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Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a covete
Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobb
Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable wa
Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a coveted reservation at the latest celebrity-chef venue, New Yorkers are a demanding yet appreciative audience.
Every neighborhood offers temptations high, low, and in between, meaning there's truly something for every taste, whim, and budget. No matter how you approach dining out here, it's hard to go wrong. Planning a day of shopping among the glittering flagship boutiques along 5th and Madison Avenues? Stop into one of the Upper East Side's storied restaurants for a repast among the "ladies who lunch." Clubbing in the Meatpacking District? Tuck into a meal at eateries as trendy as their patrons. Craving authentic ethnic? From food trucks to hidden joints, there are almost more choices than there are appetites. Recent years have also seen entire food categories, from ramen to meatballs to mac 'n' cheese, riffed upon and fetishized, and at many restaurants you find an almost religious reverence for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.
And don't forget—New York is still home to more celebrity chefs than any other city. Your chances of running into your favorite cookbook author, Food Network celeb, or paparazzi-friendly chef are high, adding even more star wattage to a restaurant scene with an already through-the-roof glamour quotient. Newfound economic realities, however, have revived appreciation for value, meaning you can tap into wallet-friendly choices at every level of the food chain. Rest assured, this city does its part to satisfy your appetite. Ready, set, eat.
There are plenty of great Thai restaurants in Elmhurst, but this oft-packed spot tops them all (in fact, it's opened a branch in Manhattan's Chelsea Market). Operating out of two side-by-side storefronts (you go wherever there's a table), Ayada serves fiery, flavorful Thai favorites, as well as some dishes you've probably never heard of before. A favorite appetizer is raw shrimp served with a slice of garlic, bitter melon, and chili paste that will knock your socks off. The e-sarn sausage (made with fermented meat) is served with sliced ginger and peanuts, and, for a table of four, the succulent whole fried fish is a bargain.
77--08 Woodside Ave., Queens, New York, 11373, USA
Seafood, spicy, and sharing plates are the key concepts at this convivial and colorful Thai restaurant, where the dishes aren't what you find on typical Thai restaurant menus. Order for the table and if you like spice, make sure to include the Zabb wings to start and move on to the coconut crab curry, among other things.
The New York outpost of Andy Ricker’s famed Portland, Oregon restaurant continues to serve delicious Thai food that goes well beyond the dishes typically found on menus here. Knockouts include the pork belly and pork curry, the boar collar, the wings, and the papaya salad, but it’s hard to go wrong—and the servers give excellent guidance.
The name of this standout Thai restaurant is pronounced "sood," and translates to "recipe"—highlighting the fact that the menu is based on family recipes from around Thailand. This also means that, while familiar dishes like pad Thai are on offer, there are lots of items that might be unfamiliar and are definitely worth trying, like the koong karee (a creamy shrimp and egg curry), the flaky fried puff pastry stuffed with flavor-popping minced pork, and the caramelized duck noodles.
A long-beloved, cash-only Thai option, SriPraPhai (pronounced "see-PRA-pie") has a huge main menu as well as an equally expansive one for vegetarians. Although it's hard to go wrong, good bets include the crispy watercress salad, larb (ground pork salad with mint and lime juice), sautéed chicken with cashews and pineapple, kao-soy (curried egg noodles), or roast-duck green curry. If you go with a few people, order the delicately flavored whole steamed fish. But prepare your palate: your mouth might feel like a five-alarm fire by the time you're finished. In summer, the lovely back patio strung with lights somehow feels like a perfect setting for the spicy fare.
Thai restaurants come and go, but this one has stayed, in large part due to its authentic tastes and no-frills prices, including a two-course prix-fixe lunch (appetizer and shrimp, chicken, or beef main) for under $12. The decor is no-frills contemporary, allowing the food to shine. Adventure beyond pad Thai to explore curries and lemongrass-scented meat, fish, and noodle dishes. Save room for green tea ice cream or paper-thin crepes slathered with green tea custard.
722 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10025, USA
The taste-bud-popping ice creams and sorbets made by this corner Thai spot are served by the scoop and pint. Flavors include durian, black sesame seaweed, and Thai tea and coffee; sorbets like lychee rose and raspberry cilantro taste like they came straight from a garden. The unique meal options among the provincial dishes include no-carb Pad Thai and Mom's fried rice.
At this dimly lit but boisterous branch of a restaurant based in Bangkok, the namesake somtum, a palate-tingling green papaya salad, is the must-order dish. Other good dishes to share include the larb moo, a mound of minced pork mixed with veggies and chilies, the skewers of pork marinated in coconut milk, and the crispy fried chicken.
The kitschy decor, colorful diner-esque menu, and trendy patrons will quickly cue you into the fact that this is no ordinary Thai restaurant: the food is slightly off-kilter, in a good way, and the vibe is playful. The food is a combination of creative interpretations of Thai dishes and American diner classics, with an emphasis on fried chicken.
This cozy neighborhood Thai joint, just four blocks from the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, is decorated with photos of Thai street markets, along with two substantial red umbrellas that float above the bar. Specialties on the long, enticing menu range from crispy rice crepes with minced shrimp to gai rad prik (fried chicken in a sauce of chili, garlic, and tamarind) to marinated skirt steak.
960 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10025, USA
The northern side of the peninsula doesn't get nearly enough love, but Thai Rock is here to change that. The menu is pretty solid but standard, with your usual noodle dishes, spring rolls, and satays, but no matter: you're here for the cocktails at sunset, with views of Jamaica Bay and the Cross Bay Bridge, as well as the frequent live music (check the website for dates).
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