My business partners and I recently dined at Rien Tong Thai Asian & Sushi Bar. We ordered Shrimp Pad Thai, Shrimp Basil Fried Rice, Beef Drunken Noodles, Soft Shell Crab, and Orange Chicken were all excellent. Each dish showcased authentic flavors, and the service was impeccable. This is our new favorite restaurant and will come back soon. Thank you for the delicious dishes and exceptional experience.Highly recommend and deserve my five stars!Vegetarian options: Great vegetable and tofu dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pad Thai, Fried Rice, Drunken Noodles, Beef Pad See EW, Tom Yum Soup
Nurlan Valiyev
Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar, nestled in Arlington, Virginia, presents a dining experience that, while featuring a diverse Asian cuisine, falls short in certain key aspects, including location appeal, cleanliness concerns, and ventilation issues. My recent visit to this establishment revealed a need for substantial improvements to enhance the overall dining experience.Beginning with the location, Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar finds itself in an average setting in Arlington. The surroundings might not contribute to the allure of the dining experience, and the exterior fails to draw patrons in with a sense of uniqueness or visual appeal. While the focus should rightfully be on the culinary offerings, a more engaging and inviting location could potentially elevate the restaurant's overall appeal.Ventilation emerged as another noteworthy concern during my visit. The lack of effective ventilation impacted the overall ambiance, making the dining area feel stuffy and uncomfortable. Adequate ventilation is crucial for a pleasant dining experience, ensuring that patrons can enjoy their meals in a fresh and well-aired environment. Addressing this issue would contribute significantly to the overall comfort of diners.Perhaps the most significant drawback was the state of the toilets, which, to put it bluntly, were found to be disgusting. Maintaining clean restroom facilities is an absolute necessity for any dining establishment, and the lapses in this area at Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar detract significantly from the overall dining experience. It's crucial for the management to address this concern promptly, as unclean facilities can have a lasting negative impact on the restaurant's reputation.Despite these concerns, it's important to acknowledge the culinary offerings at Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The menu features a diverse selection of Thai and Asian dishes, including sushi, presenting patrons with an array of flavors to explore. While the culinary offerings may be a redeeming factor, the issues with location, ventilation, and cleanliness overshadow the positives.In conclusion, Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Arlington, VA, presents a dining experience that requires substantial improvement. Enhancing the location appeal, addressing ventilation issues, and prioritizing cleanliness, especially in the restrooms, are essential steps for the restaurant to reach its full potential. With these improvements, Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar could transform into a more inviting and satisfying dining destination for patrons in Arlington.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Spring Rolls
Carly C.
Ordered take out for delivery and upon a couple bites unfortunately had to throw away our whole order. All of the rolls had a funky sour taste to them.
Ameena A.
I will be totally frank here - some of the other reviews I have read are what lowered my rating down (perhaps by 1 star). I can tell based on these reviews as well as by google reviews that this place is very much a hit or miss. With that being said, this is my opinion - Service - our server was incredibly sweet and attentive. However, she was also the sushi chef. WTF? Food - my partner and I stopped in for a few basic rolls as an appetizer (so we didn't try anything exotic or crazy). We both enjoyed them - no complaints and reasonably priced. I also got a thai tea with boba which I liked! Atmosphere - odd, as it was dinner time and we were there with one other person (this restaurant is in a pretty popular area). It seemed clean and nice though. I actually think we would return for a basic roll or two. As my rating suggests, this place is just "okay," and I think they could likely improve by responding (nicely and by taking action) to suggestions that others have written about.
Evan N.
Ordered takeout Double salmon roll Hawaiian roll Tuna roll Each roll it was very apparent that the fish had gone bad. Sour and did not taste right. We were not able to eat it after trying at least 2 of each roll.
nicky
I have visited this restaurant 4 times a week for the past 10 years. The food is excellent and the service is exceptional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JasonSuave
I've lived next to Rien Tong for 9 years now. They are the only thai restaurant within Clarendon, which allows them to get away with producing the most god awful food imaginable. Their Pad Thai has never had enough sauce and oftentimes feels like straight up noodles with veggies. Many of their other Thai dishes are the same in simply lacking their core flavor. If, however, you are looking for a soggy dish, you can't go wrong here! I've also sadly watched the prices inflate from $11 to now $15 for the standard Thai dish w/ no upgrades. These dishes have been shrinkflated down to 12oz portions and felt 2x larger just a few years prior. Sushi quality is slightly better; however, they've removed a lot of staples over the years, like the beloved Spider roll. It's time to get a new chef, owners.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Muungano Mushi
The manager have bad customer service and bad attitude. Stay away from this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Reena K. Shah
Excellent vegetarian sushi!! So fresh and filling. Our server was very nice, and our orders were served promptly. The flavors and textures were so satisfying!
The portion I got was quite small. If I'm going to spend $18 on quick Asian food, I'd like to be full when I leave.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Winter Cold
The food has some flavor but it lacks character! Decent food but not the best. I'm only giving 4 stars because the staff is friendly here.Would I come back? Only once a year.
REFLECTION
This place is disgusting. Sushi is always a little off, and I am finally not going back ever again after getting food poisoning from going this past monday. I should've known. Just look at this roll in the picture and tell me if this looks like something you should eat. It's not. If you eat here, you will get sick. I'm mad that I've had to waste my last 3 days being sick. Never coming back here again, and you should not either.
Tasnia Hassan
I really wanted to be able to help a local restaurant out, however their food quality hasn’t been up to par in comparison to neighboring restaurants. I got a California Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and a Pad See Ew. The sushi was okay, but the pad see ew was something that I couldn’t bring myself to eat after 1 bite, I left the entire plate and indicated to staff that I did not like the dish. Staff didn’t ask any further questions nor ask if there was a way to fix/remedy the issue that I had with the dish. Instead, they handed me the check and moved on. Sadly, this will not be a recurring visit for me.
Nina R.
This neighborhood joint has great lunch specials as well as service. What it misses in ambience it makes up for in flavor!
Great food.
My business partners and I recently dined at Rien Tong Thai Asian & Sushi Bar. We ordered Shrimp Pad Thai, Shrimp Basil Fried Rice, Beef Drunken Noodles, Soft Shell Crab, and Orange Chicken were all excellent. Each dish showcased authentic flavors, and the service was impeccable. This is our new favorite restaurant and will come back soon. Thank you for the delicious dishes and exceptional experience.Highly recommend and deserve my five stars!Vegetarian options: Great vegetable and tofu dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pad Thai, Fried Rice, Drunken Noodles, Beef Pad See EW, Tom Yum Soup
Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar, nestled in Arlington, Virginia, presents a dining experience that, while featuring a diverse Asian cuisine, falls short in certain key aspects, including location appeal, cleanliness concerns, and ventilation issues. My recent visit to this establishment revealed a need for substantial improvements to enhance the overall dining experience.Beginning with the location, Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar finds itself in an average setting in Arlington. The surroundings might not contribute to the allure of the dining experience, and the exterior fails to draw patrons in with a sense of uniqueness or visual appeal. While the focus should rightfully be on the culinary offerings, a more engaging and inviting location could potentially elevate the restaurant's overall appeal.Ventilation emerged as another noteworthy concern during my visit. The lack of effective ventilation impacted the overall ambiance, making the dining area feel stuffy and uncomfortable. Adequate ventilation is crucial for a pleasant dining experience, ensuring that patrons can enjoy their meals in a fresh and well-aired environment. Addressing this issue would contribute significantly to the overall comfort of diners.Perhaps the most significant drawback was the state of the toilets, which, to put it bluntly, were found to be disgusting. Maintaining clean restroom facilities is an absolute necessity for any dining establishment, and the lapses in this area at Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar detract significantly from the overall dining experience. It's crucial for the management to address this concern promptly, as unclean facilities can have a lasting negative impact on the restaurant's reputation.Despite these concerns, it's important to acknowledge the culinary offerings at Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The menu features a diverse selection of Thai and Asian dishes, including sushi, presenting patrons with an array of flavors to explore. While the culinary offerings may be a redeeming factor, the issues with location, ventilation, and cleanliness overshadow the positives.In conclusion, Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Arlington, VA, presents a dining experience that requires substantial improvement. Enhancing the location appeal, addressing ventilation issues, and prioritizing cleanliness, especially in the restrooms, are essential steps for the restaurant to reach its full potential. With these improvements, Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar could transform into a more inviting and satisfying dining destination for patrons in Arlington.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Spring Rolls
Ordered take out for delivery and upon a couple bites unfortunately had to throw away our whole order. All of the rolls had a funky sour taste to them.
I will be totally frank here - some of the other reviews I have read are what lowered my rating down (perhaps by 1 star). I can tell based on these reviews as well as by google reviews that this place is very much a hit or miss. With that being said, this is my opinion - Service - our server was incredibly sweet and attentive. However, she was also the sushi chef. WTF? Food - my partner and I stopped in for a few basic rolls as an appetizer (so we didn't try anything exotic or crazy). We both enjoyed them - no complaints and reasonably priced. I also got a thai tea with boba which I liked! Atmosphere - odd, as it was dinner time and we were there with one other person (this restaurant is in a pretty popular area). It seemed clean and nice though. I actually think we would return for a basic roll or two. As my rating suggests, this place is just "okay," and I think they could likely improve by responding (nicely and by taking action) to suggestions that others have written about.
Ordered takeout Double salmon roll Hawaiian roll Tuna roll Each roll it was very apparent that the fish had gone bad. Sour and did not taste right. We were not able to eat it after trying at least 2 of each roll.
I have visited this restaurant 4 times a week for the past 10 years. The food is excellent and the service is exceptional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've lived next to Rien Tong for 9 years now. They are the only thai restaurant within Clarendon, which allows them to get away with producing the most god awful food imaginable. Their Pad Thai has never had enough sauce and oftentimes feels like straight up noodles with veggies. Many of their other Thai dishes are the same in simply lacking their core flavor. If, however, you are looking for a soggy dish, you can't go wrong here! I've also sadly watched the prices inflate from $11 to now $15 for the standard Thai dish w/ no upgrades. These dishes have been shrinkflated down to 12oz portions and felt 2x larger just a few years prior. Sushi quality is slightly better; however, they've removed a lot of staples over the years, like the beloved Spider roll. It's time to get a new chef, owners.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
The manager have bad customer service and bad attitude. Stay away from this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Excellent vegetarian sushi!! So fresh and filling. Our server was very nice, and our orders were served promptly. The flavors and textures were so satisfying!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The portion I got was quite small. If I'm going to spend $18 on quick Asian food, I'd like to be full when I leave.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
The food has some flavor but it lacks character! Decent food but not the best. I'm only giving 4 stars because the staff is friendly here.Would I come back? Only once a year.
This place is disgusting. Sushi is always a little off, and I am finally not going back ever again after getting food poisoning from going this past monday. I should've known. Just look at this roll in the picture and tell me if this looks like something you should eat. It's not. If you eat here, you will get sick. I'm mad that I've had to waste my last 3 days being sick. Never coming back here again, and you should not either.
I really wanted to be able to help a local restaurant out, however their food quality hasn’t been up to par in comparison to neighboring restaurants. I got a California Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and a Pad See Ew. The sushi was okay, but the pad see ew was something that I couldn’t bring myself to eat after 1 bite, I left the entire plate and indicated to staff that I did not like the dish. Staff didn’t ask any further questions nor ask if there was a way to fix/remedy the issue that I had with the dish. Instead, they handed me the check and moved on. Sadly, this will not be a recurring visit for me.
This neighborhood joint has great lunch specials as well as service. What it misses in ambience it makes up for in flavor!