Chao Phra YA Thai

Wow their food was so good. The red curry was nice and mid level spicy with a good lasting flavor and the rice was fantastic. I was not disappointed at all with the amount of stuff in my curry. My wife was hungry for the appetizers and we found a secret combo of curry puff and red coconut curry.

A + would order anytime.

Only gripe is a little to perfumy but I am hyper sensitive to that.

The food MORE than makers up for my only gripe. So good. A masterful blend of taste!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is my GO-TO Thai restaurant! The staff here is always friendly and the food is absolutely delicious. Whenever I get together with my family, our dinner spot of choice is Chao Phra YA 😊, highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place honestly made our night. The food was incredible, especially the Seafood Pad Cha. Every bite felt comforting and exciting at the same time.

What truly stood out was the hospitality. The manager guy is always so kind and attentive, especially with our kids. He goes out of his way to make sure they are comfortable and happy, which makes the whole dining experience so much more relaxing and enjoyable for our family. That level of care really means a lot.

Amazing food, wonderful service, and such a welcoming atmosphere. This is a place that makes you want to come back again and again. Highly recommended.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Thai restaurant in the area

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

**BEWARE** the manager has a nasty temper! This was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in years, and it was entirely due to how the manager treated us.

When my mother and I arrived, we were seated directly by the entrance door by the manager (older gentlemen with grey buzzed hair and earrings). Because it was very cold outside and the door kept opening, we politely asked if we could move to another table. The manager told us no because a large party was coming in. We then spoke with another staff member, who said it was fine and seated us at a different table.

When the manager saw that we had been moved, he came over, aggressively grabbed both menus from our table, and raised his voice telling us to “JUST GO!” and leave the restaurant. We were shocked by how aggressive and unnecessary this was, especially since his own staff had seated us there. At that point, we decided to leave. As we were walking out, the manager yelled at us again to “GO HOME!” which was completely unprofessional and uncomfortable as there were other people dining in. All we asked for was to sit away from the cold draft by the door. There was no argument, no scene, and no disrespect on our end, just a polite request that escalated because of the manager’s temper.

I rarely leave negative reviews because I understand how much they impact a business, but this behavior was unacceptable. It’s especially disappointing because the restaurant promotes “warm hospitality” on their site, which was the exact opposite of what we experienced. After reading other reviews, it seems this is not an isolated incident as many people have mentioned his nasty behavior.

If ownership sees this: I recommend learning more on customer service and how to talk to and respect others, getting angry and yelling is not the answer.

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 1

Chao Phraya Thai food is, in my opinion, the best in Nova area hands down. Nothing compares. The appetizers and main dishes are incredibly flavorful and delicious, with very generous portions that easily make for leftovers. The desserts are amazing as well. On top of that, the staff is incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone traveling through or living in the DMV area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve been coming to Chao Phra YA Thai for over a year now, and I can confidently say it’s the best Thai restaurant I’ve ever been to. Ever since I discovered this place, I haven’t gone anywhere else for Thai food. I come here about once every two weeks, and the quality, service, and overall experience have been consistently amazing every single time.

The ambiance is one of my favorite parts—it’s so cozy, welcoming, and relaxing. It’s the kind of place where you can truly enjoy your meal, whether you’re dining in with friends, family, or just treating yourself. On top of that, the restaurant is always spotlessly clean, which really adds to the comfort and overall experience.

The staff deserves a special shoutout. They are incredibly kind, attentive, and accommodating, and they always make you feel welcome. The service is impressively fast, and the food comes out hot and fresh every time without feeling rushed.

As for the food—absolutely incredible. For appetizers, my go-to is always the summer rolls. They come out very quickly, are light and refreshing, and the peanut sauce that comes with them is so flavorful and perfectly balanced. I also always order the crispy crabby, which never disappoints. It’s hot, fresh, and filled with a generous amount of cream cheese and crab, topped with a delicious honey sriracha sauce that adds the perfect touch of sweetness and spice. Today, I tried the duck roll, and it was amazing—I will definitely be ordering it again on my next visit.

For my entrée, I always get the drunken noodles with chicken, medium spice. It’s hands down my favorite dish here—so flavorful, perfectly cooked, and consistently delicious every time I order it. You can really tell how much care goes into the food.

I also tried the mango smoothie with boba today, and it was the perfect ending to the meal. It was refreshing, creamy, and had just the right amount of sweetness—not overpowering at all.

Another thing I truly appreciate is that the prices are very reasonable, especially for the quality and portion sizes you get. You definitely get great value for your money here.

Overall, Chao Phra YA Thai is a gem. From the cozy atmosphere and cleanliness to the friendly staff, fair pricing, and outstanding food, everything about this place keeps me coming back. I truly can’t recommend it enough to anyone looking for amazing Thai food and a wonderful dining experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I've eaten here many times and the food and atmosphere is always great. One suggestion I would make that is important to me is to serve filtered water instead of tap. That's a big turn off for me and one negative to this place. The tap water tastes bad.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

I was a little skeptical. This place is in an outdoor shopping center. Reviews looked good but still a lil leery… Boy was I wrong!! Amazing food, and great service. Followed the reviews again and went with the drunken noodle with fried duck. Def 5 stars on the food. If you’re in the area stop by you won’t regret it.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Outstanding food. The best Ive had.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing Thai food I love the drunken noodles and the service were attentive and kind especially Jake truly a great experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place is very cute. We went on 12/21/25, and was quickly welcomed and seated. The food was fresh and great and the prices were more than great for the quality and quantity of the meals!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Our favorite restaurant in Herndon! Chao Phra Ya serves delicious, authentic Thai food in a warm, inviting atmosphere with top tier service.

The staff are warm and attentive, the presentation is beautiful and original, and their menu has great variety. There have been so many times I’ve come here and tried something new and been so pleasantly surprised to love it almost as much or more than my “go to” entrees!

Would highly recommend the chef’s fried rice, papaya salad spice level 1 or 2 (great spice and AMAZING flavor), beef salad, mango sticky rice, and drunken noodles!

Plus, if you’re looking for something exciting you may have never tried before, try the Siam Duck or a variety of other vibrant dishes “from the land”!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was amazing! We tried the veg roll, shrimp roll, ka prow fried rice, chicken pad thai, and crab fried rice. The crab fried rice was super flavorful, so good! Highly recommend this place.
We went for a birthday dinner, and even though they close at 10, they let us stay a bit longer so we could finish celebrating. Big thanks to Jake and the team for the great customer service!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

My husband and I always come here for takeout and also enjoy dining in for weekend lunches. The staff are truly exceptional and treat our daughter with so much love and care—always accommodating her with special kids’ plates, candies, and thoughtful touches. Chao Phra Ya offers a wide variety of dishes, including many of our favorite comfort foods. We keep coming back because it truly feels like our second home.… Special thanks to our favorite staff member!
- Uyen My & Thien

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5