This was our third visit to Ayada, and every time it has been not only pleasant and satisfying, but noticeably not busy for a restaurant serving food of this quality. While I love being able to go to a great restaurant without waiting an hour to be seated, I am glad to see that business seemed to have been picking up a little this last time. (I'm so sleepy right now, and the only thing keeping my fingers typing, and my face from smashing onto the keyboard is the fear of blog inertia after only 3 posts. So this might end up just being blurry iPhone pictures, and blathering drivel, completely useless to anyone [of my 4 readers/friends/mom] looking for edifying musings on Thai cuisine. We shall see.)
*Sripraphai: som tum, crispy pork w/chili and basil, and southern style curry w/duck
The Islands: jerk chicken
Sushi Azabu: sushi omakase
(I can eat any one of these meals on the worst of worst days, and feel fine with the world afterwards. I will get to posting about these eventually).

We sent it back. Not once, but two times - each time as appreciatively and non-assholedly as possible. Because despite our most earnest attempts to impress upon the waiter when ordering that we wanted it to be "very, very...very spicy...Thai spicy," it was not. At all. And we are spice-addicts. And assholes. Sorry, but sometimes you really just gotta get your fix.
So after the second time, and much audible and fierce chopping (of chilis, I presume), we were presented with this:

Oh ho ho. Just look at that hot mess (I do sincerely despise that phrase, but it seems fitting in this context). That's dirty. And GLORIOUS. Crunchy, fishy, funky, tangy, frinky, stangy, tushy, crunky...peanuty, and spicy as all hell. To call this a 'salad' seems like a misnomer, because no salad could blow your face off like this fiery beast. You don't eat it, it eats you.
At this point, I believe the chef came out just to get a load of us. Whether he was curious to see if we could handle it, or to see just what kind of douchebags would send a salad back twice, I'm not sure.
But it was totally worth the mild shame. Also, upon witnessing our maniacal, sweaty grins, a very sweet waitress divulged to us the magic words to use next time: "Just say 'five spicy.'" At least that's what we all decided we thought she said. We'll have to see if it works next time.



This is kang som sour curry. Light rather than thick, but full of bright, tart and fishy flavor, it comes with shrimp (I failed to try one) and tender slices of omelet with spinach. Light, thick, full, bright...? I don't know. Just try it. Very refreshing on a summer evening.

Note: it's BYOB; there's a deli 2 doors down with a decent selection of beer.
So sleepy. 'Night.
Ayada
77-08 Woodside Ave (Elmhurst)
New York, NY 11373
(718) 424-0844
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