On NE 123rd Street in North Miami, Ricky Thai Bistro built its reputation on a genuine love story and a menu of authentic Thai cooking made fresh every night. 🍜
This family-owned hole-in-the-wall opened in 2011 and takes its name from the owners’ own son, a detail that captures just how personal this little restaurant really is.
Between duck basil, jumbo shrimp curry, and a green papaya salad made the traditional way in a Thai mortar, Ricky Thai has become one of North Miami’s most beloved neighborhood dining spots.
How Ricky Thai Bistro won North Miami’s hearts
Ricky Thai Bistro is run by husband-and-wife owners Giuliano Carrafelli and Majcha Manomai, who met and fell in love in Rome before eventually opening their restaurant together in North Miami. 💕
Carrafelli hails from Italy, and Manomai is originally from Thailand, and their son Ricky, whose name graces the restaurant’s sign, was just nine years old when the bistro first opened its doors.
The restaurant closed for a massive renovation and expansion in July, after signing a lease on the space next door back in 2018, with Carrafelli spending two years drawing up plans before pandemic shutdowns delayed the project further.
Every entree is prepared fresh rather than assembled ahead of time, and the menu lets diners choose their own spice level and protein across curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.
Longtime regulars, some of whom have been coming for over a decade, describe the restaurant as a true family-owned local gem where the owners remain lovely and hands-on years after opening.
That blend of a genuinely romantic origin story, hands-on ownership, and a menu built on fresh, customizable Thai classics is exactly what has made Ricky Thai Bistro one of North Miami’s most cherished neighborhood restaurants. 🌟
Food Highlights
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Duck Basil: Roasted duck, deboned and deep-fried until crispy, served with house-made basil sauce, fresh vegetables, bamboo shoots, and Thai basil. 🦆
- Green Papaya Salad – Som Tam: Shredded green papaya mixed the traditional way in a Thai mortar with tomatoes, ground peanuts, fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. 🥗
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Pad See Ew: Flat wide rice noodles sautéed with eggs, Chinese broccoli, and roasted garlic, garnished with bean sprouts, scallions, and cilantro. 🍜
- Pad Thai: Rice noodles sautéed in a lightly sweet house-made pad Thai sauce with eggs and ground peanuts, garnished with bean sprouts, scallions, cilantro, and a lime wedge. 🥜
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Volcano Seafood: Shrimp, squid, and green shell mussels stir-fried in the wok with house-made volcano seafood sauce, fresh mixed vegetables, and Thai herbs. 🦑
- Kao Pad Poo (Crab Fried Rice): Fried rice tossed in the wok with real crab meat, diced carrots, and celery, garnished with cilantro, scallions, and a lime wedge. 🦀
- Satay Chicken: Four grilled chicken skewers marinated with curry powder, kaffir leaves, and coconut milk, served with house-made peanut sauce and sweet chili relish. 🍢
- Massaman Curry: A royal-style curry with bell peppers, onions, carrots, potatoes, cashew nuts, Massaman curry paste, and coconut milk. 🥥
Atmosphere
Ricky Thai Bistro keeps its space true to its hole-in-the-wall roots, even after the restaurant expanded into the neighboring storefront. 🏠
The dining room stays busy during lunch and dinner, with a steady line of regulars who have been coming back for over a decade.
It’s the kind of North Miami, Florida spot where a family’s love story quietly becomes part of the neighborhood’s own story. 🍜
Bottom Line
Ricky Thai Bistro earns its neighborhood-favorite status through a genuinely romantic founding story, made-to-order Thai cooking, and hands-on ownership from Giuliano Carrafelli and Majcha Manomai.
Add dishes like the Duck Basil and Green Papaya Salad, and it’s easy to see why this North Miami hole-in-the-wall has kept locals coming back for well over a decade. 🍜
Address:
1617 NE 123rd St, North Miami, FL 33181
📞 (305) 891-9292
🕔 Open Mon–Sat, 4 PM–10 PM (closed Sun)