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Ayada Thai
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
77-08 Woodside AveElmhurst, NY 11373
Neighborhood: Elmhurst
(718) 424-0844
- Nearest Transit:
-
Elmhurst Av (E, M, R)
Jackson Hts - Roosevelt Av (E, F, M, R)
74 St - Broadway (7)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
174 reviews for Ayada Thai
Review Highlights
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"The drunken noodles were delicious and very spicy." In 28 reviews -
"The Chinese broccoli with crispy pork is a must." In 6 reviews -
"I would like to go back to try more dishes." In 4 reviews
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174 reviews in English
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Review from G V.
Elmhurst, NY
4/30/2012
My favorite Thai, hands down. The place itself is quite warm and inviting (a bit too warm if you sit on the bench seats!)
The lunch special is an absolute steal and there are a good variety of options available. As far as dinner, I am a big fan of the drunken noodles, which are cooked perfectly and not too greasy. Even if you order it medium, it will come out a bit spicier, but nothing too crazy depending on your tolerance. Beware that the "spicy" is much hotter than that and can be unbearable for some (no need to mention the thai spicy, and I will probably never dabble in that).
The pad see eiw is also well done. Some of the more interesting dishes are the frog legs in basil sauce and their renowned cold shrimp appetizer. Some may be turned off by the limp gray appearance of the shrimp, but it is seasoned perfectly with lime, garlic and chili for a nice kick. Their salads are also excellent, especially the seafood mango salad, which is a nice light option packed with plenty of squid, shrimp and shredded fresh mango. I also highly recommend the whole fried fish with mango, although not for those who can't handle picking through bones. I look at it as a natural way to slow down my pace and enjoy the tasty morsels.
What can I say...another great option in Elmhurst, which I may as well call the diverse food capital of the nation. -
Review from Alex H.
Flushing, NY
5/18/2012
Dropped in for the lunch special, was really excited to find a Thai place closer than SriPraPhai though I wasn't thinking it'd be too great, honestly. Boy was I wrong! Street parking was really easy around 12 or 1 with tons of metered spaces open, store is pretty easy to find because of the nice green sign on the outside. Glass front lets you see inside where there's some wood paneled walls take up the bottom with dark green paint on paint. I wouldn't say it's fancy or nice enough for a first date but it's certainly better than most places around here(and probably better than SriPraPhai). Service was OK, not great.
We got 3 dishes, each off the lunch special for $6.95, the spicy ones have 4 levels of spice with thai spice being the hottest:
Pad Thai - OK. Honestly, I'm not a fan of pad thai. This was typical. A little on the sweet side. I wouldn't get it again but if you're dining with someone who isn't very adventurous or dislikes spice, sure, go for it. 3/5
Green Curry(Thai Spicy) with Chicken - Yummy! The broth was delicious and whatever veggies were in it added a vibrant flavor to the spice. I wouldn't say this is thai spicy, at least not in my experience. When I ask for extremely spicy at SriPraPhrai(which is going to be the restaurant I compare this to), I react with teary eyes and a lot of water and sticky rice consumed, I didn't do either with this. Whether that's because their spice levels are different or because I was some farang, I do not know. I'd ask for this with vegetables, shrimp or ask about the seafood next time. The chicken was a little too much and I didn't think it added much beyond protein. 4/5
Drunken Noodles(Spicy) - Hot damn, delicious! I saw a lot of reviews on this and I see why! There were good, the rice noodles were delicious and the dish itself would please anybody. 4/5
Tom Yum Soup? - Some sort of mushroom soup that came with the special, a little spicy but overly so, easy enough for even the most novice spice eater to drink and a good way to start the meal. 4/5
Egg roll - Came with the special. It was OK, good Thai egg roll but nothing mind boggling ?/5
Value - 5/5. No, wait, 6/5. This place is a STEAL for the lunch special. $6.95 for one soup, one appetizer and one entree(you can't choose the soup or appetizer, BTW) and none of the people at the table finished theirs. I saw the guy next to us finish his and have a delicious looking dessert so maybe we just weren't too hungry.
For leftovers, the green curry was still spectacular. The pad thai was OK and the drunken noodles were good but not as good as fresh.
Thai iced teas were good, though I've yet to have a really bad one.
Will definitely be coming back for more, this might be my new go-to place for a quick bite to bring home. -
Review from Jenny L.
5/17/2012
Located a few blocks away from the subway, I was surprised to find this restaurant filled with patrons at 10pm on a Tuesday night. We weren't the last ones to arrive for dinner either, at least two more tables were filled after we sat down.
We had the BBQ pork, raw shrimp salad, drunken noodles, and nam tok noodle soup. The raw shrimp salad is a new addition to my favorite food list, that's how good it was. The shrimp was super fresh and the chili sauce was spicy and delicious. The drunken noodles were pretty standard and tasty. I can tell the dishes were thoughtfully prepared and the quality of the ingredients were high. Also got to try BeerLao for the first time, if you like dark beers and lagers you will like this one too, something different from the typical Singha. If your dinner companions don't like spicy food, you can ask for the hot pepper condiments on the side and adjust the heat it to your personal preference. The service was pleasant, the waitresses stopped by at our table a few times to make sure everything was satisfactory.
Nice relaxed weekday meal... next time I return, I will try new dishes along with my latest discovery - raw shrimp salad. -
Review from Valery C.
5/14/2012 14 photos
** 4.5 stars **
A small, unassuming venue for uncompromised Thai food in Woodside, a low-key neighborhood dotted with Thai restaurants. As much as NYC is a culinary epicenter of depth and diversity, the cuisine of Thailand is unexpectedly absent. What most purportedly Thai restaurants in NYC serve is bastardized, and if you seek the real deal, Woodside is a required destination. Surprisingly, this is only the second Thai restaurant I've ventured to Woodside to try, this also being home to Sripraphai, the only place I've respected to date.
Ayada is a simple, casual place, with numerous media clippings singing its accolades posted outside. Inside, it is currently painted a jarring bright lime green, with a cluster of old black and white family photos centered on one wall. Probably seating 20 people at most, it fills up quickly, becoming convivial. A counter sits at the back, possibly a holdover from their days as a grocer, a multi-tiered display of bright mangoes reminding us we needed to order something using them. Our waitresses were straightforward and courteous, busy but not hard to find.
The menu is extensive albeit not as encyclopedic as Sripraphai, which may be good if you argue that no restaurant can make everything well when their offerings number in the hundreds. Our choices focused on salads and seafood, incorporating preferences from everyone in the group.
I am not familiar enough with Thai to appreciate regional variations. I've read that Ayada serves Isaan Thai, as does Sripraphai and Zabb Elee. It probably accounts for the curiously spelled E-san sour sausage, pink-hued and diagonally sliced, piled on a plate with rounds of ginger, chilis, cucumbers, red onion slivers, peanuts, and whole lettuce leaves. It seemed obvious we were meant to consume them assembled into hand rolls, dipped in a chili sauce. The fresh sausage was savory and soft, the ginger zing countering perfectly.
I was most memorably arrested by one of their signature dishes, an unshelled shrimp tucked in the half moon curve of a bitter melon slice, topped with a garlic clove and a generous dollop of chili-lime sauce. Meant to be eaten in one bite, it's an inspired combination of flavors and textures that's all the more interesting because each component is actually raw. A sublime mouthful, intense and complete.
The level of heat for dishes generated a spirited negotiation with our waitress, who seemed dismayed that we wanted to try "Thai spicy," the top of the scale. One in our party was certain, but she spent quality time in Thailand. In the end, we went with "spicy" for everything, reserving "Thai spicy" for another of our meal's highlights, the piquant, refreshing papaya salad. It was a prudent decision; although I suspect our "Thai spicy" was still restrained, it was a pleasant heat in one dish alone but likely would not have been so for me if all our dishes were so seasoned.
Their salads successfully balanced salt, sweet, sour, and heat. Besides the headliner papaya salad, there was sweetly delicious mango salad heaped amidst crisp fried soft shell crab, juicy inside, fresh crab. We ordered sticky rice, scooped out by hand to soak up the salad dressing; my companion was delighted it was served in the same manner as they do in Thailand, in a plastic bag tucked in a wicker container with lid.
Although their classic pork laab was competently made, I confess to being far more enamored with the fruit salads. Similarly lacking excitement was an otherwise perfectly fine stir-fry of eggplant and ground chicken, gently flavored with chili and garlic.
Not entirely unexpected were some disappointments. A simple dish of steamed mussels was both overcooked and bland; if it weren't so mediocre, we could complain about its miniscule size too. I've always loved the Thai style of frying whole fish and topping it with a sour and spicy salad, but we were all open to trying fish made differently. Ayada has several preparations of whole red snapper. Our waitress steered us towards fried when we considered steamed, and talked us into swapping out the outstanding mango salad (to pair with the aforementioned soft shell crab instead) for a basil sauce. Unfortunately, the outcome was a somewhat overcooked fish with incredibly mild-mannered seasoning. I'm willing to give the fish another go in another sauce, assuming this was an off-prep.
Fortunately, we ended on a high note as Ayada aces the classic mango sticky rice dessert, with warm rice soaked in a light coconut sauce, delicious with ripe, tender mango. As full as we were, this was worth making room for.
Ayada serves traditional, authentic Thai in a casual, unpretentious setting. It is similar to but edges out Sripraphai because I like the setting better (the latter is too cafeteria style now), the more focused menu, and that divine raw shrimp. Not every dish is great, but order well and you'll find this is some of the best Thai you can get in NYC. -
Review from Luci B.
5/20/2012
Everyone else seems to love this place so I'm inclined to think the problem is with me, though my spicy basil noodles were ridiculously mushy. It was more of a confit than a noodle dish, all the ingredients slopping together into a limp, gooey mess. I did enjoy the chunks of garlic they threw in there, but unless I was desperate for a taste of pad kee mao I wouldn't be getting it from here again.
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Review from Gurdip D.
Manhattan, NY
5/20/2012
My new favorite thai place in JH/Elmhurst area!! I was so so happy with my food here. I ordered the pad thai with tofu and the red curry dish. Everything was delicious and the portions are HUGE! I ordered mild, and it was a little too mild for me but a little siracha hot sauce fixed that. Next time I will order the next level of spiciness for sure. I only wish the tofu in pad thai dish was lightly fried or something. I've never had tofu in pad thai that was not first fried/sauteed. Overall, I really enjoyed my food and will definitely be ordering takeout again!
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Review from Kelly C.
Elmhurst, NY
5/17/2012
Love this place!
In all fairness I have never made it to the famed Sripraphai but this place has great food. It's a small place and best to come in groups of max 4 else things start getting squishy.
Parking is ample (street parking - some metered, some not) and it's pretty near a subway so it's not hard to get there. They are really, really popular and you can expect a 10-20min wait if you come during a regular dinner rush. There's not much of a waiting area so usually people wait outside - this MIGHT get tiresome in winter :)
I've tried about half the menu and I really like:
Panang curry - I usually get this with chicken, but the duck panang (twice the price of regular) is excellent
Massaman curry - mmmmm
Tom Yam noodle soup - spicy clear broth with thin rice noodles, ground pork, shallots etc etc.
Braised pork leg with chinese mustard (it's a green veg, not hot-dog-mustard, just in case you were wondering) over rice - come to mamma!
Mango sticky rice is good, but I had a truly one in a little restaurant in SF Bay Area years ago and nothing can compare to that one...
Thai ice tea is pretty normal.
Service is friendly and efficient, I have never had anything to complain about.
In my experience dining here with the boyfriend, 2 entrees, 2 non-alcoholic drinks, and a dessert to share will do about $35 of damage... pretty good prices I'd say! -
Review from Alice C.
4/12/2012
GREAT Thai restaurant worth the trip. Much smaller (in restaurant size and menu options) than Sripraphai, but I think I enjoyed it much more.
Between the two of us, we split the raw shrimp, the penang curry, and some forgotten (and forgettable) noodle dish. The raw shrimp was a little intimidating but definitely worth the try. I usually stray from raw foods-- I don't even order sashimi at Japanese restaurants, but I do try to be adventurous at times. I'm glad I tried this, but only up until my third or fourth shrimp... I believe the app comes with 7 pieces, which proved to be too much for just the two of us. My first impression was that it was great but packed a LOT of heat (I sat there drooling for about ten minutes before I got over it....). But when I got to the third or fourth, I was kinda grossed out/nauseas at that point from noshing on raw meat. Still, a good choice, just be careful of how spicy it is and don't overdo it!!
The penang curry was also delicious-- had a lot more flavor than you ever get in other Thai places in the city. I hope to come back for the duck penang curry in the future, which is like $10 more but probably worth it.
Definitely worth it if you're in the area, or even just willing to come out from the city to get good Thai food! -
Review from Eve C.
Woodside, NY
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Although the food was great, the service was one of the worst I've experienced. You can read all about the great food in the other reviews so I'll only talk about the service:
-We hadn't figured out what we wanted the first time the waitress came around but then waited another 15 minutes until they came around again.
-My friend forgot to order her Thai iced tea with the rest of the order and every time either of the two waitresses passed by our table they avoided stopping even though we were trying to get their attention. We did end up asking them when they came to refill our water, again when they brought out her soup, and a 3rd time when they came out with the entrees. We were almost done with our meals by the time we finally got the tea.
Like my friend said, even though they make eye contact with you, they pretty much ignored coming over to the table and avoided looking at us as they passed by.
-After they gave us the check, it took 20 minutes to wait to get the CC back (meanwhile there were about 10 people waiting outside for tables)
I'm just glad I had come here with a friend and not on an awkward date because I probably would have had to walk out in the middle of the meal. -
Review from Yi Ting C.
Jackson Heights, NY
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is amazing here! It's fresh, authentic and super-spicy. Their specialty, the duck penang is amazing. The duck is lightly fried and topped with this delicious orangey curry sauce. It's spicy but sooo good. I've also had the drunken noodles with beef twice and it was really good. Super spicy too, I left feeling like my tongue had been scorched with fire. They have this really interesting dark lager called Beerlao that was very refreshing but didn't really go with the meal because everything was so spicy. I would go to Ayada on the weekdays because it gets pretty packed on weekend nights. The service is decent and it's interesting to note that every other item on the menu is recommended. But that's probably because everything is so darn good there.
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Review from Tim W.
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
These guys hit the ball out of the field. Great job. I was so impressed i poked my head into the kitchen (which is fully staffed by women btw) and just grinned from ear to ear and rubbed my tummy...you know the way where you are so satisfied and cannot express the satisfaction any other way!!?? They all just chuckled and winked that they knew what i meant and boy did i mean it!
We had the papaya salad which was slamming, hot hot hot! The raw shrimp were fresh and tasty, drunken noodles were so perfectly done not gooey like they can be, and the whole red snapper. Too much food, but it was deeeelicious! -
Review from Trevor R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/21/2012
So far this is the best Thai I've had in NYC. Panang curry, deepfried watercress salad(!) and a papaya salad that will make your lips numb .
We came here on a saturday night and basically closed the place. Our server was this kind of tomboy thai girl with script RayBans and a union solder hat on. She was cracking us up when she informed the table next to us that they had ordered a dish with an ingredient called "stinky bean" in it. Apparently this particular vegetable "makes your pee smell" which she repeated a couple of times to the couple, maybe to help warn them from partaking in amorous water sports after their romantic meal? She sat down next to us and had her shift meal towards the end of our dinner and was soon followed by the cooks. Conversation ensued and pretty soon we were part of a family table with most of the staff. It's just the type of informal scene that makes for a memorable dining experience. We were sent home with boxes of complimentary fried bananas(which by the way make a great accompaniment to morning coffee) and a desire to return -frequently-. -
Review from Selena L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012
Part 11 of a Series: The PMD Chronicles (How I Fell in Love with a Murderer)
Can we just shut up about Sripaphai now, please? No? You will when I stuff your mouth full of the crispy Chinese watercress salad. It's a perfect starter - tart, salty, tangy, crunchy, slightly greasy yet you're vindicated because you're eating greens (albeit deep fried ones). Yes, I know, that other place offers a similar dish for less but consider the atmosphere. Where would you rather eat: a cozy, dark, intimate restaurant with a friendly staff or a huge, brightly lit space (rumored formerly to be a bank) that's impersonal and where there's no guarantee that the food will be as good as you remembered from last time?
Blow out your rectum with a fantastically spiced selection of curries and expertly prepared noodle dishes. Start saving for your colostomy bags now, folks - Ayada Thai's the sh!t.Listed in: The PMD Chronicles (How I Fell…
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Review from Katherine P.
Manhattan, NY
5/16/2012
The food has always been great and exceptional. We've been going to Ayada since 2009. The wait staff know us and there is this particular waitress that I completely love! Almost every time we are there she's there too so service has never been an issue until Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday, we decided to eat there. The place was packed except for two tables (the first one had a reserved sign, and the other one did not). I asked the waiter if the table without the reserved sign is available and he said that basically a guy came in before us and said he was going to take the table for 4, he just wanted to get parking first. What? Ok so first it should have been not the case because the idiot also just walked in obviously so I did not understand why the waiter had such preference to that guy over the other people who were already there just waiting to be seated. Obviously Ayada is getting so popular now, it's just so easy for them to turn down our business.
On Monday, I came in and said that I needed a table for 7. First of all, there was a table for 4 that was mine for the taking. Second of all, the table next to the aforementioned was going to free up soon because the guy was already paying his bill so I said I can wait and take the table next to me as well, since I came first and the rest of my family were on their way (literally). The new waitress talked to me in such a rude way asserting the "fact" that they had no availability for 7 people. I told her that "yes I already told you that I can wait here in this table" She was like, are the others coming? When are they coming? What right do you have to ask questions like that when you have to take what the customers say at face value, especially if you are a waitress. (You'll never hear a maitre des ask you, you have a party for 5, why are you alone then, are they really coming? When? Because I can only seat you?) I was like yeah right now. And she's like but you will have to wait for 5-10 minutes. I'm like yeah I told you that is fine. Obviously she is new and she already stink at her job. She's the girl with the short colored hair. So beware of that girl. It's like the last thing she wants to do is her job.
I have worked in customer service all my life and I am appalled that this girl has the nerve to show such bad attidude. We have always experienced superb service at AYADA but sad to say, this time we had the worst wait service ever. I don't think I am coming back :( -
Review from Sue O.
Brooklyn, NY
5/1/2012
Great food, the tom yum soup with shrimps is simple delicious. My friends and I, shared a plate of flat noodles, a papaya salad, and a fried snapper with chili sauce.Everything was good, just a little expensive. 28$ for the fried snapper :(.
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Review from Yvonne L.
OZONE PARK, NY
4/26/2012
I went to Ayada after being recommended by a friend. Her recommendation was on point! My cousin and I shared the Shrimp in a blanket and the chicken satay, which came with a peanut sauce. Of course delicious Thai iced tea was our beverage of choice. For my entreé I ordered the Massaman curry with chicken, and I definitely enjoyed it. My cousin ordered the Drunken Noodle and gobbled up every last bite--I take that back--every last bite excluding some of the peppers. However, if you're a big spice lover, I'm sure the Drunken Noodle would suit your palate just fine. As the restaurant is quaint in size, seating is limited. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. The service was not extraordinary but it was acceptable.
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Review from David H.
MIDDLE VLG, NY
2/17/2012
Ayada Thai Haiku:
Start with Tom Yum Soup
Penang Curry Duck next
My nostrils are clear -
Review from John O.
4/10/2012
Excellent authentic Thai cooking. Decent service and a clean decor. I'm for sure coming back to work my way through the menu. Everything is really cheap except for the fish.
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Review from Matt K.
2/13/2012 1 photo
This little Thai restaurant in Elmhurst has super fresh, authentic Thai food. The prices are very reasonable and the service is fine.
We started with the papaya salad, which was very tasty and pretty spicy.
Shared drunken noodles w/ shrimp which were excellent.
MUST ORDER: whole roasted fish. Our red snapper was deep fried and covered in a green mango sauce & cashews. Top notch!!
Just as yelp says - Woohoo! As good as it gets! -
Review from Kemi K.
Manhattan, NY
2/23/2012
This is one of the best thai spots BAR NONE -- (forget about that other "S" place you can't spell anyway)
Their drunken noodles & pad thai are DELICIOUS and they can actually adjust spice levels which means they make it from scratch in the back. Just tell them "I want baby spice" like I do and you'll be fine. . otherwise you can go the all in but don't say I didn't warn you!
My husband has gotten a lot of their menu and loves everything he has tried. The Whole Fish is REALLY delicious and really popular and enough for the next day (when it tastes just as good).
We went there with groups of friends and we've gone there on dates. It is consistently good, and in this time of recession -- when you decide to spend your money somewhere -- consistency is really appreciated!
YUM! -
Review from Janice D.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yelp you have done it again! You have led me to a place I have never been to but just so happened to be in the area. For anyone that doesn't use the Yelp phone app, you are missing out.
I was looking for a spot to grab a quick delicious meal before heading out to meet friends nearby. I am never really in Elmhurst so nothing came to mind.
Chose Ayadi after briefly looking over reviews. Thank you Yelp. My pad see ew was DELICIOUS.
Probably one of the best I have had. We were seated immediately and the service was friendly and fast. Thai Iced tea was perfect.
I will be back because I didnt have time or room for dessert. Portions are generous here. -
Review from Marika T.
I was looking for a Thai restaurant for dinner since my boyfriend's relatives came to visit. I wanted to go to Chao Thai but it would have been impossible to fit 7 people. So, after yelping some locations I found Ayada Thai.
We started off with NY Times' highly praised raw shrimp salad. This dish was legit lethal. Not the best dish to start off with. It was overwhelming with raw garlic and spices - no room to taste anything else. The seafood papaya salad was our tongues' life saver and the best dish of the night. It was slightly sweet, vinegary, citrusy, tangy, crunchy from the shredded papaya (similar texture to bamboo shoots), and salty from the seafood; so refreshing and addicting. We also ordered the chicken pad thai, drunken noodles, beef pad kra prow, steamed fish with garlic, chili, and lime juice, and the kang sour curry with shrimp omelet. The kang sour curry with shrimp is something I will never order again. The kang sour curry is more like a watered down version of tom yum soup with dried shrimp omelet cubes. If I knew this beforehand, I would not have ordered it. For dessert, I originally wanted the mango sticky rice but since it was not in reason I ordered the delicious warm taro custard. Overall, I prefer Chao Thai's flavor over Ayada Thai. Nothing really stood out for me besides the seafood papaya salad and taro custard. -
Review from Steve L.
Queens, NY
Updated - 4/12/2012
3rd trip in 3 weeks yesterday.. Total of 5 adults, got a chance to order it up...!!! All was good, but I think my first exp. was out of this world..!! Still a good spot..
I finally tried the red snapper, fried nicely, mango topping was delicious! Fish was fresh... Side note, Not sure if the fried bones and tails were edible, but the thought did not cross my mind until I was half way done with the skeleton. Tummy is fine today, so I guess I shouldn't be too worried!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2012
I was telling wifey a couple weeks ago about not finding a good quality restaurant these days... And… Read more »
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Review from Dino B.
FOREST HILLS, NY
5/20/2012
just ate there... I've been there for a few times. today was the worst. delicious food though but bitter service.. wasn't happy with what i could see so i was worried with what i couldn't see.. sarcastic server. a smile would be nice. server with a thick glasses and a hat needs tip$ on how to treat customers right. I'm not going back anymore. preferred to go to the thai restaurant across the street. I'm the guy with the mets hat.
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Review from Matthew B.
Woodside, NY
2/7/2012
This little Thai restaurant in Woodside/Elmhurst has friendly service and a pleasant but unassuming decor. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is that of any local restaurant (not loud or packed but well attended and clearly enjoyed by the locals). The standout here is the food, which is certainly the best Thai that I have had in New York (though I have yet to explore the rest of Woodside).
We started with the papaya salad, which was really well flavored and surprisingly spicy. Next up, we tried the Pad See Ew, which was delicious. Sometimes Pad See Ew can be greasy or sticky but the noodles here were the perfect texture and the flavorings were enjoyable an interesting, with just a hint of smokiness.
Then came the Duck Panang Curry.
I have always loved Panang Curry. I find the combination of the sweetness and the spiciness really enjoyable. Ayada takes it to a whole other level. The duck was crisp, not greasy or fatty but flavorful and tender on the inside with a great crunch on the outside. The sauce, my god the sauce: I can't describe it, I can only encourage you to go eat it.
Ayada is well worth the trek from anywhere in the city. I recommend it highly.
Other recommendations:
Larb
Thai Sausage
Pad Kra Prow - Spicy Thai Stirfry
Fried Fish Topped with Basil Sauce
Mango Sticky Rice
Avoid:
Bamboo Salad - Smells bad and tastes like it smells. Probably this just doesn't translate to our American palates but neither my girlfriend or I could stomach more than a bite. -
Review from Tazz C.
Jamaica, Queens, NY
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is a small hidden neighborhood treasure. After hearing about this spot and reading other yelp reviews, I decided to go there. The food is delicious. When you ask for spicy, they give you spicy unlike SEA in brooklyn, which can't even compare to this spot. It's clean, bright, and a nice environment. Parking was easy to find. We ordered crispy duck, which was on point. I also ordered a shrimp curry dish with a fried rice. For appetizers, the crab cake rolls are a must try!!! Service was okay, depending on how busy they are. I def. like this place and would go there again!
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Review from Mike R.
Yonkers, NY
2/21/2012
The food is really fantastic. I had the Drunken Noodle with tofu, mildly spicy (because I am gustatorily wimpy)...it was perfect. The "mild" is just spicy enough...I really cannot say enough about the dish. My girlfriend ordered the Panang Curry with Duck. Note that duck items carry an $18 price tag....very tasty though! With "medium" spice, this proved to border on too much to handle. The food is also terrific when reheated the next day.
The space is small, but cozy, with calming lighting, candles, and contemporary Asian music (last night included a Michael Jackson cover). An large TV hangs in the front, its time of use unknown.
You should also realize that they are no longer BYOB. Even though they got their liquor license a few months ago now, I missed the memo. Their corking fee is $10 per bottle...which includes beer. Your precious 6-pack would cost you dearly if you chose to drink it there. -
Review from Lara G.
Updated - 12/9/2011 1 photo
My initial trek to Ayada Thai over a year ago did not impress me but I've been mulling a return due to consistent praises of it by other Yelpers. So, on a rainy night and at the insistence of a dear friend to take me out for a birthday dinner, we headed to Ayada Thai to satisfy my craving for Duck Panang. We walked into a different vibe, a more subdued, efficient and professional air unlike the cafeteria atmosphere, loud television I experienced the previous visit. They also have a full bar now and the selection of wine, cocktails and liquor was impressive.
We selected the following dishes:
~~Duck Panang -I was very happy that it is both crispy and spicy. Some versions of Duck Panang is too sweet for me so I'm happy that this one was not sweet at all. I'm really proud to say that I didn't hog the duck but willingly shared it.
~~Shabu Shabu - My friend only wanted shrimp on the soup and the shrimp was fresh and cooked perfectly. The broth had a a spice that was a bit over-powering though.
~~Chinese Broccolli with crispy pork - This was a taste-bud pleaser. It was crispy and the Chinese Broccoli was cooked just right.
~~Thai Chicken fried rice - There was nothing spectacular to it but it did have big chunks of chicken.
It was a weeknight when we visited and the service was very efficient and the staff, including the owner are really sweet. When they brought out the dessert of fried bananas with coconut ice cream, they were singing "Happy Birthday" and even beating the gong as they sang. :) They almost took out the elephant except for the fact that it ran away with the circus. It turned out to be a good decision to re-visit Ayada Thai and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.Listed in: Elmhurst is the Holy Land of…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/20/2010
Based on Jocy's strong recommendation, a friend and I ventured to Ayada for dinner. We ordered tom… Read more »
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Review from Morgan C.
12/24/2011
We ended up at Ayada when we were looking for some late night eats in Queens, accessible by car. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into Ayada's quaint space, which is tastefully decorated with dark wood and a sprinkling of pictures. The dark, candle-lit ambiance is perfect for an intimate dinner.
For starters I had the Larb salad with ground pork and crab roll. Larb was really spicy, and fresh tasting but I probably would opt for a different meat next time. Grade: B+. The crab roll was fresh, and had a nice, light batter. Grade: B. For entrees, the jungle curry was acidic and spicy and featured an interesting array of green vegetables, some of which I didn't recognize. Grade: A- The highlight of meal was the pad see ew with fried tofu. The sauce is sweet and caramelized on the edges of the noodles giving the dish a rich and savory flavor. Grade: A+
The service was great, however, we were finishing up near close, and it took longer than average to get the check. The total bill came out to $45, which is a steal for food this fresh in nyc. -
Review from Carrie H.
New York, NY
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Go.
Do it.
Seriously
No, really
Go.
The food is unbelievable. A NYT reporter said it best - it is very spicy, but not in a macho kind of way. The spice interacts with so many subtle flavors in the curry....mmmm.
Went with BF at 8 on a Saturday; we had to wait for about 20 minutes. Worked out perfectly because I read all the stellar reviews on the window and figured out what I wanted to eat. We ordered a shrimp salad appetizer - holy cow that was amazing. Also got some soup (hen? there was hen involved) and duck curry. The duck curry was $18 - wasn't prepared for that - but this is the best Thai food I've ever had, next to the Thai food I had in Thailand.
The hen-question mark soup had an amazing rich broth, spicy but not overwhelming. The curry was so rich with flavor that the spice was a complement almost. The duck was incredibly tender....alright. I'm at work. this food porn must stop.
So fun to see different cultures in there (I admit it! I'm voyeuristic every time I visit Jackson Heights). The hostess was great, attentive and peppy in adorable way. But the food....oh it is so, so, so delicious! What a treat to have found this place. -
Review from mi l.
Flushing, NY
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Solid Thai food, but pricey (for Thai).
I got the duck curry, guided by fellow yelper's raving reviews. It was good, the duck was juicy, and the curry was flavorful. NOOO complaints here! Oh except that this dish was $18. I have a belief that asian food (except sushi & maybe korean) should not be expensive..
Also got the whole fish- i think we opted for the garlic basil flavor? When it came out it certainly looked impressive. I didn't realize how spicy it would be though! So my bf practically had to finish like 85% of it on his own =(
They charged us $30 for the fish.
Thai iced tea & coffees were solid fare as well.
Dessert- fried banana w. ice cream was good but nothing special.
If you sit on the bench seats against the right wall, prepare to have your butts toasted! The heaters are right under your seats and I was quite uncomfortable. But the owner was really apologetic when she saw how hot I was (I did not complain, but she must have sensed my discomfort) and told me that they cannot control the heating.. -
Review from Christina S.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
I was extremely happy with the quality of food. I don't over venture to Woodside for dining but I will definitely come back!
I had the Papaya Salad with Crabmeat. I thought it was yummy but keep in mind the crab is prepared like a ceviche so it's almost like eating it raw. It is also very spicy but that is how I like it!
Definitely order one of their whole fish. Delicious!
Their desserts are also impressive. I liked their pumpkin custard which is a custard baked into a whole piece of pumpkin. Their coconut pudding was also delicious. I would really come back to just eat desserts.
This hidden treasure had a full house tonight on a Wednesday evening. You know it's good if it's this packed and that out of the way.
Service was very friendly and prompt. Staff is hardworking -
Review from Vonnie B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/19/2012
As you can see from the reviews, Ayada is the truth. I won't go into further detail because that will spoil all the surprises your taste-buds will encounter on your visit. Don't even second guess this spot. Believe the hype! So authentic and so off the chain.
I've taken the hour/half+ train ride into Queens multiple times from Southern Brooklyn. That should really speak to how hopelessly devoted to Ayada I am.
Side-note!....
If you're a spice junkie like me, request "authentic thai spicy"... I got my first spice sweats here! tears and droplets and everything... such an important/essential food-geek landmark for me. -
Review from Julia B.
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Craving Thai food and needing a spot in Queens, Yelp directed me to Ayada Thai. Seeing all the great reviews from friends, I went for it and set up date night at Ayada Thai.
The restaurant is small, dimly lit and cozy. Perfect for a date. The service here is quick, friendly and helpful. They never rushed us with our order and allowed us to linger for as long as we wanted, even when we were clearly done with our meals.
For appetizers, my date and I shared the Shrimp in a Blanket and Bean Thread Salad. We asked the salad to be spicy and while it was perfect for me, my date found it a little too spicy. So beware!
For entrees, my date had the Drunken Noodles and I, the Penang Duck Curry. My date enjoyed his dish while I devoured mine. I was surprised by how big the portion actually was! The curry was bursting with flavor, although I should've asked them to make mine more spicy. It was hard to see in the candlelight how well the duck was cooked (I prefer mine to be a little pink in the middle) but it was tasty, nevertheless.
For dessert, we initially wanted Mango with Sticky Rice but as it's not in season, we couldn't have it. So instead, we went with Fried Banana with Ice Cream, both a favorite Thai dessert of ours. It was really good!
Overall, great food, great service and yes, I will be back! -
Review from Tommie C.
Corona, NY
3/28/2012
I went to Ayada tonight and tried the drunken noodle with tofu (regular). Not something for the faint of heart. It is pretty hot. My wife had a mild version of the catfish dish. We wrapped it up with an order of Coconut Thai pudding (to cool off the heat).
Seating was pleasant with wood and nice colors in the main room. The staff were helpful in finding something vegetarian for me. A couple of appetizers including vegetable rolls and Chive dumplings rounded out the order and was all quite tasty.
Found parking in front and all went well. The heat has almost gone down now. I'd say that the Thai heat is great for a cold day. The food is top notch and the mood is laid back. -
Review from Lizz K.
I have a love-hate relationship with Thai Food but you already knew that. In an attempt to shift that relationship more towards the side of love, I had to hit up Ayada Thai, one of the most talked about Thai restaurants in Queens. Folks, I think we're getting there.
With super steroid spicy dishes such as the pork larb salad, papaya salad, and drunken noodles, my taste buds were set on fire - and I gladly enjoyed the beating! They are not shy with the heat as long as you let them know you can handle it. Beyond the heat, the herbs, spices and funky flavors shine through. The toasted rice bits in the larb, charred drunken noodles, and dried shrimp in the papaya salad affirm that this place knows what it's doing in terms of tastes and textures!
My sensitive stomach cringed in fear while I stared at Ayada's much hyped about dish - the raw shrimp. It sat there all limp and grey but decorated by colorful minced herbs and chilies. If I was going to get sick that night, it better be worth it! Thankfully it was awesome - packed full of flavor and heat while the shrimp itself had a slight crunch.
The Duck Penang curry is fabulous and while the meat is silky and tender, you'll be spending more time trying to spoon up the last bit of curry sauce onto your rice. The Kang Som Sour Curry w. Shrimp we ordered was a little cheap with the shrimp for what they charge, however the abundance of omelette pieces soaked up the curry nicely. The fried fish was generously big, meaty and fried to perfection. Although next time I may choose the chili sauce over the green mango sauce (which was oddly served with sweet, ripe mangoes and more of a salad than a sauce).
Ayada Thai is a nice change from the overly sweet and gloppy sauced creations that many restaurants try to pass off as Thai food and I'm glad its easily accessible to me in Queens. Since Ayada's popularity has recently soared, every night is a packed house. These days, the clientele there has resembled a young Manhattan crowd more and more. So when you peek in and see no Thai people eating, don't let that deter you from going inside. Fortunately, the food is still pretty damn good.
(BYOB)Listed in: Pass the Fish Sauce, Please?
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Review from S B.
New York, NY
4/2/2012
Having read what everyone has written before and going last week, I feel a little cheated. I expected to be blown away, but I wasn't. I'm thinking maybe they had an off night...?
The prices were very reasonable, the vibe warm and friendly, the wait staff great - but have you ever heard of a restaurant that can't make any of their own alcoholic specialty drinks? We were asked to consider beer or wine. We chose a bottle of wine. It was fairly priced and tasty. Could we have a second? No, we drank the last one...huh?
After ordering quite a bit of food, we were asked how spicy we wanted it. We replied medium. Well, if this food was medium, I now know I can start asking for very spicy at all the other Thai & Indian restaurants I frequent. Some dishes were barely edible they were so hot. Ironically, the one thing we asked for very spicy was the Tom Yum soup, which was the least spicy dish on the table. Even the pad thai burned. That said, when our taste buds were actually able to distinguish flavor, we could tell the food was fresh and well-prepared. The drunken noodles were the best I have had, once I picked some of the peppers out and the shrimps in blankets were different and delicious - and not spicy!
I'll be curious to see what others say. Although disappointed, everyone has a bad day. If the reviews continue to glow, maybe I'll have to try again. -
Review from Jason C.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Living in Woodside/Jackson Heights you are certainly overwhelmed with the options for great Asian Cuisine. Thai places are abundant, but this one is most certainly at the top of my list of favorites thus far.
You MUST HAVE the Penang Duck. It is perfectly cooked every time and has just the right amount of spice. If you are someone who is a bit squeamish when it comes to
spice, maybe sure you stay away from the tiny chili peppers. They might be small but they sure pack a punch.
You will also want to try the Sausage there. It is a great appetizer along with the fried calamari.
Service is up just par, and I could not give this place a 5th star because the bench seating had heat pouring out of it. It was uncomfortably warm making it a bother to sit and enjoy our meal. -
Review from Thanh T.
New York, NY
3/21/2012
This place has really gone downhill in the past month. My last 2 visits here were so horrible that I left in the middle of the last visit.
Service: Past 2 times came on a Friday evening around 7pm, 5 minute wait to get a table. Perfectly fine; then came the bad part. Sat down, waited for 15 minutes for anyone to even give me a menu. Had to ask twice for it, then received it and couldn't get someone to take our order for another 20 minutes. By the time we got our first entree; we still hadn't gotten the soda's or water we ordered 35 minutes ago.
Food: Ordered the drunken noodles and pork dark soup. Drunken noodles; all of the vegetables were still raw, cold and uncooked! Some of the noodles were stuck together and so didn't cook and were tasteless because the sauce never touched it. Never actually received the pork dark soup because 50 minutes into the meal we still had not received it so half starving we decided to cut our losses and go to Chao Thai. I don't think I've ever left a restaurant in the middle of a meal before; that's just how disgusted I was.
To add insult to injury; after all this we didn't get a single apology!
Never again! -
Review from Jenny W.
Elmhurst, NY
11/13/2011
Went to this restaurant with high expectations.
Got the highly recommended chinese broccoli with crispy pork - I think this dish was overrated, the pork was deep fried so much that it tastes like rubber.
Duck Curry - Very very good, however it was considerably more expensive than the curry of other meats $18 vs $12
Basil Fish - I think they either over fried the fish or the fish was not fresh. The meat was dry and not juicy at all.
All in all, a couple of unmemorable dishes, I much prefer Nusara and SriPraPhai.
