What Thai food dreams are made of…read more I first got hooked on Thai food about 20 years ago--grabbing takeout from random food carts and a tiny Midtown spot called Rain. One bite in, I was done for. Since then, it's basically a rule: if I see a Thai restaurant, I'm stopping. Over time I've graduated beyond pad Thai (growth), and I'm always on the hunt for the next standout dish. This past weekend, I found a hidden gem. And I mean hidden. Don't let the exterior fool you--it looks like the new owners took over a long-retired diner that last saw its glory days sometime around the Reagan administration. Inside doesn't do much to change your expectations either... very "vintage 80s diner chic," and not in the trendy way. Then you're greeted by a kid who looks like he's juggling high school algebra homework while simultaneously bussing tables, taking orders, running food, pouring drinks, and working the register. Absolute Swiss Army knife. Honestly, I've been to fully staffed restaurants that don't run half as efficiently. Now the food--this is where things get serious. I usually start with papaya salad, but I saw they offered soft shell crab for an extra $3 and thought, "say less." The crabs came out perfectly fried--crispy, not greasy--two generous pieces sitting on top of a bright mango salad with a light vinaigrette. Ridiculously good. For mains, I went with my usual benchmarks: beef pad see ew and duck in red curry. Both delivered. The pad see ew had a solid portion of Chinese broccoli, noodles cooked just right, and that perfect balance of savory flavor. The red duck curry? Rich, fragrant, and the kind of dish that reminds you why you fell in love with Thai food in the first place. No exaggeration--these might be the best versions of both dishes I've had in 20 years of eating Thai. And I don't say that lightly. I was just in Vegas and went off-strip to try a highly recommended Thai spot... this place beats it, easily. My wife agreed, and she doesn't hand out food compliments like participation trophies. At that point, we figured dessert was mandatory because clearly this place refuses to miss. Mango sticky rice came out and--shocking--also excellent. Sweet, balanced, and a perfect finish. Total bill was around $100, including a large Thai iced tea (also on point). Bottom line: this family knows exactly what they're doing. If they keep this up, they won't be "hidden" for long--they'll be packed with repeat customers who, like me, came for curiosity and left planning their next visit.

Initial impressions, the interior is a lot nicer than the exterior. The thai iced tea was really…read moregood and you get a pretty large quantity for what you order. All the food came out hot and you could tell it was just made. However, items on the menu felt hit or miss. The tom yum soup, personally a miss, something about the smell of it was off which affected my taste. The roti in the roti thai style was really good and flaky, but the massaman curry was too thick. Drunken noodles were well made, and I had asked for spicy which the waitress gave us a warning that I might be "too much." However, it was quite the opposite and a bit below the spice level I was expecting. Also, felt like if you were ordering outside of their lunch special, the food is a bit expensive for what you get.

Small local restaurant just outside of Union center. We were able to easily find street parking…read more Fast, friendly service... quite the disappointment when they didn't have the sliced beef appy which we requested... I ordered my standard pad Thai with shrimp and friend got the garlic beef with veggies and brown rice. Both were delicious, although not spicy... we had requested a 2 and a 3 out of four. Would rather have it less spicy than overheated, but definitely added more chilis ourselves. Reasonably priced especially for the portions! Would definitely recommend and return!

Unfortunately, I did not take photos…read more I ordered the fried pan dumplings, but unfortunately I received steamed dumplings instead. Normally, I'm not a big fan of steamed dumplings, so I was a little disappointed at first. However, the flavor was excellent and definitely exceeded my expectations, so I can't complain too much about the mix-up. The real star of the meal was the Yellow Curry Crispy Duck. Absolutely amazing! The duck was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the curry had incredible flavor. I ordered it with spice level 1, which was just right for me and allowed all of the flavors to shine through. My only real complaint is the portioning of the rice. While the half crispy duck portion was quite generous, the amount of rice provided didn't seem to match the amount of meat. For the price I paid, I feel like the rice portion should automatically be adjusted to complement the entrée. Having to request extra rice just doesn't make much sense when there's plenty of duck left over. I'm usually not picky about things like this, but considering the cost of the meal, I expected a little better balance. Other than that, the staff was friendly and welcoming. The restaurant itself is a small hole-in-the-wall spot with a cozy, authentic feel. It's the kind of place that locals seem to know and enjoy. I actually discovered it while heading to a Mexican restaurant with some coworkers and decided to give it a try because I'm a big fan of Thai food. Overall, I'm glad I did. The food quality was excellent, the flavors felt authentic, and the crispy duck alone is worth coming back for. Despite a couple of minor issues, I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. If you enjoy authentic Thai cuisine, you'll likely leave satisfied. Authentic taste and quality ingredients--everyone should give it a try!

This is a true hole in the wall. Home made Chinese and Thai food with amazing favors. It's More…read morelike a take out place with a few tables. Had really good Chinese food after ages. The family who runs it is very warm and welcoming. It's the same restaurant as Chengdu Chinese which was in Watchung. I would drive the 10 miles from my place to eat there again.

Maya Thai continue's to be one of my favorites when I'm in the area and I've been a few times. We…read moreusually visit on the earlier side (around 5:30PM) and the service is very attentive and quick. - Pad Kee Mao with Mock Duck (4.5/5) - Really good! Flavorful with enough spice, the mock dock is always so tasty with the right level of chewiness. - Basil Fried Rice with Tofu (5/5) - So flavorful! We get this every time. - Thai Iced Tea (5/5) - They come in huge goblets and were so tasty and creamy, not watered down at all. One is honestly enough for two people. You can ask for chili garlic sauce on the side if you want to add extra spice, it's good! This spot has become one of our favorite Thai places to go to when we're in this part of NJ. Great vegetarian options. It looks like they do a lot of takeout orders and they're BYOB! Parking lot in the back is small but we havent had an issue finding an open spot.

My grandmother recommended this restaurant for dinner, and we had an incredible meal. The staff was…read morefriendly, the food was delicious, and the place was clean. I chose one of their specials, which was pad Thai with shrimp and pork. It was so good that I would go back just for that meal. They also allow you to bring your own wine and even a birthday cake for a $15 fee.

This wasn't for me…read more I really wanted to try this restaurant after reading all the good reviews. I came here for dinner with the family and ordered a veg thom kha, 3 curries and a duck pad Thai. The soup tasted average and had too many raw vegetables. The 2 panaang curries were not spicy at all. The fish in the curry was nicely fried. The yellow curry (not spicy) was too sweet , was hi-liter yellow and very watery. My kid, who loves curry, barely ate hers. The duck pad that was a miss too. We were the only Asian family diners.

Nice restaurant tucked away at the end of a short strip of stores. Good service and reasonable…read moreprices. Tried tom kha gai (coconut chicken soup) and drunken noodles with shrimp. Also finished with mango sticky rice. The noodles were good..fairly standard. The soup had good flavor and mouth feel, but there was too many bamboo shoots, not enough cilantro, no galangal (that I could taste or see), and who puts celery in tom kha gai? Celery doesn't belong. The mango sticky rice was good, but it could have used more condensed milk.

Excellent food. Affordable prices. Family owned business. I would definitely go there again. Really…read moreauthentic food.

If you're in the mood for delicious and authentic sticky rice, head over to Imm Thai in Clark. I…read moreordered their sticky rice, and wow! The only regret I have is not getting two portions. The mango was incredibly sweet, and the rice was cooked to perfection: not too sweet, just right. The creamy coconut milk added the perfect touch! The service was excellent; I was in and out quickly. The restaurant's Zen decor really enhances the dining experience, making it a lovely place to enjoy your meal. I'll definitely be returning to try more dishes!

Tried to order from DoorDash. They accepted my order and cancelled literally 1 min before the…read moredasher was supposed to arrive. What is up with that?! I would like to say the food was good or bad but I never had a chance to find out. Of course I lost my $20 tip (the poor dasher deserved it for waiting and doing the work, but still) Not a great experience.

Our party of 3 enjoyed a delicious dinner at Nakorn a few days ago. I made reservations for us a…read moreday in advance, although it wasn't really needed. The restaurant had only a few people when we walked in. Two of us arrived first and we were seated immediately while waiting for the third person, who came about 5 minutes later. I mention this detail because a lot of restaurants are strict about not seating you until the entire party arrives (I appreciate Nakorn for not sweating the small stuff). It was my second time and their first time (per my suggestion). We're all foodies so I was confident they'd enjoy! And I was right :) For starters, we shared a curry puff appetizer (3 pieces). Small size, BIG flavor!! Especially paired with the pickled sauce. Chef's kiss! For our main dishes - I had the Chicken Pad See Ew and they tried the Mixed Seafood Pad See Ew (shrimp, scallops, and mussels). Everything was delicious!!! Had it not been for the intriguing conversation around the table, we easily would not have any leftovers to take home. It is a BYOB establishment, so we brough Sake and enjoyed it in the wine glasses provided by Nakorn. I love downtown Summit and all of its foodie glory, but if you've ever been, you know what parking is like. Free after 6pm Monday - Saturday and free all day Sunday. There's a small lot directly across the street from Nakorn, which is convenient. Be intentional though, the parking spaces go fast.

Some of the best pad Thai around I've had. They closed and are now Thanee Thai which makes just as…read moregood pad Thai

Hands down always been my favorite Thai restaurant for over 10 years. I used to work around there…read morebut when I moved locations I never found a place like it again. And I've tried sooo many. The Pad Se ew, green curry, ginger chicken, no one can beat. It's pricier then others but it's worth it.