Thai Cottage Bistro Serving Authentic and Fusion Dishes (Rockville, MD)

It’s been a wild couple of weeks, and I know I’ve been slacking off on my “Honoring Culture Through Cuisine” series, but I hope to get back on track, I know I’m a few weeks off.

In a few weeks, I’m leaving the country and wanted to celebrate my departure with a dear friend who I met in 2018. (Yes, pre-COVID, call me OLD!) I don’t talk about Sonja much on this blog, but like all my friends, she has a diverse upbringing; her mother is Indian and her father is British. There is something about connecting easier with people with cultured upbringings than those who don’t. She’s truly been a huge supporter of so much in my life.

One thing I love about her is that she’s always down to do whatever with me, so was glad she was willing to head to Thai Cottage Bistro with me, an Authentic Thai restaurant in Rockville, Maryland.

The Restaurant (and Parking):

The Restaurant is simple and easy to get to; you absolutely can’t miss it! There is a free 2-hour parking garage located to the left of the restaurant which was actually surprisingly empty when we arrived (Saturday at 5pm). The inside has a lovely cozy and quaint vibe. It’s not tacky, obnoxious or loud, but rather subtle and aesthetic.

The Thai Cottage Bistro doesn’t have a “history” section like some of the restaurants I’ve been to, but does win me over with their authentic wide range of cuisine. Thai Cottage Bistro has both traditional and innovative dishes, which you’ll see later in the menu. Some dishes are more aligned with Thai street food, others are Thai innovative or inspired with American cuisine, for example, fusing both cultures into one.

Sonja asked the waiter what he recommended, debating between a fusion (Ka Prow Burger) or authentic dish (Boat Noodle Soup) and he recommended a fusion burger actually, saying that the Boat Noodle Soup will always be available, but they specialize in mixing cuisines and it’s not something you’ll see everywhere! (And thus, that is what she got!)

The Menu!

The menu is large! These are not all the pages, it works somewhat like an accordion…or rather a double-sided accordion! You can find the full menu, plus the dessert and drinks here. You will likely have to ask if you want dessert, I wasn’t asked mainly because I was so full and needed containers to go but I’m glad I didn’t because it was only until after he brought the check that my friend had said that she’ll cover the full price! Typically, we do a split check, and I would’ve felt bad if I got an app, entree and dessert and she had to pay it all! So, no- you will not see a dessert in this blog, unfortunately.

As you can see, there are definitely some authentic Thai dishes, but also ones that combine Thai cuisine with things like Tacos, Burgers, Sandwiches, etc. I thought that was kind of neat to be honest. What do you think?

Thai Wing Zabb:

The appetizer I got was the Thai Wing Zabb. These are deep fried marinated chicken wings, served with a size of sweet chili sauce and shredded carrots/cabbage.

They were tasty, tangy and crispy. They did have the bone in still, so be careful if you give this to small children or if you, yourself just don’t like bones in your wings!

History:

This is a relatively newer Thai dish, perhaps surprisingly, it was introduced by KFC Thailand in 2004. it designed to appeal to local tastes with a, spicy, sour, and savory dry seasoning. “Zabb” is a Northeastern Thai (Isan dialect) term for “delicious” or “spicy,” inspired by local street food, combining lime, chili, and herb flavors. Definitely not like Holubtsi in Ukraine with origins dating as back as the 18th or 19th century but who says authentic can’t be within the last 20 years? Authentic food, by definition is simply, “dishes that are true to their original, traditional, or cultural roots, often utilizing specific, traditional ingredients and preparation methods” and if we’re saying that these wings are marinated in Thai-inspired street foods, isn’t that exactly what that is?

Khao Soi Noodle Soup:

Next up, we have the Khao Soi Noodle Soup, a northern-Thai curry with egg noodles, topped with crispy egg noodles, garnished with red onions, pickled green mustard, cilantro and scallions. You can also choose your meat for this dish- chicken drumsticks, tempura chicken, shrimp, vegetable and soft tofu or deep-fried soft shell crab.

This dish was very tasty! The mix between curry and the noodles (which are hidden under the curry here) created a delicious flavorful aroma. I’m usually a Pad Thai kind of girl, but this was a keeper for next time!

History:

This dish is heavily influenced by Burmese cuisine, specifically ohn no khao swè (coconut milk noodles) and was brought to Northern Thailand by Chin Haw (Yunnanese Muslim) traders in the 1870s. Originally, it featured boiled egg noodles, spices, and braised meat. Later on, while it is traditionally a Chinese-Muslim dish, it was adopted and modified by local Thai residents, particularly with the addition of coconut milk to the broth. Today, Khao Soi is a signature dish of Northern Thailand, especially around Chiang Mai

Do I Recommend Thai Cottage Bistro?

Oh my goodness! Absolutely, I’m starting to think I ought to rename this blog as not a travel blog but, rather a foodie one! I can’t find anything on the website that says this specifically, but it definitely has the “feel” of a family-owned business. It doesn’t necessarily have the typical Thai foods, like I couldn’t find Pad Thai or Pad See Ew on the menu at all, but if you’re looking for Authentic Thai or Thai fusion foods and aren’t too shy to try something new, I would definitely give this place a go. It’s cozy, quaint and the service is impeccable. I loved our waiter, very attentive and nice. I would definitely come again… hopefully soon! (And this time, I’ll check out the dessert menu!)

Address: 9613 Medical Center Drive Suite G Rockville, MD 20850

Hours: (Please double check website below for currency)