When Eater invited Atlanta’s Priah Ferguson, best known for her role as Erica Sinclair on Stranger Things, to lunch, she quickly suggested a place hidden in plain sight: Spoon Eastside, a no-frills Thai comfort food restaurant that’s flown under the radar. Co-owners and sisters Sujaree Hewitt and Ain Suteeluxnaporn opened the restaurant in 2009 and have been slinging wok-fried Thai fare ever since, drawing neighborhood regulars for generous portions of noodles, fried rice, and curry.
What to order
- The basil chicken fried rice ($14) is Ferguson’s go-to. The basil chili sauce brings a gentle heat and plenty of herbal fragrance, while onions and bell peppers add crunch throughout.
- The khao soi ($27.60) is a deeply comforting bowl of rice noodles in chicken curry broth, loaded with vegetables and crowned with a tangle of crispy egg noodles. It’s rich, warming, and full of contrasting textures.
- “You’ve got to get the Thai tea,” says Ferguson, who’s only recently graduated from high school. It’s sugary, creamy, and cold, reminiscent of Starbucks frappuccinos in glass bottles we’d throw down in high school.
Best for
Spoon is a neighborhood joint that quickly becomes an ol’ reliable for takeout pad thai and fried rice. It’s also an easy lunch stop, with an unfussy menu that works for families and kids.
Insider tip
The restaurant has a newly launched cocktail menu. Try the lychee martini ($13) made with local Scofflaw Brewing’s Flippin Bird Pink Atlanta Vodka.
