Daraius’ Adventures in Queens: Part 3 – Sri Pra Phai Restaurant

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I always have a great time when I visit New York.  And usually focus on Manhattan, like most tourists.  But this time, I decided to spend more time in Queens.

I’m glad I did because I got to enjoy my favorite pastime: eating! 🙂

Queens is full of amazing ethnic restaurants.  Like Sri Pra Phai in Woodside, which serves authentic and tasty Thai food.

Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
I Love Finding Neighborhood Gems. Especially Ones That Have Food!

Here’s my experience at Sri Pra Phai!

Exploring Queens Index:

Part 1 – Hyatt Herald Square Review

Part 2 – My Haircut at Moon Barber Shop in Jackson Heights

Part 3 – Sri Pra Phai Restaurant

Part 4 – Upi Jaya Restaurant

Part 5 – Trip to the US Open Tournament

My Experience at Sri Pra Phai

Link:   Sri Pra Phai Restaurant 

Link:   Chowhound

I found Sri Pra Phai on Chowhound, which is a community with forums, city guides, recipes, and lots of restaurant reviews.  It came highly recommended, so I decided to try it.

Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Cash Only = Good. Zagat = Bad. Luckily, This Place Ended up Being Tasty

I liked the sign in the door that read, “Cash Only Please,” because that’s usually a plus – especially for ethnic restaurants.  To me that signals tastier food.

There were also lots of Zagat signs too, which usually make me steer clear.  But I remembered the good reviews and went inside.

Also, the place was packed!  Which is another good omen.

Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Want Some Chicken Skin?

There were lots of prepared foods for sale on shelves and inside refrigerators.  Like desserts with taro and banana.  And chicken skin, in case you need a snack for later.  😉

Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Reasonable Prices for Popular Dishes

The menu prices were very cheap, when you compare them to Manhattan!

Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
I Appreciated the Veggie Menu

They also had a big vegetarian menu.  And were willing to substitute the meats for tofu in other dishes.

I ordered…

Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Fresh Papaya Salad
papaya salad…
Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Galanga Soup
a small galanga soup (galanga is zingy and similar to ginger, but definitely has its own flavor!)…
Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Green Curry With Sticky Rice
and vegetarian green curry with tofu and a side of sticky rice.  I also got a Thai milk tea to offset some of the spicy flavors.  Although I love spicy food – the spicier the better!
Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Even the Outdoor Patio Was Packed

My meal was flavorful and cheap.  I got a soup and salad, an entree with a side of rice, and a drink all for ~$30.  a bit steep, but it made for a big dinner (and lunch the next day)!

I could see why the restaurant was so popular.  Every table was taken, including the outside seating area, on a Monday night.

I’d definitely eat there again.  It makes me want to try every ethnic restaurant in Queens!

You Can Do It Too

Want to visit New York?  It’s easy to use your miles & points to do it on the cheap!  Here are a few ideas:

1.   Flights

2.   Hotels

New York is full of hotels you can book with points!  For example, there are ~30 Starwood hotels and 12 Hyatt hotels around New York City!  I also like Airbnb for larger groups, or for a more authentic feel.

One of my favorite hotels is the Andaz 5th Avenue.  The big plus of this hotel is its proximity to major attractions, like Central ParkRockefeller Center, and Times Square.  It costs 25,000 Hyatt points per night.  This is a great hotel to stay at if you want to use the 2 free nights that come with the Chase Hyatt card.  Or stay 4 nights with the sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Reserve!

Bottom Line

I had a great time at Sri Pra Phai restaurant in Woodside, Queens.  They have authentic, cheap Thai food – you can’t beat that!

I’m glad I got out of Manhattan to experience more of New York City.  I liked visiting another borough to see how the locals live.

And if you know any other tasty restaurants, feel free to share your tips!  🙂

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