Posts: 2,490
Threads: 222
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Open Hours
Sunday
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Monday
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location and Contact Information
Address: 15-2923 Pahoa Village Rd, Pahoa, Island of Hawaii, HI 96778
Location: United States > Hawaii (HI) > Island of Hawaii > Pahoa
Phone Number: +1 808-965-5449
Posts: 106
Threads: 5
Joined: May 2013
I ate lunch at Roy's yesterday too! My 2nd meal there and it was over the top good. Their flavors are really outstanding. I'm even going to say that I thought it was better than Ning's! I've been devoted to Ning's for over 15 years, but I have noticed lately that their food is becoming more bland. I think Ning's has been trying to cater to a wider audience. Nothing wrong with that, but having been to Thailand I can tell you that REAL Thai food is NOT bland.
I was so impressed by my meal at Roy's. The best I have had so far is their garlic shrimp. The pumpkin curry is amazing, along with excellent green papaya salad, and the eggplant basil dish. I will definitely be going back!
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Unfortunately the last time I went to Ning's I got a take out of Tom Yum soup. What I love about Thai coconut soup is there are about ten flavors dancing on my tongue. Ended up throwing it in the bushes at home. Couldn't eat it. Flat and bland. I hope Ning's is doing better but I haven't been back.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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We'd only been to Ning's about 3-4 times, always good, but it had been a few years since we'd been. When Roys was closed we went to Nings and while good, we both commented on how it seemed substantially more bland than what we remembered. We thought maybe it was just us, but maybe that wasn't the case. Also the chicken satay was uncomfortably dark pink in the middle. Not quite bloody. And bland. Nothing bad enough to deter us from going back, but next time we'll order something other than "mild" for the curry and maybe skip the blood satay.
I like Sombats in Hilo because they understand "mild plus". A term the employee suggested when I described their medium was too much, and their mild was not enough. I tried ordering that once at Nings and they looked at me like I asked them to serve me a bratwurst or something else completely foreign to them.
I've been accused of being too critical about the eateries on this forum, not my intent. Our meal at Nings, while somewhat bland, was still enjoyable, and we didn't get sick from the chicken satay that appeared to be a bit on the raw side. We'll go back. But it might be awhile.
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I agree that Ning's has gone downhill. Or maybe "less consistent" is a better way to put it. (Their bell curve is wide and flat: when they're good they're really good; when they're bad they're really bad.) I've had only one horrible meal there, the Massaman curry, something that's normally delicious. This time it tasted like someone had dropped a melted plastic spoon in the pot, a weird, unnatural taste. I tossed it.
The other problem I've had with Ning's is the inconsistency of the spice levels. Like Terracore, I like my hotness level somewhere between mild and medium, even medium works. But on several occasions when I requested "medium," I got a dish so flaming hot it was inedible. To compensate for Ning's inconsistency, we started ordering everything mild, but requested a side of hot sauce. It turned out to be a good workaround because it allows us to customize the hotness.
As for Sukhotai, I've never had a bad meal there. Unfortunately there's one dish they make at Ning's that I love, but isn't on Sukhotai's menu: crispy fish. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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At Ning's, I always order "Thai hot"... It is always hot...It is consistent.
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Roy's Thai has a flexible kitchen that really cares if you have any allergies. Five star service every single time. Huge portions, fresh ingredients, reasonable prices. That's Roy's Thai in Pahoa. Closed Sunday & Monday. Go next Tuesday, put it on your calendar. You're welcome.
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while on topic, I suppose I should give a shout out to sombat hilo, I went there a few weeks ago and it was a big improvement from the last time I went. Maybe a fluke, but, we will probably go again next time we need a thai fix.
I'll be trying Roys next time we are down that way after 3PM and hungry.
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Sombats is awesome. If you go during the lunch hour and eat from their steam table... not as good. Spend the extra $ and order off the menu.
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To each their own. We went to Sombats once when we moved here in 2012 and it wasn't to our taste - my wife is Thai. We have not been to Roy's but Oi, the owner, has a booth at Makuu Market and owned the one in Keaau. We prefer Somsamai's in Makuu or her restaurant on Furnaux for lunch Tu-Fri. Furnaux becomes the alley at the end of Garden Exchange.
Allen
Finally in HPP
Allen
Finally in HPP
