Benjamas Taste of Thai

The food here is amazing… lunch specials are good because you get a salad and soup with your food. Very nice to eat inside

I hate to give bad reviews, but the place should see this as constructive criticisms. I got a stomach ache after eating here and I only had an appetizer. it seems that they don’t put too much effort on their food, lacks in taste and presentation.

Their food is pretty decent. Not much difference, but slightly more expensive compared to other Thai restaurants I know all over Manhattan (and this restaurant is in ASTORIA, QUEENS).
But their tom kah soup is by far the best for me. They add a bit of tom yum paste (I guess) in it. I don’t know if it’s authentic or not though.
You can also enjoy hospitality by the decent, attentive stuffs there. But as long as I know, basically Thai girls working in Thai restaurants are always nice, even at other restaurants…
After all, I might come back here when I come to Astoria since I believe still this is one of the best Thai restaurants in this neighborhood.

Never attempt to order from here via their online service! After placing an order of pad thai with beef and chicken curry puffs online, we ended up calling just to make sure they received the order since it looked like the website locked up.
My girlfriend called to confirm, and when they asked what the order was, she said «chicken curry puffs and…», to which THEY finished «pad thai with beef! Yes it’s being made and will be delivered soon!». Note: THEY SAID WHAT WE ORDERED BEFORE WE DID!
After 45 minutes and no sign of the food, I called back to check in. They claimed they never received the order! After explaining to them that we had talked to them earlier and had confirmed, they still feigned ignorance. It became so frustrating that I just hung up. Luckily, I wasn’t charged…

I really hate to change my reviews, But what can you do. Huh!
I just finished eating (which I REALLY could not Finish) my delivery from Benjamas. Ordered Red Chicken Curry and Chicken Noodle Soup.
Both Sucked! I only sipped the hot water of the soup and the rest in the trash. And Red Curry was not great at all, Chicken tasted like it was 3 days old and the veggies were… duh! I dunno.
My throat has been killing me and I wanted something mild on spice. Their menu lists Red Curry as MILD spicy. If that curry which I just had was MILD, then next time, IF I EVER ORDER, I would have to tell them NOT TO bring chillies even close to my order.
Mind you, I can handle my spice VERY WELL.
I only rate them 3 as my first experience was good. But their inconsistency is phenomenal.
I just hope you are lucky when you’re eating here!

I’m always looking for great thai, especially when I’m not feeling too well and want delivery. Benjamas’ menu is fairly simple but their attention to ingredients is very impressive. I had their Panung curry and it was amazing. The addition of lime leaves brought out the flavor of the curry in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. I also had their Thai dumplings and they were so enjoyable texturally, that I had wished I ordered more of them. The only negative thing I have to say is that their delivery person was terrible. We ordered at 7pm and he came to my door but didn’t bother knocking and just left (I heard the gate) and we finally called the restaurant asking where our food was and they sent him back again. He was very rude and didn’t deserve the small tip I gave him. I hope my next experience with Benjamas is more balanced so I can enjoy their food even more.

I’ve tried two things here and really enjoyed both. The chicken phad thai (I ask them to make it spicy) is good. So is the sticky rice mango dessert. I’m usually tooooo full after the phad thai to have the dessert right away but it’s still good a little later. YUM!

I love love Thai food.
I use to come here alot, I use to bring my sister and I use to order my lunch here a few times. But I have to tell you, they mess up ALOT.
I ordered their lunch special once and had asked them to give me a soda instead of a soup. When they delivered it, they gave me soup but no soda. It was no biggie.
Then some time after, I ordered chicken basil and instead I received basil friend rice. I called in to complain and they told me that they were not wrong, that it was me who ordered it wrong. And while they are telling me that I ordered incorrectly, the girl on the phone obviously did not speak fluent English because he English was very broken up. So she probably misheard me, but regardless… do not argue with the customer especially when you give the wrong order.
Then I tried again, a week after the «wrong order» incident. I ordered my basil chicken. They delivered it to my office and behold my surprise i didn’t have any rice. I called the restaurant and I told them that I did not have rice, the girl said «next time» Does that make any freaking sense? So the next time I order I get 2 rice? WTF???
I said to her I cannot eat my lunch without the rice, and the restaurant is only 2 freaking blocks away from my job. They screwed up and refused to bring me my rice… and told me next time! what do I look like I can eat 2 rice? So I just went next door to a sushi joint and bought an order of rice.
Their service sucks, they do not try to accommodate PAYING customers at all, since then… I REFUSE to go here. I rather cut my wrist and bleed to death.

I’ve eaten here dining in as well as having had their food delivered via Seamlessweb and unlike some other restaurants, the food is consistent between both experiences.
This is most likely due to how speedy they are for delivery. I’m about 2 subway stops away and coupled with the cooking time it takes, I’m sure that delivery boy must be peddling like the dickens.
Most of the dishes here share common names and ingredients with dishes you’ll find at any other Thai restaurant, however it seems like they try to put a minor spin on things.
Adding one extra spice here, removing one ingredient there. EIther way, I find that enjoyable as it offers up some variety when you’re craving Thai. I would say it probably makes this place stray a little farther from authenticity.
Décor in this restaurant seems a little cobbled together, but that certainly adds to the strange charm. On a nice warm day when they open the front windows /​doors, it is strangely comforting being seated near all the plants and warm breeze.
Perhaps it’s an overdose from all the buildings, concrete and metal that we become so accustomed to living in NY, that any exposure to natural elements brings on a welcome feeling.
Staff are friendly, speedy and attentive. Constantly removing dishes that are done with and refilling drinks and bringing you extra napkins.
It’s a decent experience dining in or out.

Very quick delivery. Gotta hand it to them. I ordered from them via seamless web and it was here in 20 minutes. ¹⁄₃ of the time it takes for my local Thai favorite Thai Elephant.
Let me compare apples to apples:
The Basil is not very basily. +1 elephant
There is a lot more chicken at Ben’s +1 Ben
The portions are heartier at Ben’s +1 Ben
But its sort of bland +1 elephant
and their dumplings are kind of disappointing + 1 elephant
and are bigger than the sauce container provided, how do I dip? +1 elephant
so the result: if I want food quick? Ben’s. But Elephant is better Thai for the same price.

About a year ago I came to Taste of Thai on a visit to Astoria and loved the place! Great food, reasonable prices and right next to my cousin’s apartment. Roll the calendar forward a year and I’m back visiting again and in the mood for Thai food on New Years Eve. We head on over and the place has certainly changed. Décor has been refreshed, cool lighting, it would make for a great date spot. However, that’s sorta where the good news ends…
We ordered up some serious eats: green papaya salad, thai chicken with sticky rice, shrimp pad kee mao and a sea bass with chili sauce and it was disappointment across the board. Everything looked great, they served the food on huge dishes, which typically concerns me. Restaurants use big plates to fool the diner’s eye into thinking they’re getting more. And everything was plated really well for presentation purposes. But here’s the verdict: papaya salad too salty, pad kee mao not spiced enough and the seabass, well the chili sauce was non-​existent and the fish dry and overcooked. To make matters worse, portion sizes seemed to be on the small size for a slightly pricey meal ($ 80 for two, before tip).
What can I say, I don’t go to this place often and maybe they had an off night. Or maybe the chef was starting up the New Year’s eve festivities early or had the night off. But I can tell you that Taste of Thai had committed the one mortal sin I have with restaurants: trying to serve average to mediocre food and trying to make up for it in décor and bling. Don’t try to fool the tastebuds by dazzling the eyes, my friends! I’ve eated a lot of Thai food, mostly in SF, and the food here didn’t make the grade for the prices charged. Taste of Thai, I’ll be back in another 6 months and hoping for better things!

Benjamas is a solid choice for good, fresh, tasty Thai.
I love their curry puffs, satay, Chicken Pad Thai, and their Panang Curry. I have never ventured beyond those staples but I’ve never been disappointed with my meal. Service is friendly and quick. The atmosphere is nice.
For a more adventurous menu and a nicer atmosphere, try Leng down the street.

If this place were in Manhattan or even Williamsburg, I’d give it a (3), but since it’s in Astoria, it deserves a (4). Your standard Thai fare done well. Fresh.
Great beer prices and it seems an ok list of specials that may or may not be present depending on the day.
Great waitstaff and quick takeout.

I’m joining the club of The Dumbfounded: those who can’t understand why this place receives any bad reviews. I’ve been here so many times it’d make your head spin. I’ve had virtually everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. My absolute favorite is the salmon chu chee curry dish. The crazy thing is, I loathe coconut — always have. Why, then, would I like a dish with coconut as one of its main flavors? I don’t know but it’s a true testament to how good the food is.
Other things to note: friendly service, a really nice owner who will come to your table and shoot the breeze, very fresh ingredients (try the summer rolls — the veggies taste like they were just picked), nice presentation. Ah, and the lunch special (not sure when it starts, but it ends at 4pm) is the best deal in town. For $ 7 you get soup, salad, entrée, and side of rice. If you like sticky rice and papaya salad, this is the real deal. Tasty and authentic. (I should note that the salmon chu chee special is $ 9 but the extra 2 bucks is totally worth it — trust me!!)
I’ve tried Leng’s, Thai Pavillion, Thai Elephant, Wave Thai and Arharn Thai and Benjamas beats them all, no contest. I generally try not to argue with people about their food likes/​dislikes, but this is the one exception. The current 3.5 star rating is downright criminal.

This is one of the best Thai restaurants I have been to in all of Queens. or in recent memory, possibly anywhere for that matter. I see the three to two stars from other Unilocalers and am dumbfounded. I’d implore those folks to try it again and hopefully the excellent food will inspire a completely different take on this restaurant. I for one, was thoroughly pleased with the quality of food at Benjamas taste of Thai.
I went here for lunch with a few people over the weekend and as their first time there (my second), they were quite impressed with the food as well. We didn’t order too much since we were just in the neighborhood for a quick bite, but the selections we had were gorgeously plated as well as incredibly delicious. I had the Som Tum salad (shredded green papaya with tomatoes, long beans, peanut, lime juice served with sticky rice croûton). this is a pretty well-​known Thai dish as it appears on almost all Thai restaurant menus. it’s a favorite as well of mine, so I typically order this whenever I eat Thai, so I know my Som Tum. and this place has by far been the best I’ve had in recent memory. The papaya is ripe but fresh, the blend of fish sauce and lime juice is just perfect, and the fact that it wasn’t too spicy was a great comfort to me (I can’t handle too much heat). and portion is good enough for a meal. The sticky rice croûton is not actually «croûton» as in the traditional sense. it’s more like a side of sticky rice served in this adorably charming straw container. I’ve never had this salad with sticky rice before, but I loved the pairing and it made for a great presentation. My friends ordered the Nam Tok salad (BBQ shell steak with chili powder, mint, onion, lime juice served with the same sticky rice «croûton»). as well as the exceptionally spicy Jungle Curry (mix veggies with chicken). which they both adored as much as I enjoyed my Som Tum. To round out our meal, we ordered a dessert which the three of us shared. It was from what I remembered from the first time I went there (a few years back), was the most delicious version of sliced mangoes, coconut milk, and sticky rice, I have ever had at any Thai restaurant, and fortunately for me, it remained unchanged that way. The mango was sweet, not at all tart, the flesh was tender and juicy, the sticky rice was warm and the coconut milk and coconut shavings that dressed the plate did not overflow nor over-​power the blend of flavors here. It was a perfect marriage and we pretty much inhaled this incredible dessert in two minutes flat.
Décor is nice, yet nothing remarkably trendy or awe-​inspiring. It’s a charming space, with lots of plants and artwork and splashes of color. It’s good for a casual date or to bring your friends and family. Having said that, my opinion of this restaurant remains very high. From the Thai artwork that adorns the walls, to the silk pillows lining the seat benches, to the straw containers, there is this reassuring sense that this restaurant is authentic down to the wire and that the quality and care of your food is in good hands. You can even overhear the interaction between the staff, speaking to one another in Thai and it just makes you comfortable to pay homage to this place again (and again…)!

[UPDATE; This is an edit to my original review]
So I have been eating at Benjamas now for a little over 4 years, 2 times a week, one of those visits every week was to eat Pad Thai. SO needless to say if the food has changed I would notice! Well guess what, it’s most certainly changed, along with the ownership. :(
About 3 ½ weeks ago, I first noticed something was awry. I ordered my usual Pad Thai for lunch and immediately noticed they had changed the salad, it was much smaller and with a new spicy peanut dressing. When the Pad Thai came my heart immediately sank when I noticed that it lacked it’s usual orange tint. This Pad Thai was completely white which can only mean they changed the recipe and now use vinegar instead of tamarind juice. The tamarind juice is what made Benjamin’s Pad Thai the best in the neighborhood. Vinegar is MUCH cheaper than tamarind juice and I know that the «Benji» (the original owner) prided herself on the fact that her Pad Thai was high quality and that she would NEVER omit the one thing that raises her Pad Thai above all.
Hoping it was just a fluke I went back 2 more times. To my despair, both times the food was the same as before. Finally I decided to just do what I had been dreading, call and ask if the ownership had changed. The man on the phone was nice enough to inform me that Benjamas indeed has changed ownership and that «Benji» no longer runs it.
I can’t tell you how completely sad I am about this news. Benjamas has been my favorite Thai place since moving to Astoria and over the years I have gotten to know Benji, and seen how much she cared about the food and her patrons. I hope whatever she moves onto that she is just as successful and will be happy. I am one person for sure who will miss her cooking!
I have left my original review below in honor of Benji and her staff, but unfortunately I can no longer give Benjamas my previous 5 star rating. As nice as the new ownership seems to be and as hard as they are trying to keep the menu the same, the food simply isn’t as good. A word to the wise, PLEASE keep the Pad Thai recipe the same — it was one of their best dishes!
P. S. If anyone knows of a place that makes Pad Thai even remotely close to the way Benjamas did, please let me know!!!
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[Original Review (Benji owned) ]
I have to say, I am pretty surprised by how low this place is reviewed. I can’t understand why people don’t like it. This is my «go to» place for authentic Thai food. I am of Asian descent myself so I am pretty picky about ANY kind of Asian food. I lived in Astoria for about 2 years and before I moved there I lived in a city that had a HUGE Thai population. My best friends were all Thai and I was worried when I moved here that I wouldn’t be able to find authentic tasting Thai food.
I have literally tried every Thai place in Astoria (I am not exaggerating) and I have no doubt in my mind that Benjamas is the closest thing to my best friend’s mom’s papaya salad and Nom Tok. I have dined here at least once a week for 2 years and they have never disappointed me once. The lunch is probably one of the best deals I can think of in Astoria; you get soup, a garden salad (not the iceberg they serve at other Thai places), Brown or jasmine Rice (they have even let me substitute sticky rice for no charge), and the portions are huge, all for $ 7.00!
My favorite thing about this place is the fact that every ingredient they use is «quality» they don’t try to cut corners anywhere. I have even had the pleasure to meet the owner and she once told me that she gets up early every morning to go to the market and get the best selection of ingredients can tell without her having to say it. I love the fact that they are a family run business, the owner told me it’s her husband and son who do the cooking. Like most family run restaurants you can tell they care a lot about their food and their customers.
Sorry this review is so long but I just can’t help but feel Benjamas has gotten an unfair rating. Maybe the ones who reviewed it low came on off days, I really don’t know, everyone is entitled to their opinion though. Based on my experiences I am going to give it 5 stars for never letting me down after 3 years.

My dad visits a lot so we always have to try new restaurants when he comes. One of his visits brought us here. It’s decent Thai food but nothing remarkable. I did like the decorations inside tho and the Thai iced tea was tasty (mm I love Thai iced tea). I had the Panang Chicken Curry for $ 9 which was pretty good but a little watery.
I second the other reviews on the price being a little steep for the portions. Really I’d give it a 2.5 probably but I REALLY love Thai iced tea.

I went to this place for the first time a few weeks ago. The place was empty, which a lot of people take as a bad sign, but my partner had been there before and liked it. The service was friendly and efficient. I ordered the Red Curry with Tofu and liked it very much.
My only complaint would be that I would like them to offer some vegetarian or vegan options because it’s not on the menu. You have to ask for it. I know that they can make pretty much any of the dishes that way, it would be nice to actually be able to order off of the menu.

I’ve eaten in once and have delivery all the time. The food is good, I haven’t had anything I didn’t like. I especially like the noodle dishes, I only wish they were a bit larger portions.
Delivery time is reasonable.
Table service was a bit slow.
Kids: yes but no highchair or booster seat
Friendly service

I really want to like this place, but I can’t lie to myself or to Unilocal viewers. The curry dishes are bland, and it seems like they mellowed down their spicy dishes for American customers (usually Thai dishes are very spicy and flavorful… a lot of coconut, peanuts, lime, and tamarind). The portions are generous, but what’s the point of eating more of bland food. Just one of the many Thai restaurants opening up in Astoria.