Khao Nom: Authentic Thai Desserts in Elmhurst, NY

If you’re around Elmhurst, Queens, this is a Thai spot you don’t want to miss Khao Nom delivers the true taste of Thai street food with bold, authentic flavors in every bite. From comforting rice dishes and slurp-worthy noodles to vegetarian options, fresh salads, and smoky BBQ, the menu has something for everyone. And save room for dessert — they have so many dessert options to choose from. The adorable fruit-shaped mung bean sweets are almost too cute to eat, made with smooth and lightly sweet mung bean paste Everything here is packed with flavor, making Khao Nom a true hidden gem for Thai street food lovers.

Wait was too long at saranrom Thai so we went here instead ~ Ordered the chef special and the braised pork was very soft and tender. It came with a spicy sauce that was very delicious! My friend said the food tasted like something off the streets from Thailand The only negative thing is that the drinks were too sweet :( unsure if u can adjust the sugar level

Khao Nom is such a hidden gem in Thaitown! I ordered the stir-fried minced pork with basil and fried egg, and the deep-fried shrimp cakes — both dishes were packed with flavor, cooked perfectly, and reminded me of the authentic tastes you’d find in Thailand. The basil pork had the right balance of savory and spicy, and the fried egg was perfectly crispy on the edges. The shrimp cakes were golden, juicy inside, and came with a tasty dipping sauce that paired so well. What really makes this place stand out is the variety of traditional Thai desserts they offer — it’s like stepping into a Thai dessert shop back home. There’s so much to choose from, and everything looks freshly made. On top of that, they also serve classic Thai-style dishes you’d find at local street-side eateries, which is such a treat if you’re craving true home-style flavors. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Whether you’re coming for a meal or just to pick up some desserts, it’s a great spot to experience real Thai flavors. If you’re visiting Thaitown, make sure to stop by and try it for yourself — I’ll definitely be coming back!

I’ve been to this restaurant twice. The first time, I tried the Hainanese chicken rice. As a big fan of the dish, I’d say they did a really good job. The rice texture is a bit different—in a good way—and you can really taste the ginger. The second time, I tried their khao mok gai (Thai chicken biryani). It was so good—honestly, it tasted just like the version I’ve had in Thailand. I also love their condiments. Overall, I’m giving them 4 stars. The staff are friendly, too. It can get packed, especially when groups of tourists come in to buy Thai desserts, so please be patient.

Everything we got was amazing!! Since it’s on the lane with so many other Thai restaurants Khao Nom still manages to stand out!! They specialize more in appetizers and rice dishes here as well as their dessert menu. Tip: if windows are open and you’re sitting by there, don’t have your bag/ phone so close to it where someone can steal / run with it bc that happened to someone here before which the waitress was giving us this advice. Super helpful and thankful for her on the heads up!! They also give you a wide range of home made Thai sauces which were also great but didn’t like that it was on the sweeter side of the spectrum We got: - crispy tofu skin 4.5/5: enjoyed this a lot, skin was perfectly crispy and very meaty, could’ve been a 5/5 if the sauced it paired with was more sour than sweet - corn fritters 4/5: not sure if this dish was always around but I’ve seen this at more Thai restaurants more often nowadays and if it was my first time eating it maybe i would’ve been more impressed. But fried corn fritters here were too fried and can taste the oil but the sauce makes it better. But still sweet here too - spring rolls 4.5/5: these were sooooo good, easily a 5/5 if the sauce was made better! Crispy, juicy, meaty, and flavorful! - pork belly and rice 4.5/5: soo good too, the pork belly here actually paired with the sauce very nicely! - Thai ice tea 5/5: perf milk to condense milk ratio We were also so sad the pandan dessert was sold out!! Will def come back to try that next time.

Khao Nom is one of best Thai restaurants in the neighborhood. The interior decor is simple and lovely with vintage style adornment. We had a lunch with friends last week at their outdoor dining and it’s cozy with strong heater. We had 2 small plates to share as appetizers, Crispy Crab Spring Roll and BBQ Pork Jowl. For entree, we ordered 2 bowls of Tum Yum Noodle Soup, 1 Grilled Fish Salad and 1 Chicken Yellow Curry Noodle. The food was amazingly delicious and our favorite was the Tum Yum Noodle Soup, which was flavorful with lots of ingredients. Their service was friendly, attentive and reacted to all the requests quickly. We founded a iron string in the pork jowl and the staff served us a new one immediately with apologies. There is a great variety of Thai pastries and desserts. We brought home a cup of mini taro cake and it was so good. We definitely will try other options shortly.

I’ve been wanting to go here for years, and it did not disappoint. Not only was the food *amazing,* the service was impeccable. Our waitress recommend the best dishes and desserts and told us all about the restaurant and Thailand. She knew it was my first time there and how excited I was to try the food, so I feel like she made my experience extra special. I wish this restaurant wasn’t so far from where my husband and I live because I’d go back every day.

If you love Thai food and desserts, we recommend you visit this place. We have a complete range of Thai food and desserts at affordable prices.