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Little Wayla

4.5 (22 reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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LITTLE WAYLA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Outdoor seating

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We love this Thai lunch spot, it quick and well priced and limited menu perfect for a quick grab and go.

$5 lunch box with veggie curry and mixed vegetables on top
Su-Yee L.

Decided to check out Little Wayla for lunch today and was not disappointed! Their $5 lunch box ($5.44 with tax) includes rice, a veggie curry that was similar to massaman curry in flavor but not at all spicy, and mixed vegetables (broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, onions). Good portion for a light lunch and everything was flavorful if not super exciting. I enjoyed it--it's a good deal if you like veggies! I was told that the $5 lunch box is always the same dishes. There's also the option of a $10 lunch box where you get to choose three entrees over rice. The other entrees today were crispy chili chicken, tofu with string beans, and am eggplant dish. Apparently these dishes change every day. I'm looking forward to trying out some other dishes next time! Flavors don't seem as complex as the dishes at Wayla but everything was still tasty. Staff was super nice and happy to explain the options to me. You can eat in or take out. They're open from 12-3pm on weekdays so check them out!

Choice of 3 ($12.95) -- white rice w/ roasted chicken, salmon and green beans
Heidi M.

During the pandemic, Little Wayla's been serving up the community with incredibly affordable, authentically delicious $5 lunch boxes! Nothing like what you'd expect from a typical Thai takeout spot. From about 12-3pm on weekdays, sometimes they offer only one choice (usually a protein/meat with veggies) or two choices, which includes a vegetarian option. And since we're working from home now, we get to stop in all the time - it's been the best. Goodbye overpriced Midtown lunches, you are not missed at all! I believe they're always rice boxes (no noodles or any other "base") since it's the easiest to prepare, which is fine since the jasmine rice is always so fresh and so good. I've gotten the string beans and tofu combo a couple of times, the shredded curry chicken with bamboo another time, and once they offered these yummy (fried) hard boiled eggs that were soaked in a sweet soy sauce. These meals are very simple but they also have a bit of a spicy Thai kick to it, and always taste so homemade. My boyfriend and I are huuuge fans. Portion size is perfect for lunch, unless you are a big eater like my bf or want to save for dinner - then I'd recommend getting maybe 2 boxes per person. In addition, we always receive such wonderful service here. 10/10 neighborhood gem.

Lunch box special
Madeleine B.

I stopped by for the lunch special. You get to choose 3 entrees in a lunch box for $10, and I think the options rotate daily. I got chili fried chicken, tofu and green beans, and green chicken eggplant curry. Everything was solid for the price, but not as much depth of flavor as I'd hoped.

Storefront
Mike C.

The Wayla team just opened a little fast casual version right upstairs from the original restaurant. It's the pick a base plus proteins formula, but it's done extremely well. You can do greens, rice or sticky rice, and then choose among several proteins and vegetables. I tried rice with tofu & eggs and the ground chicken, which was nice and spicy. Definitely get a frozen Thai iced tea to cool down.

Wendy C.

I had just finished my driving lessons in the neighborhood and was STARVING. On my way home, I walked by a little Thai restaurant that seemed new and was eager to give it a try. The moment I stepped in, I felt fantastic! The fast restaurant was bright, spacious, clean, and simple. Just my type. It's minimalistic, yet comforting and welcoming at the same time. The two women working there were kind, attentive, eager to answer any questions I had, and made the process simple and quick. I was in and out in ~5 minutes. I got the three entree lunchbox with purple sticky rice (+ $1), pork jerky, broccoli/zucchini/brussel sprouts, and chicken curry. All of which were VERY delicious. Even my boyfriend (Thai food fanatic) approved. The only thing that I'm iffy about with the whole thing was the price tag. It was $15.19 for the lunch box, which I would say should have been $11 - $12 max. Definitely stop by for some quick and delicious Thai food if you're in the neighborhood, though!

Fried chicken, panang curry over rice, green beans, and carrots.

Phenomenal lunch restaurant; if I could give it 6 stars I would. The fried chicken was fantastic, not overly breaded or greasy. Very bright and clean ambience with plenty of space to sit, both inside and outside. The guy behind the counter was very gracious and offered to let me sample the curries when I asked which was the most popular. Prices are to be expected for New York, around $13 - $15. I'll definitely be coming back.

the counter
Minh M.

Since work has never allowed me to visit Wayla (which opens only for dinner on weekdays and brunch on weekends), as an avid fan of Thai cuisine, I was devastated. However, I was blessed by a deity figure (probably a god of Thai cuisine who acknowledged my desperation) and Little Wayla gracefully stepped into my life. I read about their opening on Wayla's instagram account and immediately made my visit today, which was their second day of operation. I was probably their first customer of the day since I came in just 20 minutes after they opened. Food: I got a 3-entree lunchbox with: Soy Sauce Braised Egg and Tofu, Green Curry, and Stir Fried Cuttlefish with white rice. Spot on Thai comfort food! The level of flavors were just right and comforting. I appreciate the fact that the menu offers dishes that you don't usually find in most Thai restaurants. Give me Little Wayla's lunchbox everyday and you'll see the best version of me. The only itsy bitsy tiny complaint that I have is the portion of the rice was a little less than I expected, but the lunchbox at a whole is very filling. Bonus: when a Thai friend explained to me that Little Wayla means "little time", I thought it was brilliant and they did live up to the name, being super quick without compromising the quality. Service & Atmosphere: The place is insanely adorable. Vibrant colors and decorations that definitely help with boosting the appetite. I was greeted by two girls at the cashier, who were friendly and looked joyful. I was surprised that, even though the concept revolves around lunchbox, it wasn't very "to-go friendly". The plastic lid did not fit the compostable container, so they had to tape my lunchbox to prevent leaking (even though it didn't help much), and I ended up having to hold it in my hand the entire time I traveled. Plus, the container absorbed a lot of the saucy goodie from the entrees, which did make me a bit sad. But it's not something that bothered me. Understandably, there were certainly a few first day's minor hiccups, but it was great overall. For now, sit down at one of their cute tables, immerse yourself in the whimsical vibe, and enjoy their awesome food. You know I'll be there whenever I can.

Tania S.

Came here for lunch and it didn't disappoint. It was a bit late in the day for lunch so they ran out of two of the items. I was a little sad, as I did want to try the yellow curry. Luckily, in the middle of assembling my second box, they replenished the two missing items! So I actually got to try almost everything, besides the broccoli which had pork in it. The chicken with bamboo was really good, had a bit of a kick from the peppers. The fried chicken was good. My only complaint would be I wished it was crispy. But not that bad considering it was sitting in a bit of sauce. The yellow curry and mixed veggies were good but I couldn't differentiate because the curry sauce got all over the mixed veggies. Overall a good meal and a great value at $10 a box.

Frozen Thai ice tea and lunchbox set

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

Wish it was open longer! The food is great, always different options, and friendly staff.

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Mitr Thai - Short Rib Prik Kang (~$37)

Mitr Thai

4.6(928 reviews)
2.7 mi•Midtown West
•$$$

This is an excellent restaurant to go to for Thai cuisine. We went after watching a Broadway show…read more And made reservations for 4 people for 9pm. We were seated promptly , then given our customary beverage orders (Thai iced tea, of course). And while mulling over the menu with excellent choices , our server Salina suggested certain items for dinner. Her recommendations were spot on. We tried the papaya salad, soft shell crab, deboned duck, crispy pork with noodles. And the crispy branzino... everything was devoured quickly!! The dishes were full of flavor, but some were lacking in spiciness(our request really since we had a friend who could not tolerate spices). The post-meal dessert was very good as well. We had a wonderful time dining, and the service was top-notch. Thanks, Salina...!!!

Mitr Thai is an upscale Thai restaurant with great food, excellent service, and a beautiful…read moreambiance. My husband and I came on a Saturday night and were able to get seated immediately without reservations. The menu was expansive and was broken up by different regions of Thailand which I thought was unique and a cool touch! We ordered the beef pad Thai and chicken tom kha because they're our go-to's when having Thai. Both dishes were delicious and I'd recommend them. Our waitress was also super friendly and checked in on us often. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and would recommend this restaurant!

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Mitr Thai - Main Dining Room

Main Dining Room

Mitr Thai - Short Rib Prik Kang

Short Rib Prik Kang

Mitr Thai - Crab Fried Rice (~$32)

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Crab Fried Rice (~$32)

Dagg Thai Restaurant - Pad Thai with beef

Dagg Thai Restaurant

4.4(164 reviews)
2.3 mi•Midtown East
•$$$

I haven't been here for dinner but for a quick lunch this place is the best!…read more Slightly elevated lunch experience and a little on the pricy side but the quality is great. Everything tastes really fresh, veggies are always perfect, and their tofu is outstanding, so flavorful. The space is beautiful and I'd love to come back for dinner sometime but I'm just not in this area often for dinner. Service is also warm and friendly, super welcoming. Love the pad see ew but honestly every dish I've tried has been great.

A favorite of coworkers who hit this for lunch, popped in for a dinner celebration…read more The decor is simple and clean, liked that - seated at a table that was a little on the small side (one guy had a stool that had no back but at least was against the wall) - on a Monday night at 9p they were still busy but fit our group of six in. They had a very respectable pad see ew beef - sweet and savory, good amount of egg, a little stronger bitter broccoli but otherwise a good dish, good quantity to fill you up even though in the bowl it seemed smaller than it actually was with the rice noodle cooked well. The steamed sea bass with garlic and lime (Pla Neueng Manow) had beautifully cooked sea bass with a very nice spicy/sour/savory green garlic sauce which I'll have to try again. The fried version is supposedly very good, too, and the one person that always gets the basil fried rice had a wonderful aroma that we'll have to try again later. Mango sticky rice was a tasty dessert (although we probably didn't need the 3 orders they recommended for our table of 6), though usually like I like the purple rice version better, and came with a very cute shovel spoon. They gave a free birthday dessert of caramel delight which was ok, crumbly and sweet (I'm not a caramel fan but others liked it). Overall, good experience and solid food - while not the best Thai I've ever had, this certainly is a keeper for the Midtown East area. Will come again soon to try the lunch specials! Service was a little slow due to how busy they were, but do appreciate the birthday candle for the birthday friend!

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Dagg Thai Restaurant - Upstairs

Upstairs

Dagg Thai Restaurant - Green curry

Green curry

Dagg Thai Restaurant - Our appetizers were delicious.

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Our appetizers were delicious.

Charoen Krung Thai - Drunken Noodle

Charoen Krung Thai

4.7(458 reviews)
2.9 mi•Midtown East
•$$

Honestly one of my favorite parts of this night was the drinks. The chrysanthemum drink tasted…read moremostly like tea with just a little bit of alcohol, such a great balanced cocktail. The coconut one was so delicious and one of my favorites that night The food was just as good. Our waiter recommended the three flavors branzino and it was so fresh and the sweet, tangy, sour and slightly spicy sauce on top was delicious. The ghang phed duck is one of their signatures and the duck was slightly dry but the curry sauce was so savory and flavorful I would order it again just for that. We also got the papaya salad because gotta have your greens For dessert we got the mango sorbet from the summer menu and it was great, just sad we couldn't get the mango sticky rice since it is completely out of season now but loved the mix of the blue sticky rice & mango sorbet together! I came here after two weeks in Europe craving Thai food and this hit the spot!! It is also ranked #35 on Yelp's 2026 Top 100 Places to Eat in the US.

Wasn't originally expecting live music but was pleasantly surprised that they host musicians for…read moreFriday and Saturday dinners - lucky me! This place was buzzing and their cocktails were very pretty, and I had to try some even though I'm not usually a drinker. Also really recommend the dessert - the sticky rice was so yummy! The best part is that they have a vegan friendly menu, so don't miss out on that!

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Charoen Krung Thai - Bar by entry

Bar by entry

Charoen Krung Thai - Summer Rolls (Pork&Shrimp)

Summer Rolls (Pork&Shrimp)

Charoen Krung Thai - Tub Tim Mocktail

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Tub Tim Mocktail

Sabai Thai - Massaman Curry

Sabai Thai

4.3(626 reviews)
1.9 mi•Flatiron, Midtown East
•$$$

The first thing you'll notice is how beautiful the space is. Gorgeous interiors, a warm atmosphere,…read moreand genuinely friendly hosts made for a great first impression. We started with the curry puffs and satay buns, both of which were easy wins. No complaints, I would happily order them again. The Khao Soi was the highlight of my meal. Rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. I love when restaurants get this right. They also do super thin noodles in the khao soi which is a plus for me. I also tried a little bit of the crab fried rice which was also incredible. I also ordered the lychee mocktail. The drink itself was fairly average, but it came with a lychee mochi that completely stole the show. I honestly enjoyed the mochi more than the drink itself. Overall, this is just good, no-nonsense Thai food. Nothing feels overly gimmicky. The restaurant focuses on solid flavors, a beautiful space, and warm hospitality. I'd happily come back to work my way through more of the menu.

It was very easy to make a reservation. The ambiance and decor were so romantic and cozy. We…read morestarted off with the drinks. I ordered a delicious lychee Martini. For appetizers, we ordered the Sate, curry puff, chicken dumpling and shrimps. Everything was on point. The main course was the shrimp dish, chicken and tofu panang was our favorite. The fried rice and pad tai were just about okay. We ended the night with free celebration dessert my loved ones birthday celebration

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Sabai Thai
Sabai Thai - $16: curry puff

$16: curry puff

Sabai Thai - Butterfly Pea Lemonade

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Butterfly Pea Lemonade

KRAAM Thai - Spicy Crispy Rice & Pork Sausage Salad

KRAAM Thai

4.5(117 reviews)
1.9 mi•Flatiron
•$$$

Everything about this place was beautiful. My friend and I stumbled upon this restaurant since both…read moreof us love Thai food and she's never tried more of the authentic dishes. I happily introduced her to my two favorite go tos: the crab fried rice and the steamed branzino. The crab fried rice was nothing like I was used to. Even at some of the other notable Thai restaurants I've been to, their crab fried rice presentation was basic compared to this one. The egg on this fried rice was soft and melty the soon it touches your tongue, and we didn't even have to chew it. It melted perfectly with the buttery crab and the rice was so warm and soft. It was a sizable portion but it didn't take us long to gobble it all down. Then came the steamed branzino. The presentation here I want to say is so unique that it blew me away. The fish was cut so that the head and tail of the fish was chopped off (a little disappointed but glad it was clean cut), the fish was so soft you would question if it was even fish...the soup was lightly seasoned with chili and lime and it wasn't super overpoweringly spicy that you can still taste the fish flavor. Everything was delicious and they even had a pre fixe menu that I will definitely come back and try again! My drink I ordered was also very creative and a mix of strong bourbon with the creaminess of Thai tea. Very interesting combination but I don't hate it! It was strong and welcoming and I want to try the other drinks when I come back as well. As pictured, the drink menu is beautiful and our server came back and forth to make sure everything was okay. We actually stayed past closing hours but they weren't rushing us (which was very hospitable of them)

I came here for restaurant week 2026 for dinner because I was craving fried soft shell crab and…read morethey had it on their menu. From the second we entered until we left, service was great. They were conscious of always keeping my water filled (I was very thirsty) and the timing of the courses was great. We weren't left sitting waiting for long for the next course but we also didn't feel rushed. The portions were large and I think it was a good deal for restaurant week. My friend ordered the pork chop for his entree and it came with two large chops. Good to take back as leftovers.

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KRAAM Thai - Environment

Environment

KRAAM Thai - Moo Palo

Moo Palo

KRAAM Thai - Environment

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Little Wayla - thai - Updated October 2026

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