NYC Restaurants

If you blink you might miss Der Krung, a sliver of a restaurant on 9th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen producing some very tasty, and nicely spiced, Thai food. The chef doesn’t hold back when it comes to the use of chili peppers in everything from green papaya salad to numerous curries on the menu. Specialties include sautéed chicken with fresh vegetables, pineapple and cashews in a crispy noodle nest, pork belly with Chinese broccoli and tamarind duck. Der Krung, with its dangling lights and cement-washed walls, is the perfect spot for a low-key meal with friends and maybe a few Thai beers.

- Thomas Rafael