Craving some yellow curry and pad thai? New York City has no shortage of amazing Thai restaurants to help you soothe that craving. Rounded up below are our top five picks when it comes to Thai food in Manhattan, and you’ll find them scattered around the borough. From more traditional dishes to some of the city’s most innovative and creative menus, get your fill of all the good stuff below.
Best of NYC Thai Food: PURE Thai Cookhouse (Hell’s Kitchen)
This genuine Thai shophouse-style restaurant hand makes its noodles and specializes in signature dishes that are so authentic, you’ll think you’re in Thailand. Once you’ve enjoyed some of their famed “Pure” Thai Noodles (we have to recommend the Ratchaburi Crab & Pork Dry Noodles), the Wok Stir-Fried Noodles & Rice and Wok Stir-Fried Dishes will leave you feeling more than satisfied. Jungle Curry Fried Rice with Chicken and Wok Ginger Curry with Calamari are two dishes we simply cannot get enough of. 766 Ninth Ave., 212-581-0999, purethaicookhouse.com
Best of NYC Thai Food: Topaz Noodle Bar (Midtown West)
The atmosphere in Topaz Noodle Bar is clean, sleek, and pristine, and you’ll see it both in the restaurant’s décor as well as in their dishes. As its name may have had you guessing, noodles are Topaz Noodle Bar’s specialty, meaning that the Pad Thai you eat here will be one of the best renditions you’ve ever had. The Gauy Tiew Singapore (angel hair noodle, meat, mixed veggies, and yellow curry) and Pad Woon Sen (wok-fried glass noodle, meat, egg, mushroom, onion, scallion, carrots, bell peppers, celery, tomato, and bean sauce) are two other noodle dishes that are worth veering from your usual “go-tos” for. 129 W. 56th St., 212-247-2277, topaznoodlebarnyc.com
Best of NYC Thai Food: Uncle Boons (Nolita)
First things first, Uncle Boons’ Charcoal Grilled Goodie menu is something you don’t want to ignore. The Grilled Issan Pork & Rice Sour Sausage, Grilled Head On Prawns, and Grilled Baby Octopus are all musts. Secondly, make sure you get a few of Uncle Boons’ Small Plates to share with the table, including the Green Curry Snails with Crispy Garlic & Herbs and the Garlic & Soy marinated Frog Legs over Glass Noodle, Lemongrass & Thai Herb Salad. It’s time to get adventurous with your Thai dishes at Uncle Boons! 7 Spring St., 646-370-6650, uncleboons.com
Best of NYC Thai Food: Ngam (East Village)
Ngam is owned by Chef Mong Thaimee, who has been featured on the Cooking Channel, Food Network, and Iron Chef America. The small dishes here are innovative, ranging from Chiang Mai Fries (kabocha pumpkin, sweet potato, red curry mayo, sweet & sour peanut relish) to Thai Taco (roti wrap, crispy pork belly, spicy Thai basil sauce, sweet onion). As for the main dishes, get your fill of Lobster Dumpling “Kao Soy” and Papaya Pad Thai, and the “Tom Kha” Soup with King Oyster Mushrooms will not disappoint. 99 Third Ave., 212-777-8424, ngamnyc.com
Best of NYC Thai Food: Up Thai (Upper East Side)
With its indoor hanging lanterns and wood-crafted interior dining space, Up Thai is as enchanting a restaurant to eat in as there ever was in NYC. And the food’s up to par too! Specifically, the Massaman Curry and Chicken Satay are out of this world, and you won’t find a dessert like the Black Sticky Rice with Egg Custard anywhere else in the city. The Chef’s signature Thai Crab Cake and Thai Steamed Mussels are also a home run and the perfect way to start off your meal. 1411 Second Ave., 212-256-1188, upthainyc.com
