We’ve made it no secret that Scott and I are smitten for a cozy interior, laden with brick and coupled with soft intimate lighting. But with all the dark bars and warm restaurants, an experience like doi moi is exactly what our aesthetic palette required.

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When my sister surprised me last month for my 30th birthday, Scott and I did our best to show her our city – anything she wanted to do, we made it happen. Monuments, festivals, restaurants  – the works. All that little girl wanted were some cupcakes and Thai food. A quick query online and we had our dinner plans – doi moi. Nailed it.

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doi moi (which literally translates to “new changes”) is a breath of fresh air, situated in the Logan Circle neighborhood of DC right on 14th street, one of our new favorite city spots. Not only does the outside suggest a clean, contemporary vibe with its minimalistic signage and large windows, but stepping inside maximizes the effect tenfold. Bright white walls and trendy simple furniture do well in the open concept restaurant – very few dark corners exist in doi moi, which was to our liking. A departure from our Old Town roots of dark wood and rich brick, doi moi offered that new change we were unaware we needed.

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Our table of 4 was seated as the restaurant opened (early bird gets the worm??) and we took advantage of a few photo-ops before settling into what is a diverse and well constructed menu. Thankful that the titles were accompanied by laymen term descriptions, we decided to begin the mean with spicy cashews and crispy radish cakes, both of which were outstanding. Who knew something as simple as chili flakes and  kaffir lime leaf on cashews could be so tasty? Now just tell me what the hell kaffir lime leaf is and I’ll be  recreating that appetizer nightly to pair with my guacamole.

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The entrees lived up to the incredibly high standard that was set by the starters, and my eye was drawn immediately to the Kee Mao (stir fried rice noodles with trumpet mushrooms, long beans, Chinese broccoli and basil) because it was “Phet” – SPICY. Right up my alley. I have this weird fascination with food that can make your eyes water – and this did. But what is most shocking is that there are items on the menu that are “Phet Mak” – SUPER spicy. Good Luck. And take a box of tissues with you.

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Scott indulged in the Lad Na Moo (stir fried pork with noodles and broccoli and carrots). I always steal a bit from his plate, but that night I may have whittled a hole into the side of his dish as I signaled my sister to keep him talking in juicy conversation. Thanks kid. It wasn’t spicy, but the flavors were rich and had an incredible depth of flavor. Adrienne also ordered the dish, but made a few alterations to satisfy her mild palette.

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The last of our party ordered the Khao Phat Puu (blue crab fried rice with garlic, crab paste, white pepper and lump crab) which normally I would never consider ordering on my own, but am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to sample the goods. It was light, fresh, and the crab was delicious.

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I confess, dessert was not had as we were in possession of a dozen cupcakes from our foray into Georgetown  and had plans to cupcake taste after dinner. Undoubtedly we will be exploring that menu in the future, as we can’t wait to get back to sample more from doi moi now that we are hooked. Also, nothing makes food photography more fun than bright, natural light. Sitting next to the windows overlooking 14th street and admiring the colors of the food as they stood bold against the pale backdrop was a memory I won’t soon forget.

We are happy to report that doi moi deserves all the accolades and positive press it has been getting from critics and food enthusiasts alike, and is easily holding one of the top spots for our choice of restaurant experiences of this year.

-Al
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