Authentic Thai w/ bold, spicy flavors. Faves: crispy rice salad, curries, pork. Quick, cheerful service.
This Jackson Heights gem offers an authentic Thai dining experience, consistently praised by patrons for its bold flavors and spicy dishes. Customers rave about their well-executed curries, flavorful pork, and especially the crispy rice salad, often calling it a must-try. While the ambiance is simple, the quick and cheerful service adds to the overall positive dining experience, making it a top contender for Thai food in the city.
Playground is celebrated for its authentic and often spicy Thai cuisine. Standout dishes frequently mentioned include the crispy rice salad (nam khao tod), various curries, and flavorful pork preparations. Customers appreciate the balanced heat and intense flavors, with recommendations to order medium for good flavor or hot for extra spice.
"The crispy rice salad (nam khao tod) is a standout dish, considered a 'death row dish' by one commenter. Other praised items include various curries and flavorful pork dishes, with a recommendation to adjust spice levels to preference."
Customers consistently praise the restaurant for its authentic and bold Thai flavors, with many highlighting specific dishes like the crispy rice salad and curries. The service is often described as quick and cheerful, contributing to a positive overall experience.
Important Note
The restaurant is cash only. While the food is highly praised, the ambiance is described as unremarkable.
"The commenter reiterates their strong recommendation for Playground, emphasizing its exceptional Thai cuisine. They mention it's a place they miss from living in NYC."
Positive"The commenter recommends Thai food, specifically mentioning Playground as a favorite for its exceptional Thai cuisine. They advise getting dishes medium at Playground for good flavor, or hot for a spicier experience."
Positive"The commenter believes Playground is the best Thai restaurant in the city and recommends it to an adventurous eater."
Positive"This commenter visited Playground Thai before a Mets game in Queens, drawn by the OP's photos. They specifically enjoyed the curried rice/preserved pork salad and plan to return to try more dishes."
Positive"Replying to a recommendation, this user confirmed that Khao Nom is also on their list, along with Khao Kang. They humorously referenced the 'vampire' comment and mentioned that Khao Nom also has chicken inside its walls."
Neutral"In response to a user planning a visit, this commenter recommended visiting Khao Nom nearby for Thai desserts and exploring the neighborhood, playfully mentioning the possibility of finding vampires."
Neutral"The commenter identified the first dish as 'nam khao tod' and considers it their favorite dish, having first tried it at Playground Thai, though they now slightly prefer Hug Esan's version. They highlighted crispy pork as a great protein option and praised the intensity of their papaya salad with pla ra, as well as their crispy pork jerky."
Positive"This user expressed strong approval of Playground Thai, stating that the place 'rules' and serves 'proper Thai spicy' food."
Positive"This user is planning a visit to NYC and has Playground Thai on their list, expressing increased anticipation after seeing the post."
Positive"The commenter expressed strong affection for Playground Thai, rating it as top-tier Thai cuisine. They also mentioned Sripraphai, Khao Nom, and Saranrom as other highly regarded Thai restaurants."
Positive"This user was very impressed by the photos of the food, stating it looked incredibly delicious and made their mouth water."
Positive"This commenter expressed positive feedback on the restaurant, stating it's a great place with good orders and thanked the OP for sharing."
Positive"The author revisited Playground Thai after a few years and found the food to be consistently good. They enjoyed a spicy salad with curried rice, green curry with seafood, and a flavorful pork dish, noting the dishes were spicy but balanced. Service was quick and cheerful, though the ambiance was unremarkable. The total cost for two with three dishes and water was $70, and the restaurant remains cash only."
Positive"Playground is listed as a recommended restaurant in Jackson Heights."
Positive"This user added Playground to their list of places to try, noting it as a Thai restaurant."
Positive"Playground in Jackson Heights is mentioned as a place the commenter likes."
Neutral"This restaurant is recommended as a good spot for Thai food in Jackson Heights."
Positive"The user had an especially good Thai meal at Playground a few weeks ago, indicating a highly positive experience."
Positive"The author lists Playground in Jackson Heights as one of their top choices for Thai food in Queens."
Positive"Recommends Playground for Thai food."
Positive
