Unearth The Voyage
New York City’s Thai food scene has exploded over the past decade, offering everything from fiery Isan specialties to refined royal recipes you won’t find anywhere else in America. Whether you’re craving a quick bowl of boat noodles in Queens or a multi-course seafood feast in Manhattan, the city’s Thai restaurants deliver bold, authentic flavors that transport you straight to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or the northeastern countryside. These fifteen spots have earned fierce loyalty from locals who know the difference between tourist traps and the real deal.
1. Kru (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Time Out crowned this Williamsburg gem NYC’s best Thai restaurant in 2025, and one bite explains why. Chef Ohm Suansilphong reaches back to century-old recipes, then executes them with the precision of a fine-dining kitchen. The heat here is no joke, every dish arrives with the kind of chile intensity that makes your forehead sweat and your taste buds sing.
Ma hor, a royal appetizer of caramelized pork and shrimp on fresh pineapple, balances sweet, savory, and herbal notes in a single bite. The massaman beef tongue is fork-tender, slow-braised in a coconut curry spiked with cinnamon, cardamom, and roasted peanuts. Reservations fill up fast, so plan ahead if you want a weekend table in this cozy, minimalist space.
2. Fish Cheeks (NoHo, Manhattan)
Walk into this NoHo favorite and you’ll immediately notice the energy: tables crowded with friends passing platters, the scent of lemongrass and fish sauce in the air, and a menu built entirely around the ocean. Fish Cheeks has been a downtown anchor for years, serving seafood-forward Thai dishes meant to be shared family-style.
The coconut crab curry arrives bubbling in a clay pot, rich and fragrant with kaffir lime and Thai basil. Whole fish, either fried until crispy or steamed with lime and garlic, is a must-order centerpiece. The restaurant posts its hours online and takes reservations through standard platforms, so you won’t have to wait in the cold hoping for a walk-in spot on a Friday night.
3. Soothr (East Village, Manhattan)
Soothr earned its MICHELIN recognition by doing one thing exceptionally well: noodle soups that taste like they were ladled straight out of a Bangkok street cart. Each bowl arrives steaming, layered with herbs, chiles, and proteins that have been marinated and cooked with care. The koong karee, a shrimp curry noodle soup, is creamy, tangy, and just spicy enough to make you reach for your water glass.
Duck noodles are another standout, featuring tender slices of roasted duck floating in a five-spice-scented broth. The East Village location is small and gets packed during peak hours, but the turnover is quick. If you’re hunting for regional Thai flavors without the trek to Queens, this spot delivers authenticity in every spoonful.
4. Zaab Zaab (Elmhurst, Queens; also Williamsburg & more)
Zaab Zaab specializes in the bold, funky flavors of Thailand’s Isan region, where fermented fish sauce, sticky rice, and charcoal-grilled meats reign supreme. The original Elmhurst location still draws crowds of locals who grew up eating this food, and the 2025 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand designation confirmed what regulars already knew: this place is the real deal.
Nam khao tod, a crispy rice salad studded with sour pork and peanuts, is addictive in the best way. The grilled meats, marinated in garlic, coriander root, and white pepper, come off the charcoal smoky and juicy. With multiple locations now across the city, you can get your Isan fix in Williamsburg or Manhattan, but the Queens original still feels the most authentic.
5. SriPraPhai (Woodside, Queens)
For over two decades, SriPraPhai has been the gold standard for uncompromised Thai cooking in New York. This Woodside landmark doesn’t water anything down: curries are coconut-rich and chile-forward, salads arrive puckering with lime and fish sauce, and the menu spans dozens of regional dishes you won’t find at your average Thai joint.
The crispy watercress salad is a textural masterpiece, with fried greens, cashews, and a tamarind dressing that hits every flavor note. Curries, whether green, red, or panang, are deeply layered and aromatic. The dining room is sprawling and often packed, especially on weekends, but service is efficient and the kitchen never skimps on flavor. Check their website for current hours before making the trip.
6. Ayada Thai (Elmhurst, Queens; Chelsea Market outpost)
Since 2008, this family-run gem has been feeding Elmhurst locals the kind of home-cooked Thai food that makes you feel like you’ve been invited into someone’s kitchen. Ayada’s menu is massive, but regulars know to zero in on the dishes that showcase the family’s southern Thai roots and their knack for balancing sour, salty, sweet, and spicy.
Kang som, a sour curry with tamarind and vegetables, is tangy and bright, perfect with a mound of jasmine rice. Drunken noodles arrive wok-charred and slicked with holy basil, garlic, and chiles. There’s now a counter outpost in Chelsea Market if you’re craving a midtown fix, but the original Queens location offers the full menu and the neighborhood energy that made Ayada a beloved staple.
7. Somtum Der (East Village, Manhattan)
If you think you know papaya salad, Somtum Der will set you straight. This East Village outpost of a Bangkok mini-chain is laser-focused on Isan cuisine, with som tum taking center stage in a dozen different variations. Some are fruity and mild, others are punishingly spicy and funky with fermented crab, and all of them are pounded to order in a giant mortar and pestle.
Larb, the minced-meat salad spiked with toasted rice powder and lime, is herbaceous and addictive. Grilled pork skewers, marinated in garlic and coriander, come off the charcoal with crispy edges and juicy centers. The restaurant stays open late on weekends, making it a go-to spot for post-bar cravings when you need something bold and satisfying.
8. PURE Thai Cookhouse (Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan)
Tucked into a narrow Hell’s Kitchen storefront, PURE Thai Cookhouse feels like a Bangkok shophouse transplanted to Midtown. The kitchen makes noodles by hand daily, and the menu reads like a greatest-hits collection of Thai street food, from boat noodles to crab fried rice. It’s always packed, with a line snaking out the door during prime dinner hours, but the turnover is quick and the food is worth the wait.
Sukhothai noodles, a sweet-and-savory rice noodle dish with pork and peanuts, is comfort food at its finest. Crab fried rice is fluffy, fragrant, and loaded with real crabmeat, not imitation. The space is tiny, so expect to sit elbow-to-elbow with strangers, but that’s part of the charm. Cash or card both work here.
9. Khao Kang (Elmhurst, Queens)
Khao Kang operates like a Thai curry shop, with rotating steam trays of home-cooked dishes that sell out by mid-afternoon. There’s no fancy plating or Instagram-worthy presentations here, just honest, flavorful food ladled over rice and served in styrofoam containers. The menu changes daily based on what the kitchen feels like cooking, so regulars know to arrive early for the best selection.
Jungle curry, a watery, intensely spicy curry loaded with vegetables and no coconut milk, is a revelation if you’ve only tried the creamy stuff. Five-spice pork is braised until it falls apart, rich with star anise and cinnamon. The storefront is easy to miss, but locals line up at lunch for a reason. Cash only, and don’t expect to linger, this is grab-and-go comfort food at its finest.
10. LumLum (Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan)
Named after a northern Thai dialect word, LumLum brings beachy, coastal Thai flavors to the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. The menu leans heavily on seafood, with bold, spicy preparations that evoke the beaches of Phuket and Krabi. The vibe is casual but lively, with reservations filling up quickly on weekends thanks to word-of-mouth buzz and strong Resy activity.
Squid-ink soup is inky, briny, and deeply savory, studded with tender squid and herbs. Spicy fried fish arrives whole, crispy-skinned and doused in a chile-lime sauce that makes you want to lick the plate. The cocktail list is solid, with Thai-inspired twists on classics, and the staff is happy to guide you through the menu if you’re feeling overwhelmed by options. Book ahead or risk a long wait.
11. Chao Thai (Elmhurst, Queens)
Chao Thai is the kind of place where the menu is ten pages long and every single dish is worth ordering. This tiny Elmhurst spot has been a neighborhood secret for years, with a loyal following of locals who know to trust the kitchen’s instincts. The dining room is cramped and the decor is minimal, but the food speaks for itself.
Crispy morning glory salad is a crunchy, tangy explosion of fried water spinach, shrimp, and cashews tossed in a tamarind dressing. Tom yum noodles bring the classic hot-and-sour soup into noodle form, with shrimp, mushrooms, and a broth that clears your sinuses in the best way. Service is friendly but no-nonsense, and the kitchen doesn’t hold back on spice unless you specifically ask. Cash is preferred, though they do take cards.
12. Wayla (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Wayla feels like the Thai restaurant your coolest friend would open if they had a green thumb and a killer cocktail recipe book. The menu changes with the seasons, incorporating farmers’ market produce into traditional Thai dishes, and the drink program is just as thoughtful, with creative mocktails alongside the boozy options.
Grilled branzino is a showstopper, charred and smoky, served whole with a bright, herby nam jim sauce. Seasonal salads might feature roasted squash in the fall or heirloom tomatoes in the summer, always balanced with Thai flavors like fish sauce, lime, and chiles. The Lower East Side location is cozy and dimly lit, perfect for a date night or a catch-up dinner with friends. Check their website for current hours and make a reservation if you’re going on a weekend.
13. Bangkok Supper Club (West Village, Manhattan)
From the team behind Fish Cheeks, Bangkok Supper Club channels the electric, after-dark energy of Bangkok’s street-food scene into a West Village setting. The charcoal grill is the heart of the kitchen, turning out skewers, whole fish, and vegetables with a smoky char that elevates every bite. The MICHELIN Guide took notice, and so have late-night diners looking for something more exciting than pizza.
Whole branzino nam jim is grilled until the skin crackles, then dressed in a tangy, spicy sauce of lime, chiles, and garlic. Grilled skewers, whether pork, chicken, or squid, are marinated in lemongrass and coriander and come off the fire juicy and fragrant. The space is moody and intimate, with a soundtrack that keeps the energy high even as the night wears on.
14. Eim Khao Mun Kai (Elmhurst, Queens)
Sometimes you just want one perfect dish, and Eim Khao Mun Kai delivers exactly that. This Elmhurst shop is dedicated entirely to khao man gai, the Thai version of Hainanese chicken rice, and they’ve perfected every element: the poached or fried chicken, the ginger-scented rice, the tangy ginger-soy sauce, and the side of clear broth.
You can order your chicken steamed, which is silky and tender, or crispy, which adds a golden, crunchy skin to the mix. Either way, it arrives over a mound of fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat and ginger, with a bowl of broth and a dish of spicy-sour sauce on the side. The menu is short, the prices are low, and the execution is flawless. It’s the kind of place you’ll return to again and again for a simple, satisfying meal.
15. Thai Diner (Nolita, Manhattan)
From the team behind the late, lamented Uncle Boons, Thai Diner reimagines Thai cuisine through an all-American diner lens, and the results are wildly creative and delicious. It’s one of the toughest reservations in Nolita, with weekend brunch slots disappearing within minutes of release. The menu bounces between Thai classics and playful mash-ups that shouldn’t work but absolutely do.
Khao soi, the northern Thai curry noodle soup, is rich and coconutty, topped with crispy noodles for texture. Crab fried rice is buttery and loaded with sweet crabmeat. Brunch brings out the big guns: Thai tea babka French toast, a sticky, cinnamon-spiced masterpiece that tastes like dessert but arrives at breakfast. The space is retro-diner bright, with booths, counter seating, and a soundtrack that keeps the energy high all day long.
