Is there anything better in life than a heaping plate of Pad Thai?
Perhaps zesty papaya salad that explodes like fireworks on your tongue. Or fried rice so delicious, it makes you question your entire existence.
Maybe dumplings so pillowy, you would lay your head on them and take a nap. Or pork as tender as a stick of butter melting in a pan.
See Also: The Best Chinese Takeout In NYC, From Joes Shanghai To Nom Wah Tea Parlor
While Chinese food will always have a special place in our hearts, have you ever had Thai food that quite literally altered your brain chemistry?
*Cue the famous TikTok trend*
We have, and we’re here to tell you all about it.
Keep reading for 11 terrific Thai restaurants in NYC (plus, what to order).
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204 E 13th St, Manhattan/Website
Widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in NYC, Soothr is home to some of our favorite Thai food in town. Everything at this popular downtown haunt is delicious, but we’re clinically addicted to their dry crab noodles. Typically, the word “dry” is a turnoff, but this dish is ironically melt-in-your-mouth delicious. We’re also big fans of the shrimp Pad Thai, crab fried rice, duck rolls, and Koong Karee. 10/10 would recommend!
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5 E 19th St, Manhattan/Website
If you think you’ve had the best Pad Thai in NYC, think again. Thai Villa’s spicy Pad Thai is so scrumptious, we would have this dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s greasy in the absolute best way possible and leaves you feeling full without being in a complete food coma. Other standout dishes include the Pad See Ew, fried chicken wrapped in Pandan leaves, and the ever-so-popular papaya salad.
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186 Mott St, Manhattan/Website
Taking the concept of traditional Thai food and completely revolutionizing it, Thai Diner is one of our favorite spots in all of NYC. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but a few dishes are not polite suggestions—they are mandatory. If you’ve stalked the viral restaurant on Instagram, you’re probably familiar with the life-changing Thai Disco Fries, the famous egg sandwich, and the Yum Kai Hua Pli sandwich (which we like to call the leaning tower of spicy chicken). For dessert, you absolutely must save room for Uncle Boon’s Coconut Sundae. We don’t know who you are Uncle Boon, but we would like to personally thank you from the bottom of our hearts. *sheds a tear*
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407 Smith St, Brooklyn/Website
It takes a lot to drag us out of Manhattan, but when we do, it’s for good reason. And that reason is always food. Rest assured, we would schlep to Brooklyn every day just to eat at Ugly Baby. We’re head over heels for the Kang Hoh (pork shoulder, spare ribs & mungbean noodles), and don’t even get us started on the Gao Lao Nuer Toon (Bangkok beef brisket soup). Carroll Gardens sure knows whatsup!
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100 Forsyth St, Manhattan/Website
Inspired by the markets of Bangkok, everything at Wayla is the real deal. That being said, we have three words for you: Lobster. Pad. Thai. Not only is this dish some of the best in NYC, but it also makes for a killer Instagram photo. After all, pics or it didn’t happen! *said sarcastically* In all seriousness, this restaurant is truly worth all the hype—and then some.
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7708 Woodside Ave, Queens/Website
We’ve come to learn that Queens has some of the most memorable food in New York, and Ayada is no exception. Famous for its spicy curries and mouthwateringly delicious noodle dishes, this unassuming Elmhurst joint most definitely lives up to its reputation. Some menu highlights include BBQ Pork tenders, Drunken Noodles, shrimp Pad Thai, and the Tom Yom noodle soup. *mouth waters*
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76-04 Woodside Ave, Queens/Website
Considered “a must” by locals and tourists alike, Zaab Zaab is behind some of the best Thai dishes in Queens, and arguably all of NYC. We are literally brought to tears when we think of the Crying Tiger, the Thai version of a grilled steak typically prepared with dry chili dipping sauce. And while we’ve had this dish at a variety of Thai spots, nothing compares to Zaab Zaab’s version. Run, don’t walk to this Woodside hotspot!
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64-13 39th Ave, Woodside/Website
Authenticity is the name of the game at this no-frills eatery. Although most Thai restaurants can make a decent Pad See Ew, nobody does it like SripraPhai. Prepared with what we believe to be magical ingredients, this dish powerfully awakens all your senses. So much so, that after one bite of this dish, you feel like you’ve been transported to a street cart in Thailand. We’re also big fans of the Panang Curry, sauteed roasted duck, and fried softshell crab.
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55 Bond St, Manhattan/Website
Calling all seafood lovers! As evident in the name, this trendy Thai spot is centered around fish, and we are all for it. We commend Fish Cheeks for finding its niche, while still paying homage to classic Thai food. We recommend the crispy rice salad with pork and the shrimp in three crab sauces to start, followed by the Dungeness crab for two, and the lobster Plaa. Some dishes can get pretty hot here, so pay attention to the spice levels indicated on the menu
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85 Avenue A, Manhattan/Website
There’s great papaya salad, and then there’s Somtum Der’s papaya salad. This dish is so spectacular, that there’s a special section on the menu just dedicated to different variations of it! You can’t go wrong with any version, but we’re obsessed with the Tum Kor Moo Yang (spicy papaya salad with grilled pork meat), and the Somtum Pu Plara (Isan-style papaya salad with fermented fish sauce). The crab-fried rice is pretty glorious, too.
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766 9th Ave #2, Manhattan/Website
Specializing in all things noodles, Pure Thai Cookhouse is the perfect spot for the carb lover. Which, if you’re reading this, is probably all of you. Our favorite menu items are Ratchaburi crab and pork dry noodles, prepared with, handmade egg noodles, roasted pork, crab meat, yu choy, and scallion, and Nakorn-Patom Duck Noodles Sou made with thin rice noodles, braised duck meat, water spinach, yu choy, Asian celery, bean sprout, and a five spice soy broth.
Photography by: Courtesy Getty
