“Second time here (first time was way back in 2018) and food is still really good.”
H3
9.7/10Thai
AI-generated summary
Get the nam khao tod, listed on the menu as a curried rice croquette. Several people call it a death row dish. Also get anything with moo grob, their . The spice is real here and regulars say their hot is genuinely hard to eat, so medium is the safe ask.
“Second time here (first time was way back in 2018) and food is still really good.”
H3
“Of the various Isaan style places, it's my top. I think it goes a bit harder on the heat and funk than Hug Esan does, and I like the broader menu vs Zaab Zaab's fairly compact one. They do a great moo grob, and the 'curried rice croquetes with preserved sausages' is one of my "I could eat this every day for the rest of my life".”
H3
“my death row dish of Naem Kow Tod (salad of deep fried rice that goes super big on every flavor, my place for it is Hug Esan or Playground in Elmhurst).”
H3
“Playground is a good place for: * Curried Rice Croquets w/ preserved meat (aka nam khao tod, my death row dish) * Fried pork jerky, served w/ hotsaice, perfect "good w/ beer" food along w/ some sticky rice. * Anything with their crispy pork belly (moo grob), I generally just get pad kra pao.”
H3
“I believe *Playground* is the finest and most authentic Thai restaurant anywhere.”
H3
“Go to Queens, specifically Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside for authentic Thai food! - Playground”
H2
“Really good smoothies and a newer fave I tried is their crab meat and roasted pork noodles.”
H2
“They'll blow you out of the water w/ spice if you ask (or you can stick to medium), and they're a bar. Also a wonderful neighborhood to walk around and eat in.”
H2
“Playground (pad kee mao)”
H2
“Kua Kling and anything w/ moo grob from Playground”
H2
“I'll be surprised if any place out does playground (when you tell them you want it hot they go "no you don't", and they're right).”
H2
“Nam Khao Tod ('curried rice croquets') is one of my death row dishes.”
H2