Hug Esan

Sensational meal and dining experience at Hug Esan! While I am a huge fan of Thai food in general, this was my first time trying cuisine from this particular region and it surely did not disappoint. Highly recommend this great BYOB in Jackson Heights/elmhurst.

Truly differentiated northern Thai cuisine. Expertly prepared and all delicious. It's a small place so you may have to wait if it's busy. Service is informative, efficient and pleasant. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring it in and pay a small corkage fee. Also they don't take credit cards but do accept venmo.

The taste is really good, all spices are perfect for me. Not too sweet and spicy. It’s like spicy and salty which I like. The waitress is nice, the place is not that big but neat and tidy. It’s better to take the reservation if you have big party.

Can't believe out of all the places around little Thailand Hug Esan was last on my list. Everything was amazing. The food blew me away and I'll be back for the rest of the menu.

I’ve been wanting to try a restaurant in New York that serves authentic Isan/Northern Thai food, and we found this spot in Queens. It’s not in Manhattan, but I’m telling you — it’s worth the trip. It’s located right next to Little Thailand and easy to find with Google Maps. One downside is that the space is very small. They only have four small tables for two and one larger table for 3–4 people, so it might be difficult for bigger groups unless you make a reservation. We arrived right after they opened, and not long after, the whole place was packed. Besides the size, the restaurant is really pretty and cozy. The menu is interesting and offers a wide variety of dishes — fried, stir-fried, grilled, soups, and more. Here’s what we ordered: Crab Fried Rice – We ordered it without much thought, just to try it, and it ended up being one of the best Thai dishes we’ve ever had. Even my husband (who is Laos/Thai) loved it. He rarely gets to eat crab because his mom has a severe allergy, so this was special for him too. (We forgot take picture lol) Crispy Pork Belly – Served super hot and crispy. I love that they battered it instead of just deep-frying it plain. It had great texture and was so flavorful. Tum Thai (Thum Mak Hoong) – We ordered it very spicy and asked if they could make it Laos-style. They tried, and it was pretty good. It was slightly lacking the strong fermented fish sauce (padek) punch that gives it that bold, pungent flavor. But honestly, it’s still very close to Northern style — just more approachable and less intense, so more people can enjoy it. Sticky Rice – Served the traditional way in a bamboo basket (aep khao) with a lid, which keeps it piping hot. I love when restaurants keep it authentic like that. We wanted to order more because there were so many options, but just three dishes were already enough for us — we even had leftovers. They packed everything very securely; I carried the papaya salad around all day and it didn’t spill at all. It is pretty pricey, but honestly, it’s worth trying at least once for the quality and authenticity. We’ll definitely bring his parents here next time we’re back in NYC.