Sripraphai Thai Restaurant (Woodside, Queens)
A few weeks ago, I made a return trip to the once discreet and hard to find Sripraphai Thai restaurant in Woodside, Queens (pronounced see-pah-fie as noted all over their menus). Everytime I visit, Sripraphai is slowly turning from what used to be a humble Mom and Pop to yet another one of the City's many flashy Thai hot-spots. Their explosive publicity in the last couple of years (Bruni 2-starred them back in November 2004) have afforded them some major changes since my first visit including a new neon sign, huge plasma screens all over the walls inside, and an ever-expanding dining room with outdoor seating area.
The food seems to have been dulled-down by default to fit the less tolerant American palate in recent months, but can still be prepared "Thai"-spiced if you specifically ask for it - and you better be sure you know what you're asking for because they're unapologetic in their definition of "spicy."
Service is always generally spotty and got slightly worse since the expansion, taking one too many times of asking to get water and extra bowls, but sadly, that just comes with the territory of Asian restaurants like this.
Regardless, Sripraphai is still undeniably one of the best Thai restaurants, and my favorite, in the entire city. The soups (my favorite is the Tom Yum), Drunken Noodles, and Whole Fried Snapper are particularly tasty while their curries are generally the weakest items on the menu.
Sripraphai Thai Restaurant
64-13 39th Ave. (aka Roosevelt Ave)
Between 64th and 65th Sts.
Queens, NY
Phone: (718) 899-9599
Take the LIRR or 7 Train to Woodside, about a 20-30 minute ride from Manhattan
Closed on Wednesdays, Cash Only, No Reservations
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I have been wanting to try Sripraphai for years and keep putting it off. I'm sorry to hear it has lost some of its former mom-and-pop ambiance, but happy to hear the food is still good.
Your pics look fantastic for restaurant picture. Usually mine are so dark and blurry. What kind of camera did you use?
Posted by: Anne | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 10:18 AM
Am jealous!
I went to a thai restaurant in my rural area recently (just cuz I have been so amazingly bored out of my mind with the local crap) and I was gobstoppered by just how profoundly crappy their food was.
You could have whacked me with a 2 by 4 and I would have felt better about that then wasting my time with this restaurant.
Literally NOTHING had any heat at all.. no spice, period.
Imagine Thai food with no heat. Yeah, its a very sad thing.
Posted by: nika | Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 04:50 PM