorbed the lessons of great stir-fry from her Chinese-born father, how to make spicy Northeast Thai and Lao dishes from her nanny, and the importance of healthy, fresh ingredients from her eldest sister. She remembers as a little girl squeezing coconut milk from the flesh of fresh coconuts to make curries.
They offer a single menu with made-to-order dishes in a quick service style. Fresh ingredients are the focal point of a menu that includes classic traditional items, along with street food and unique dishes native to Thailand. There is also a “secret menu” which includes two dishes, Kao Tod Nam Sod Kao Kai Jeaw, that were so often requested to Chef Eed, that they are now permanently on their menu. The new restaurant will soon be providing a breakfast service!
Restaurant Interior
With 75-seats, Thai by Thai provides a comfortable and family-friendly environment where diners can enjoy authentic—and affordable—Thai dishes. Eed and Landon designed their restaurants around the types of places they love to frequent themselves—quick service, casual atmosphere, and kid-friendly. They know all about the challenge of eating out with kids, and so they insist that kid’s meals come out first. With Melamine dinnerware, sturdy, practically unbreakable, it’s ideal for kids.
Their new location will be their first to serve soft drinks made from cane sugar, a move that will be followed by the other three restaurants in the near future. Eed and Landon plan to grow their own organic herbs exclusively for the restaurants, and they will soon be adding more superfood items to the menu. The new location will also feature the same loyalty program provided at the other Thai by Thai locations. As little as 40 points earns a free fountain drink, with greater rewards as points increase.
Serving the communities of Sterling, Fairfax, Annandale and Dunn Loring. Hours of operation, directions and menus can be found online at www.thaibythai.com
