The Duangrat family closes Rabieng
Rabieng Thai Restaurant in Bailey’s Crossroads served its last pad thai on April 18.
The owners, Ed and Pookie Duangrat, who also own Duangrat’s, sold Rabieng, at 5892 Leesburg Pike, and the Thai market in the same shopping strip because it was getting to be too much work for them, says their son, Eddie Duangrat.
As their 30-year lease is nearing the expiration date, “it is time to pass the torch and consolidate,” says Eddie, the general manager of Duangrat’s, located around the corner at 5878 Leesburg Pike.
The new owner, who is not affiliated with the Duangrat family, plans to open another Thai restaurant, called Mum Aroi, in the old Rabieng space.
Many of the popular dishes served at Rabieng will be added to Duangrat’s menu, says Eddie, including mieng kham (leaf wraps), nam prik ong (pork belly dip), and noodle soups.
Rabieng focused on street food and the cuisine of the rural Esan region in northeastern Thailand, while Duangrat’s is more upscale and offers more seafood dishes.
All of the employees at Rabieng have been offered jobs at Duangrat’s. Eventually, Eddie hopes to reopen the upstairs dining room.
“It’s bittersweet for us,” he says. “It’s important for us to retain as much of Rabieng as we can here.”
13 responses to “The Duangrat family closes Rabieng”
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Place was a lifesaver during the pandemic while teleworking for lunch options
I’m so sorry to see them close. I’ve been going there since they first opened and celebrated my 69th birthday there.
Sorry to see them go. It was a nice little place to go to.
I stopped at Rabieng this afternoon, hungry and ready to order papaya salad and drunken noodles. I was shocked to learn it was closed for good, very sad. But I’m happy now that Duangrat will carry over some of the Rabieng’s dishes. The two restaurants are my favorite Thai Restaurants since I discoveted them 32 years ago.
We’ve enjoyed Rabieng as well over the years and thank the Duangrat family for their dedicated service and wonderful special cuisine.
I picked up takeout from Rabieng on Sunday night and had no idea it would be the last time. The lady who usually takes my order always remembered me. I’ve been going there since I moved to NoVA in the 1990s. It’s my family’s favorite Thai restaurant anywhere, hands down. We will miss it dearly. Of course we will transition our patronage to Duangrats.
Rabiang was close to our house so for quick snacks, family friends Dinner or cozy Birthday 🥘 Haider / Buday family were always there. We will miss The ever smiling cordial hosts and of course, the yummy Pad Thai Fish cake Spring Rolls A a h!!!
Good Luck 🍀
We’ll miss it as it has been here a long time.
Best Thai restaurant in the area. You will be missed!
Love Rabiang! My favorite memory was the son/nephew? who played Pink Floyd all the time!
See you at Duangrats!
Yes yes, but the most important question wasn’t asked: will they still serve tid bit?
Seriously though, have been going here for almost 20 years. I haven’t had better panang than what I got at Rabieng. I have always wanted to try Duangrats but never could bring myself to go because Rabieng was right there… now I can.
Rabieng’s (along with Duangrat’s—hard to say which is better!) was one of my absolute favorite restaurants! While smaller than Duangrat’s, it had some dishes that Duangrat’s didn’t have, and its prices tended to be lower than Duangrat’s, especially in alcoholic beverages. I will try the new restaurant as soon as it gets its ABC license!
Very sad to see Rabieng’s close!
Thank you Duangrat family for Rabieng and thank you Oh, Pai, Hao, Keng (probably did not spell correctly).