NYCReview
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Saranrom Thai
Included In
A tiny aerodynamic miracle occurs when the kitchen and front doors at Saranrom Thai open at the same time. The smell of fish sauce caramelizing and frying chilis rushes through the railroad-sized Elmhurst restaurant and straight into your nose. It’s the sort of highly seasoned air that keeps neighborhood regulars coming back (and therefore the door open) and primes your brain for one of the best Thai meals in New York.
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Saranrom’s cooking pulls from regional traditions all over Thailand, and stands out for being notably herb-packed rather than spicy. Their kee mao thai has enough clean Thai basil flavor to work as a substitute for Vicks Vaporub, as well as some of the longest, chewiest rice noodles we've met. Even if the food generally doesn’t reach the heat levels of some of our other favorite Thai spots in the neighborhood (Hug Esan or Zaab Zaab), there's plenty about the menu to remember—especially the yum pla duk fu, a mango salad with catfish that’s fried, then shredded, and sops up the juicy salad.
The restaurant has no flash or glamor, and it doesn't need any. Once you're seated, someone who works there will smile and ask if you want your meal coursed out, or if you’d like another $10 sweet and floral sake cocktail. And you do, probably. Because you're going to want to stay in that vortex of fish sauce air for as long as it's socially acceptable.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Hoy Tod
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Yum Pla Duk Fu
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Kang Kua Sator
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Kee Mao Thai
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Crispy Pork With Basil
photo credit: Alex Staniloff