NYCReview
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Bangklyn East Harlem
Included In
Before coming to Bangklyn East Harlem, we had personally never eaten coconut tamarind crab noodles next to a pile of vintage jumpsuits. And, now that we’ve done it, we insist anyone who spends time on the Upper East Side try it too.
This relaxed counter-service spot serves a wide range of Thai food, like Southern fried chicken, creamy coconut curries, and khao mun gai (steamed chicken). But our favorite is the tamarind coconut milk noodles with crab. It’s sweet and nutty, and comes with enough crab to be confused with the vermicelli noodles they’re mixed with.
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Perhaps more memorable than the food is the space. It’s part restaurant, part espresso bar, and part vintage clothing store. The owner spent most of his career in the streetwear fashion world, and started his own vintage fair in Bangkok. What this means is that dinner here happens next to shelves of vintage clothes from the owner’s collection, including things like a child’s shirt that says “You can do it, Charlie Brown” and Tommy Hilfiger jeans repurposed with buttons from the year 1900.
There’s very little signage to indicate what exactly is going on here, but ask the owner and it’s possible he’ll start telling you about it like you’re watching a live documentary on his life. Including a story about how Alexander Wang has been to the restaurant and loves the food. We never thought we’d have anything concretely in common with Alexander Wang, but now we do. Come here for dinner and you can too.