Cravings: Craving

Khaum Jep (Thai shumai or dumplings)

by Celia Cheng
September 19th, 2007

ARHARN THAI
32-05 36th Ave
(32nd & 33rd St)
Astoria, Queens
718-728-5563
$

These Thai-style dumplings at Arharn Thai in Astoria are surprisingly the best tasting shumai I’ve had! With ground chicken, shrimp, crabmeat, water chestnut, bamboo shoot, scallion and mushroom wrapped in wonton skin and topped with grilled garlic, they’re refreshingly delicious! The water chestnut gives it a slight crunch softened by the mix of other ingredients. It’s not heavy or greasy but rather pure and fresh, and it’s the perfect bite-sized appetizer to start your meal on a great note!

Posted in Appetizer , Astoria , Thai

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Pad Kee Mao

by Celia Cheng
December 30th, 2006

CHELSEA THAI
75 9th Ave
(15th & 16th St)
212-924-2999
$

I like the vegetarian pad kee mao at Chelsea Thai because the crispy tofu is the key to goodness! Of course it complements the tomato, wide noodles and the tasty sauce. To think of it, this dish is supremely heavy on carbs, but who cares! It’s downright yummy! Bonus: Chelsea Thai is also a small market for Thai and other Asian groceries, so you can pick up some ingredients and venture to make your own creations after sampling theirs.

Posted in Chelsea , Noodles , Thai , Vegetables

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Fried Soft Shell Crab

by Celia Cheng
June 28th, 2006

SRIPRAPHAI
64-13 39th Ave
Woodside, Queens
718-899-9599
$

Take the deep-fried batter of Popeyes fried chicken and dress it on soft shell crab. That’s what this appetizer at this famed Thai restaurant tastes like. Fried soft shell crab always tastes good, but the batter here is rich and crunchy, giving it a hearty texture that makes it all the more fun to eat. The mango and onion sauce that goes with it makes it even more appealing and delightful. Just don’t fill up on the crab since everything else to come is also to die for at Sripraphai.

Posted in Crustacean , Thai

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Green Curry w/ Roasted Duck & Coconut Milk

by Celia Cheng
March 29th, 2006

SRIPRAPHAI
6413 39th Ave
@ 64th St
Woodside, Queens
718-899-9599
$

Sripraphai is everyone’s favorite Thai restaurant, and why wouldn’t it be? Everything on its menu is good, authentic and inexpensive. Of course, it’s also not as easily accessible since it’s in Woodside, Queens. But then again, for those who are wiling to travel, it’s a quick ride on the 7 train. The duck green curry blows me away. It’s spicy, and beware of the peppers in the curry: I once accidentally ate one and couldn’t eat the rest of the meal because it burned my tongue. But I thrive on experiences like that. There is also pineapple and tomato along with the duck, which has the right amount of skin and fat as well as meat. This is the one dish of which I always order an extra portion to bring home with me.

Posted in Curry , Duck , Thai

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Basil Chicken

by Celia Cheng
February 18th, 2006

PAM REAL THAI
404 W 49th St
(9th & 10th Ave)
212-333-7500
$

This dish is one of those dishes that’s kind of off the menu. You can order basil chicken and get the regular big chunks of chicken as you do anywhere else. However, ordering basil chicken Thai style is requesting to have ground chicken instead of the tasteless chunks normally served. The ground chicken absorbs more of the spice and basil flavor, making this dish tastier. Don’t forget to ask for a fried egg on top. This is how the Thai really eat chicken basil with rice.

Posted in Chicken , Thai

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