Mommy Pai’s
Takeout Restaurant · Nolita ·
Fried & grilled chicken fingers, tropical fruit drinks, & sauces
Fried & grilled chicken fingers, tropical fruit drinks, & sauces
"Counted among NY’s finest, it will offer sampling stations with delicious bites and drinks at Eater Under Wraps." - Eater Staff
"Among the city’s buzziest outposts, this vendor pops up at the market with Thai delights offered as fun little treats throughout the weekend." - Eater Staff
"From the same owners as Thai Diner and Uncle Boons, this Thai chicken finger joint is not your average fast-food tender spot, serving halal, gluten- and dairy-free fingers punched up with lemongrass, garlic, soy, white pepper, and coconut, plus nine sauces, including Thai hot honey with orange and makrut lime and the Phuket Island with galangal and green peppercorn. What makes it so good is its specificity, and the slate of tropical frozen drinks only sweetens the deal. Order grilled or fried chicken fingers—though, let’s be honest, you’re here for something fried—and get the combination plate: four in the seasoning of your choice with spicy bamboo slaw, one sauce, and a tropical drink for $15. The citrusy lemongrass is the best, with coconut a close second. The crispy tofu sandwich is a vegetarian stunner, piled with pickled mustard greens and slathered with nam prik num, an ultra-savory green chile condiment. Make it a side party with the Hat Yai vegetable plate (cauliflower, mushroom, snake beans, purple sweet potato, and baby bok choy, plus spicy bamboo slaw), and add coconut-scallion “mommy cakes” and french fries just because. With a window ordering system and a small outdoor dining parklet, it feels like a roadside Thai food stand planted in the middle of Manhattan. You haven’t really done it until you’ve tried all the seasonings and sauces—it might take more than one visit, or one if you bring enough people." - Nicole Fellah
"I think this new chicken spot from the Thai Diner team may be turning out the city’s best new tofu sandwiches, but the Mommy Royale with crispy tofu ($10) is the one that won me over. Playing on a fast-food classic, the sandwich layers a vibrant orange Mommy Sauce, a melty slice of cheese, and pickled mustard greens that add an essential tart, slightly bitter jolt. The ratio of fillings is perfect — juicy yet crispy tofu, gooey cheese and sauce, and slightly crunchy mustard greens and onions — and, paired with fries with a turmeric-laced toum-style sauce and a not-too-sweet Thai iced tea, it was a meal I started to miss while I was still eating it." - Stephanie Wu
"Launched by the Thai Diner team in New York, Mommy Pai’s is a buzzy chicken-finger counter that stays accessible while experimenting with flavors: the chicken fingers are seasoned with lemongrass, coconut, or a garlic-soy-fish-sauce-coriander mix, available grilled or fried, and served with sauces like Makrut lime hot honey and a passionfruit-and-pink-peppercorn sweet-and-sour. Most menu items are gluten-free, chef and co-owner Ann Redding calls the concept very accessible (inspired by Gray’s Papaya), and sales patterns skew toward grilled fingers on weekdays and fried ones on weekends." - Bettina Makalintal