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I came to have lunch at a locate eatery. This restaurant is a whole in the place. Located a few blocks from Queens blvd. This restaurant is a family owned. Food is delicious and tasty.
Went to Pata Cafe for lunch in Elmhurst, Queens, NY. Looking for authentic Thai? You'll find dishes here that are hard to find in the . NY Times and Michelin recommended for casual authentic Thai fare. Had Thai Lychee tea and Yum Woon Sen. Sweet and complex flavor for the tea. Spicy, tangy, earthy and herby flavors for the dish. Too full for dessert! Wife had the beef soup. Only seats 12 people max. Cash or Venmo only. Lots of free street parking on a Saturday. Can't wait to go back!
I may have to come back and try other dishes. The chicken with my rice tasted old. The grill chicken was really good. Service very good. Like I said, I have try other dish and give a better feel. Price for the food seem high. Cheers!
OH. MY. GOD. YOU GUYS. This place is the best Thai restraunt I've been in my life. (I've been to many Thai restaurants in the past). We were getting on our way out of the city and the traffic to I-495 was impossible. So we just pulled over and found the closest restraunt. We ended up stumbling on this tiny restraunt down the street. There's plenty of free street parking and it's pretty quiet around here. We walked in and it seemed like a cute, humble little place. There were 2 tables inside that sit 4 people each. There was one lady behind the counter. This lady did everything, she ran the whole place all by herself! She mentioned that her daughter helps out, but she wasn't working at the moment. She was so kind and it felt like home. We ordered the Tum Poo Plara, I ordered it cause I normally love papaya salad, and this seemed like a more elevated version than the usual. We also got the Basil Fried Rice, Kua Gai, lychee Thai ice tea, and coffee with cream and sugar. There's 1 small bathroom inside should you need to use one. It's pretty clean, but small. Despite the whole restaurant being run by 1 lady while fulfilling take out orders at the same time, it took her about 10 mins to prepare everything. It was pretty impressive. But our party of 3 were also the only ones in the whole restaurant. We also went later on in the day around 2pm. Everything smelled amazing and the noodles and rice were steamy hot! The lychee Thai ice tea was refreshing and very sweet and tasty. The Tum Poo Plara was very very flavorful, spicy with the perfect mix of umami from the fermented crab, sweetness from the tomatoes and the sauce, and sour from the lime and fish sauce. It was amazing. The Basil Fried Rice was pretty good too. It was delicious and not super oily or salty. But the star of the table was the Kua Gai. I've never heard of it before or tried it. There were these thick broad rice noodles stri-fried with thin strips of chicken with flavors of coconut, peanut, spice gave the dish such an amazing complex flavor that was so deep and mindblowing. I think this dish could have easily been $30 in a NYC restaurant. It was so good. It came with a small dish of siracha too to dip the noodle in which just made the noodles taste even better! After we were done eating the plates clean, she suggested we try the sticky rice mango dessert. So we thought it sounded good and we got it. She prepared it fresh with the streamy hot fresh sticky rice next to the perfectly riped mango. The dessert was actually my mom's favorite part. When I tried it, I cut a piece of the mango and ate it with a scoop of the rice. And oh man. I just melted into blissful heaven. I felt like I was melting into the dessert. The mango, sticky rice, and coconut milk just dissolves into your mouth with no unpleasant textures. The flavors and textures just work perfectly with each other. I think the mango was the softest, most sweet mango I've ever had in a restraunt before. Overall this place doesn't deserve 5 stars. This place deserves 10 stars. She prepared the food with such love, and detail. The presentation was beautiful and the food was to die for. This tiny place is a hidden gem. We tipped her very well and left very satisfied. If you haven't tried this place before, you need to sit down and experience this food. Trust me. You won't be disappointed.
Great Mom and Daughter Team! This isn't a Michelin restaurant, not a destination restaurant, not a place for a large group, not a place where you will receive white glove service, not located near anything else you'd want to goto,... I could go on and on, BUT PATA CAFE is a great neighborhood restaurant. The mom and daughter team behind the scenes are delightful and sooo endearing. Every time I'm here both make it a point to greet and say hello even if brief. They cater somewhat to the nearby local elementary school with a snacks such as fried wings, hot dogs, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches and grilled marshmallows. These snacks including the fried wings are very good. I can definitely see the younger crowd making Pata Cafe a hangout for something before dinner. But this isn't the main draw for me of course. The main draw for me is the awesome Steamed Chicken and Shrimp Dumplings. The perfect appetizer, 5 to an order, loosely packed and set, these dumplings are great. They also have some great grilled chicken over rice with a couple of options for sauces including plain. Often times, the Thai Chili is really good without much heat. The fried rice isn't fantastic as it really lacks the fire in the wok but it isn't the worse fried rice I've had. They have a few desserts and bubble teas to satisfy the those with a sweet tooth as well. So the restaurant itself is not very large, there are only seats for maybe 10-12 with a large majority of seating at one large table. This isn't a place for a large group and the kitchen output is not very high. The hours may also vary a bit because they are a small team so definitely give them a call before you go.
This café is a tiny space of about four tables with fun, quirky décor. There's a definite relaxed, casual vibe here. On the walls are lots of reclaimed wood, everyday Thai objects and twinkling lights. The tables aren't quite level but who cares! All this along with the very personable staff adds to the overall warmth of the place. The food is great; best of what Thai home cooking is like. It's amazing to me that all the yummy food comes out of this tiny kitchen behind the counter. During our visit here we ordered the Basil Fried Rice, Thai Chicken Wings, Beef Pad Thai and the Chicken Sate appetizers. The Pad Thai was lighter in color, less sweet and less oily than what I'm used to. Nevertheless, this was quite tasty. The Basil Fried Rice was another delicious dish. It was more on the mild side and had only a tiny bit of a kick. And the Chicken Sate was delicious!! I only wished I ordered two! It had a nice grilled meat aroma and was very tender. This was by far my favorite dish during this visit. The Thai chicken wings were okay. They were really just fried chicken wings with the sweet and sour dipping sauce. For drinks, we got a mango slush and a strawberry slush. Both were a little too sugary for me but was okay. For dessert, we got the mango sticky rice. This was a nice way to end the meal with. The mangoes were perfectly ripe, and I liked that they give you the full mango (minus the pit). At some restaurants I've been to, they only give you half of the mango. They paired this with purple sticky rice. The rice was soaked in coconut milk. And the color contrast with the very ripe mangoes was very pleasing to the eyes. I would definitely come back again to try more of their menu. Tip: Cash only but order through Yelp for pick up and pay with credit card.
When you are craving for some down home Thai cooking in a friendly neighborhood setting, check this place out! The seating is limited, but gives you the warm and fuzzies. Surprisingly varied selection of drinks, mains and starters, they even offer bubble tea. We ordered shrimp rolls, tom yum soup, green papaya salad, pad kee mao shrimp, grilled pork and green curry chicken. Satisfying portions, more than the average. Dee-licious. There's no other way to describe the satisfaction other than to come back and get some more!!
I found this place through Seated app. The place is very small, probably only 3-4 tables inside but it gives you the privacy feels lol. The staff is super friendly and the food tastes good with decent portion. They use paper boxes as food containers which I personally like because it helps with the environment. They don't have many choices but enough to fill your craving for Thai foods! Note: Cash only but accept Venmo and Zelle. However, make sure you confirm with the restaurant because that might change.
My actual review rating is 3.5 stars. This is a small cafe style restaurant that is family run. It is a newer place and is super clean. I am not sure how long it will be around, as it is in an out of the way location two blocks south of Queens Blvd. We ordered several different plates of pad thai and pad see ew, with different kinds of meat and tofu. We also had some of their shao mai and Thai iced tea. The food itself tasted great. With it being a small, family run spot, the food is cooked with good flavor and seasoning. However, the portion sizes were very small. I have had Thai food in this part of Queens that is just as good for the same price - with a portion that is 50% larger than here. It was very noticeable as soon as they brought the plates out. In fact, the "chicken" pad thai had very little chicken and had a huge amount of egg in it - to make up for the lack of meat?
Really cute little Thai spot in Elmhurst. :) there's a good amount of appetizers, entrees, salads, sides and flavored drinks to choose from. The portions are adequate at a very decent price. The service is also good -- it's run by these two sweet women who are attentive and friendly the minute you step into the cafe. There isn't a ton of seating, maybe 2-3 groups at once and spread apart. Overall, I'd say this is a good place to meet up for a chat over lunch/dinner. Nothing super outstanding nor unbearable.
I live in the area so I've been here so many times. The quality and taste is very consistent. Authentic thai food, affordable price and very friendly staff. I always get the Thai tea. Pata Cafe always delivers, never disappoints! I uploaded their most updated menu as of August 2023
Cute mom & pop restaurant. They have 2 NY Times recommended dishes, which is pretty neat! The dining area is small so it's definitely not made for large group gatherings, but is suitable for groups of up to 4 people. I got the Shrimp Tom Yum, which was mildly spicy and reminded me of a Singaporean laksa. I'd recommend this if you like coconut milk based broth. Papaya salad was super spicy, even though we requested mild, but it tasted fantastic! We also had it modified due to my friend's allergies to shellfish (used soy sauce instead of fish sauce). Even with the modification, it tasted pretty similar to a regular papaya salad. Lychee thai tea was refreshing and not too sweet, which I liked. Other things to note: - They serve snacks in the range of $1-$3 (french fries, hot dogs, etc.) in the afternoon to cater to the after school crowd (kids, students, etc.). -There's a small unisex bathroom to the left of the counter. - Drink selection is limited on the actual menu, but if you go up to the counter, they have a bigger selection of drinks that you can order from. Hope to return to this place soon to try out the recommended dishes!
By far one of the best Thai food restaurants I've been to. I think what makes this place special is that grandma is throwing down in the kitchen. Her and her grand daughter are like dynamic duo's. I love the rolled up shrimp rolls and the basil shrimp friend rice. I had the pad swee ou (probably spelling this wrong lol) and that's also a favorite. The hospitality is amazing and food is great. They do take out as well as sit in however this is a small and cozy spot so if you plan on sitting in make sure to call and ask if they are not packed. Your temp is taken when you come in which is appreciated. All and all I am hooked and definitely will be back for a 3rd time.
4 years ago
7 years ago
My 2nd time here... on my first visit, I asked the chef if she could customize some dishes that's not on the menu; she was more than delighted. Her cooking is definitely close to Lao style which is something I often crave for. The menu items is definitely delicious and perfectly seasoned Not too salty like most Thai restaurants do with their food and definitely not bland Chicken Sate, Num Tok Beef, Pad Se-ew, Pad Thai, shrimp fried rice, grilled marinated with beef, Pata Grilled Chicken, Sticky Rice, Fried Chicken Wing & papaya salad did not disappoint. I called in advanced for certain dishes and now that I've tried their on and off the menu dishes; I know what I want and how many dishes to order when I return with my family and friends. ;) Great cozy atmosphere for dinner ...the chef along with her beautiful daughters are very hospitable and accommodating. I do recommend to rsvp if you're coming in with a large party, so glad I did. Thank you for the delicious dinner- my family and I will be back for some more wholesome delicious Thai issan meal. read more
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Unfortunately, Yelp lost my review from a few months ago, so I'll write this again. Pata Cafe is that important to me. Summary: Cozy little cafe that serves delicious Thai and Asian specialties in a quiet neighborhood. High quality eats at a cut-rate price, with fast wireless and plenty of seating. Review: Elmhurst finally has a good cafe/workspace. And I don't mean one of those hipster dives that sells six dollar artisanal coffees and stale, rock-hard $8 bagels and muffins. No, Pata Cafe is a different sort of place, peddling deliciously authentic Thai drinks and food. Both the lemon tea and milk tea are highly recommended, infused as they are with the rich flavor of cardamom, clove, aniseed, and cinnamon common to Thai-style teas. I prefer those two drinks over some of the more sugary options, but truth be told, they're all quite good for a refreshing blast on a hot day. Speaking of hot, they have AC now, which was not the case for some of hottest days of the summer months. Their food is also worth trying. I've had some of their Thai food, but my favorite was the spicy-sour chicken over sticky rice, (I believe the name is kao kai zap). This was $7, and most of their dishes are under $10. Lastly, I lied about the quiet part. There is a school up the street, and in the mid-afternoon, when students flee en masse, you'll be swarmed by hordes of kids jostling for bubble tea and food. But who cares? WIth food and drink this good and cheap, I'd put up with almost anything. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
Finally got to try this place recently and it was amazing! Cute little spot with very authentic, home style Thai food. My new favorite Thai spot in Elmhurst! Can't wait to go back again :) read more
7 years ago
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8 years ago
The most authentic Thai food experience in NYC. Don't allow the exterior discourage you from walking inside, because once you step into the doors, you will discover that this is a hidden gem. This mother and daughter team is always welcoming! While the inside is small, the flavors of every dish served packs a punch! My boyfriend and I ordered the chicken pad prik, shrimp tom yum noodle soup, sticky rice and mango, a Thai ice tea and ice Thai coffee. The chef created a delicious harmony of salty from the fish sauce, spicy from the peppers and a hint of sweetness. None of the flavors overpowered one another and the dish was not oily at all! The drinks also had a good balance of sugar and cream to the tea and coffee base. This place is truly amazing...will definitely be coming back!! read more
8 years ago
This has become my go-to place for some great Pad Thai and Thai Iced Tea since I discovered it on yelp a couple of months back lol I don't know what it is about a lot of Asian cuisine places in NY, but most places don't bother making noodle dishes soft; I guess the assumption is that most people like their noodles chewy? I'm one of the (few) people who really don't like their noodles chewy and this place has the softest pad thai noodles I've ever had. It's really good and the portions are just right for making you satisfied but not so full that you're uncomfortable. Also, the pad thai is not overwhelmingly oily or salty like a lot of other places are and you have no idea how much I appreciate that. They also have the best thai iced tea here. Most Thai places make it so sweet that it's almost unpleasant drinking it unless you're eating a very savory dish. That isn't the case here. Interestingly enough, it was actually a little on the bitter side the first time I had it but I think they've perfected the proportions so well that now it's not even bitter; rather it is the perfect balance of tea plus a little bit of sweetness. If you could splurge a little, always have a cup with your order of pad thai, you won't regret it. The only other thing I'd mention is that if you want to come here and stay to eat, avoid going after 2:30 or so, because that's when the kids from the nearby PS/IS102 get out of school. When a crowd of rowdy kids come crashing in, it ruins the nice calm atmosphere of the restaurant. read more
5 years ago
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Another great anthentic Thai food in Queen. The food is super delish as you taste it in Thailand . I had the basil and was surpise that they used the real Thai basil which is really expensive in US. If i live near by,I would come here quite often. Oh, they have a bubble tea too. read more
8 years ago
Just moved nearby and heard about this place through random google searches. Finally tried it last night and wasn't disappointed. We dined in and the place was so cute. The Thai iced teas were delicious. We had the pad Thai and the pad see ew and both were great. The spring rolls were also very good. I accidentally dropped one on the floor and was very upset because they were delicious! The two ladies working were very pleasant and sweet. Will definitely keep coming back. read more
8 years ago
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9 years ago
8 years ago
Very quaint cafe off the beaten path that is queens boulevard. They specialize in delicious various flavors of Thai coffees and teas but also serve very tasty traditional plate meals. The place is well decorated and very inviting. Came in here with the wife for lunch on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. We will be visiting again. read more
6 years ago
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I like how they manage to run pata cafe: just mom and daughter. It makes me dream of the one day when my parents is here with me and there is something they love to do more than spending their old age watching TV and feeling nostalgic. Back to the main point, the mom cooks most of the food (my several observations) so I feel like I really got to eat authentic Thai homemade food. My husband and I ordered a basil fried rice, a tom yum goong soup and a fried chicken wings. Even the rice may not be good up to a restaurant standard but I still like the feeling of having good home food. Tom Yom Goong soup was really tasty. Chicken was not bad. I haven't tried all of their food yet but I am sure will add patacafe to my food list. read more
9 years ago
Update Review: Came here to get something small to eat after shopping. I got the Pata Grilled Chicken (Signature Meals) with red chili curry and thai iced tea, and it was fulling and good. read more
9 years ago
10 years ago
Such a great addition to the neighborhood! Amazing, affordable homemade Thai food - pad thai, papaya salad, tom yum, Thai iced coffee/tea - as well as American dishes like fries, hot dogs, and chicken wings all prepared by the nicest staff. Also bubble tea, regular coffee, and breakfast items like muffins. Very cute decor and free wifi! read more
11 years ago
Love their bubble tea! Very nice atmosphere! And very welcoming and warm staff! This might be my new go to study place!! read more
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More info about Pata Cafe
5614 Van Horn St
Elmhurst, NY 11373
Elmhurst
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(347) 469-7142
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