Restaurants

SriPraPhai

Ah yes, the part you’ve all been waiting for and the main reason most people come to Woodside: restaurants. It was hard to narrow down the eateries, but here’s one you should definitely visit.

Rated the number one Thai spot in NYC by Zagat from 2006 – 2007, and in top 30 in New York City in Zagat food category, it’s no surprise that SriPraPhai is a must-visit place in Woodside. It is known for Thai cuisine both bold and authentic, along with its idyllic garden where you can sit outside if the weather is nice.
The story behind the restaurant, which has another location in Williston Park, New York, is just as incredible as its food.

Founder Sripraphai Tipmanee first came to New York 33 years ago as a nurse, according to their website. However, she soon “desired to be her own boss,” starting an electrical appliance store, but was eventually forced to sell it. Recognizing the area’s large Thai population, Tipmanee started a bakery and Thai dessert center, which gradually became a restaurant as she realized that it would be more successful as one. She moved her business to its current location, expanding and adding a garden that makes it so sought-after.

The menu includes has an overwhelmingly large and diverse array of options that is sure to satisfy anyone’s taste buds, from more familiar dishes like spicy BBQ, fried sausage, Pad Thai, and literally dozens of noodle soups, to more unconventional options like Northern Style Curry Noodles and Crispy Ground Catfish.

It’s hard not to get overwhelmed by their menu—there are literally 45 appetizers, 23 noodle items, and 42 a la carte items. So come prepared, with people, or ask the waiters what their specialties are if you need help deciding. (Thankfully, their dessert menu is a lot smaller, though still equally delicious). Aside from their mouthwatering menu, their quaint courtyard alone is reason enough to come here!

If you plan to visit the Woodside location, bring cash, as it is cash-only.

Krystal’s Cafe and Pastry Shop

You simply can’t visit Woodside without trying out Filipino cuisine. Woodside, is. after all, home to the Filipino ethnic enclave “Little Manila.” The Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee may seem tempting with its big crowds always taking pictures with the chain’s iconic bee statue outside. But if you want more variety and food that is freshly prepared and authentic, go for Krystal’s Cafe and Pastry Shop. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed, especially if this is your introduction to Filipino cuisine.

Krystal’s is known for their low-cost, upstairs lunch buffet that offers many options, both savory and sweet. They also have a lively karaoke scene at night in their upstairs seating area.

Breakfast, dinner, or even just dessert are worth coming here for. They serve an array of must-have Filipino dishes, with a bakery for dessert afterwards, in addition to a dessert menu. Their famous dishes include kare-kare (oxtail with savory peanut butter sauce), lumpia (spring rolls with meat fillings), adobo chicken (seasoned chicken), Pancit Bihon (noodles with shrimp, chicken, and vegetables), and lechon kawali (broiled and deep fried pork belly).

Make sure you get dessert after; have a slice of ube (purple yam) cake, the mouthwatering sans rival (think layers of buttercream, meringue, and cashews), cassava cake (sticky cassava topped with coconut and condensed milk), or of course, the famous Halo-Halo, shaved ice with evaporated milk and packed with ingredients like red beans, jello, coconut, fruit, and topped with flan or ube ice cream (you’ll want to Instagram this one).

Here are other Filipino restaurants in Woodside that deserve special shoutouts: Tito Rad’s, Payag, House of Inasal, Ihawan, Papa’s Kitchen, and of course, Jollibee.