Kin’d Thai does not stand out amongst the many businesses populating Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows. Located a ten-minute drive or twenty-minute bus ride from Queens College, the restaurant’s building is white brick, simple and unassuming, with the only indication that there may be something of interest to the place being a group of people clustered at the door on an otherwise empty street. Once you step inside Kin’d, however, you are immediately struck by the busy and lively atmosphere, friendly staff, and, most of all, the delicious smell of freshly-cooking Thai food.
Upon entering Kin’d, you will be directed to add your name and number to a Yelp waiting list on a tablet. Although the restaurant is popular, the staff are efficient, and the wait is no more than a few minutes. The decor is mid-century modern; simple, but not boring. Industrial lighting helps provide the ambience and adds some interest to the decor, while Halloween decorations scattered across the walls indicate that this place is more fun than stuffy. Kin’d is particularly well-suited to casual dates or dinners out with a group of friends, but families with young children frequent the restaurant as well.
The Kin’d menu is packed with an array of options; there is a variety of appetizers, ample vegetarian and vegan choices, drinks (alcoholic or not), as well as the traditionally-expected Thai rice and noodle dishes. For appetizers, the chive pancakes are delicious, served in a mini fry basket along with a side of soy sauce. The spring rolls are standard, served with a sweet dipping sauce on the side. They also offer a variety of soups, salads, and dumplings, as well as calamari and bangkok wings. If you can’t narrow it down to just one appetizer, they offer an appetizer combo, and a veggie appetizer combo as well.
When it comes to the main course, pineapple fried rice is packed with fresh-tasting veggies, juicy pineapple and perfect seasoning. The shrimp tamarind had “a nice balance of crisp fried shrimp, fresh veggies, and rice, covered in a tamarind sweet and sour sauce,” said John S., an engineering student from City College who also paid the restaurant a visit.
If neither of those are your taste, however, Kin’d has plenty of other options. They offer several different curry entrees, a few other fried rice meals, some healthy vegetarian choices, and, of course, noodle options – including noodle soups. The appetizers are decently portioned as well, and two or three of those would be filling enough to be a meal themselves.
When it comes to pricing, Kin’d is definitely reasonable, and the quality of the food doesn’t suffer for the price. The prices range from $5 appetizers to $12 main courses, although a couple of the fish-based specials can get expensive at $28. If you want a particularly good deal, they offer a lunch special; a salad, an appetizer, and an entree for $10 from noon to 4 P.M. Whatever you decide to go for, you can finish the meal off right with some sweet mango sticky rice, or fried vanilla ice cream.
