One thing you can find in almost every corner in NYC is Thai food. The Thai government invested $15 million to push Thai cuisine into the West and offers training on how to cater to American tastes. Thai food is not just Pad Thai, it goes deeper in emotion as consumers we are engaging in a cultural exchange. This journey reveals the complexities of authenticity and representation. More restaurant owners are challenging against Gastrodiplomacy by offering the rich flavors of Thai culture.
New York City: A place of variety whether it is culture, music, language, or most importantly food! Food is the door to one’s heart and it exists in NYC even in small corners. One food that captured my heart and attention while living in NYC is Thai food.
I can’t quite explain why Thai cuisine is my favorite. Perhaps it’s because I grew up in an Indian culture, where my taste buds are accustomed to spices. Now, don’t get me wrong, Thai food has a whole different taste platter from Indian food. Thai food ranges from five basic flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy.
One thing that captured my attention was the food presentation. Colors such as red and green are the most common I have noticed.
Thai Cuisine is a story to be told
As a foodie, each dish I eat is like a story, and Thai food has been an unforgettable story. Just picture noodles soaked in a sauce that is surrounded by white radish, shrimp, tofu or other meat, bean sprouts, and a side of roasted peanuts. Each fork you pick up the noodles has a unique saying to it. Doesn’t it make you curious what the peanuts represent? History tells us that foreigners brought peanuts into Thailand about 400 years ago.
Each plate represents history and cuisine can tell us how a country or place was impacted. Thai food in NYC is huge! I probably have eaten more Thai than others when I go out with friends.
The menu in any Thai restaurant is huge, which means different dietary preferences are included. The most common means you find are spring rolls, pad Thai, and sticky rice.
Beyond Pad Thai
A popular restaurant in Manhattan, Fish Cheeks, made their restaurant a ‘Pad Thai Free Zone’ to showcase to non-Thai diners that Thai cuisine goes beyond just Pad Thai. I am guilty of ordering Pad Thai to be on the safer side, so this was eye-opening.
Fish Cheeks also opted not to include a Buddha or gold leaf Thai theme for decor. The push to showcase Thai beyond the stereotype to non-Thai diners is liberating.
Often, the owner undersells the food due to the frequent $9.99 Pad Thai’s takeout price point but notes that once people try his food, they understand that they’re not tasting cheap ingredients.
My connection to collective food culture
The more I read about Thai food in NYC, the more I realized the lack of Thai culture while I ate. Food for me as an immigrant is how I can honor and preserve my family’s identity.
Thai people are perceived as easy-going and serve delicious food in America. As an Asian who immigrated to NYC, my culture focuses on a collective narrative similar to Thai culture.
Being close-knit among family, Asian parents’ form of apologizing is offering a plate of fruits. No matter how mad we might be with each other, my family connects in eating huge hot meals as my parents smile.
As a first-generation, I know I hold the culture within my hands that my parents shared with me and I hope to pass it on to future generations.
Thai Cuisine vs Gastrodiplomacy
Alexandra Domrongchai explains Gastrodiplomacy as being the reason for limited knowledge of actual Thai people.
Gastrodiplomacy, also known as culinary diplomacy, involves a country using food as a means of globalizing and gaining international influence.
Alexandra Domrongchai
Domrongchai explains how, in 2002, the Thai government launched the Global Thai Program resulting in Thai restaurants aboard with training offered. Pad Thai was named Thailand’s national dish with no cultural history, which was funded by the Thai government with 500 million baht ($15 million).
It was a success as Thai cuisine became a “global phenomenon” and Thailand increased in foreign income from overseas transactions. Thai restaurants can be awarded the Thai Select award by the Thai government if their standards are followed.
Thai & the unauthentic representation
While Marie Wilson’s cookbook became an authority for Thai cooking, it presented a fantasy version of Thailand to Americans, one that was both exoticized, inaccurate, and harmful.
Food became a way for people to think of Thai people as “exotic” during the development of Thailand’s tourism industry after WWII and helped to justify American involvement in Thailand.
The Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Export Promotion, most likely run by bureaucrats rather than restaurateurs, drew up prototypes for three different “master restaurants,” which investors could choose as a sort of prefabricated restaurant plan, from aesthetic to menu offerings. Elephant Jump would be the fast casual option, at $5 to $15 per person; Cool Basil would be the mid-priced option at $15 to $25 a head; and the Golden Leaf prototype would cost diners $25 to $30, with décor featuring “authentic Thai fabrics and objets d’art.” (Does your favorite Thai spot have objets d’art? The restaurant may have been built from a government prototype.)
Alexandra Domrongchai
America presents Thai food in a way that is comfortable to them. Thai people keep their focus on the American idea of “authentic” Thai food. I guess you can say food is political.
The Thai places I have been to have the same taste, further pointing toward Thai people focusing on false authenticity.
The exhaustion of “Thainess”
The atmosphere is truly so welcoming in Thai restaurants. The act of “Thainess” and the emotional labor involved in appealing makes me feel sad as an immigrant especially.
I started off my article asking you to picture Pad Thai but after knowing the truth, Thai food is beyond Pad Thai.
Quite frankly, I am tired of hearing people rave only about Pad Thai when in reality they’ve been spoon-fed a story.
Alexandra Domrongchai
Knowing this information, it makes sense why Thai food is the quickest takeout option. The push to make it affordable and within the American palate is fluctuating.
It’s wild that the Thai government has invested money for this to occur. It’s a smart move yet it also places Thai cuisine inside a box when there is so much more to explore about Thai culture.
My top favorite Thai spots
I will be sharing my top favorite Thai places I have gone to. It may not be the authentic Thai foods that you get in Thailand and some do push the American foreign taste. But, I hope you do try one of them and wonder about Thai culture.
Kitchen 79
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars
37-70 79th St, Jackson Heights, NY, 11372
I tend to gravitate towards a Thai restaurant for Thai iced tea and this place had the BEST Thai tea I’ve ever had. It wasn’t a small glass either and it was the cheapest I’ve ever found too ($5).
A friend and I ordered spring rolls and crab rangoon for starters. I never had crab rangoon and the taste of the creamy and savory flavor with the sweet and sour sauce was delightful. We shared Pad Chicken with white rice.
This restaurant’s location is surprising since Jackson Heights is known for Indian food. However, the largest Thai population is within Queens, especially Woodside.
If you do decide to go to Kitchen 79, order the Thai iced tea. I also tried Thai dessert with fried ice cream and lychee creme brulee. Both were fascinating tastes and I am not surprised both desserts offer more than one flavor as you enjoy them.
This place has to be the most authentic I have been to and I wish I did try beyond Pad Cicken but that just means I have to go back. You will spot a Buddha here and flowers with a contemporary black tile design with dimmed lights.
Bua Thai Ramen & Robata Grill
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 stars
1611 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028
If you are looking for a Thai place in Manhattan, this is it! It is viral on Instagram and TikTok by foodie creators. The place is huge and pretty to look around at with flowers hanging from the ceiling.
As a Google review user said, “The atmosphere and decor create a charming tropical vibe, making it the perfect setting to enhance the mood.” The menu is huge and the drink menu is as well.
The signature cocktails are served in fruits and I had to try it. I got the famous Thai-style Pina Colada that comes inside a huge pineapple.
I went with a large group of friends so we ordered a bunch. For starters, I tried calamari, dumplings, chicken satay, and shrimp tempura. They were all fried so it has that crispy taste.
For my meal, I got the clay pot fried rice, which was $27. The meal definitely had more portions of meat than rice but it was delicious nonetheless. For dessert, we shared green and chocolate ice cream.
This place is the most expensive I have been to and the cocktails range from $20 and up. The total for our food was $347, which included 4 starters, 6 main meals, 2 desserts, 3 Thai iced teas, and 4 mocktails. It is a pricy experience to explore.
The atmosphere is great with attentive service. We had to wait for our table, but we were able to still order drinks in the meantime. Super welcoming in a busy place with a variety of foods.
When in Bangkok
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 stars
161-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11358
I noticed that Thai restaurants are more present in Queens. This place has a great atmosphere and even a backdrop to take pictures.
This was probably the one Thai spot that didn’t have dimmed lights. For starters, my friend and I got spring rolls and due to this friend being more informed about Thai culture, I tried something new, which was chicken wings with Thai sauces.
The food had a tangy taste and the ingredients felt super fresh. The Thai iced tea was a hit as always.
My friend commented, “The mousse mango dessert is my favorite- smooth and just delicious not overly sweet. The drinks that are mocktails there are delicious too and their salads are refreshing.”
However, I do have to point out the flavors weren’t anything unique or a wow factor. They were mild and palpable to American taste. Would I go again? Yes, the space is aesthetic and Instagram-worthy.
The tables are not crowded together, so I found it refreshing and airy. The foods are not pricy and you can try Thai flavors with a variety of food options.
Pochana Thai Kitchen
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 stars
33-16 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
This place has a wooden component with its wood tables. The reason I went was an Instagram foodie influencer sharing it had a $16 deal.
I ordered a Thai iced tea, spring rolls as my appetizer, and Pad Thai with chicken as my entree.
Although, my meal was more than $16, and my drink and dessert were not included. I am not sure how it all got calculated or if the deal is still offered with additional charges for chicken.
I am not too keen on going back due to the flavors not being my favorite in Pad Thai, but I am curious about trying food outside of the $16 deal menu. Nonetheless, the place was gorgeous. Super airy with wooden tables and bright, pink flowers. It brightened my day and I had a wonderful meal that was fulfilling.
Ayada
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 stars
7708 Woodside Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373
Ayada uses Thai decoration but what captures its uniqueness is the flowers. It felt like such a warm environment with the flowers and dimmed lighting.
For starters, my friend and I ordered calamari and dumplings. For our meals, my friend had the Pad Thai, which was probably the biggest plate I had seen of Pad Thai.
A Google review user wrote, “Unlike many new Thai places Ayada tastes extremely authentic like when I used to visit my Thai friend’s home as a kid. Getting the right spice balance with all the aromatic elements.”
I agree with this user about the taste. I ordered a bento box, which gave me the option to explore the various flavors of Thai cuisine. The spring roll sauce was tangy and sweet and the shrimp had sour sauce. And of course, I had to get Thai iced tea.
They do have Thai curries that I recommend trying if you can avoid the temptation of getting Pad Thai.
Zoob Zib Thai Authentic Noodle Bar
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 stars
460 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018
I went here to celebrate my birthday after visiting The Edge in Hudson Yards. It’s a great place to go after exploring. Definitely pricey, which is acceptable due to its location.
I tried the spring rolls and Bangkok dumplings. The sauces were my favorite. My main dish was chicken over rice. I found the food presentation to be fun with the carrots being shaped like flowers. We ended with sticky rice with mangos.
This was a sweet flavor experience mainly and I am not mad about it since it was my birthday. I loved this place so much I took another friend visiting to show Hudson Yards and then go back to this gem.
It also has a lot of happy hour options. The portion of each food item was much smaller compared to other places I’ve been to. It is the food that impressed me and the reason I would go back but I do have to point out the flavors are definitely authentic to favor American taste.
Boon Chu Thai Street Food
⭐⭐ 2/5 stars
136-20 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
I really do wish I could include more Flushing Thai spots however I only tried the Boon Chu Thai Street Food, which is located inside the New World Mall’s food court. I am sure this place is authentic and perhaps that’s why I couldn’t finish my Pad Thai. My taste is accustomed to American Thai flavors I am guessing.
I did like the shrimp but the noodles were too sour for me personally, and I am not a fan of eggs. My friend however enjoyed her fried rice with eggs. It is an affordable spot and easy to grab if you are having a busy day. The portions were huge and a great spot to support a local immigrant business.
My dream Thai spots
Now that I know some of my spots were not Thai authentic approved, I researched and added a few new spots to check out.
Thai Diner
186 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
This is probably on the top of my list. An authentic Thai brunch place – count me in! I love to try the Thai American Breakfast Plate, which has French toast with condensed milk syrup. And I am not sure how they make Thai fries but I’d love to try.
The scenery around the place is magical to look at in pictures. The color gold brings the Thai cultural component forward.
Siam Thai Eatery
157-02 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354
I have to try a place in Flushing and redeem it worthy to go for Thai food. This place invites using home-style Thai flavors with fresh ingredients.
The restaurant has a modern look to it, and the food presentation seems next-level. The oysters seem intriguing to say the least.
Thai Social Restaura
215-01 73rd Ave, Bayside, NY 11364
I am always open to trying more Thai spots in Queens. I am not surprised to see flowers as decor because that has been the common theme within Queens Thailand.
The food presentation is super colorful and portions look great. Mango mousse cake, Khao Tom mud (Thai banana in warm sticky rice), and coconut vegan pudding seem like a great reason to go.
Valla Table
641 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
The main reason I am interested in Thai places in the city is the well-endowed chefs. This chef makes food inspired by recipes from his childhood. If this isn’t storytelling, I don’t know what is and it’s quite beautiful.
The plates used to serve food seem unique as well, bringing forward the authentic touch. One Google review user even said, “…it felt like I was dining in Thailand.”
Nanking
134-07 Rockaway Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420
I am interested in trying Thai and Indian fusion food dishes. Indian culture makes Chinese food in their own style using spices. It is huge in India and referred to as Hakka Chinese.
Eating Thai curry with garlic naan sounds fun. Asian fusions are my favorite and to be honest, I wasn’t aware there were options for Thai and Indian cuisine together in NYC.
Theo Thai Bistro
53 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
This place brings forward Halal Vietnamese and Thai cuisine to Brooklyn. It is one of the very rare Halal Thai spots in NYC. Brooklyn is a lively space and it makes me curious to experience the atmosphere. The food pictures make the food look homemade, adding that authentic touch.
Try Thai food now!
Who knew food could be political? Thai cuisine in NYC has a long way to go in challenging its own government to encourage authentic cultural experiences.
It’s important to offer variety, but we shouldn’t be confined by anyone else’s idea of what “authentic” should be. The next time I eat Thai food, I’ll recognize it as more than just a meal; it’s a piece of history placed before me. While I may not know the full story of every dish, my curiosity will push me to learn.
Is there a certain smell or taste that has the power to awaken your emotions back to your childhood? Food is an invitation to learn stories and whether familiar or foreign, Thai cuisine promises to tell a delicious story. Will you go hear it?
