Thai Nara

Thai Nara Serves Unexpected Delights in Woodside, Queens — and Other Cheap Eats | Eater NY

"Named after the southern province of Narathiwat, I found that Thai Nara reflects the cuisine of Thailand’s Muslim minority and its connections with nearby Malaysia, which yields some surprising menu selections alongside more familiar neighborhood Thai classics. The new cafe sits just off Broadway in Woodside under a bright blue awning, with plenty of sunny windows, tables aligned alongside them, and pleasantly spare walls hung with pictures of a modernistic mosque and Mecca. Malaysian roti canai is rendered chunkier and vegetable-heavy (available with beef or the usual chicken), the roster of soups includes a Thai soup flavored with galangal, makrut lime leaves, and sambal oelek, and some curries are served in big bowls over egg noodles or incorporate a peanut-thickened coconut sauce. For vegetarians there are mock duck or tofu options for curries, fried rices, and multiple stir-fries (notably cashew pineapple and garlic black pepper as well as the usual fresh basil and fresh ginger); most entrees run $8–$12, the food is halal, and overall it’s an excellent addition to the city’s roster of Thai regional restaurants." - Robert Sietsema