100 Favorite Dishes: Panang curry from US Thai Cafe

Lori Midson

Number 69: Panang curry from US Thai Cafe

For those of you who complain bitterly about bland Thai food, welcome to US Thai Cafe, which is not for the weak and meek. Beautifully executed traditional Thai dishes -- papaya salad, larb, tom yum, drunken noodles and curries -- are what this Edgewater joint does best, taking the holy foursome of Thai tastes -- salty, sour, sweet and spicy -- and elevating them to sublimity. The panang curry, aromatic with chiles, garlic, ginger and coconut milk, is a hangover cure, midnight snack during HBO reruns of True Blood, afternoon craving and fiery addiction that should be bottled and sold by the bucket. And the kitchen crew, bless their sweaty brows, doesn't shy away from delivering a chile punch. If you can't stand the heat, stay away from their kitchen.

Hungry for more? The dishes in our countdown thus far are linked below:

No. 100 Chicken-fried steak from Lola
No. 99 Alaskan reindeer sausage from Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs
No. 98 Mac-and-cheese fries from Jonesy's EatBar
No. 97 Soft egg ravioli from Prima
No. 96 Pho - any pho -- from Pho 95
No. 95 Assiette de charcuterie maison from Z Cuisine À Côté
No. 94: Cheeseburger from Larkburger
No. 93: BBQ Masher from Cabin Creek Smokehouse
No. 92: Apple pancake from the Original Pancake House
No. 91: Burrata from Osteria Marco
No. 90: Eggs Benedict from Devil's Food Bakery
No. 89: Chile Relleno from La Fiesta
No. 88: Deviled eggs from Steuben's
No. 87: Corn-in-a-cup from Jack-n- Grill
No. 86: Enchiladas from Taco House
No. 85: Pupusas from Pupusas Sabor Hispano
No. 84: Baklava from Ali Baba Grill
No. 83: Masa-fried oyster shooters from Deluxe
No. 82: Tacos al pastor from Los Carboncitos
No. 81: Salsa bar from Tacos Y Salsas
No. 80: Dim Sum from Star Kitchen
No. 79: Green chile cheeseburger from Cherry Cricket
No. 78: Fries from Encore
No. 77: Shanghai-style dumplings from Chopsticks China Bistro
No. 76: Chile relleno burrito from El Taco de Mexico
No. 75: Fish fry from GB Fish and Chips
No. 74: Posole from Tarasco's
No. 73: Sausage, ham and egg biscuit from Table 6
No. 72: Bacon flight from the Berkshire
No. 71: Tasty Treats from Gaetano's
No. 70: French dip from Udi's