A new Thai restaurant in Columbia Heights named Jasmine Thai is bringing us the diverse flavors of Bangkok and beyond. With multiple amazing reviews online and a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 on Yelp, I was very excited to see what the colorful eatery at the corner of 37th Ave and Central has to offer.

The first thing I tried was their special Jasmine Thai fried rice with shrimp. This delicious dish is blended together with eggs, onions, tomatoes and scallions. It was absolutely amazing and opened my eyes to Thai cuisine, especially since this was my first time trying this particular kind of Asian food. I loved everything about the fried rice, the spices, and the sauce perfectly complemented the dish and its presentation. Sure, I picked something similar to Chinese food, since that’s what I was most familiar with, but I would certainly return and expand my horizons even more.

After the delicious fried rice, I decided to go with the egg rolls, which were made with cabbage, carrots, green onion, soy sauce, pork and spices and served with a delicious sauce on the side. I absolutely loved this dish. It was so amazing and perfectly crispy, unlike the more greasy variety found at other Asian joints. I’m absolutely going back again to eat some more. 

I ended my night with their smooth and scrumptious coconut ice cream, simply made from coconut and vanilla. The treat was absolutely exquisite, and I would recommend that everyone try this ice cream, especially those that otherwise can’t get a dairy treat due to lactose intolerance. It might sound basic, but there’s something so perfect in its simplicity that makes it special. 

Not only was the food satisfying, but Jasmine Thai was also so welcoming and beautiful from both the outside and inside. The interior is decorated with beautiful candles and art that bring Thai culture to America. The customer service was wonderful too, with all the servers being extremely kind and attentive. Overall, everything was absolutely amazing and inviting. The reviews weren’t wrong. It certainly taught me exactly what I had hoped it would—sometimes, trying something new will lead to a new appreciation, perhaps even obsession, for something other than the same old, same old.