One of the best deals during lunch is Yum Yum Bangkok, located on 9th Ave between 45th and 46th St. For whatever reason, there are three Yum Yums on that stretch of the street and I think they’re related since they all offer the same lunch special. We always go to the same one though, the one that’s the furthest north on the street. It’s a bit of a hike from my office near Rockefeller Center, but totally worth the trip. Any entree order comes with a choice of two starters, so you can essentially get a three course lunch for under $10. Starter options include soup, salad, spring rolls, dumplings or a drink (soda, thai iced coffee/tea). Even though the appetizers are a bit small, Yum Yum does not skimp on the entree size; I can stuff my face and still have enough left over for lunch the next day.
I met up with my lunch buddy Rodney who works nearby and off we went. The walk over goes much quicker when you have good company to chat with on the way. Rodney chose to start with the coconut chicken soup and spring rolls. You can definitely taste the coconut milk in the soup and the rich flavor makes even the small serving hard to get through. The mushrooms and scallions on top are a nice touch, but don’t add much to the flavor.
Spring rolls
I also opted for the spring rolls, which are are approximately the size of my index finger and come two to an order. They always arrive freshly fried and piping hot, and the accompanying sweet chili sauce (which tastes a bit like duck sauce from Chinese restaurants) allows for multiple double dips. I usually go for the spicy shrimp soup (which has a tart lemongrass flavor) as my other starter, but with the weather warming up I decided to try the thai iced coffee, something I’ve never had before. I was expecting something a bit more exotic but this tasted like a Starbucks frappuccino that comes out of the bottle. It was sweet and rich and just fine, but nothing exciting. I’ll have to try the thai iced tea next time.
My Thai iced coffee and Rodney's coconut chicken soup
For our entrees, Rodney had beef with peanut sauce and I went with my standard chicken pad thai. I have to be honest – I don’t really like thai curries. I know there are many different kinds of curries, as curry is really just a term for a mix of spices, but I still haven’t found a thai curry that I enjoy, and I’ve tried a lot of them. I love Indian curries, Japanese curries and Malaysian curries, but for some reason, thai curries just don’t do it for me. I think maybe it’s the abundance of coconut milk or lemongrass but I don’t really know. Rodney enjoyed his dish though, and they gave him plenty of rice to soak up all the sauce.
Beef with peanut sauce
My pad thai was delicious as always, although it’s probably not the most authentic version you can find in the city. It comes with a lot of chicken pieces though, and also strips of dried bean curd and scrambled eggs throughout. I love the fresh bean sprouts and julienned carrots they give you on the side. You can mix them in last minute (or leave them out altogether if you don’t like bean sprouts) and they retain their crunch. A squeeze of lemon over the whole thing really brings the dish together.
Chicken pad thai
The pacing of the meal is quick, since most people have to get back to work within their lunch hour, but you never feel rushed. The service is prompt and attentive; our water glasses never get below half full. If you have time for dessert, they offer scoops of green tea or coconut ice cream for just $1. They call it a summer special but it’s available every time I go. Lunch for two, including tax and over 20% tip, came out to just $18. How can you go wrong?
Yum Yum Bangkok
650 9th Ave. between 45th and 46th St.
New York, NY
Tags: Lunch, Midtown West, Thai