Hug Esan: Bold Thai Food in Queens
Among the small strip of Thai restaurants that are on Woodside avenue along 76-77th streets in Jackson Heights Queens, Hug Esan is a very unassuming little spot. Located on the ground floor of a residential apartment complex, and it feels like you’re eating in a Thai family’s home. Upon opening the door to the restaurant, you’re instantly greeted with the aroma of fish sauce that permeates the vicinity. Perhaps offensive for some, but a delight for others.
Hug Esan specializes in cuisine from the Esan (NorthEast) region in Thailand – think Larb (a kind of meat salad), and Sai Krok Isan (sour sausage).
We started off with the Esan sausage, which was delicious. Sour and savory, you wrap it in the cabbage/lettuce provided, along with fresh cilantro and raw onion.
The crab omelette had a generous helping of crab, and the sauce was delicious.
We had to try the Pork Larb- which also had pork liver, pork stomach, ground pork, and also pork ear. The texture and flavor combination was out of this world. We ordered “spicy” which was 10 chilies (…Thai Spicy was 15 chilies!) and boy, was that hot.
We ordered the Pad KaProw as well, spicy. It was pretty damn hot- my mouth and lips burned afterwards. But it was oh so good.
If you’re craving Thai food in New York City, look no further than Hug Esan – intense home cooking. You won’t regret it!