Tuk Tuk for Thai – Standing fast in the face of Asian fusion
Tuk Tuk 49-06 Vernon Blvd 718.472.5598 718.472.5597
So far there are three Asian fusion restaurants at Vernon/Jackson; Ihawan and BANY Ten57 on the way, and Lucky Mojo’s operating on 51st Ave. Holding the Thai fort down, and not fused with any other kind of cuisine, is Tuk Tuk, a transplant from Smith St in Brooklyn. Tuk Tuk’s been on Vernon for a while and the food has been reliable from day one. I’m a Thai food fan, and Tuk Tuk offers all the standards, plus some interesting specials. Carnivores and herbivores can eat together in harmony – tons of options for everyone. They’re affordable in my book; entrees run from $8 to $16, and portions are generous.
The ambiance is chill and minimal; the service is very friendly and unobtrusive, and they definitely make an effort to get to know their regulars. Delivery is lovely – usually very timely and the food’s nice and hot. Tuk Tuk is definitely a staple in my diet, though sometimes that’s been because there are no other Asian restaurants. Doesn’t matter though – Tuk Tuk’s an established neighborhood fav, and we hope they stick around for a good while.
I *LOVE* this place! :-)
One of our best new restaurants in the neighborhood.
Where is the CHEEP middle Eastern food? Or Greek? Why are the new places so upscale? What will service the hundreds of students that will be in the neighborhood once the dorms open? Can we have a little East Village here? Cheep food options.
Or an early on Oznots? Do you old timers remember Oznots in Brooklyn? One of the hippest cheapest best tasting restaurants ever!
Diane
The new places are upscale because the landlords are charging an arm and a leg to have a store here. And the new residents are upscale and support upscale restaurants.
And those dorms aren’t happening. Not in our lifetimes, at least.
The possibility of an ‘East Village’ scene happening here are long *LONG* gone. We’re the Upper East Side, Hoboken or Jersey City (maybe).
People think we’re like SoHo or the Village…we’re NOT. Repeat after me: LIC is not SoHo or the Village circa 1974. This is Queens. A blue collar enclave. Not dirty filthy people looking for cool music or to score drugs. Those days re OVER.
Thank God.
Please hipsters and the great unwashed masses of rust belt refugees. Tell your breathen to forgo Long Island City. Go to East New York or Bushwick. Then you can experience the real NY in the 70′s…dirt, crime and cheap living . Oh, and some artists. That’s what you really want.
I live close by which is a plus for me. The service is always great. The best thai food I ever had! I go there when I want to impress a guest who likes thai food. No doubt whoever I bring there agrees that the place is on the money. Go and check it out. Ask for the coconut ice cream desert with the fried banana egg rolls. Its delicious!!!
hello nice site!
http://theodorejlacour52.blogspot.com
this place is..so-so. they don’t know anythng about REAL thai food. try going to a VERY good one called thai pavilion in astoria. NOW THAT IS GOOD FOOD AND YOU WILL SEE THATS WHAT REAL THAI FOOD IS!! it’s MUCH better than this tiny-not thai food place that is so called tuk-tuk….AND WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES TUK-TUK MEAN!!? god…go2 astoria!!! u won’t regret it!!!
Thai Pavilion? Lamb dishes? Authentic? No.
Believe me, I have lived in Chiang Mai for the past 7 years and, in terms of authenticity, Tuk-Tuk is much closer than Thai Pavillion.
By the way, a Tuk-Tuk is a three-wheeled motorized rickshaw (named after the sound they make). It can also mean ‘cheap’.
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Tuk Tuk is definitely my favorite. I always liked how they retained some of the old things on front of the store from its days as a hardware shop.