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From pad Thai and ped penang to red curry and durian, these local restaurants have Thai food down to a tee.
By Sabrina Sucato and Abby Audenino
It’s hard to go wrong with Thai food. In terms of cuisine, Thai dishes have a light, fresh flavor that is both comforting and elegant, but can be kicked up a notch if you’re a fan of spice. Whether you slurp up a bowl of noodles, chow down on some crispy tofu, or indulge in a rich duck curry, you can’t go wrong with tasty Thai food.
Here are some of the best spots where you can find everything from pad Thai to duck penang in the Hudson Valley. P.S. Are we missing a spot? Email us at edit@hvmag.com so we can add it.
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Aroi Thai
55 Market St, Rhinebeck
With an extensive menu and a comfortable atmosphere, Aroi Thai is an ideal space for celebrations and group dinners. Get the red curry with shrimp or duck for your main meal. The kick from the dried red chili balances nicely with the coconut milk and basil. For dessert, try something new with the taro pearls and coconut cream, a cube of taro root served in a sweet cream bath.
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Bangkok Café
119 Main St, New Paltz
The fact that this New Paltz eatery offers delivery is convenient — and just a little dangerous where your wallet is concerned. If you like duck, try the duck noodle soup for lunch or the panang vegetable curry with mixed vegetables, coconut cream, and lemon leaves for dinner. This family-friendly spot has milder fried rice options that work well for little ones.
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Citrus Restaurant
1004 NY-94, New Windsor
Citrus Restaurant offers blends of Indian home-cooking with Thai cuisine. Offering a wide variety of starters in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, the restaurant lets diners make a meal out of a variety of appetizers. Consider the Citrus Sham Savera, spinach and cheese dumplings serviced with a tomato-honey sauce, for a vegetarian option. For a spicier option, try the Bamee Pad Nam Prik Pow, soft noodles tossed in a spicy Thai roasted chili paste with your choice of meat and vegetable.
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Durian
147 Chatsworth Ave, Larchmont
Although durian, the fruit, may not be the most appetizing thing in the world, Durian, the restaurant, has deliciousness down pat. With a price point that is slightly higher than those of the other eateries on this list, consider this spot for a fancy dinner or an “appetizer party” with friends. With starters like chicken satay, pork belly bao, and dumplings to get the party going, you can pass on the main course and go straight to dessert. The purple rice pudding is light and creamy, while the coconut sorbet, the restaurant’s signature treat, achieves the perfect balance between fresh and sweet.
Golden Buddha Thai
985 Main St, Fishkill
Fishkill’s Thai restaurant has all of the staples, like pad Thai, pad see-ew, and pad gra pow. Skip those, however, and try one of the more creative offerings on the menu. The “Garlic Lover” may not be an acceptable choice for date night, but the combination of sautéed garlic, oyster sauce, and vegetables will have you floating on your own personal cloud nine.
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Isaan Thai Star
11 N 7th St, Hudson
Isaan Thai Star is certainly on the track to become Hudson’s latest hotspot. With a wide variety of classics from pad Thai to duck noodle soup, you can also never go wrong with choosing from Isaan Thai’s variety of daily specials. Isaan Thai also offers delivery to the city of Hudson, Greenport, and some parts of Claverack.
Kanda House
304 Main St, Cornwall
When you’re craving comforting Thai food in a hurry, Kanda House has you covered. Place two orders for the steamed dumplings. They’re so good you’ll want a “back-up” for later. For an entrée, you can’t go wrong with pad Thai. If you somehow manage to have room for dessert after all of that, treat yourself to the fried banana, served with vanilla ice cream or mango sticky rice. It’s heaven on a plate.
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Kwan Thai
22 East Central Ave, Pearl River
Kwan Thai is one of those places where you can order a bunch of appetizers and skip the main course completely. The fried wontons, packed with seasoned ground pork and served with a plum sauce, are addicting enough to merit a second order. Add to that a serving of chicken puffs and tao hoo tod, or fried tofu paired with a sweet chili sauce and peanuts, and you’ll be one happy camper.
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Red Lotus
227 Main St, New Rochelle
Head to this New Rochelle space for the classics. Pad Thai warms your soul without weighing you down, while tom yum soup provides just enough kick to balance out the light broth. This is an ideal destination for a surprise weeknight dinner.
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Sukhothai
516 Main St, Beacon
For anyone who has never before experienced the wonders of Thai cuisine, Sukhothai is a great place to start. Order a classic dish, like chicken pad Thai, or go for a vegetarian tofu grapow, with crispy tofu and a medley of vegetables, for a lunch or dinner that is sure to please. Don’t feel like leaving the house? Order delights for delivery through GrubHub and DoorDash.
Thai Garden
303 Route 303, Orangeburg
This Rockland eatery is beloved throughout the county and beyond for its authentic eats and top-notch service. If heat isn’t an issue, try the pad khi mao, or drunken noodles. The thin rice noodles pair perfectly with the flavorful basil and the spicy chili sauce. The restaurant now offers takeout and free delivery within five miles, with a $20 minimum.
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Thai House
12 Park St, Nyack
This Nyack hotspot is a mainstay for Thai cuisine, and for good reason. The savory menu has traditional dishes that appeal to both newcomers and aficionados. Order the curry puffs, filled with delectable chicken and potatoes, as an appetizer before moving onto the ped penang, a spicy roasted duck dish, for the main course. Pay attention to whether or not a dish is marked “hot.” Thai kitchens take spice seriously.
Thailicious
138 South Ave, Poughkeepsie
Once a food truck in Fishkill, Thailicious settled into a brick and mortar location near Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie. If and when you go, dig into the fan-favorite pad Thai or opt for whatever’s on the special menu for the day. The noodles are dreamy, as are the oh so light shrimp rolls and dumplings.
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Thai Spice
28 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie
If you want the most bang for your buck, Thai Spice is the place for you. Skip the appetizers and go straight to the entrees. The portions are easily enough for two meals, if not more, so don’t be shy about asking for a to-go container when your stomach calls it quits. For a showstopper that will wow the table, order the pineapple fried rice, a flavorful blend of chicken, shrimp, eggs, vegetables, and rice served inside a pineapple.
Warwick Thai
93 Main St, Warwick
This classy eatery is one of Warwick’s best-kept secrets. One look at the menu and you’ll want to order everything. Instead, start off light with steamed Thai dumplings, stuffed with chicken, pork, and water chestnuts, before venturing into dinner territory. The drunken noodles are a must for the main meal and can easily be made spicier if you so choose. Savor the Thai coconut pudding for dessert as you wrap up an unforgettable meal.
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Yum Yum Noodle Bar
275 Fair St, Kingston
7496 S Broadway, Red Hook
4 Rock City Rd, Woodstock
Although this local family chain is not strictly Thai, it does serve up a mean plate of pad Thai. Anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions will love Yum Yum, where customized eats are the name of the game. Gluten-free and vegan options are available upon request, as are tasty toppers like seitan, braised pork, pork belly, and salmon.