Tiny Thai - Authentic Thai Food in Farmingdale, New York

Hidden in a strip of restaurants and shops on Main Street in Farmingdale directly across from Croxley Ales (the former downtown club) sits Tiny Thai, an authentic Thai restaurant open daily for lunch and dinner. Housing approximately 10 tables, you are sometimes made to become acquainted with your neighbor on a busy night. This also means you'll have a wait on busy nights (typically dinner time Fridays and Saturdays), but it moves pretty quickly and is well worth your patience.

The waitstaff (either a young man in his 20s or an older woman, depending on when you come) work very hard to single handly work all the tables--bussing, taking orders, running the food and setting up tables on top of handling the take-out customers. It's unfortunate that only one at a time works.

Be sure to take a look at the hangings on the wall and even at your plates - they are all decorated, colored and shaped differently depending on the dish ordered. Something simple to appreciate while you dine.

For appetizers, you would be missing out if you passed over the Bags of Gold. These are heavenly little deep fried, but not greasy, pockets of slightly spiced potatoes and veggies. They arrive with a small bowl of plumb sauce for dippipng, looking just like their title, complete with an edible bow on the top. The coconut shrimp are not overly sweet, and stand alone just fine without the plum sauce they are served with.

Dishes can be served from mild to scorching, based on the number of chili pepper symbols you request. For example, my chicken Drunken Noodle with one pepper was enough to fire my mouth up, while my friends 4 pepper Drunken Noodle with beef made my eyes water with just a strong whiff of his plate. We both enjoyed our lunches thoroughly.

The musman curry is also amazing, the potatoes cooked to perfection, not too hard, and not too pastey. Children and adults alike will get a kick of Volcanic Chicken--strips of chicken seasoned with sweet chili sauce over rice. The kicker is that the dish got its name not from the chili sauce, but because it is brought to your table in flames. The fire quickly dies out and you are left with a tasty meal and a smile on your face. I've never ordered a dish that did not satisfy me and my guests, both with taste and portion size.

They also offer a variety of vegetarian entrees, tofu, and fish dishes. If someone in your party is feeling less than adventurous, they serve fried rice as an entree as well, or chicken skewers (satay) as an appetizer. All dishes are made to order and can be altered to omit (or add) spices.

The thai iced tea, an aromatic, overly sweetened but delicious combination of strong brewed tea mixed with half and half and, well, sugar is not only refreshing, but serves as a fire extinguisher for your taste buds. It is also the largest I've been served compared to any other thai restaurant I've been to, on the Island or elsewhere. As should be expected, they serve Singha beer, bottles with a chilled cup alongside.

To be honest, I've never had room to try a dessert, but the options (including deep fried vanilla ice cream) sound yummy.

Prices are fair, with the majority of entrees costing less than $10 and desserts under $5. As I mentioned they also offer take-out (phone in or place your order when you get there).

Tiny Thai has quick and friendly service, and is by far my favorite thai restaurant on Long Island, and well worth the drive.
Contact Information

187 Main Street; Farmingdale NY
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
Phone: (516) 694-3302
Sunday Specials offer free beer or dessert with any entree.