Tea Cup Cafe

I came here with two others for dinner on the eve of a world cup games. It was very busy so we were…read moreadded to the waitlist and then walked around the area until they called us. Service was great and efficient. Shortly after we sat down, we were greeted by our server and received water. One member in my party has a gluten sensitivity, and when we mentioned this, our server brought out a gluten-free menu! It has a great selection and my friend was overjoyed with the options. The food was delicious and a bit spicy, even at the mild option. If I was there for lunch, I would have ordered a Thai ice tea (the drink had too much caffeine for me the evening ). The food was delicious, and is something that we'd all order again. My favorite part of the evening was the tv playing a Thai cooking show. There were no captions or subtitles so I kept asking the server what veggies were on screen, and they too didn't know because there was no caption. A fantastic restaurant worth hitting up if you're in the area.

We ordered the mango salad and the pineapple duck curry. Even though we got medium spice for the…read moresalad it was pretty spicy lol but the mango really helped. It had a lot of crunch to it so was fun to eat although not my style of salad. The curry sauce was great. I wish the duck came with more meat; it was a lean cut. We were too full to order more but there's plenty of other things I would've wanted to try. Also their cocktail menu looked stellar - very unique and fun glasses + flavors. We waited ~45 min on a weekend with no reservation at around 2-3pm as an fyi!

Shrimp Potted with Glass Noodle / (@joeynht)

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Miang Kha-Na / (@joeynht)

Ayada Thai

4.1(1.5k reviews)

So, I've known about this place forever, but haven't been able to go…read more Finally make it during lunch and I loved it. Service: it's nice. They definitely didn't tell me that lunch specials were available before I ordered my soup. Other than that, everyone is pleasant. Space: they have two sides, so plenty of space, but nights and weekends can get pretty packed, so keep that in mind. Food: I ordered Tom Yum soup and a lunch drunken noodle with a Thai iced tea. I only had the soup there and took the entire lunch special to go. Just based off of the soup, I will be going back. It was delicious and PACKED to the MAX! Writing this now, I can still imagine. Drunken Noodles were also really tasty. I like mine spicy and it could have been made spicier, but that's not even a real complaint. Also- the one next to me had this dish which reminded me of pad see ew but in a gravy. Looked delicious!! I will be back for whatever she had. Overall: the entire block is like a little Thai street. There are lots of Thai food options and I finally made it to Ayada. Super happy with my meal and excited to go back with some people and enjoy.

the wait was too long for saranrom thai AND hug esan :(…read more this place was rlly good though! the chive cakes were a sleeper hit: crispy on the outside and so chewy and soft on the inside almost mochi like probably best chive cakes i've had at a thai place. discovered i don't like raw crab would not recommend the salad very ocean flavored. crispy duck panang curry was yummy not the best duck i've had but very good and the curry sauce was delish. mango sticky rice a hit as always the rice was very warm and subtly sweet and the mango was decently fresh. i will say it's a bit expensive for the amount you get but otherwise yummy!

N8. Tom Yum Noodle Soup

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F1. Fish w/ Sweet Chili **Market Price**

Khao Nom

4.3(225 reviews)

Best thing ever!!! Must try!! worth it, service is good and clean environment…read more Best thing ever!!! Must try!! worth it, service is good and clean environment

Small Thai restaurant on the side street that does a lot of meals as well as Thai style desserts…read more This place only seats maybe 20-24 people at most and the tables are tiny so keep that in mind. I do wish the tables and seating were more comfortable-the tables are cute- they are made out of old singer sewing bases. However cuz the bases are narrow your knees constantly bump into it The chairs/benches are also very narrow so keep this in mind as you won't be sitting there long. The food was fairly priced for the portions and was cooked to order. I did wish that my fish dish was on the crispier side but it was very flavorful and pungent. The soup has a nice kick to it and our appetizer was delicious. Would def go back again to try more items.

Kao Mun Gai Tod

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Thai Curry Puffs

Hug Esan

4.5(305 reviews)

Bring cash or pay via Zelle!…read more The ladies who work there are so friendly and helpful with the menu! There are 10 level of spices! So know your spice when you are ready to order!! Such a cute interior, although a bit tight! And would be tough for a big group to get a table! But I want to go back already to try difference dishes!!

A bit different from the Thai food you're probably used to but change is sometimes good!…read moreWe had some of the best fish and chicken we've ever had and also loved the starter salad. Chicken was so so crispy and you could just head the crunch with every bite. Fish was also great and prepared really well. Staff were nice and could help you with recommendations as needed! It's not a huge establishment and is pretty popular so you may want to expect a wait time I believe it's cash only so bring cash!

Crispy Whole Tilapia

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Crab Meat Fried Rice

Na Rath

4.4(112 reviews)

0.5 mi•Elmhurst

The service was amazing; staff were very patient with us despite how long our group took to order,…read morefood came in less than 20 minutes, and the atmosphere is very friendly. The garlic fried rice with teriyaki salmon was super flavorful and the portions were amazing for the listed price, on top of the free appetizers they offered. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Thai food spots, it did not disappoint!

I order online to pick up. they prepare to close and one of the staff kick me out, hey what are you…read moredoing?. latino with glasses asks me pick up my order--I reply lemme check your order He asks me to wait outside and then when the order finished he says something to me. mumbo jumbo in english that i don't quite understand and laugh at me. rude service. I'm a paying customer and i've been ordered from this place more than 10 + times. That was a weird experience.

Curry Wagyu steak & Khao Soi noodle

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Moo Ping BBQ Pork Golden Pompano Fish Garlic Prawn Crab with pepper and basil Crying tiger Steak Seafood Hor Mok

Kitchen 79

4.3(789 reviews)

0.3 mi

This has been one of my frequents for years. Whether I dine in or get take out, the food is always…read moregood. I can truly say I haven't had one bad meal. Today's meal: Chive Cakes, Spicy Green Curry, and Thai Iced Tea. Had it delivered to the house. Everything came hot, packed nicely, and delicious. Also reasonably priced. And the decor inside is always pretty. Give them a try!

I came here to enjoy a nice dinner with one of my cousins and, one of our friends…read more Pad Kee Mao has to be one of my main go-to dishes, each time I dine in a Thai restaurant I try to order the famous Pad Kee Mao, or the way English speakers like to call it the drunken noodle Most of the time, if I can, I try to order the beef and extra chicken version. This time was no exception. The flavors were unique, the noodles were exceptional, the meat was tender, the level of spice was good, and the portion was pretty big. The amount of the protein was generous and the extra protein gave it an extra touch, We shared the shrimp dumplings, the texture , and the flavor was marvelous. The services were nice, super attentive, and polite, she did a great job with the table. The ambiance is pretty chill and can be romantic.

Beautiful room‼

Yum Mango Salad

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Boon Chu Thai Place

3.9(402 reviews)

0.5 mi•Elmhurst

I ordered the Pad see Ew and it was pretty good. The noodles had a lot of flavor which made it…read morereally enjoyable. I do wish there was more broccoli and the beef was more tender. I have to try some other things on the menu

I have been coming to this restaurant ever since I was a little kid and I still continue to visit…read moreit frequently even as an adult. The food here is seriously always so good and the service is extremely quick. The small shop only has limited seating but the food gets prepared in a blink of the eye. My go to here is always the pad Thai. My only complaint is that the dried tofu use to be a lot better and use to soak up the delicious sauces making every bite of tofu super flavorful. They did change their tofu a few years ago but the flavor of the pad Thai is still one of my favorite around so I have learned to accept it and move past it. Definitely one of my favorite Thai places and I could just be biased from my childhood memories but the pad Thai will definitely never disappoint!

Inside the restaurant

Hand-made Spring Rolls

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Thai Coffee

Spicy Shallot

3.8(822 reviews)

0.0 mi•Elmhurst

Came here for a very late dinner since it's open until 11:00pm on Saturdays. Spicy Shallot's been…read morementioned a lot in my Queens FB Foodie Group, but maybe it was an off night or we ordered items that aren't their most spectacular. Had the $30 Branzino (didn't realize that it's fried. And that we had a choice between sweet chili sauce, mango salad, cashew cream sauce). The waitress didn't ask which one we wanted. Also had the $18 Crispy Watercress Kung Fu Salad. We were thinking of a duck dish (& I didn't see the Khao Soi - one either softshell crab that I've seen previously), but the couple next to us who's been there twice within the past 2 weeks recommended these two dishes. The salad was lightly battered vegetable, they used Water Spinach instead (big tuber fritters stuck together). The bowl of Seafood Salad (shrimp & calamari, kind of Thai ceviche-style) was OK but didn't have nuances in flavor (spicy sour sweet). The Liquid was deep at the bottom and it was hard spooning things on top of the vegetable. The presentation of the fish was gorgeous - came out on a fish-shaped platter on top of an little flame. The server poured the sauce over the fish and everything bubbled. There was cauliflower and string beans underneath the fish. Didn't realize that it was fried instead of broiled or grilled. We didn't know what sauce we were getting and at first I thought it was tiny bit sour, as I continued eating, it became like a one-note tamarind. Same - there wasn't any sweet sour spicy fishy. We asked for medium-spice when we ordered. It's a little awkard deboning and serving a fried crispy fish on top of a metal platter at a 2-seat table, but my Auntie-skills kicked in and it's no problem for me since I'm familiar with where the bones are. Friend ordered a Thai Coffee also (it might only come iced). The restaurant is beautiful and has a sleek but tropical Asian decor & about 75% full even up to closing. Has a cute outdoor seating area too - a very different vacation feel on a block of Woodside/Elmhurst Queens. Later I come to find out my Queens - born Thai friend said he stopped going to this restaurant after it's renovation and adding sushi to the menu. The ownership changed and he doesn't think it's Thai-owned anymore. Either way, I kind of wish the food met up to the standards of this "Little Thailand" area of NYC. Maybe I'll try them again if they have lunch specials. A couple was sharing a giant beer glass of Thai Tea.

5 stars based on the duck curry alone! This place put me on to the magical wonders of a Thai duck…read morecurry as this was the first place I discovered how magical this item is. I've since tried a multitude of different duck curries and can say ive tried my fair share of them at this point and can easily state this is,hands down, the best duck curry ive tried, and probably the best duck curry in nyc. The duck was incredibly crispy and still tender, the curry itself was rich, but not overbearing and still contained a nice sharp hit of flavors and spices only a Thai red curry could encompass. Run and try the duck curry here, it's all you really need from this restaurant

Duck Curry $28 (comes w.rice)

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Pad Kra Pao Kai Dao

Zaab Zaab

4.0(170 reviews)

Came on a Saturday at 5 pm right before the rush. Our server was super sweet and friendly and gave…read morea couple of recommendations. She also started us off with some complimentary popcorn. Surf & turf skewers: My least favorite dish of the night. I found most of the skewers a bit dry. Larb beef & tripe: the Larb was super flavorful and delicious. We got a side of sticky rice as well and it paired really nicely together. Crab fried rice: Generous amount of crab and nice wok hay. The rice also had a nice chew to it that I enjoyed. Salt encrusted tilapia: I wish there was a bigger vermicelli noodle portion on the side but I really liked the tilapia. It was perfectly cooked and fell off the bone and the sauce complemented it perfectly. Don't forget to remove the salt crust!

I genuinely don't understand the hype around Zaab Zaab Elmhurst. We ordered the fried rice, drunken…read morenoodles, pad kra pao, and the ribeye steak. The steak was the only dish that showed any sign of life. Everything else tasted as if it had been rinsed with water before being served--completely stripped of seasoning, aroma, and any trace of authentic Thai flavor. It's astonishing that a restaurant with such a strong reputation could produce food that's less flavorful than the faux Thai takeout spots tucked inside Chinese restaurants off the Ohio Turnpike. That's not an exaggeration. What's even more baffling is the location. In the heart of Queens, surrounded by Thai restaurants serving bold, vibrant, unapologetically flavorful food, Zaab Zaab somehow manages to be a culinary desert. The fried rice was bland, the drunken noodles were lifeless, and the pad kra pao lacked the punch, basil, heat, and savoriness that define the dish. It honestly felt as though the menu had been engineered for diners who think black pepper is adventurous. Instead of authentic Thai flavors, everything seemed toned down to the point of being unrecognizable. For a restaurant with this reputation, the meal was a massive letdown. There are countless nearby Thai restaurants that deliver the bold, aromatic flavors Thailand is known for. Save your money and your appetite for one of them.

Indoor

Pla Neung Manow/ Branzino

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Prawn pad thai

Eim Khao Mun Kai Elmhurst

4.2(575 reviews)

0.3 mi•Elmhurst

Found a heavy hitter in Elmhurst. Eim Khao Mun Kai is…read moredoing one thing, and they're doing it better than anyone else. If you're looking for a massive menu, keep walking. This spot is a 3-table operation focused entirely on perfecting Thai chicken rice--and they nailed it. The move here: The Chicken: Poached to absolute perfection. Tender, juicy, no fluff. The MVP: The chicken heart. It was so good I had to double down and order a second round. If you know, you know. The Rice: Fragrant ginger rice that actually has flavor, paired with a radish broth that hits the spot. The Sauce Science: They let you mix your own. I went with the soybean paste + ginger-scallion combo. It's addictive. Do not skip the ginger-scallion. Washed it all down with a solid Thai tea to balance the heat. It's a tiny shop with efficient service and zero ego. A total hidden gem. I'll be back. 81-32 Broadway, Elmhurst #ElmhurstEats #QueensFood #KhaoMunKai

4.5 We really liked…read morethe food here. Got the chicken set for 2. Each bite of chicken/gizzard/liver and rice with the condiments was flavorful. Wished there was more liver. Like a deconstructed and dry version of a filipino soup I love called Chicken Tinola, with similar ingredients too. The set came with soup - was mild and good. I added a bit of the ginger-scallion condiment and liked that too. I think it's the first time I tried Thai iced green tea - slightly sweet for me but lighter bec with half and half. Couldn't give this place a 5 stars though because of the heat. We went there when it was at least 90 degrees, and didn't know it wasn't air-conditioned. There was only 1 oscillating fan which was only ok when it was pointed at our direction. Once it turned, I had to keep fanning myself. The iced drink was refreshing but wasn't enough. We would have left if only we weren't set on trying their Hainan chicken. Will surely return, on a not so hot day. Service was great. Food came out quickly. It must've felt hotter for the staff being in the kitchen but they still had smiles. Nearest train station is Elmhurst Ave stop of M, R and some bus lines along Broadway, but not too far from Roosevelt Ave-Jackson Hts station. Has 4 small tables, and counter seating for 3. No restroom. Cash only.

Inside

Eim Khao Mun Kai Elmhurst - Poached chicken served over fragrant ginger rice with a light broth, cucumber, and cilantro, with options to add liver or gizzard

Poached chicken served over fragrant ginger rice with a light broth, cucumber, and cilantro, with options to add liver or gizzard

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Such a good snack

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Hannnah L.

6 years ago

This place deserves 0 star for the lack of service, harassement, and bad attitude of the owner. This is my second visit. The first time I went, all three items I asked for on the menu was not available and he said I have to come back next week. They were also cash only. I came today and asked for one thing and he said it was still not available because of some delivery issues with ingredients from China. I said that's fine but all there needed to be was a sign saying items were not available because I'm standing there for a long time finding out what I can or can't order every time I go. That's when he began erasing some things on the menu. I proceeded to place an order for noodle soup and quickly find out the bill is higher than the price listed on the menu. I asked him if there was a delivery fee (menu said 50 cents for delivery) and that's why it was more expensive. He said, "No, I raised the price to $10 because of covid." I said, "Excuse me? The menu says $8.50." All of a sudden he starts to blame me for causing a problem about it. I calmly asked him why he was blaming the customer for his lies and that his actions are actually fraud. He began yelling "Fuck you this is covid! Get out!" So I yelled back at him. Does he think customers are stupid? He's going to take advantage and deceive customers because he thinks he deserve more money as some sort of - pay back for his loss of business for 2 months? How insane. I see right through self-centered people like this but truth is, the world does not revolve around your little cafe, owner guy. Many people are struggling right now not just you. They don't even pay taxes. A business like this needs to shut down when so many other businesses are continuing respectable and honest practices while treating customers with respect, not ripping them off behind their backs. Just put a tip bowl for goodness sakeI am looking to report this place for fraud. read more

Tim L.

6 years ago

I ordered a shave ice with red beans topping, but the red beans are spoild. because I didn't want to drive there again and spent another half hour to find a parking place, so I made a phone call just trying to warn them not to sell it again, but they said they had sold many of it and no one had problems, then hang on the phone without any apologies！? read more

Jor Jane §.

347

7 years ago

Always happy to come here. Food is great, price is cheap, service is awesome. I am one of their regular customer never disappointed. Also what I love the most is just right near my house. Super dooper cool read more

Achi A.

10 years ago

I love love love the Ovaltine Volcano and the duck noodle soup. The broth is very tasty and concentrated. Will definitely be back for more.

Xiaofeng Y.

8 years ago

Hot coffees Really taste strong. Even late afternoon not like other store where taste sour will be back

Tea Cup Cafe - thai - Updated August 2026

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Queens Blvd with parking!…read more This small mom and pop rocks with the noodles dishes they offer. So far I really dig the garlic flavor vermicelli with chicken. Sticky garlicky smooth is how I'd classify these noodles with spring onion. I also tried the biryani special on weekends which has great umami but the rice was a bit hard for my taste. It may take a while during peak times but the food is great. If you are in a rush, they do take orders over the phone. It's also not often if at all that a restaurant on Queens Blvd has free onsite parking so bring your car too!

I have been meaning to try this place. It's relatively new and I find myself in the area fairly…read moreoften. I finally got the perfect opportunity to stop in yesterday and I wish I had done so sooner. The space is small, but clean and comfortable. I ordered the ginger salad and the rice pancake balls with quail egg and both items were prepared quickly. The ginger salad is incredible. It's like the most perfect salad I've ever eaten. Not exaggerating at all, this is one of the most delicious things I've had this year. I am a ginger lover, but I still wasn't sure what it would be like to eat this much ginger. This dish almost treats ginger like a vegetable and not just a seasoning. The textures of this dishes really make it stand out. There are so many different textures in here that create a complex and fascinating bite. The crisp, finely shredded cabbage and ginger make up the base, which is mixed with various crunchy nuts and seeds and soft juicy pops of diced tomato. The flavors in this dish are intense. This quantity of sinus clearing ginger would be inedible without being held in balance by a good deal of salt and seasoning in the dressing and the rich, earthy savoriness of the nuts and seeds. I was really amazed by this dish. It was outstanding. After the extreme bright salty flavor of the salad, the rice pancake balls don't pack quite the same punch. However, the quail egg in here is cooked beautifully. It came out warm, with a soft jammy center and the white was a soft silky jelly. The whole thing is surrounded by a slightly chewy layer of rice based pancake. The flavor of the rice comes through, and the exterior is slightly crispy. These had so much richness from that egg yolk. It was so savory and comforting even though I've never eaten anything like this before. Really looking forward to my next visit here as I found the two items I tried to be remarkable and outstanding.

Shaxian Snacks

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Shaxian Snacks is a chain from Fujian China serving Fujian cuisine. They actually 4 locations in…read morethe NYC area, with this one being the newest one. As such, this place still looks new and is super clean. It is a smaller place but they have a full menu with noodle soups, dumplings, congee and rice platters. I personally recommend the peanut noodles and the wontons, which are both comfort foods in the cuisine. The peanut noodles had a unique, rich and nutty flavor. The wontons (which are available steamed or fried) are juicy and fresh. The prices here are amazingly cheap and you can easily have a full mela here for less than $10.

Wow, this place was a sleeper!!! A true hidden gem!!! This is now my to go neighborhood food!!…read moreOrdered the braised Chinese set meal (included soup, vegetable, fried but runny egg, and rice), and my husband ordered the beef brisket noodle soup. Great value, great quality, fast service, and most importantly, great taste!! The beef from the soup melted in your mouth. The braised chicken was cooked better than other Taiwanese restaurants. Most customers were local Chinese so this is quite authentic. A must try!!

Umi Tea Fried Chicken & Ramen

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A little hidden gem downstairs location. Don't let the size fool you. It may appear as fast food…read morebut it is hearty and wholesome. The food is made fresh so unless you order ahead, expect to give them a few minutes which is fine because they have a cute lighted outdoor waiting area. I always feel these independent places give you great service and great value. I had a bento box w eel and their nonalcoholic mojitos which was really refreshing.

Needed a late night bubble tea after a long day of walking around NYC and karaoke. This spot was…read moreconveniently on the way so I decided to check it out. I ordered ahead via the Fantuan app and they had it ready fairly quickly. I got an Earl Gray bubble tea and it was only around $6-$7 and it was absolutely delicious and hit the spot. I got 70% sugar and it was still fairly sweet, so I'd recommend getting less sugar if you don't have a big sweet tooth!

Yumpling

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I like their beef noodle soup, the veggie dumplings slay, but that fried chicken sandwich is my…read morefavorite local sandwich. Plus the service is always solid, which is reflected in the price (something something living wage?!!). Usual fast casual feel to the place.

Really busy the Saturday afternoon I went but luckily got a seat for 2. Kitchen was low on people…read moreyet the hospitality and morale was extremely friendly and upbeat nonetheless. The popcorn chicken is outstanding. Genuinely shocked at how good it is. Juicy, tender, flavorful. Chicken is definitely star of the show/menu. The dumplings are fun as well. The green/veggie one has a yummy texture you definitely can't get from frozen ones. The noodles are ok. I wish the rice was more fresh or fluffy. Wouldn't get these two again but would absolutely come back just for the chicken.

Jai Sang Ma

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This place is a small space but it's got a fun vibe. Service was quick and easy. Food was tasty…read more We shared tempura shrimp with a sweet chili sauce. I had a soup noodle and my friend had the crab omlette. Ended with mango sticky rice.

CASH ONLY! Saw the…read morepictures and thought it looked dive bar-esque, but it's actually pretty cute inside, casual tables, very street food-like! They were also so nice! Liked everything we got - the salad blew me away! Flavors were so good.

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