When Suchart and Ladavan Srigatesook left the comfort of their longtime Wheaton restaurant Dusit Thai to open Nava in a tiny space tucked in the back of Hung Phat Asian market a few years ago, it was more than just a leap of faith. It was a leap into the unknown, into a new cuisine that had been designed for the tastes of their homeland rather than for America.
The gamble paid off. Nava has become a popular destination for Thai food lovers from the DC metro area, and even beyond. It shows up on Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema’s list of favorite cheap eats, and the Les Dames d'Ecoffier culinary group conducts a day-long tour of the town that includes stops at By Brazil, Carmelo's Bakery, Nava Thai, Hollywood East Cafe, Hung Phat Asia Market, and Thomas International Market (which sells Middle Eastern goods).
In addition to its food, Nava also is known for its service and its community involvement. It is one of the few local restaurants that offers delivery and catering, and it has a number of employees who speak English and are willing to help visitors navigate its menu.
The Nava team is working to https://www.navathaiwheaton.com build on its success. The owners are thinking of ways to grow the business into a larger dining room, for example, and they're also looking at how the building itself can better serve the needs of the community. Rather than settling for a glass and steel structure that doesn't match the surrounding architecture, shouldn't the developers consider how their plans can work with what's already there to create a walkable and livable Wheaton?
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