Weighed against the super-cheap, sometimes mysterious eats at Fujianese four-over-rice storefronts, the Thai fare at this corner cafeteria is roughly twice as expensive. Here the cost is all of $7.50 for just three choices, and you must make do without that bowl of thin Chinese soup. Decidedly in Khao Kang's favor, however, the steam table is refreshed more often than most, and the flavors are as spritely as any. Shown: an egg-and-vegetable cookup, jungle curry with vegetables and fish, and sour pork sausage; chunky spicy pork, ground spicy pork, and Penang curry. A bargain.
Best of all: On milder days, windows on two sides are thrown open onto quiet sidewalks. You won't miss the traffic of Chinatown, or Bangkok, one bit.
Khao Kang
76-20 Woodside Ave. (at 77th St.), Elmhurst, Queens
718-662-8721
Closed Monday
