Michael C.

So happy to have come here. Wonderful experience from the staff, to the ambiance, to the meal. All of the food was so flavorful, fresh, and delicious. Drinks were so creative and fun and really hit the spot. Bartenders were awesome, super good vibes. Will be back expeditiously to try out the rest of the menu!

Danielle F.

I stopped in quickly for an early dinner before my flight and wished I had come across this place earlier so I could've enjoyed sampling more items. I had the crudo (loved the coconut in this), the calamari (so good), the lamb skewer (great seasoning), and the ice cream sandwich (perfect two-bite portion, though I'd save room for more bites of their snacks/small plates over it). Service was so friendly and my food came out really quickly (which was great since I was cutting it close to get to the airport in time #priorities). Next time I'm in NYC I will absolutely come back and try out their cocktails as well!

Pratima M.

A fun spot for unique, well-crafted cocktails -- it's a bit tucked away, but would recommend before a Broadway show since it's close by to the theaters. It's relatively easy to get a reservation too. The cocktails had interesting spices, my favorites were 7 Long Years and Price is Raita! The food here is small, sharable bites -- definitely smaller portions to snack on rather than full meals. The Calamari and Oysters were delicious, loved the crispy shallot and spicy sauce on the latter. The Masala Fries are solid too. I'd definitely come back if I'm in the area!

Isabelle P.

A group of my friends and I beelined to monkey thief Tuesday evening after seeing death becomes her. It was exactly what we were looking for! We had a light bite prior to the show and found ourselves a bit peckish following, but not for an entire meal. Monkey thief was absolutely perfect! We had the chicken satay, lamb, & dumplings. The dumplings were different than any dumplings I've had in the past and a clear standout. I also had the "7 long years" cocktail which was delicious! I'm someone that despises a sweet cocktail so I shy away from ordering one, but the server was very kind to share that it's ultimately a spicy margarita, very well balanced as the sesame oil cuts it. It was exactly what we were looking for post show and had a good vibe with a decent amount of ppl on a Tuesday night without it being crowded! Definitely worth checking out!

Tiffany V.

Love the ambiance and stellar creative menu of top notch food and cocktails at Monkey Thief! I have visited several times with different groups of friends, and it always stands to impress locals and tourists alike. If you like bold and punchy Asian/Southeast Asian flavors done well, this is a spot to check out! 5/5 Duck Hunter 5/5 Wizard of Os 4.5/5 Kiwi&Peel 4.5/5 Lychee no lychee 4/5 Tea Service 4/5 Croquettes 4/5 Fries 5/5 Ice Cream Sandwich

Lanasha R.

A perfect brunch and thank you to Mihir for the amazing service! We stopped into Monkey Thief on a Sunday before heading to Union Square. This is a beautiful space. Modern, lush, and bright from the large windows we had the pleasure of sitting in front of. I'm a huge people watcher so this was a nice addition to the meal. Gorgeous bar! I got the sun chaser to drink, which was refreshing. Mango, sake, and bubbles? Sign me up! It was like a tropical and grown mimosa. Their burger was a 10/10! The jam paired perfectly and the bun was light. I tried a bit of the fried rice and that was amazing as well. Definitely worth the visit and I'll be back to try more menu options. I've got my eye on the monkey booty (LOL) I love a good surprise so I would love to see what that rotating cocktail consists of.

Sharon J.

My favorite cocktail bar in Hell's Kitchen! Been here multiple times now and it's still just as good every time, plus there's never been a wait when I go even on Saturday night. I believe it's owned by the same people as Sama Street in Brooklyn, which I also really loved. Unique flavor combinations inspired by Asian flavors in a cute, dim environment and super friendly staff. My favorites are the Major Tom (lemongrass & more savory) and 7 long years (nice blend of sesame). I tend to enjoy more unique, savory drinks and would recommend these if that's what you're looking for. The Tea Service & Price is Raita were delicious as well. Definitely want to come back to try their brunch! :)

Adam S.

A true cocktail bar in Hell's Kitchen - I'd never thought I'd see the day. While there are many nearby bars and restaurants in the area with a cocktail program, there aren't any where the mixology is the focus. There are ones where the drinks are simply just too sweet, others where the focus is on wine with a nice cocktail program, and others where the restaurant's food is the primary focus and the cocktails are secondary. But here, the mixology of the cocktails are in the forefront. As you peruse the menu, many of the ingredients you'll see in the cocktails may seem... different... from a typical cocktail. At Monkey Thief, the variety of ingredients complement one another and are paired beautifully in a way I never thought possible: fish sauce? yep. sesame? yep, that too. chaat masala? mmhmm. Just like any cocktail program, some drinks will be sweeter while others will be boozier. The 7 Long Years is a take on a spicy pineapple margarita with a touch of sesame, a gateway drink to the many other eclectic flavors on the menu. The Bullet Train is a really well made espresso martini. I really like the Major Tom. And the Tea Service, while on the sweeter side, is also delicious. The service is attentive but not overly so. And even the food is complementary, with similar pan-Asian flavors and you can't really go wrong with anything. Our last visit, we got an order of fries and they were addicting, to say the least. On other visits, we tried the calamari, potstickers, and fried chicken, which were all delectable. Now my fourth time to Money Thief, they continue to be consistent with every visit, and while we didn't need a reservation this time, I wouldn't be surprised if they become a necessity soon as it became busier and busier as the night progressed.

Jihye B.

Excellent drinks, food, and service! I arrived pretty early on Friday evening not expecting a huge crowd for a bar, but I forgot that pre-theatre drinks and dinner is a thing in Hells Kitchen! We put our names down for bar seats and were able to snag some in 45 minutes. It is beautifully decorated keeping in accords with the pan-Asian vibes, largely with South and Southeast Asian influences. There was great music blasting. Our bartender Aleks was handling our side of the bar like a champ while churning out these beautiful drinks. I tried the Major Tom as my first drink, a highly recommended cocktail from patrons and staff alike. The description had me worried with the "savory" part since I am a Certified Lightweight™ and tend to find strong liquor difficult. Luckily, the savory nature came from the light perfume of fish sauce, and the rest of the drink was really just multidimensional but delicate. The lemongrass flavor was pronounced. It made me feel like I was drinking an "adult" proper cocktail but not so much that I start missing my little basically-juice-with-a-hint-of-alcohol type drinks. My brother got the Lychee, No Lychee, which amazingly tastes like lychee martini despite having no lychee in it. I know it's food science and flavor combinations that achieve this effect, but I would like to believe it is magic. I had a Tea Service as my second drink. I was really intrigued by the name, but a little reluctant since I don't do well with warmed up alcohol. Aleks explained that the lavender foam is served warm but the actual drink is cold. I loved the contrast in the texture and temperature. The drink itself reminded me of thin mints and those lavender cold foam matchas. It was like a perfect dessert cocktail. I got to try some of the bar food, and to call these items "bar food" almost feels insulting. The food was really great and honestly better than some restaurants I've been to. The corn nuts were spiced with zaab, zingy and spicy. The fries were crispy well dried with a toss of masala spices, and I thought the choice to serve them with a hot and sweet chili sauce rather than ketchup was great. And despite all this, the fries didn't feel salty at all. (You'd expect the bar fries to be salty to encourage more drinks!) Ribs had a nice smattering of fish sauce flavor that went great with the smoky sweet flavor. Grilled coconut salad was a great palate refresher, crunchy and sweet. Fried chicken was so tender and juicy with crispy seasoned exterior, like Taiwanese popcorn chicken. I didn't feel it needed the spicy cucumber yogurt dip it came with, the dip was nice to eat on its own in between bites of heavier food. My absolute favorite from the menu was the king oyster mushroom skewer. Something about that creamy rendang sambal sauce was so luxurious and went great with the meaty fragrant morsels of the mushroom. Overall, I'm glad I got to try Monkey Thief before it gets any more famous and crowded. The cocktails are so reasonably priced for being this intricate. And the focus on the food program really impressed me. I think this is such a great spot for a pre or post theater catch-up but it would be great to visit on any night. It can cater to both the mixology aficionados and completely new beginners (like me)! When I don't have to rush to catch the train back home, I'd love to stay and try more drinks (again, Certified Lightweight™, so I was on my way to being hammered after drink #2).

Jenny Z.

Loved all the drinks we tried here! They were all light (not tooo strong) and on the more refreshing side, and each had its own unique kick. We got the lychee no lychee, 7 long years, duck hunter, and price is raita. In terms of which one was the most unique, I think price is raita had the most interesting mix of flavors (that really worked!) so I would try that. Duck hunter was fun since it came with a fortune cookie. Service was also super fast and they also gave us some corn nuts to snack on! Would def make a reservation since it was really full by the time we left.

Wendy B.

Sama Street came to Midtown! Croquette - LOVE & must. Not a boring croquette that flavors are mixed in the fillings. Grilled Coconut Salad - lettuce cup style so it's not expected. I really wanted a salad. Holy Trini Tini - too martini not much garlic & green onion flavor 7 Long Year - tasty but light Fun place must try!

Aude L.

Y'all.... I've been on the hunt for a cocktail bar I'd like to frequent. One that has consistently amazing cocktail, creative recipes, and fun staff. I think I've found the one! Everything I've had here is consistently amazing. I have yet to try the food, but the drinks are a solid 11/10, without having a pretentious vibe or uptight bartenders. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between lively and intimate, making it great for date nights or catching up with friends. The staff clearly knows their craft, and they're always happy to recommend something based on your taste. Bonus points for the unique menu! Monkey Thief might just be my new go-to spot in Manhattan. If you're a cocktail lover, this place is a must-visit.

Michael C.

What an amazing experience! The food, the drinks, the service, and the ambiance -- all felt magical and innovative. The menu is curated and unique. You have, for instance, martinis infused with garlic and scallions I hard a hard time deciding what to order because I wanted to try everything. I ended up getting the 'Old School' (a riff on an OF cocktail), bourbon with rum, pandan, root beer and amaro. I was hesitant but it was amazing. Subtle and balanced. I also ordered the Kiwi & Peel (more of a tiki drink), it was also good. The food was amazing. Some highlights included the skewers (chicken and lamb), croquettes, chicken bao, the dumplings, and pork belly fried rice. It was all amazing, perfect flavor balance and nuances. We were also treated to dessert: ice cream sandwiches (saffron ice cream with biscuits dipped in dark chocolate). This was the only pain point. The chocolate overwhelmed the saffron and I really wanted more flavor in the ice cream itself. Overall a phenomenal meal. I will be returning.