Bringing Authentic Thai Flavors to H Street: An Interview with Johnny Lu of Tiki Garden Thai Street Food (#9)
This issue also includes a message from Hannah the Hare, good news from H Street, events, promotions, hiring, and more.
In the heart of H Street, a new culinary gem has emerged, blending the vibrant flavors of Southeast Asia with the community spirit of Washington, D.C. Tiki Garden Thai Street Food, led by seasoned restaurateur Johnny Lu, offers a unique dining experience that promises affordability without compromising on taste. We sat down with Johnny to learn more about his inspirations and the journey of Tiki Garden Thai Street Food.
Harriet the Hedgehog (HH): What inspired you to start Tiki Garden Thai Street Food, and why did you choose H Street for your location?
Johnny Lu (JL): I've always had a passion for Southeast Asian cuisines and wanted to bring all the good dishes with an authentic taste to the neighborhood. I love H Street because of its vibrant community and felt there was a need for something more than just another venue—it needed a place that would bring people together. Having managed a restaurant here for several years, I saw a great opportunity to create a space where everyone could enjoy good food and feel at home.
HH: Can you tell us more about the concept behind Tiki Garden Thai Street Food?
JL: Absolutely, the concept is very straightforward: "Good Food, Cheap Eat." With the economy being as it is, finding a budget-friendly restaurant in the city is quite challenging. We want everyone to enjoy good food at an affordable price.
HH: How did you decide on the items for your regular and vegan menus? What influenced your choices?
JL: Everything on our menu is what we normally eat every day. We cook, we taste, and if it's good, it goes on the menu. Initially, we didn't offer a vegan menu because almost all Thai dishes contain fish sauce. However, after receiving feedback from our customers, we developed vegan options that maintain the authentic flavors without using animal products.
HH: What are some of your most popular dishes from both the regular and vegan menus?
JL: Our Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, Fried Rice, and Curries are always favorites. From the vegan menu, the Drunken Noodle and Spicy Eggplant are particularly popular. It's funny—I personally had to eat some vegan dishes more than ten times to perfect the recipes!
HH: What about your cocktail menu? It features both fun and traditional drinks. Can you share more about the development of this menu?
JL: We aimed to create a menu where people can enjoy classic and featured cocktails and appreciate the differences. Most of our signature cocktails are mixed with fresh tropical juices and herbs, enhancing the flavor when paired with our food. We’re always developing new seasonal cocktails to keep things interesting and ensure they always taste great.
HH: Your restaurant has quickly become a beloved part of the community. How do you ensure a great dining experience for your customers?
JL: We train our staff very well to ensure they provide the best customer service. We want everyone who comes to our place to feel great, like they’re walking into their home. Since we don’t have a big kitchen, we order meat and vegetables several times a week, which helps ensure our food always tastes fresh.
HH: Looking ahead, what are your short-term and long-term goals for Tiki Garden Thai Street Food?
JL: In the short term, we are working to get a sidewalk cafe permit to add more seats, as our indoor dining sometimes doesn’t have enough space during rush hours. Long-term, we hope to keep the business thriving on H Street and potentially purchase a spot rather than leasing. We’re also excited about opening another location called Nine Sisters soon, which will follow a similar concept.
Johnny Lu’s Tiki Garden Thai Street Food is a testament to his dedication to quality, affordability, and community spirit. For anyone in the H Street area, a visit to Tiki Garden promises not just a meal but an experience—a chance to enjoy flavors crafted with care and a place that feels like home.
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Message from Hannah the Hare:
Hoppy Thursday!
H Street is better with friends, and I'm so excited to join my friend Harriet in highlighting all that our street has to offer. I met Harriet at OrangeTheory, (that hedgehog can ROW!) and our shared love of community and trying new things led us to this partnership. You can catch me hopping around H to try a new cocktail at Copycat, sitting on Hill Prince's back patio, or dancing the night away at Little Miss Whiskey's.
I'm working on a social bunny event coming to our street this Labor Day Weekend - so mark your calendars now and stay on the lookout for more information. If you have any suggestions for what kind of events you'd like to see -- I'm all ears! You can reach me at HannahtheHareHStreet@gmail.com.
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More Good News:
Tiki Garden Thai Street Food is creating outdoor dining space. Be on the lookout, coming soon.
Resy.com wrote a feature highlighting Daru’s dishes and drinks.
Atlas (atlasarts.org)
Atlas Performing Arts Center has a thrilling fall line-up including jazz, theater, dance, and more! Support local artists! Check out all the performances here: atlasarts.org/events
Binge Bar
Thursday, July 18 at 8 pm: Selter Comedy show.
Friday, July 25 from 5-8 pm: Singles Meet Up.
Saturday, July 26 from 6-8 pm: Free Life Presents, “Sober Storytelling”. Join us for an inspiring evening where three speakers share their journey to quitting alcohol.
Bronze (bronzedc.com)
Every Sunday from 6-9 pm: Sounds of Bronze, Live Jazz
Fresca (frescadc.com)
Saturday, July 13 from 7-9 pm: live music by CantoSur.
H Street, Sweet H Street w/ SWEAT DC (hstreetsweethstreet.com)
Saturday, July 27 from 9-11 am: H Street Heroes Clean-up Olympics. Ready to make H Street glisten like a gold medal? Come out and show your community spirit.
Pie Shop (pieshopdc.com)
Friday, July 12 at 7:30 pm: Sorry Mom w/ The Most, Outerloop. $18
Saturday, July 13 at 7:30 pm: Junkhead w/ Motel Portrait, Greenhead, Megazillion. $15
Sunday, July 14 at 7:30 pm: NXCRE & The Villains W/ PRVNCI, The Missing Peace. $15
The Queen Vic (thequeenvic.com)
Sunday, June 23 at 6 pm – Bar Trivia
SolidState Books (solidstatebooksdc.com)
Thursday, July 11 at 6 - 8 pm: Knits n’ Yarns - Come join us while we craft (knit, crochet, etc) while talking about what we’re reading, or want to read.
Saturday, July 13 from 10:30 - 11:30 am: Storytime event, Alexandra Garyn and Bryan Reisberg - “Maxine Gets A Job”
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Any upcoming events happening on H Street that we need to announce? Fill out this form or email harriethedgehoghstreet@gmail.com with the details.
Ben’s Chili Bowl (benschilibowl.com)
Burger with fries and fountain drink for only $14.49
Binge Bar
15% off Bottle Shop Activation if you check in on Yelp!
Sign up for Loyalty Program and receive $16 off your purchase of $30 or more
Check in on Facebook.com and get 10% off
Military, First Responders, College Students get 15% off your entire purchase
Bronze (bronzedc.com)
Saturday and Sundays: Brunch from 11 am – 2:30 pm
Every Sunday from 6-9 pm: Sounds of Bronze, Live Jazz
Chupacabra (chupacabrahst.com)
Weekdays 4-7 pm- Happy Hour
Mondays - Quesadilla & Margarita or Beer $15
Wednesdays - Loaded Nachos with a deep Eddy Cocktail $16
Thursdays - Torta Thursday: Torte & Margarita or Beer $18
Sundays - Sunday Funday: Chips & Salsa with a shot of Jamo $11
Daru (darudc.com)
Bar Happy Hour Everyday from 5-6:30 pm - $10 Snacks and Cocktails
Granville Moores (granvillemoores.com)
Mussels Monday - $13 Mussels from 5 pm to 9 pm
Hiraya (hirayadc.com)
Happy Hour Tuesday – Thursday from 5 -7 pm
Happy Hour Friday – Sunday from 3 – 6 pm
Brunch Plate, Drink, and Pastry for $25
Irregardless (irregardlessdc.com)
Mid-Atlantic Wine Summer Showcase - One Featured Entree, One Paired Glass of Wine, and Dessert for $55
Kids Night on Tuesdays 5-7 pm – special kids menu
Wine Wednesdays 5:30 pm – 10% off glasses and bottles, happy hour excluded
Maketto (maketto1351.com)
Until Friday, July 17th from 9 - 10 am: get a complimentary pastry with every coffee purchase, while supplies last.
Sol Mexican Grill DC (solmexicangrilldc.com)
Taco Tuesday: $2.75 tacos all day!
SWEAT DC (sweatdc.com)
Free week of group fitness classes at SWEAT DC. Click link to redeem your free week pass.
Tiki Garden Thai (tikigardendc.com)
Happy Hour 5pm-7pm everyday
Waxing the City (waxingthecity.com)
June 1 - July 31: Wax n’ Win giveaway.
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Fattys Tattoos and Piercings - Hiring Piercers. Email shop@fattytattos.com for inquiries. Fatty’s is looking for a piercer that is either an AP member or who practices APP standards. They are not looking for apprentices at this time.
MADabolic - Hiring Community Sales Associate: looking for fantastic customer service, driving sales of new client specials, and must be extremely extroverted and results driven.
Link Apartments on H Street - 1 br/1 ba Model Apartment. 2 months free + $1,500. View of the Capitol and Monument. Brand New. Call today (202) 871-6393.
Granville Moore's: A Belgian Haven of Warmth, Flavor, and Friendship
In the heart of H Street, there exists a culinary oasis that beckons to those in search of warmth, comfort, and unparalleled flavor.... (read on blog)
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