Food is not so good and the waiters are not freindly, this is my second time to come here and still always disappointed. Go straight to spicy shalot not ayada read more

Ayada Thai - Peking chicken - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

I found hair (definitely not mine) in my chinese watercress salad and the fry coat was so hard I almost broke my teeth. I don't think I'll order from them again. read more

Ayada Thai - Hair found - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

This has been one of my favorite places to eat in the neighborhood and has been around for so long, I'm surprised I never wrote a review about it. Ayada is no doubt my go to Thai restaurant because of how delicious their food is. For my appetizers, I got the vegetable spring rolls and the chicken wings. They were both so scrumptious and solid appetizers, there is really nothing to complain about. Whenever I go here, I always get the chicken pad se ew. Their chicken pad se ew is absolutely wonderful because it is not too sweet and has the perfect balance of sweet and savory. If you're unsure about what to order when you're here, the chicken pad se ew is a great way to go. Next, I got the duck curry with coconut milk, which I was very excited to try and never got before. The dish is a little spicy, but nothing too overwhelming. My first impression was that they gave a generous amount of duck and was very meaty. The curry was just splendid because the blend of spices and flavors was perfect. The service here was very quick and the waiters were friendly. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and look forward to my next visit to Ayada. read more

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We stopped in on a Friday night around 8:30pm and waited 30 minutes for a table of four. Man, A+ for everything. This is going to be a long detailed review for one of the best meals we've had in queens, comparable to some we had in Thailand! Food: - bean thread salad: unique with light airy bean crisps! A few nice sized shrimps and a squid ring. Very distinct flavor and just chock full of different ingredients and herbs and spices. Went well with white rice! - beef tendon soup (dark with beef blood) - so rich and savory!! Tendon was cooked well and soft and chewy. This would be perfect on a wintry night! - fish cake appetizers - each patty (total of 8) was chewy and soft and paired fantastically with the dipping sauce. Definitely coming back for this! - pad kee mao with tofu - broad noodles were yummy and flavor was on point. Tofu puffs were soft and definitely better than other Thai places I've been to - fried fish with mango salad- fish was fried PERFECTLY and the inside meat was still juicy. Get the fish!! - chicken pineapple fried rice with cashew nuts- we got this because other reviews mentioned it. It was good, but I wouldn't come back for fried rice. - taro custard is more like a soft bread pudding consistency. The taro flavor was subtle but noticeable. It was so nice and warm! Decor was comfy and homey, and wait staff is quick and attentive. Cocktails were also delicious and not too sweet. $1 extra for a larger size!! It's clear they use fresh ingredients for everything and do not skimp! read more

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Manhattan vibes with Queens serving portions and price! What's not to love?! Ordered 2 Thai Iced Teas, 2 shrimp tom yum soups, a chicken pad thai, and a Chicken Pad Krow Pow. The shrimp soup was wonderful. The shrimp were tender, the mushrooms were fresh, and it didn't smell in that weird way. The chicken pad thai was delicious as well, it didn't have that stank... that stanky stinky sauce that defines cheap Thai places. Although we asked for the Pad Krow Pow to be medium spice, it was more of a mild so I recommend asking for spicy if you like your spice! I also highly recommend asking for the chili sauce as well, it is just pairs so well with the chicken dishes. All the entrees are perfect to share, the portions are HUGE- you will probably end up packing up the food to take home! Great place, will come here again especially because the waitress kept re-filling my water! My favorite Thai place in the area so far (I will update this comment if I find something better). read more

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It's very good. Easily better than almost every Thai place in Manhattan. Not sure if that's actually saying anything though. I think the breadth of the menu as well as the physical space probably give it a slight edge over some of the other excellent Thai places in this brutally delicious neighborhood. read more

Dinner time at no other than Ayada Thai! Fam and I ordered: Chicken Pad See Ew- The flat noodles weren't available today, so fam opted for the thinner kind. Tasted good, wasn't heavy, & wouldn't have expected any less from a staple dish of most Thai restaurants, esp. Ayada. Raw Shrimp Salad- NYTimes recommended; Presentation was beautiful. Stabbed a raw shrimp with my fork and into my mouth it went. Cue...3...2.....1... Holy f*ck! This dish was as spicy as HELL. I regret not paying attention to the "chili" symbol and the listed ingredients on the menu. My friend and I literally lit up as we tried to pan the flames on our tongues with none other than water. 10 minutes in... the sting of the hot chili, raw garlic, and bitter melon was still there. Hotness to the max. I SHOULD'VE KNOWN by the fiery appearance of the shredded carrot in the middle of the dish. I really should've. So unexpected. After one shrimp and 3 glasses of water, I was done for the night. The taste was really good, but I couldn't handle the spiciness. In the meantime, the patron at the table next to us was really eying my dish but held back since the waitress warned him that it would be crazy spicy, especially since it's the summer. Well here was his opportunity! Yes, FEEL THE BURRNNNN! 3 seconds later he was sucking in air like a balloon and his cheeks flushed with red. DaYUM. read more

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*Special dedication to Audrey J. and Maria M.* Froggy. Such is the pet name given me by yelper Audrey J. Perhaps making allusion to the fact that I'm always in constant search of innovation and new things. Since times immemorial, my crowded curiosity has taken me on journeys through time and space; I've witnessed the rise and fall of empires, traveled through many lands, both through paper, and airports, and experienced many sensations; foremost of all, those of rapture. In the heart, in the mind, and of course, in my palate. Hence, I was trekking down my old hood (my ex's hood to be exact) with Captain Maria M. to check out this new Thai place that had opened recently. Upon entering, my eyes twitched and in a second approved of the cozy and relapsed, subtle and unpretentious decor. (add two stars) Worried that I wouldn't find a dish that was not particularly leaden with over seasoning I spotted something that was appropriate for the frigid coldness that howled outside: Tom-Zap; cornish hen in hot and sour soup. The small soup plate arrived, and whatever remnant of cold I had disappeared from my sinuses in the first delicious spoonful; this was not your grandma's chicken soup, a mighty amount of lemon had been wondrously weaved with the hen's broth, yielding this fantastic and delightful sour taste that appealed to my particular preferences. It is not common for me to feel so pleased over a small. Bowl. Of soup. (add 1 star) But now came the real test. The main. My eyes scrambled along the menu and suddenly spotted a platter that I've long since wanted to try, but never had the opportunity to do so; Frog. __ __ ( . )_( . ) _ ( __ ) _ / \/ '-----------' \/ \ _ \ ( ( ) ) /_ ) /\ \ ____ / / \ ( ) _/ / I \ / I \ \_ ( Pad Frog in Basil to be exact. I told to the courteous waitress what I've selected, and she giggled and apologized; "Wait, wait a second; let me ask in the kitchen if they have this dish..." -she disappeared and came back in a minute, nodding and smiling; "They have it" And thus it came. Here was my chance to find out if "Froggy" was indeed a worthy nickname for yours truly. It was. What appeared to be about 7 or 8 frog legs were mingled in a sea of green and red leaves and small seeds. Basil sauce on the side, I proceeded to rejoice in that wonderful feeling, of venturing on something that is new. Now the last thing I needed to remind myself of, was the mental picture of a dead and dismembered frogger: __ __ ( x )_( x ) _ ( __ ) _ / \ / '-----U----' \ / \ _ \ \ ( ( ) ) / /_ ) / \ \ ____ / / \ ( ) _/ / I \ / I \ \_ ( And while I don't want to make an Atari reference just because, I must say that you will find the same intensity of yesteryear's arcade in the single and most omnipresent fact, that these frog legs were incredibly spicy. So much in fact, that I cried like a little boy must had back in the 1980's upon not being able to complete a crushing stage on their archaic Atari machines. Surprisingly, the basil seasoning was not lost in this overwhelming and dantesque inferno; and the taste was far more delicious than I had initially conceived. It would be a mistake to say that the frog itself tasted particularly different; the meat was mixture of dried duck or chicken, but the seasoning is what gave this froggy its fullness and its right to insert itself in the pantheon of unique foods that I will undoubtedly always remember. Right alongside Snake, Road Runner, Shark and Cat (just kidding, meow) To grand finale this review, I found out (to my pleasure) that the owners of Ayada were the very same owners of the Thai bodega across the street, which in those days of my late relationship, yielded so many good imports from Thailand, and comfort food on the go (like my precious chrysanthemum honey drink that I recommend you buy if you step on this little store). Of course, I went across the street after my dinner, said "hi, long time no see" and congratulated them on this brave and new enterprise in spite of our economic woes. Kudos to this Thai couple! People on this side of Elmhurst/Woodside; come and try your dishes and BYOB. As for me? I will surely leap your way again from time to time *ribbit* read more

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Finally, a Thai restaurant thats does not, will not even humor the idea of catering to American tastes. No "Thai Only" menu. They expect us foreigners to cater to their tastes. This is so refreshing! Many of the items here are comfort food for Thai people and are not available elsewhere in Elmhurst restaurants such as their pork leg with mustard greens. How do I know this? The waitstaff is fluent in English, warm and knowledgeable, and eager to educate. Now, what inhibits a new restaurant from success? It may be not knowing about the community. Or being new to cooking for groups of people. Little learning curve for the owners here, the owner is the same from Ally's Grocery store across the street, which have been successfully selling pre-cooked dishes from plastic containers for years. I was even fantasizing lately the possibility of them offering food hot and fresh, cooked in front of you. Dream come true. Ally's is a store where many Thai restaurants in the area get their ingredients from already. Now we are getting our food directly from the source. Absolutely perfect decor. Tasteful, subtle, deep brown wood flooring and with a matching bench seat the length of the restaurant. If you have a tendency of being cold in the butt, please sit against the wall on the bench. Heated seats, such as when I stood up, I was surprised not to see swamp ass when I looked down. I am suddenly remembering summer camp... The upper half of the walls have a lime green accent, which takes the drab out of brown everything else. Slatted, rounded seats. Pure? I don't know, but very cool. I dig the chef's style of cooking. Less oil, more heterogeneous tasting. Gives you elements of surprise at each layer of your food. Each item on my plate tasted fresh, and seemed to come alive with every bite and toss of a layer of noodle. The menu was easy to read and as far as prices are concerned: beautiful. There is NOTHING in double digits. There are about 5 things I could structure this article around to make it stand out from other Thai restaurants in this neighborhood. This has everything it takes to be the new IT for the neighborhood. It is already hands down my favorite. Down Nasura, down Chao Thai, down Sri, down Zabb. America, put down your chopsticks and grab your fork and spoon. This is Thai-town. read more

Ayada Thai - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

Great food Authentic Fresh Staff is all polite and on top of things Whatever u get will be great Loved it will be back many times over read more

Ayada Thai - Just order bunch of different dishes I promise it will be a great adventure Great place - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

Delicious, authentic Thai food. Transports me right back to Thailand - except I am paying probably 5-10 times more for the food here of course. I love how the menu marks which items are high recommended - perfect for an indecisive person like me. We ordered a Thai iced tea, papaya salad with seafood, fried chicken wings, drunken noodles, and the Penang curry with chicken. The Thai iced tea was sweet and strong, just the way I like it. I was hesitant in ordering the papaya salad because I have not had a good one here in the States, but I am glad I did because it tasted just like the one I had in Thailand! I feel like the papaya salad can be an acquired taste for some people because of the fish sauce. The portion size is huge and I probably would not order this again if I am dining with only one other person so I have room in my belly for other things. The fried chicken wings were so delicious! The chicken wings were fried flawlessly and the batter was perfect. The skin had a nice light crunch and the meat remained so moist. The flavor, even without the chili sauce, was so good I daresay it is one of the better chicken wings I've had! The Penang curry was a little on the sweeter side but not in a bad way. I enjoyed it very much especially with the white rice. I would love to try it with the duck next time! The drunken noodles, as always, is a fan favorite with great basil flavors. Yum basil! Note: We ordered everything in medium spice and it was perfect. Not too spicy, but not lacking of it as well. On a 1 to 10 spectrum, it is probably a 4 in terms of spice level. I like to enjoy my food, not suffer and sweat while eating. In terms of service, I thought it was a little weird because I felt like all the waitresses were standing there watching us like hawks but I guess it was just them being attentive. Although it was strange because when I dropped my spoon of curry on myself no one came to give me extra napkins. Also, I did have to send my glass of water back in the beginning because I found a piece of food stuck to the inside of the glass, which was kind of gross... Overall, I'd absolutely come back for the food. They have a lunch menu for the weekdays (holidays excluded) with some very good prices that's worth checking out. read more

Ayada Thai - papaya salad with seafood - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

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Came to dine here with a huge enthusiasm because of high rated reviews but left not so. This is probably because we came on late Saturday night, about half hour before the kitchen was closing. Restaurant was super busy. I hate returning food and that's why we ate and left without complaining. We ordered our food as soon as the server was ready and surprisingly food came within 5 minutes but not in order as we wanted. one of our appetizers came half way finishing our food. Tom Yum Soup was not hot enough, Shrimps were almost raw in the soup as well as in the fried rice. Mojito tasted like sugar water with mint and lime, did not taste rum at all. However, Pad sees ew was amazing as well as the Green Curry with Chicken. Thai Iced tea is better than many other places I had. I also loved their coconut custard. It seems food here is decent but not on a busy night. read more

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OK OK YOU YELPERS! After me reviewing this place and puttingg "3" stars because I didn't enjoy my Drunken Noodles. I Have FINALLY decided to go AGAIN with friends and Now You get another STAR for the Other DISHES!. This Time, I ordered Crab Roll for Appetizer, a Chicken Pad Thai, Beef Green Curry and Thai Fried Rice. 3 of them were DELICIOSO! - Green Curry had a little Kick in their spicyness, but LOVE the Coconut to cover the taste and by mixing with White rice it was Perfect ! - Chicken Pad Thai Was also a great dish, not super sweet and perfect portion of Bean Sprouts, chunks of peanuts, enough noodles and Plenty of Chicken. - Thai Fried Rice was also pretty good, Not oily, Rice was made to perfetion, Mixed with eggs, Onions (I still don't like when chef's don't cut the onions in mini sizes, it's too long and don't like to see it to obvious that is a onion) Shrimp and Squid. For dessert, we shared the Thai Coconut Pudding. That's also a very good dessert, a little joy of sweetness with warm Coconut taste. Happy Now????? read more

Ayada Thai - Crab Roll for Appetizer - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

I don't live around this neighborhood so every time I eat here and leave, I think about when the next time I will be back because this place is soo good! Ayada has authentic Thai flavors and it really shows in their dishes. The usual Thai fares are good but I do encourage you to try some of the other foods on their menu if you love Thai food and all the complex flavors that hit your taste buds. Pad thai, rad nah, green curry, jungle curry, papaya salad, Thai fried rice are all solid choices. The Thai iced tea is also legit and not the powdered stuff. Service on all my visits have been great so far. Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. You will be smiling for sure after eating here! It's a short walk from the Roosevelt Ave/Jackson Heights stop on the 7 train. read more

When I miss Thailand, I would normally come here to eat. I came in for pickup numerous times, but for some reason, Ayada seemed to be one of the only Thai restaurant by this area I enjoy dinning in. When I come with my friends, we would normally try to drop by for late lunch or early dinner to avoid the wait and busyness. Their lunch special runs on weekdays except holidays from 11:00am - 3:30pm. During lunch hours, if possible the best time to drop by is after 2pm when it is less busy. My usual would be the typical Pad Se Ew Shrimp or the Shrimp Fried Rice ... with Tom Yum Soup on the side and of course the Thai Iced Tea. For dinner, regardless of my friends' ethnicity we'd all share food ... Eating it the Thai way. On days we wanted to eat like "Isan" (Northeast region of Thailand), we'd go for the BBQ Pork/ Beef, Papaya Salad, Larb Salad, Bean Thread Salad and of course everyone would have the sticky rice on the side. On days when we just want to keep it simple, we'd go for the Whole Fish, soup as well as some rice on the side. Other dishes I've tired throughout the visits include: the Green Curry, Rad Nah (taste literally just like the ones my grandma would buy from a neighborhood restaurant back in BKK), Drunken Noodle, Pad Thai, Pad Kra Prow ... They were all pretty good as well. Service is good and the price is reasonable. If you want your food real spicy, just let them know you want "spicy baab Thai Thai." read more

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My fellow foodies from the 'Hurst are unequivocally spot on showering ayada with warm praise and love letters from the tummy. This place is Thai at it's most authentic best. Two nights ago, upon my adamant suggestion, we ordered take out from here for a very special occasion... my sister's 21st birthday (plus or minus a "few" years)!! With 60 bones in tow, we managed to order 6 dishes and even had some change left over. The rundown of our takeout: chicken Pad See Ew, Vegetarian Duck, chicken Massaman Curry, Thai fried rice, calamari, and and sliced fish with peppers and sauce (don't recall the actual menu description). I love how genuine the food is from this restaurant, it is akin to home-cooked food.. so subtle yet profound in how expertly seasoned and phenomenally fragrant and savory it is from first to last bite. The meal will linger on your lips long after, kind of like a sweet -- or in this case, fiery hot -- kiss. ayada's food even surprised my (very) hard-to-impress father who remarked on the true spiciness of the offerings and instantaneously became a fan because of that. Sidebar: I've decided to go vegetarian this month so I was only able to enjoy the vegetarian duck, and it was incredible. As for everything else, the four other mouths and bellys that zeored in on the food, were unanimous in their assessment, in that they were all more than happy with the food. As we waited for the food (which only took about 15 minutes), I noticed the accolades on the walls.. framed articles from publications like Time Out Magazine... I think I may have even seen something from the Queens Gazette. Either way, all were noteworthy and reputable opinions that I can not but only -- fully -- substantiate. I also noticed the string of ayada devotees making their way in for a warm and fabulous authentic Thai dinner. I appreciated how lovely and kind the servers were and was also grateful for their linguistic talents. I think all ethnic restaurants should be employed with bilingual waiters and waitresses.. sign language is not universal. But I digress. Thankfully, we were able to communicate and ask questions about the food. The ambiance at ayada is really lovely as well. For a moment I clocked out and pictured myself somewhere in Manhattan.. for such a classy and elegant restaurant, it could well be transported and implanted somewhere in the UES. But in reality, I am glad Elmhurst has got it's stake on such a jewel.. demure, confident, luxurious and fully pleasing. Look no further for outstanding Thai food. The search is over past these doors. read more

As a Thai, I've been disappointed with practically every Thai place in NYC - - so I am OVERJOYED to have finally found Ayada. If you're just looking for a good Pad Thai, no need to come all the way out (30-45 minutes out from Manhattan by train). But if you want to try some more authentic dishes, SO worth the visit. Papaya salad ($6): This is my test for US Thai restaurants. Most miss some aspect of the sauce or papaya, but Ayada gets the Perfect balance between sweet palm sugar, salty fish sauce, and spicy chilies. Tip: the Thai measure of spiciness is less forgiving than some, so get mild unless you want to be sweating! Fried red snapper topped with green mango sauce ($20): Reminded me of the many fried fish dishes I've had in Bangkok - - light and crisp batter on the outside, but still tender (although on the drier side) within. Also highly recommended. Northern Thai Sausage ($7): The meat is not so finely ground so there's a lot of texture inside the sausage - - delicious. Nam Tok Noodle Soup ($8): If you're looking to diversify from Pad Thai, the soup is deliciously rich and flavorful, with fresh rice noodles and beef. I'm raving to all my friends about this place, it's that good. read more

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When a friend of mine invited me to a group dinner at Ayada one evening, there was no way I could say no. Ayada is one of the staple Thai restaurants in Queens and all of NYC for that matter, and its location near one of the Thai Buddhist temples in Elmhurst guarantees a steady stream of customers - ones who know the cuisine very well, no less. The restaurant is pretty cozy, seating 20 or so people at capacity, so it runs a healthy take-out operation; it's best to come in a small group and budget a few extra minutes for a wait. All our dishes were brought out intermittently and shared family-style. I recall a modest Somtum (Papaya Salad), thinly sliced and accompanied by plenty of lime juice, garlic, chilies, dried shimp, and a dash of fish sauce; while tamer than other iterations I've had elsewhere in Queens, it was a fresh, crisp starter for the meal. The raw shrimp is dressed in lime juice and covered in garlic, each piece a briney, acidic two bites that disappeared all too quickly; the accompanying slices of bitter melon remained untouched, for better or worse. The Moo Ping was a group favorite; juicy, tender chunks of pork marinated in a savory-sweet sauce paired with a chili dipping sauce can't go wrong. The larger dishes were as impressive. The fried Red Snapper is quite the presentation; fried portions of white meat are layered on top of the remnants of the fish and accompanied by a selection of mushrooms, basil, and peppers. The meat is still tender, served steaming hot, and lightly spiced and acidic thanks to the addition of the chili sauce. The Duck in Penang Curry was respectable; the protein was a little dry and the curry was doused in too much coconut milk, which diluted much of the flavor and spice. The special for the evening was ordered as well, a dish that featured strips of perfectly grilled, slightly fatty beef garnished with cilantro and red onion perfectly complemented by a lime-chili vinaigrette. One can't claim to have eaten Thai food unless he/she has traversed into the heart of Queens. Ayada does the cuisine proud, serving up bright, bold, and most importantly, delicious dishes to its loyal customer base. Sure, it might be a little harder to get to than Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan, but a little extra journey time is a small price to pay. read more

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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. read more

Ayada Thai - Full bar - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

For a while after our visit to Thailand, my wife refused to go to any Thai restaurants in NYC claiming that the restaurants here didn't do justice to Thai food. I agreed with her but I was also determined to find some place where the food was good enough for us to keep going back. Fully authentic Thai flavors are almost impossible to recreate here because of the sheer amount of herbs and spices that are found in Thailand that you can't get here but there's still enough available to create bold, beautiful flavors without catering too much to the western palate. Ayada Thai does this well. It's situated in an area that boasts one of the largest Thai population in NY and it's little wonder that the flavors here are a notch above than most of the Thai restaurants in the city. The flavors are accentuated when the dishes come "Thai spicy" - if you can handle the heat i.e. Our meal consisted of Tom Yum Shrimp, Northern Thai Sausage, Ground Beef Larb, Pad Kee Mao (drunken noodles) and Green Curry with Chicken. Highlights for me were the green curry (ordered Thai spicy) and the sausage which comes with an abundance of thinly sliced Thai chili peppers on the side. The chili peppers may bring water to your eyes but the combination of the sausage, nuts and peppers were addictive. The larb could have used a bit more tamarind for me and it wasn't "Thai spicy" like I wanted - perhaps an oversight on their part. The drunken noodle was the safe dish that my wife wanted in case things got too heated up. It's not a dish I'm generally a fan of but the missus seemed to like it. The tom yum soup with shrimp was very decent as well. We ordered it "medium spicy" and there was enough heat in it. Their version of tom yum had a ton of mushrooms. We got a taro custard for dessert. The flavor wasn't bad but I don't think it was too fresh. Actually we found something every similar to it in the super market next door. Too bad mangoes weren't in season. Otherwise we would have gone for the sticky rice. After the meal, I asked my wife if she thought the place was good enough for her to return and she said it was. Finally! I can start eating Thai food again. read more

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Woodside Avenue is probably the place to go for Thai food for there are several restaurant on one block. This review is for the their take out lunch. Went for the lunch special- With Chicken was for $6.95, and Beef $7.95 You get a soup or a salad Vegetable egg roll Not a bad deal. The Tom Yum Soup- Was too salty and too spicy. I had the soup sitting in the car and it stunk up the place. Sweating bullets after drinking the soup on a hot humid day. Beef Pad Thai- was okay. I went for the noodles instead of the beef. Also, ordered the Chicken with Cashews and Rice. Again, I went for the rice and vegetables instead of the chicken. The food is okay for lunch, but I have had better. The staff was friendly and helpful as they took my order once I walked in and then asked me to take a seat to wait. Was not too long they brought the bag with the lunches to me. read more

Can't spell Thai without Ayada. Well you can.. but I've forgotten how to after how amazing the experience was here !! Queens has a lot of Thai spots and Ayada is among the top dogs in Q city! If you're in Elmhurst please do yourself a favor and stop by! They have a delicious selection of zingy Thai spice which delivers a satisfying kick. Restaurant is small sized, seats about 20. You have to try the Issan here, thats what they're known for! Crispy watercress a s BBQ pork were excellent starters. If you have a big group, it may discourage you from coming, but it may be worth it when they're not busy during normal peak hours! PRO TIO! Try the chicken wings!! read more

This review is only for Take Out food... This place is small, expect a wait on weekends. The staff is friendly. The location is not close to a subway so expect a little walking from the Roosevelt & 74th St. If you drive expect to circle the blocks for a space on weekends. But the food is worth it! Papaya Salad $7- delicious but spicy! rate 5/5. Drunken noodles $9- very good, well executed; rate 4/5. Pat Thai noodle $8- delicious; rate 4/5. Sauteed bean thread with shrimp, chicken, egg $10- tasty combination; rate 4/5. I will definitely come back for a sit down dinner! read more

I like the food at Ayada. It is a consistent Thai restaurant that faces increasing competition in the area. Most of the time, the food is pretty good. The seating is cramped and as I have stated in other reviews, this is one of those places where you could, just by sitting down, end up being a part of the people next to your table's date. Ayada Thai is a great place to get good Thai food and have an intimate date with strangers. read more

this is easily one of the best thai places I've tried in NY. I am a huge fan of thai food and southeast flavors. my spice level is really up there. sometimes i think it's a bad addiction that's hard to fulfill but Ayada's uncontrolled levels hit the spot. i started with fried calamari, papaya salad w/ salted crab, and raw shrimp salad. the fried calamari was what you would expect and a bit more. the calamari was very tender - like a fish texture. papaya salad w/ crab - i loved this! I asked for this spicy and i was not disappointed. spicy, sour, and crunchy with blue crab as a treat! I wouldnt say the crab had a very salted flavor but it was delish all the same. raw shrimp salad - my mom tells me in cambodia people eat shrimps raws often so i wasnt too nervous to try it. besides they wont serve if it made people sick. try this!! my entree was the beef drunken noodles. again requested it spicy. loved it! i savored every bite, the noodles were soft and seasoned perfectly. also had the pad gai kua - this was a good change from the usual pad see yew. topped of this meal with the Thai coconut rice pudding - must save some room for this! heads up this isnt the rice pudding you find at rice to riches. read more

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** 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. read more

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There isn't any great revelation to report from Ayada, besides the fact that it is on a shortlist of Thai restaurants in this city that have acceptable food. I am not sure whether it is the four months in Thailand or growing up to a certain degree on the west coast, but I am admittedly picky. In New York, I do not even get invited to dinner with friends any longer when Thai food is involved and Manhattan is the borough of choice. People are tired of hearing me complain. To be honest though, I don't blame them. Luckily Ayada is around to beef up the small number of places that serves Thai food to anyone who comes in looking for it. There's no unnecessary sugar added and no necessary spice subtracted. They make the food the way it is supposed to be, and you don't even have to ask for it that way. The decor is a bit deceiving, as often times this type of sleek design is a sign of weak food, but a few trustworthy folks' impressions about Ayada reassured me to gather a couple Thai friends and have a try. The place is very welcoming, with friendly staff and warm colors and surroundings. A sign in Thai thanks all the customers for choosing to eat here, while a satellite Thai channel is pumped in on the big screen to keep everyone entertained between courses. The som tum ($7) is the perfect start to a meal, and will always get my vote when it's prepared right. The sourness of the dish is spot on, while the chilies get your mouth prepared for the rest of the meal. A bonus here is the peanut quantity, more than I've ever seen before and much appreciated. The pork leg ($7) is a decent mound of fatty pork bits served with mustard greens, a hard-boiled egg, and a sweet and sour sauce that has a slight hint of Chinese takeout packets, but 100 times better. I still preferred to eat it alone with the rice though, savoring the savoriness itself. There always needs to be a calm dish in a sea of explosively spicy food, and this serves that function quite well. Two interesting kang som (sour curry) options grace the menu a few items apart. Very different from any coconut milk-based variety, try the version with shrimp and cha-om omelet pieces ($8). Cha-om is the Thai word for acacia, and the square "wafers" soak in the sour in all its glory. It is served with a small bowl of rice, but could be just as easily slurped straight from the bowl if you prefer. My companions told me that back in Thailand our final dish might be overheard by foreigners to be described looking like snot, but the gelatinous sauce that accompanies the rad-na ($8) is much better than that, I assure you. The flat noodles are the showpiece of the dish, served with your choice of meat and Chinese broccoli. They are sautéed and serve as the bed for the other items, so deliciously limp and soft, constantly falling off your eating utensils and requiring skilled patience. read more

Ayada Thai - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

Believe what they say about the catfish mango salad.It is strips of ripe mango, breaded and brown catfish deep fried, and lime sauce with a few other mixins. It's good and definitely worth ordering The beef pad kra pow nothing special It tasted like a salt Chinese brown sauce dish. I would not recommend ordering it. The chicken satay was good spices of chicken breast on a skewer, peanut sauce in a cucumber vinegar. This was not bad, the peanut sauce was all right. I am not sure about advice again The time young soup with prawns came with butterfly cut shrimp and a whole ton of mushrooms. The soup is slightly sour but very delicious, I would say it is just like Thailand but I have never been to Thailand read more

We had the som tum, moo manow, and fried whole fish. The som tum was spicy like what I had when I lived in Bangkok. The taste was amazing and my palette was in trouble since my spicy days are in the rear view mirror. The moo manow was grilled perfectly, but did not have the sour, garlicky flavor I remembered from eating 1000s of these in Thailand. Good, just not as I remembered. The whole fish was superb, as was the whole experience. Yummy. read more

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Decided to come here since it had amazing reviews and wasn't really delighted with this place. Doesnt seem like a real thai place, they didn't have any sweet and sour options nor did they have any plum sauce which I was bummed out about. We ordered the fried vegetarian dumplings and they were different than what we thought it would be like, crunchy, instead they were like soft. My friend liked them but me not so much. The pad thai was okay and the mixed vegetable I ordered was way too salty. Also i ordered a thai iced tea with no ice and they gave me a smaller cup so that I get less of the beverage because if i ordered with ice then my beverage would be 70% filled with ice. This was also annoying. Won't be returning here read more

Ayada Thai - Vegetarian dumplings - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

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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! read more

Ayada Thai - Whole Roasted Fish - Delicious! - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

Julie Thanks Jocy, Jen C and Judy for the info on this spot... All the J's like it.... and omg... my alias is Julie/Julia so I'm a double J.... Who would've thought that my old hood where i grew up would have a culinary delight. The place has about 8 tables and was pretty empty on a Tues night. I spoke to the very nice owner I suppose and she told me that they've been open for about a year. It looks like a family affair as i snuck a peep into the kitchen to see an older lady (mom perhaps?) cooking in the kitchen. I took some of the advice of Jocy on her quite informative review of the spot... Here's what I had... 4 STARS for Tom Yum Soup - excellent flavoring and the sour taste is not overpowering... 4 STARS for Mussels - enormous pieces of mussels in thai flavoring... Good and the hot sauce that comes with it is incredibly spicy... be very careful... 3 1/2 STARS for Shrimp blanket - good again and big pieces of shrimp wrapped like a spring roll. 4 STARS for Spicy sausage - delicious... use some sweet chili sauce to flavor. 3 STARS for BBQ pork - nice flavor to the spicy sauce that comes with this dish... the pork was almost like a viet pork chop cut into small pieces. 5 STARS for Pad Thai - I've been searching for that authentic taste in pad thai that I had when i was in Thailand.... and finally, a worthy spot. I'm tired of Chinese or Viet restaurants trying to make pad thai and adding these generic peanut flavorings.... This was the real deal.... 3 1/2 STARS for Taro custard - It was good. They heated it but the center was still out of the refrig cold. No consistency in hot and cold so that kinda killed it for me.... This is a nice local joint and deserves to be busier.... I remember going to Sripraphai many years ago when they first opened and look at them now... This place has it's own uniqueness and I honestly would rather come here so that I wouldn't have to wait on the long lines at Sripraphai.... I couldn't help myself and bought some pork jerky with sticky rice to take home and snack on.... It's got a honey glazed flavor.. good (a little chewy) but not comparable to Hong Kong jerky.... FYI - The bathroom was big for a small restaurant and it was nicely decorated, clean with lots of mirrors and smells real nice.... read more

Ayada Thai - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

I am a vegetarian so I ordered a curry vegetarian duck today from grub hub. C13 on the website menu. But real duck meat was delivered to me. I called Ayada and had an argument over the phone with them. They keep insisting that I ordered wrongly. Why would I ordered real duck meat when I am a vegetarian? Really bad experience. Will never order from them again. NEVER read more

HANDS DOWN, THE best authentic Thai food I have ever had. I traveled all the way from Brooklyn to Elmhurst to see what the buzz was about and I did NOT leave disappointed. Every dish I shared with my boyfriend was delicious from beginning to end. Their sausage is top notch. Juicy and spicy goodness in your mouth. Just a note though: when they say spicy, they DO mean spicy so you've been warned! They have dessert boxes of bananas and taro fried in coconut shreds and sesame seeds. If you have a sweet tooth, you must get one! And their Thai iced tea? Milky goodness does you good! It is a small restaurant so it might not be best for groups. However, if you're hungry and want a good Thai meal, this IS the place to go in Queens! A lot of their menu items are recommended by the NY Times so go, go, go! read more

Came here several times and will continue returning. The food is delicious here. We love the duck with panang curry soo much. That curry sauce with rice tastes so amazing. Tried the pad thai with ribeye steak, very good! Gotta have the chinese broccoli with crispy pork belly, yum yum! read more

Ayada Thai - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

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My new favorite Thai restaurant! I was tired of the spotty service at Sripraphai and my partner was tired of the lack of spice in the dishes she had ordered. I opened up my trusty yelp account and searched Thai in Queens and found Ayada. What a pleasant surprise. This place is amazing! Service was impeccable, fast and friendly. The menu is very easy to read and has an excellent variety of Thai cuisine. I ordered the chicken pad Thai and the portion was very generous and I had an ample amount of chicken mixed in. My partner had Pad Kra Prow (beef with chili and spicy basil sauce) and she was very satisfied with the amount of spiciness. We started off with an order of Spring Rolls that came very quickly and hot! The dining room is on the smaller side but has ample character and is cozy. They deliver and take all major credits cards. Also M-F they have $5.95 lunch plates with a free appetizer. Totally worth it if you're in the area during the week for lunch! read more

Ayada Thai - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

We orderer a delivery , delivery was fast , but food was nasty . It taste old the drunked noodles . Definitely i would never call again to this place very disappointed we trow most of our food 40 dollars to the garbage . Also we ordered dumpling , i cannot even described how it was ...and the flavor that it has . NOT RECOMMENDED! read more

Food was pretty legit. I would go here just for the sum tum. It's a must order! Made with fresh ingredients and real lime juice and shrimp powder! read more

Meant to write this review a while ago. The single greatest duck dish I've ever had. DUCK PANANG CURRY with hearty tender slices and crispy skin on a bed of amazing curry coconut milk. read more

Ayada Thai - Amazing Duck Panang Curry. - Thai Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines and Ayada is one of the best. So good that I drive from NJ, deal with the tight street parking and wait for a table in a small, quaint restaurant that packs a spice punch! Introduced to me by my Thai roommate who used to make a pilgrimage here with her family after Thai temple nearby. It is to no surprise that Ayada is always filled with Thai patrons and a handful of foodies like myself. I enjoy spicy food but at Ayada I have to do a combination of mild and medium spiced dishes or else I am drinking too much water throughout my meal. I love the way they prepare their whole red snapper. They filet the fish to deep fry separately but also deep fry the remaining body and put it all back together before serving. The fish bones get so crispy that I can crunch right through them. Love it topped with their tangy, spicy green mango salad. The restaurant owners now also own the wine/liquor store next door so if there is a line at Ayada get put on the list and do some wine tastings to pass the time. Genius business owners!! read more