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.
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 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.
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.
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. 😉
The menu prices were very cheap, when you compare them to Manhattan!
They also had a big vegetarian menu. And were willing to substitute the meats for tofu in other dishes.
I ordered…
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
- United Airlines – United Airlines miles are easy to earn. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, or Ink Plus or Ink Bold (both no longer available), you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer partners like United Airlines. Check out my post on how to use United Airlines miles.
- Southwest – Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest, too! Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend can fly with you for (almost) free!
- British Airways – If you’re a short flight away from New York, you can save miles by using British Airways Avios points to book an award flight on American Airlines. You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, and Starwood points to British Airways.
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 Park, Rockefeller 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! 🙂