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The Best Thai Restaurants in New York City

From a Michelin Recommended Tribeca diner to the Bib Gourmand counters of Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Dumbo — where to eat Thai food across the city.

By Dim Hour · Updated 2026-07-18 · 6 verified picks

New York has more Thai restaurants than almost any other Southeast Asian cuisine in the city, and Thai Diner in Tribeca — Michelin Recommended and ranked #52 on the New York Times' Top 100 Best NYC Restaurants for 2026 — is the address most people mean when they say "the best Thai in New York." The picks below range from tasting-menu counters to Elmhurst noodle shops, each one scored and verified by Dim Hour.

A note on range: this list spans Thai-American diner mashups, chef-driven tasting menus, and no-frills neighborhood counters in Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Dumbo — the outer-borough rooms where NYC's most regionally specific Thai cooking tends to live. Expect khao soi, larb, and southern curries rather than pad-thai-only menus.

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The Picks
1

Thai Diner

Thai-American · Tribeca · $$ · Dim Hour 93
🏆 Michelin Recommended · New York Times Top 100 Best NYC Restaurants 2026 (#52)

Michelin Recommended and ranked #52 on the New York Times' Top 100 Best NYC Restaurants for 2026, this Tribeca diner mashes up Thai and American diner food — the khao soi French toast at brunch and the crab fried rice at dinner are the two dishes that built its reputation. Walk-ins only.

Order: Khao Soi French Toast · Pad Thai · Thai Tea Soft Serve
📍 186 Mott St, New York NY 10012 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
2

KRU

Thai · Williamsburg · $$$$ · Dim Hour 90
🏆 Michelin Recommended

Husband-and-wife chefs Ohm Suansilphong and Kiki Supap run this modern Thai tasting-menu counter in North Williamsburg, Michelin Recommended for its regional Thai technique. The khao soi, massaman curry, and larb show the range; book on Resy.

Order: Khao Soi · Massaman Curry · Larb · Crispy Pork Belly · Mango Sticky Rice
📍 190 N 14th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
3

Saranrom Thai

Thai · Elmhurst · $$ · Dim Hour 88
🏆 Bib Gourmand, 2025 MICHELIN Guide USA · New York Times Top 100 Best NYC Restaurants 2026 (#60)

A 2025 Bib Gourmand pick on Broadway in Elmhurst, also ranked #60 on the New York Times' Top 100 Best NYC Restaurants for 2026. Order the yum pla duk fu (crispy catfish salad with green mango), the khua kling, or the squid pad thai regulars default to. Walk-in, lunch through 10pm daily.

Order: Yum Pla Duk Fu · Khua Kling · Duck Basil · Squid Pad Thai
📍 81-10 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
4

Hungry Thirsty

Thai · Carroll Gardens / Cobble Hill · $$ · Dim Hour 88
🏆 Michelin Guide

Opened by former Ugly Baby staffers in the same Smith Street space in Carroll Gardens, Michelin-listed for keeping that predecessor's regional-Thai focus and heat level. The kang ped nuer (spicy beef curry) and kai tod hat-yai (fried chicken with sticky rice) go past the pad-thai basics.

Order: Pla Tod Nam Pla (fried branzino) · Chu Chee Kai Pu (crab curry) · Kang Ped Nuer (spicy beef curry) · Kai Tod Hat-Yai (fried chicken with sticky rice) · Tom Yum
📍 407 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
5

Elephant District

Thai · Dumbo · $$$ · Dim Hour 90

A Bangkok riverside street-food menu in Dumbo from executive chef Ekapol "Top" Aranyawikul, named for the historic elephant pier on Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. The kitchen leans on fish and seafood — krapow moo krob (crispy pork belly with holy basil), choo chee pla (fried branzino in coconut red curry), and khao soi pu nim (soft-shell crab in dry northern curry).

Order: krapow moo krob · brooklyn bridge pad thai · choo chee pla · khao soi pu nim
📍 9 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
6

Kitchen 79

Thai · Jackson Heights · $$ · Dim Hour 88

A Jackson Heights room on 79th Street that seats around thirty, three blocks from the 82 St–Jackson Hts subway stop, running through curries, noodles, seafood, and salads with vegan and gluten-free options built in. The khao soi, green curry, and duck pad cha are the dishes to order.

Order: Khao Soi · Green Curry · Pad Thai · Duck Pad Cha
📍 37-70 79th St, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Thai restaurant in New York City?
The top Thai picks in New York City include Thai Diner, KRU, Saranrom Thai. Each is scored and verified by Dim Hour; see the full ranked list with signature dishes above.
Where can I find Michelin-recognized Thai food in NYC?
Thai Diner in Tribeca, KRU in Williamsburg, and Hungry Thirsty in Carroll Gardens are all Michelin-recognized.
What is the best Thai food in Queens?
Saranrom Thai in Elmhurst — a 2025 Bib Gourmand pick — and Kitchen 79 in Jackson Heights are the strongest Queens options on this list.
Which of these Thai restaurants take reservations?
Reservations: Thai Diner, KRU, Hungry Thirsty. Walk-in: Saranrom Thai.
What should I order at a NYC Thai restaurant beyond pad thai?
Look for khao soi (a northern Thai curry noodle soup), larb (a minced-meat salad), and regional curries — nearly every pick on this list runs deeper than the pad-thai default.
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in New York City?
Dim Hour curates 2,210+ restaurants in New York City, each scored and verified, organized by neighborhood, cuisine, and occasion.
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