I saw the menu from the president's visit to Thailand. Some of the dishes sound familiar, but many do not.

http://img.ly/pSqB

Any recommendations on a restaurant to find some of these dishes? Or would an enterprising Thai restaurant here re-create the menu?

You can find cochinita pibil tacos at Oyamel on 7th St NW. Very good.

For Cajun/Creole with a twist, I'm digging Pearl Dive on 14th St NW. Go early or go late on the weekends, the waits are long.

La Fonda in Silver Spring on Georgia Ave has them. Kind of a hike from the SS Metro, though.

My recommendation is to get out of Georgetown and West End. They are fine areas, but are mobbed on the weekends and most of the restaurants and fair/middling and full of DC visitors. Instead, hop in a cab and go explore some of the neighborhoods in the city and head to:

Tabard Inn at 1739 N St NW in Dupont Circle has an amazing restaurant, and is very DC and local.

Hank's Oyster Bar at 1624 Q St NW has great seafood and daily meat and twos.

Etete (1942 9th St NW) or Dukem (1114 U Street NW) for Ethiopian food, something that is surprisingly hard to find in NYC.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Tabard Inn
1739 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Hank's Oyster Bar
1026 King St Ste 1, Alexandria, VA 22314

U Street Cafe
1301 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Yes, please split these!

The Best Way market in Mt. Pleasant is my go-to place in DC (I live in Dupont)

And for those recommending corn husks, banana leaves impart a very different flavor. Worth seeking out!

La Fonda Paisa in Silver Spring is a really good bakery and grocery.

Have you been to Veritas? It is at Connecticut and Florida. It isn't a huge food menu -- all cheese and meats, but 40ish wines by the glass.

How about one of these?

http://www.lacajachina.com/

Sausage cheese balls (bisquick, cheese, sausage, bake)

I know panela as brown sugar, not cheese.

http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/104866...

Maybe the spelling is off?