Pata Cafe

"We like to go to this cash-only spot for a more homestyle Thai meal in Elmhurst. Fittingly, it’s in a more residential area than the restaurants on the main drag, and if you go in the afternoon, you might see a few kids doodling at one of the restaurant’s three tables. Not only can you eat a pungent som tum Thai, or a tom yum here, but you can also buy lottery tickets. Order whichever of the appetizers, noodles, or curries you’re in the mood for, but definitely get a portion of the sweet ga prao kai dow with beef to go with your scratch-off." - will hartman, bryan kim, hannah albertine, neha talreja, willa moore

"Eating at Pata Cafe in Elmhurst reminds us of those scratch-and-sniff stickers we used to hoard in elementary school. That sounds weird, but hear us out. In addition to cooking homestyle Thai food, this cash-and-Venmo-only restaurant also sells lottery tickets—so while you mix a sunny-side-up egg into a plate of ga prao kai dow, releasing the pungent aromas of basil, fish sauce, and bird’s eye chili into the ground beef, you can also (potentially) scratch off a jackpot on the side. An offshoot of Thai cocktail bar Pata Paplean, Pata Cafe has just three tables, one of them apparently reserved for the doodling younger members of the owners’ family. It’s in a more residential area, south of Queens Blvd., than the cluster of destination Thai restaurants on Broadway, and it’s a good choice when you don’t want to have to choose between those places. The menu here is also streamlined for easy decision-making—mostly salads, comforting noodle dishes, red and green curries, and some grilled proteins—with a crunchy through-line of toasted rice powder. photo credit: Will Hartman" - Will Hartman

"Nitmai is already well known for her work at Pata Café in Elmhurst." - Robert Sietsema

"The nondescript Thai eatery in Elmhurst, Queens, received the distinction in the 2019 New York City guide. 'I cook real Thai food, Isan food, like another part of Thailand,' Susan says. 'We make the food like family-style like a mom make for you at home. We just try to make normal food to be the best.' Michelin inspectors note that 'there is a keen eye for textures, acidity and electric heat' in classic dishes like tom yum goong that dons a 'sinus-clearing spice.' The treehouse-cum-workshop interior of Pata Cafe, too, is a hit; Kanchanamusik, along with the help of some friends, helped decorate, making tables and light fixtures crafted from old soup cans to give off a cozy vibe." - Kathryn M. Sheldon

"Pata Café in Elmhurst, Queens also receives the Bib Gourmand accolade this year for its electric, zippy, sour, soulful, and, at times, blazing hot Thai fare." - Abbe Baker