Klong Restaurant New York

Klong (Thai / East Village / $$)
7 St. Marks Place (between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave)
(212) 505-9955
www.klongnyc.com

In Thailand, the word “klong” refers to canals, which are thought of as relaxing much in the same way that canals in Venice are thought of as an oasis. Klong, the restaurant, seeks to provide that same refuge to its patrons. Hidden beneath stairs to a walk-up apartment building, Klong fits right in with the Japanese izakayas, tattoo parlors, and smoking paraphernalia stores located on St. Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. St. Marks Place is home to hipster and NYU undergraduates alike, looking for cheap eats, small shops and an international flair. Klong exhibits a concrete façade and diminutive décor, which is a fitting look for an urban oasis.

Klong’s menu is a novel compared to most Thai restaurants. The establishment offers typical Thai fare (Pad Thai and Kee Mao Fried Rice), as well as more unique takes on classic dishes (Mussel-Pineapple Curry and Lotus Root Beef). Recommended appetizers include Green Curry Puff ($4, Siamese pastry stuffed with ground chicken, potato, green pea paste and green curry sauce), Firecrackers ($4, crispy shrimp and garlic
chicken served with plum sake dipping sauce) and Ginger Chicken Thai Ravioli Soup
($4 chicken ground with herbs in a green wonton skin and watercress in ginger chicken broth). Recommended entrees include: Spicy Basil Noodles ($8-$10, spicy pan-fried flat
rice noodles sautéed in a spicy sauce with tomato, basil, eggs, bell peppers, and onions), Lotus Root Beef ($12, stewed beef sirloin, roasted cardamom seeds, cinnamon sticks, potato, lotus seeds, shallot, tamarind juice in thick mussaman curry sauce), and Choo Chee Salmon ($13, Thai herbs and spices blended in mild chu chee chili paste with asparagus and kaffir lime leaves).

One of the biggest attractions to Klong is also the happy hour specials (buy one get one free singha beers and half price cocktails ~$4-$5), which last from 5-7PM Monday through Thursday and on Sundays, 11:30PM-2AM Fridays and Saturdays and 5PM-12AM on Tuesdays. In addition, the restaurant offers a great lunch special: for $6-$7, you can get an appetizer and entrée ($11-$14 value). Lastly, there are significant discounts for sitting at the bar.

Reservations are highly recommended, as it will be a long wait or sometimes impossible to find a table during peak hours. The establishment is clean and friendly. In addition, the service is attentive and many of the servers are native English speakers.

Klong is a trendy, but laid-back restaurant that offers some interesting tastes of Thailand.

Tagged as: Klong Restaurant New York