With locations in the Shaw and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods of Washington, DC, Beau Thai serves delicious, fresh, and traditional Thai cuisine in the nation's capital.
Our Story
Our team’s story began at a birthday party in 2007 in Washington, DC.
Our story also began decades earlier when our founder, Aschara Vigsittaboot, learned to cook made-from-scratch Thai food for her family at her mother's side in southern Thailand.
But at that birthday party, Aschara met future business partners Ralph Brabham and Drew Porterfield. She cooked a Thai feast for them and their friends, and they bonded over the delicious meal that she prepared.
What began as a friendship evolved into a chosen family over the course of many subsequent shared dinners. Ralph and Drew (and a slew of other friends and family) helped Aschara open the first Beau Thai. Aschara invited them to be partners with her in the venture, and one thing led to another and the resturant group grew.
Aschara is the executive chef, founder, and, in many ways, the heart and soul of Beau Thai. Much of her culinary training was from her mother, Udom, a familial legend in the kitchen. As a little girl, Aschara took great pleasure in helping make family meals. She woke up early on weekends to purchase food from the markets, often sneaking in some delicious street food on the errands. Prior to opening Beau Thai, she worked at Rice on the popular 14th Street, NW, corridor in Washington, DC, a restaurant she helped launch, and at her brother’s popular DC restaurant, Thai X-ing.
Ralph and Drew (who are husbands, married in 2011) come from very non-Thai North Carolina families. Their influence can be seen in some of the things that make Beau Thai unique in the marketplace of Thai restaurants, such as our cocktail and wine lists, our decor, and our commitment to philanthropy. They have since opened their own cocktail bar called Jane Jane in Logan Circle.
Our goal is for Beau Thai to be authentic, approachable, and awesome.
Core Values
Our Cooking
One of our core values is to honor the traditions of Thai cooking.
From our made-from-scratch curry pastes to securing ingredients that are difficult to source, we think the resulting dishes are worth the effort. We take great pride in what we serve, and hope you find them to be delicious, fresh, and authentically Thai.
Our Community
Our second core value is to foster community -- both inside and outside the restaurant.
We are so grateful for the communities that comprise us and that we serve. We love knowing our neighbors and our patrons, and we love being the venue and source of both special occasions and everyday meals.
Giving Back
Our third core value is to support causes that make the world a better place for all.
We are grateful for the opportunities to support causes that are important to us. Over the years, we have contributed to countless worthy organizations and events through both in-kind and finanical donations. Below is a listing of some of our efforts to give back.
Our Contributions
To date, we’ve helped our communities through the following:
2024
Donor, Bancroft Elementary PTO ($300)
Participating Restaurant, Chefs for Equality
Donor, World Central Kitchen ($300)
Sponsor, Mt Pleasant Art All Night ($1,000)
Donor, New Endeavors by women ($1,000, War of the Rosés)
Donor, New Endeavors by Women Silent Auction
Donor, SMYAL ($1,725)
Donor, New Endeavors by Women ($1,200, “Tickled Pink” cocktail proceeds)
Donor, Shaw Main Streets ($935)
Donor, New Endeavors by Women (catered board luncheon)
2023
“Sparkle” fundraiser for Horton’s Kids (donated $2,745)
Neighbor November Donations
- $150 La Clínica Del Pueblo, plus toys for toy drive
- $150 Bread for the City, plus canned goods for food pantry
Participating Restaurant, Chefs for Equality
Donor, Horton’s Kids (happy hour for 22)
Donor, DC Gay Football League ($100)
Organizer, War of the Rosés ($11,751 raised for various charities by participants)
Beau Thai’s War of the Rosés Donations:
- New Endeavors by Women ($600)
- Mount Pleasant Village ($250)
- Common Good City Farm (BKK Cookshop, $200)
- Serving Those Serving($500)
Donor, ACLU Drag Defense Fund ($1,800)
Donor, Ayuda ($800)
Donor, Sandy Hook Promise ($100)
Donor, New Endeavors by Women (in kind)
2022
“Sparkle” fundraiser for Horton’s Kids (raised $1,000)
Neighbor November Donations
- $500 La Clinica Del Pueblo
- $500 Bread for the City
Organizer, War of the Rosés ($10,177 raised for various charities by participants)
Beau Thai’s War of the Rosés Donations:
- Bread for the City ($250)
- La Clinica Del Pueblo ($250)
- The National Network of Abortion Funds ($500)
BKK’s War of the Rosés Donations:
- New Endeavors By Women ($100)
- The National Network of Abortion Funds ($60)
Donor, Horton’s Kids Home Runs for Horton’s Kids
Donor, SMYAL ($1,000)
Donor, DC Abortion Fund ($860)
Donor, Everytown for Gun Safety ($100)
Donor, DC Abortion Fund ($290)
Donor, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Donor, Crispus Attucks Park
Donor, World Central Kitchen ($500)
Donor, Equal Justice Foundation Auction
2021
“Sparkle” fundraiser for Horton’s Kids (raised $1,250)
Donor, La Clinica Del Pueblo ($500)
Champion Member, District Bridges ($250)
Donor, Earlier.org ($1,040)
Donor, New Endeavors by Women ($1,000)
Donor, July Rosé Sales at BKK Cookshop,, New Endeavors by Women
Participant, Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate Fundraiser
Donor, N Street Village Gala Auction
Donor and Participating Team, La Clinica Del Pueblo Walkathon
Donor, Casa Ruby ($1,000)
2020
Donor, World Wildlife Foundation - Australia ($2,400)
Donor, Center for Black Equity ($1,000)
Donor, Bread for the City ($500)
Donor, First Responder Melas at Bread for the City's COVID19 Testing Site
Donor, AYUDA ($400)
Donor, New Endeavors by Women ($550)
Terrific Tuesday at BKK Cookshop for Bundy Dog Park
”Sparkle” fundraiser for Horton’s Kids (raised $4,600)
2019
Donor, Association For The Study Of African American Life and History ($120)
Terrific Tuesdays at BKK Cookshop for:
-Huntington's Disease Youth Organisation
-Common Good City Farm
-Huntington's Disease Youth Organisation
-Race for Hope DC - CureBrainTumors.org
-Colorectal Cancer Alliance ($200 donation)
-Fields 4 Valor
Donor, Cornhole For A Cause benefiting SMYAL.
Dining Out for Life ($2,000 donation)
Donor, Friends of Mt Pleasant Library ($540 donation)
Organizer, War of the Rosés ($7.370 total raised for various charities by participants)
Donor, Ayuda ($310) - War of the Rosés
Donor, SMYAL ($200) - War of the Rosés
Donor, New Endeavors by Women ($115) - War of the Rosés
Donor, My Sister's Place ($625) - War of the Rosés
Donor, National MS Society ($254 donation)
"Cheers" fundraiser for Bread for the City ($300 donation)
"Sparkle" fundraiser for Horton's Kids (raised $5,685)
2018
Terrific Tuesdays at BKK Cookshop for:
-Washington Scandals Rugby
-Kid Power
-Diverse City Fund Terrific Tuesday
-Everytown for Gun Safety
-Project Northstar
-Friends of the Park at Ledroit
-DC Pride Volleyball League
-Horton's Kids
-Food & Friends
-The ALS Association
-The DC Center
-SMYAL
-DC Pride Volleyball League
-Crispus Attucks Park
-City Blossoms
-DC Central Kitchen
-Washington Area Bicyclist Association
-DC State Fair
-Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
-City Dogs Animal Rescue
-People Animals Love
-Bundy Dog Park
Participating Restaurant, 2018 Dining Out for Life benefiting Food & Friends ($2,810 donation)
Donor, Creative Minds International
Donor, Friends of the Mount Pleasant Library ($799)
Donor, AYUDA ($500) - War of the Rosés
Donor, SMYAL ($400) - War of the Rosés
Donor, DC Central Kitchen ($140) - War of the Rosés
Donor, KIPP ($986) - War of the Rosés
Donor, Legal Aid Society of Washignton, DC (Dinner for 16)
Donor, Rosemount Center's Fall Fiesta
Donor, Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner
"Sparkle" fundraiser for Horton's Kids (raised $16,570)
2017
Terrific Tuesday at BKK Cookshop for:
-Shaw Main Streets
-Project North Star
-ACLU of DC
-New Endeavors by Women
-Transformer
-Strength in Our Voices
-Brainfood
-The Congressional Chorus
-DCPVL
-DC Furies
-Community Day at Crispus Attucks Park
-City Blossoms
-Kid Power
-Touchstone Foundation
-LeDroit Park Civic Association
-City Dogs Animal Rescue
-Joseph's House
-Fields 4 Valor
-Family Equality Council
-Young Survival Coalition
-Horton's Kids
-PFLAG of DC
-Earth Conservation Corps
-ArtSpace DC
-Hurricane Harvey Victims (Red Cross)
-Hurricane Maria Relief in Puerto Rico (Unidos Por Puerto Rico)
-Seaton Elementary PTO
Charity Happy Hour for Martha's Table ($150 donation)
Premier Sponsor, Mount Pleasant Business Association
15% Sales from A Day Without Immigrants to Ayuda ($2,297 donation from Beau Thai Shaw, Mt Pleasant and BKK Cookshop)
Donation in Kind, Bancroft Elementary Art Auction
Participating Restaurant, 2017 Dining Out for Life benefiting Food & Friends ($3,148 donation)
Donor, Rosemount Center's Fall Fiesta
Donor, Bundy Dog Park
Donor, Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner
Donor, Goodwill Greater Washington
Donor, SMYAL's Kick Tease
Recognition
Our fourth core value is to consider the whole experience.
This means, in part, that we don't rest on our laurels but are always looking for how we can be better and serve our community better. We appreciate the recognitions we've received, but we do not take them for granted and will work to be the best restaurant we can be.
Our Accolades
2021
Readers’ Favorite Thai Restaurant, Washingtonian Magazine
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Best Carryout/Delivery, Washington Blade Readers’ Poll
2020
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2nd Best Asian Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2019
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2nd best Asian Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2018
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2nd best Asian Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Best Ethnic Restaurant, The Washington Blade's Readers' Poll
2017
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2016
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Best Restaurant that Delivers, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Best Asian Restaurant, The Washington Blade's Readers Poll
Runner Up, Best Thai, Washingtonian Magazine Readers' Poll
2015
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Best Asian Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Best New Business in Shaw, Shaw Main Streets annual meeting in March 2015
2014
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington Post Express Best of 2014 Poll
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2013
Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
Top Destination for Thai Cuisine, Washingtonian Magazine's Cheap Eats Guide to Ethnic Dining
The October 2013 issue of Martha Stewart Living, Beau Thai discussed Beau Thai as a "gem" in its travel story on Washington, DC.
2012
2nd Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Paper's Annual Readers' Poll
2nd Best Thai Restaurant, ,Washington Post Express Best of 2014 Poll
2011
3rd Best Thai Restaurant, Washington City Papers's Annual Readers' Poll
Noted Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema reviewed our restaurant in July 2011. Among his favorable words, he described Beau Thai as "easy to like."