Thai Restaurants in Astoria

Wave Thai serves delicious Thai food in a simple, elegant setting, just north of Ditmars Blvd. As you enter, you'll spy a soothing fountain surrounded by small statues of elephants and a beautiful buddha. The rich reds color scheme and the lights kept low help make for a very nice date spot.

Wave Thai's menu goes beyond the usual suspects range of protein options -- beef, chicken, and tofu -- to include roast duck, vegetarian duck, Ki Mao, and scallops. These are available with wok dishes, noodle dishes, and fried rice.

Other notable items are curry puffs, the Wave Basil soup, peanut curry, and sticky rice. Wave also serves coconut juice, which is spectacular -- naturally sweet with slices of young coconut suspended in the delicious liquid.

Wave Thai, 21-37 31st St, Astoria, NY, 11105, 718-777-6789

Leng Thai's dining room is a beautiful space, and its back patio gets a lot of praise for its zen vibe, open space, and bamboo accents along the back wall.

Why is it called "Leng" Thai, exactly? The owners' father's name was Leng, and he opened his own restaurant in the 40s in Bangkok. There's a painting of him up on the wall in the main dining room.

Leng Thai serves many traditional Thai dishes, plus some that are tips of the hat to the flavors of Korea and Vietnam. Favorites are the crispy sweet noodles given to you when seated, the tom kha gai, and red curry. Leng's wine and beer selection deserves note, and its dessert menu is bigger than at most Thai restaurants.

Leng Thai, 33-09 Broadway, Astoria, NY, 11106, 718-956-7117

As you walk down 36th Avenue in Astoria, you just might miss Arnarn Thai, in its modest digs near 32nd Street. Some of the best Thai food in Astoria can be found here, so keep an eye out!

Arharn prepares dishes to be very flavorful - more peppery and less sweet than at most Thai restaurants. You'll find some of your favorites - kai tom kha (chicken and coconut soup), som tum (papaya salad), and pad thai - plus some that are less common but equally delicious, including yum koon chieng (Chinese sausage, cucumber, chili, lime juice, hot chili, and scallion), gob panaeng (fried frog's legs in panaeng paste and coconut milk), and pla duk kra prow (catfish fried and sautéed with basil and chili peppers).

The dining room is somewhat plain, but the food more than makes up for it. Arharn also has a lunch special, which is quite a deal - $6.95 for all dishes.

Arharn Thai, 32-05 36th Ave, Astoria, NY, 718-728-5563

Bangkok Tasty has expanded since its tiny little spot on 23rd Ave. Now when you walk in you'll note the somehwat trendy look, with tiny red lights dotting the long western wall, low lights, abstract hanging lights, and a series of tufted grasses above your head.

There are some real stars on Bangkok Tasty's menu like the spicy duck salad, which is flavored with kaffir lime leaf, a taste that transports you to another land. The duck in chili and tamarind sauce is a bit sweet but has a delightfully crispy and addictive skin. The curries and noodles dishes also get high marks.

The lunch special is $7/$8 (depending on your choice of protein) and comes with jasmine rice and a spring roll.

Bangkok Tasty, 29-06 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY, 718-545-8203

For many Astorians, Thai Pavilion is their go-to Thai restaurant. It's reliable food and the tom ka gai, pad thai, curries are all good. You can try more unusual dishes like the larb gai (a cold ground chicken salad flavored with chili, mint, and lime), steamed mussels with herbs and a spicy lemon sauce, and scallops topped with mushrooms, chili, and garlic with a tamarind sauce.

Thai Pavilion has two locations - one on 30th Ave and one in the Pistilli building on 21st St, next to Astoria Park. A coupple doors from the Astoria Park location is Thai New York Spa & Salon, so make an event of it - a relaxing Thai-style massage, some Thai food, and a walk in Astoria Park afterward!

Thai Pavilion, 3710 30th Ave, Astoria, NY, 11103, 718-777-5546
Thai Pavilion Restaurant & Lounge, 23-92 21st St, Astoria, NY, 11102, 718-274-2088