Thai Goodness at Raku

As the bitter cold takes over any inclination I have to either grocery shop or cook, I recently went and had the pleasure of accompanying friends to one of Bethesda’s favorite Asian eateries. Raku, the sister restaurant to Dupont Circle’s more casual Asian diner, continues to be one of the more consistent establishments among the now popular Asian fusion trend. And, if my word doesn’t convince you of Raku’s popularity, try dining there any evening between 6-8pm. You’ll be lucky to find a table, let alone a seat away from the overflowing door.

Though seated before the rush, our party of three was unfortunately seated directly at the entrance amidst the growing crowds of other patrons eagerly awaiting a table themselves. This not only “graced” us with an unwelcome gust of cold air every time the door opened, but it also created an uncomfortable invasion of our personal space. All of a sudden, we became more of a dining exhibition, with other patrons looking over our shoulders and getting quite cozy at the table.

But, regardless, we pressed on and decided to order. Since it was quite chilly outside, and at the time I was struggling with a winter-variety virus, I decided to order from the Thai portion of the menu, choosing one of my favorite soups, Coconut Red Curry Noodle Soup. A beautiful combination of coconut milk, red curry, bean sprouts, snow peas, cabbage and a choice of either, beef or chicken, and udon, egg or buckwheat noodles. My choice? The beef with egg noodles-extra egg noodles.

From the moment it arrived, I was pleasantly overcome with the warmth and flavor of my red curry soup. Served in a large, overflowing bowl, it almost caused me to forget, momentarily, about my usual favorite: Vietnamese pho75 soup, #9 Regular. At first bite, I became entranced in the wonderfully spicy and sweet coconut broth, so flavorful that even my sad, dysfunctional taste buds rejoiced.

Serving everything from pad thai to sushi, Raku definitely makes the mark. It’s fun and sleek design, with giant chopsticks scattered above, creates a warm “neighborhood” feel that only Bethesda can acheive. Though the crowds can be a damper on both ambience and service, the food never fails to satiate even the pickiest lovers of true Asian cuisine. I point this out, not to diminish the quality of Raku’s dishes, but to illustrate that while many of the dishes stay true to their origin, there still exists the occasional shift toward that Asian fusion we all know and love.

Raku Bethesda

7240 Woodmont Ave

Bethesda, MD 20814

(301) 718-8680