Thai for thought: Authentic Thai Cuisine in New York's East Village

Thai for thought Introduce

In a city overflowing with dining options, finding a restaurant that combines authentic flavors, great value, and a genuinely warm atmosphere can feel like a rare find. Thai for thought, nestled in the vibrant East Village, is exactly that kind of place. This cozy and unassuming Thai restaurant has quickly become a local favorite for its delicious and fragrant food, as well as the exceptional hospitality that makes every visitor feel like family. As one customer beautifully put it, they were "immediately greeted by the friendliest employee" who "exuded the best energy." This personal touch, a rarity in a fast-paced city like New York, is a core part of the Thai for thought experience. It’s a place where you can not only get a fantastic meal but also feel cared for, whether you're dining in or just picking up an order.

The culinary offerings at Thai for thought are a testament to traditional Thai cuisine, with a menu that is both extensive and approachable. From classic appetizers like "Spring Roll" and "Crab Rangoon" to a variety of "Fried Rice," "Noodle," and "Curry" dishes, there's something to satisfy every craving. Customers rave about the "Pad See Ew" for being "so fragrant, chewy, and delicious," and the "Drunken Man Noodle" for its great flavor. The portions are consistently praised as being "very big" and "great for the price," making it a go-to spot for a satisfying and affordable meal. The restaurant also offers a tempting selection of vegetarian options, healthy choices, and small plates, ensuring that all dietary needs are met. Beyond the food, the "Thai Iced Tea" and "Mango With Sticky Rice" are customer favorites, providing the perfect refreshing and sweet counterpoints to the savory main courses.

Thai for thought is located at 32 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003, in the heart of the East Village. This puts it in a prime location for both local residents and visitors exploring the area. The neighborhood is incredibly well-connected by public transportation, with easy access to multiple subway lines and bus routes, making it a convenient destination from anywhere in the city. Its address on E 7th Street places it among a diverse array of shops, bars, and other eateries, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the area. For those who drive, paid street parking is available, though as is common in Manhattan, it's wise to plan for some time to find a spot. For patrons with dogs, the restaurant is dog-friendly and even allows dogs inside, a feature that adds to its welcoming and neighborhood-centric vibe.

The accessibility of Thai for thought extends to its service options, which include dine-in, takeout, and delivery. This flexibility ensures that you can enjoy their delicious food no matter your schedule. The overall cozy and casual atmosphere of the restaurant makes it a comfortable spot for a solo meal or a relaxed dinner with friends and family. It’s a place that is genuinely good for kids, making it a viable option for family outings as well.

Services Offered:

Dine-in: Enjoy your meal in the cozy and casual atmosphere of the restaurant.
Takeout: Grab your order to go for a quick and convenient meal.
Delivery: Have delicious Thai food delivered directly to your home.

Features / Highlights:

Delicious & Authentic Food: The restaurant is known for its flavorful and authentic Thai dishes, consistently praised by customers.
Generous Portions & Great Value: Patrons frequently highlight the large portion sizes and reasonable prices, especially for the lunch specials.
Friendly & Welcoming Staff: The service is a major highlight, with staff praised for their kindness and warmth.
Vegetarian & Healthy Options: The menu offers a variety of choices for those with specific dietary needs.
Dog-Friendly: The restaurant allows dogs both inside and outside, a unique and welcoming amenity.
Cozy & Casual Atmosphere: The environment is relaxed and comfortable, perfect for a no-fuss meal.

Contact Information:

Address: 32 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003, USA

Phone: (212) 673-4610

What is worth choosing:

Thai for thought is an exceptional choice for anyone in New York looking for a fantastic Thai meal that feels like a home-cooked experience. The food is the star of the show, with popular dishes like "Pad See Ew" and "Crispy Chicken With Thai Fried Rice" receiving high praise for their flavor and portion size. The "Lunch Special" is particularly worth choosing, offering a fantastic value that is hard to beat in the city. For just around $12.50, you can get a full and delicious meal, a significant draw for anyone on a budget or looking for a quick and satisfying midday bite.

Beyond the food, the genuine warmth of the staff is a major reason to visit. Reviews repeatedly mention how friendly and kind the employees are, with one customer feeling "treated like a grandson." This level of personal connection transforms a simple meal into a memorable experience. The restaurant's cozy and casual setting, along with its ability to accommodate dogs, makes it a truly welcoming space for everyone. The combination of authentic, high-quality food, great prices, and a wonderfully friendly atmosphere makes Thai for thought a must-visit destination in the East Village. It's not just about what you eat; it's about the feeling you get, and at Thai for thought, you get the feeling of being right at home.

Thai for thought Menu

Dessert
Fried Vanilla Ice Cream $7.00
Golden-fried vanilla ice cream ball with a chocolate drizzle.

Appetizers
Fried Tofu $10.00
Crispy tofu served with sweet chili sauce and crushed peanuts.
Handmade Steamed Dumpling (4 Pieces) $10.00
Delicate, translucent wrappers encase minced chicken and mushroom filling. Served with tangy dipping sauce.
Crab Rangoon (6 Pieces) $11.00
Crab meat and cream cheese in crispy wonton with spicy and sweet chili sauce.
Spring Roll (3 Pieces) $10.00
Filled with vegetables, herbs, glass noodles, and taro. Served with a dipping sauce.
Edamame $7.00
Green soybeans sprinkled with salt.
Chicken Puff (3 Pieces) $11.00
Puff pastry filled with curried chicken and potatoes, served with dipping sauce, accompanied by shredded cucumber and carrots.

Fried Rice
Tom Yum Fried Rice $20.50
Rice with egg, onion, basil, scallion, chili paste, and your choice of chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, or beef.
Crispy Chicken With Thai Fried Rice $20.50
Fried rice with egg, onion, scallion, top with crispy chicken
Green Curry Fried Rice $20.50
Jasmine rice with green curry paste, lemongrass, bell pepper, and basil. Options: chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, beef.
SPICY BASIL FRIED RICE $20.50
Pineapple Fried Rice $20.50
Rice with egg, onion, cashew, pineapple, scallion, and your choice of chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, or beef.
Thai Fried Rice $20.50
Rice with egg, onion, scallion, tomato, Chinese broccoli and choice of chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, or beef.

Soup
Tom Yum Shrimp $10.00
Spicy and sour soup with shrimp, lemongrass, mushrooms, tomatoes, and scallions.
Tom Kha Chicken $9.00
Creamy coconut milk with lemongrass, galangal, mushrooms, and onions.
Chicken Soup $9.00
Wonton Soup $9.00
Chicken wontons in broth with bok choy and scallions.

Sautéed
Crispy Pork Belly With Chinese Broccoli $19.00
Succulent pork belly paired with tender Chinese broccoli in savory oyster sauce, served with fragrant jasmine rice.
Mixed Vegetable $19.00
Assorted vegetables with choice of chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, or beef.
PLA PAD CHA $21.00
Crispy fish fillets with Thai herbs, garlic, onion, bell peppers, young peppercorn, and jasmine rice.
Praram Long Song $17.50
Tender chicken sautéed with creamy peanut sauce, garnished with crushed peanuts and red bell pepper strips, with steamed broccoli and jasmine rice.
CHOO CHEE SALMON $19.95
A tender salmon fillet topped with rich, creamy Thai choo chee curry sauce, served with stream vegetable and jasmine rice.
Gai Sub Grapow & Fried Egg $17.50
Minced chicken with chili and Thai basil over rice, crowned with a fried egg.
Chicken Cashew Nut $19.00
Tender chicken with pineapple, onion, scallion, bell pepper, carrot, and cashew nut in a savory sauce.
Chicken Garlic & Fried Egg $17.50
Garlic-infused chicken, broccoli, and Napa cabbage over rice, crowned with a fried egg.
Crispy Pork Belly In Basil Sauce & Fried Egg $19.00
Golden brown crispy pork belly with basil leaves, garlic, chili, and peppers, served over white rice, topped with a fried egg.

Sautéed
Pla Pad Cha $20.00
Stir-fry crispy fish fillets with aromatic thai herbs, garlic, onion, bell peppers, and young peppercorn, served with jasmine rice.
Grapow Moo Krob+Fried Egg $19.00
Gai Sub Grapow & Fried Egg $17.50
Spicy. Minced chicken stir-fried with chili, Thai basil served over rice topped with fried egg.
Mixed Vegetable $19.00
Mixed vegetables stir-fry with choice of meat. *Choice of chicken, tofu, vegetable ** choice of shrimp, beef for an additional charge.
Kana Moo Krob $19.00
Chicken Cashew Nut $19.00
Fried chicken with pineapple, onion scallion, bell pepper, carrot and cashew nut with chili paste.
Chicken Garlic & Fried Egg $17.50
Chicken stir-fried with garlic, broccoli and Napa cabbage served over rice topped with fried egg.

Noodle
Pad See-Ew $20.00
Flat noodles with egg, soy sauce, and broccoli. Options: chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, beef.
Pad Thai $20.00
Rice noodles with egg, beansprout, scallion, and peanut. Options: chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, or beef.
Drunken Man Noodle $20.00
Spicy flat noodles with egg, onion, Thai basil, and bell pepper. Options: chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, beef.

Dessert
Mango With Sticky Rice $10.00
Sweet, juicy mango slices cozy up with creamy, glutinous sticky rice. A delightful dance of tropical flavors in every bite!
Fried Vanilla Ice Cream $7.00
Golden-fried vanilla ice cream ball with a chocolate drizzle.

Beverages
Coconut Juice $5.00
Coke $2.00
The cold, refreshing, sparkling classic that America loves.
Ginger Ale $2.00
Thai Ice Tea $6.00
Thai Ice Coffee $6.00
Diet Coke $2.00
A crisp, refreshing taste you know and love with zero calories.
Thai Bubble Ice Tea $7.00
Bottled Water $2.00
Seltzer $2.00
Thai Bubble Ice Coffee $6.00
Palm Juice $5.00
Red Bull $3.50

Curry
Panang Curry Over Rice $17.50
Panang curry over rice is a delectable dish that combines tender meat or tofu with a fragrant curry sauce, served atop a bed of steaming rice. infused with lemongrass , galangal and turmeric, and coconut milk.
Green Curry $19.50
Spicy. Green curry with bamboo shoot and eggplant in coconut milk.
Massaman Curry $19.50
Massaman curry with onion, potato and peanut in coconut milk.

Appetizers
Fried Tofu $10.00
Crispy fried tofu with sweet chili sauce and crushed peanut.
Edamame $7.00
Steamed with salt.
Handmade Steamed Dumpling (4 Pieces) $10.00
Steamed dumplings with minced chicken and mushroom.
Chicken Puff (3 Pieces) $11.00
Savory puff pastry filled with curried chicken and potatoes.
Thai For Thought Wings(6 Pcs) $11.00
Fried chicken wing with Thai for thought sauce.
Crab Rangoon (6 Pieces) $11.00
Crab meat, cream cheese in crispy wonton with spicy & sweet chili sauce.
Spring Roll (3 Pieces) $9.00
Deep-fried egg roll skin with mixed vegetable, glass noodles and taro.

Salad
Thai Salad $11.00
Mixed greens, lettuce, shredded carrot, cucumber, onion, tomato, and fried tofu. Choice of peanut sauce or lemon vinaigrette.
Mango Salad $14.00
Shredded mango with shrimp, red onion, grape tomato, cilantro, shredded carrots in spicy chili dressing, topped with cashew nuts.
Som Tam (Papaya Salad) $12.00
Shredded papaya, shredded carrot, green beans, grape tomato, in a spicy chili dressing, garnished with crushed peanuts.

Fried Rice
Basil Fried Rice $17.00
Pineapple Fried Rice $19.00
Stir fry rice with egg, onion, cashew, pineapple and scallion.
Tom Yum Fried Rice $19.00
Spicy. Stir fry rice with egg, onion, basil and scallion with chili paste.
Crispy Chicken With Thai Fried Rice $19.00
Crispy chicken over fried rice with egg, onion and scallion.
Green Curry Fried Rice $17.00
Stir-fried cooked jasmine rice with green curry paste, lemongrass, bell pepper. it results in a vibrant, fragrant , and mildly spicy fried rice with distinct flavor of thai green curry.
Thai Fried Rice $20.00
Stir fry rice with egg, onion and scallion.

Noodle
Drunken Man Noodle $19.00
Spicy. Wok-stir fry spicy flat noodles with egg, onion, Thai basil and bell pepper.
Pad Thai $19.00
Traditional stir-fried rice noodles with egg beansprout, scallion and peanut.
Pad See-Ew $19.00
Wok-fried flat noodles with egg, soy sauce and broccoli.

Side Order
Extra Tofu $4.00
Extra Chicken $4.00
Peanut Sauce $5.00
Extra Shrimp $4.00
Extra Vegetable $3.00
Extra Beef $4.00
Sticky Rice $4.00
Extra Sweet Chili Sauce $2.00
Steamed Broccoli $7.00
Jasmine Rice $3.00
Fried Egg $3.00

Side Order
Extra Shrimp $4.00
Jasmine Rice $2.00
Extra Beef $4.00
Extra Chicken $4.00
Extra Tofu $4.00
Extra Sweet Chili Sauce $2.00
Steamed Broccoli $6.00
Sticky Rice $3.00
Fried Egg $3.00

Lunch Special
Crispy Chicken With Thai Fried Rice $13.50
Crispy chicken over fried rice with egg, onion and scallion.
Green Curry Over Rice $12.50
Green curry with bamboo shoot and eggplant in coconut milk over rice.
Drunken Man Noodle $12.50
Wok-stir fry spicy flat noodles with egg, onion, basíl and bell pepper.
Pad Thai $12.50
Traditional stir-fried rice noodles with egg, beansprout, scallion and peanut.
Thai Fried Rice $12.50
Stir-fried rice with egg, onion and scallion.

Beverages
Seltzer $2.00
Coke $2.00
The cold, refreshing, sparkling classic that America loves.
Red Bull $4.50
Palm Juice $5.00
Thai Bubble Ice Coffee $6.00
Bottled Water $2.00
Ginger Ale $2.00
Thai Ice Tea $5.00
Thai Ice Coffee $5.00
Diet Coke $2.00
A crisp, refreshing taste you know and love with zero calories.
Lemonade $5.00
Thai Bubble Ice Tea $6.00

Salad
Som Tam (Papaya Salad) $12.00
Spicy. Papaya with green beans, grape tomato, carrot in a spicy chili dressing.
Thai Salad $10.00
Mixed greens, lettuce, carrot, onion, tomato with peanut sauce or lemon vinaigrette.
Mango Salad $14.00
Spicy. Fresh mango with shrimp, red onion, grape tomato in a spicy chili dressing.

Curry
Massaman Curry $20.50
Onion, potato, and peanut in rich coconut milk with your choice of chicken, tofu, vegetables, shrimp, or beef.
PANANG CURRY OVER RICE $20.50
Infused with lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, and coconut milk, this Panang curry features tender meat or tofu over rice, with vibrant vegetables. Options: Chicken, Tofu, Vegetable, Shrimp, Beef.
Green Curry $20.50
Bamboo shoots, eggplant, and coconut milk harmonize in this vibrant green curry. Choose from chicken, tofu, vegetable, shrimp, or beef for a delightful experience.

Soup
Chicken Vegetable Soup $9.00
Tom Kha Chicken $9.00
Coconut soup with mushroom, onion and galangal.
Tom Yum Shrimp $10.00
Spicy. Spicy hot & sour soup with lemongrass mushroom and onion.
Wonton Soup $9.00
Chicken wonton soup with bok choy and scallion.

Thai for thought Details

Service options
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Comfort food
Healthy options
Small plates
Vegetarian options

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Table service

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Paid street parking

Pets
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed inside
Dogs allowed outside

Thai for thought Photos

Thai for thought Location

Thai for thought

New York New York County New York East 7th Street

32 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003, USA

Thai for thought Reviews

An average rating of ★4.8 from 119 user reviews.

pricedrunken noodlespad thaispicehospitalitysaladownerthai fried ricemango sticky ricefried chicken

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

This was my first time ordering from Thai 4 Thought, and it won’t be my last. I was immediately greeted by the friendliest employee (possibly the owner?) I should’ve gotten her name she exuded the best energy. She even gave me some Thai Iced Tea to try while I waited for my order. I got the Lunch special Pad See Ew with tofu. So fragrant, chewy, and delicious. And the portion size is great.
August 14 · Jackie Chan
Mona was absolutely lovely. She treated me like a grandson as soon as I walked in and even let me stay for a while, as the heat was blazing outside. She also refilled my water bottle.When it comes to the food I got the fried chicken with fried rice, which also came with a salad. The Thai iced tea was really refreshing and the mango sticky rice was also tasty. All this came out to around $30 total. Definitely recommend checking this place out!
June 23 · Joshua Hendricks
Just dropped in for a quick lunch, but can confirm the Pad Thai in this tiny spot is a cut above many renditions in Manhattan: well-balanced & tamarind-forward, not overly sweet, tender chicken and a good portion. Note, lunch special only includes the entree - no spring roll, salad etc. Very limited seating - just four adjacent 2-tops. Sweet service, would go back.
April 16 · Jamie Prince
Great hidden gem for lunch. Real full-size portions and homemade for only $12.50. One of the best deals in the east village.
June 27 · Adam Giladi
Stumbled upon this cute no frills spot with the friendliest staff. The owners were super sweet and make you feel right at home. The menu had all types of dishes from drunken noodles (one of my favorites) to green curry with your choice of veggies or meat. I’m a lover of Thai food and have been to Thailand many times and when I say their dishes are authentic, trust me! All of the sweet, sour, umami notes just hits the spot if you know what I mean.So happy to have Thai For Thought join this wonderful neighborhood filled with food from all over the world. If you’re in the area and craving authentic Thai food, check this place out! You won’t be disappointed.
September 12 · alisa trairatana