A Brooklyn-Queens ride for food from the Isan region of northeast Thailand.

Join us for a ride from Grand Army Plaza, through East River parks in Brooklyn and Queens, and through Astoria, Woodside and Jackson Heights, until we arrive at our destination: a 2-block section of Woodside Avenue in Elmhurst with restaurants featuring the food of the Isan region (also spelled Esan and Isaan) of northeast Thailand.

There are at least four restaurants serving this regional Thai food on these blocks, including Ayada, Hug Esan, Khao Kang, and Zaab Zaab, and several have received favorable media reviews. (Zaab Zaab is in the Times’ 100 best restaurants in 2024). In 2023, the Club checked out Khao Kang – it has 5BBC riders’ seal of approval – but since there are so many restaurants on these blocks, riders can eat at the restaurant of their choice. Then we will reconvene and resume our ride after an hour.

Many dishes will be spicy, but you should be able to find some less spicy dishes if you prefer. Prices for entrees are in the mid-teens and up, and you may wind up with leftovers for dinner.

We will be riding mostly greenways, but there will be a few busy streets, so please be comfortable riding them. The ride will be Moderate in the front and will accommodate Happy Face riders in the rear. Please be able to keep at least 10 MPH in the back.

Please bring bike equipment such as lights, spare tube, and always your helmet. This time of year, hydration and sunscreen are highly recommended.

We will be taking a roundabout route to get in a few extra miles and stretch our legs, and the restaurants stop will be at about mile 19. A rough lunch ETA is 1:00 pm, so you may want to bring snacks to tide you over. The wait should be worth it.

Mileage: About 28

Ride Leader Trainee Margery Cooper will be co-leading the ride.

Ride With GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46642808

Cue Sheet: GAP - Isan Thai Restaurants in Elmhurst, Queens