Ocha Thai

It’s a cold day. The frigid air blows across you, instantly numbing your body. You feel like an icicle. All you want to do is be in a warm, comforting environment and away from the cold, so you decide to go to your favorite Thai restaurant. You would expect for your wishes to come true, a warm, comforting environment; however, to your surprise your expectations are not completely met.

When I walked in to Ocha Thai, one of my favorite restaurants, I was elated, but sadly that numbing feeling did not leave my body. It was about forty degrees outside, and it felt as if I was seated in that same frigid climate. Slowly but surely, the calming ambiance and the company I brought along with me eased the lack of warmth. Once you get over the cold, you start to realize why Ocha is so well known in the community. Walking in to the restaurant is like walking into a perfectionalistic and minimalistic paradise. From the beige tables to the beautiful, colorful wall decorations, Ocha is one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants I have been too. Everytime I come here, the theme of the decorations changes, but the owner chose to keep the same eloquent style to their selections.

Being a frequent to an establishment gives you some major benefits. You see the same people working and you connect easily with your server. Even though it had been months since my last meal at Ocha, our server remembered us from our last visit. In the hearts of my family and I, this showed as a true testament to the restaurants customer service. Young, motivated people fill the staff of Ocha Thai, and the level of kindness and respect shown by the staff is one of the main reasons we keep coming back.

A DRINK THAT CHANGES COLOR. Something that may peak the interest of a five year old ended up peaking the interest of me as well, so I ordered one of the color changing concoctions to see what was really up. To my pleasant surprise, I was greeted with an eye catching yellowish slush and an unknown purple liquid. In chemistry I learned that when you see and unknown liquid, the safest thing you can do is waft, but being a sixteen year old, I decided to take another approach. Instead, I pulled out my phone to record the color changing reaction.

Matching the general aesthetic appeal of the restaurant, my drink came to me in a mason jar and a small picture, similar to the one you would find in your grandmother's house. Like a scientist mixing chemicals, I slowly picked up the little pitcher, phone in my other hand, and poured the dark purple liquid into the yellowish slush. As expected, the color did “magically,” change. The taste on the other hand was not as magical as the color change; however, it was still great. Hints of lemon hit your tongue as you drink the cool blue concoction. When it came to looking through the menu, it was not too long, nor too short.

Being in a primarily vegetarian family, it tends to become difficult to find restaurants with delicious vegetarian options; however, at Ocha Thai this is not the case. Almost every item on their menu can be easily substituted for vegetables or tofu, and the staff is very accommodating when it comes to alterations. One of my family’s go to items is the Papaya Salad- fresh raw, green papaya cut into toothpick like shreds served with carrots, snap peas, and a delicious sauce.

After ordering, our table was filled with warm, comforting food, something I was longing for since the very beginning of my experience. Although, I’m not a vegetarian, I chose to get a vegetarian option to test it out. To my pleasant surprise, I did not miss the meat at all. The aroma alone made the food on the table irresistible. The warm soup ordered by the table was not only aesthetically pleasing, but exactly what you would need on a cold wintery day. From the hearty broth to the endless amount of vegetables, the Tom Yum Soup is a winter necessity. The Pad Thai and the Pad Ke Mao (drunken noodles) were no exception either. The spice and the overall balance between sweet, savory, and spicy acted in harmony. My green curry fried rice with large pieces of tofu and eggplant exceeded my expectations, not only delicious but also light.

After going to Ocha Thai, I can say without a doubt, this icicle has melted. From the customer service to the welcoming ambiance to the delicious food, I would wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant.

Ocha Thai

5037 Westfields Blvd.

Centreville, VA 20120