Yajai: For noodles yes, for fried taro no

This fried monster is the "taro pancake" appetizer from Yajai in Astoria. I'm not sure I would recommend it though—this solid block of taro shreds was fried way too hard and tasted mostly of oil, and the whole peanuts studded throughout didn't add anything to it, either. Still, for the other items on its menu Yajai remains probably one of the best in the area; they offer pretty decent curries, salads, and of course, pad thai and pad see-ew. Among other Astorian friends, Yajai seems to be everyone's standby Thai takeout place, and for good reason.