Absolutely top dining experience. Service and decor are fabulous. The food has complex flavor profiles but it's clean and fresh. Had a super cocktail and two just perfect starters. I wasn't there for a big meal- but my two appetizers (both specials for summer) gave me a real sense of their style and approach. Can't say enough good about it. It's not cheap. But nothing really is any more, so if you are spending you might as well get a really good meal in a really nice spot. Plus it's next to a wonderful bookstore. So win win. read more

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This place is incredibly cute if you're looking for a nice ambiance. It was my first time trying it out and I loved the small attention to details. There was a live saxophone player and I loved the live flowers they had. Our waiter was extremely nice and took the time to explain the menu as well as their customer favorites. I order a Thai iced tea which wasn't bad but I prefer mine a little thicker and sweeter. It came in a thin tall glass which in theory was not a lot of drink. To start we order the chicken appetizer and fried beef on rice to share and unfortunately I did not snap a pic but these were listed under apps or shareables but the portions were extremely small. As our mains came I noticed that they were also small and each were around $20-$30 per plate. Not a bad thing if you don't eat much but I'm a big bang for buck type of gal. My family came to share and this place is a more fine dining thai restaurant which could explain the smaller portions. We ordered the pad Thai which was alright in my opinion I expected a little more flavor, the aubergine which was tossed vegetables as recommended by our waiter which was also ok not much flavor but beautiful plating though, and the coconut curry which was by far my favorite. If I were to come back here I would order that again, it was a nice light yet complex flavor profile which made me savor every bite. Overall good place for an upbeat fancier meal and I highly recommend the coconut curry braised chicken if you visit. Little pricey but that's just my opinion let me know what you guys think if you visit! Oh and they also give your receipt in a boat which they spin and leave a thank you card once you paid which was really cute. read more

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Delicious food, creatively prepared - very authentic, yet adventuresome. Service was excellent and the ambiance was very pleasant- you could see that other diners were happy to be there, as we were. Live music on guitar was lovely. This is a gem in downtown Evanston! read more

Had lunch at this place for Asian fusion. It's a tired cuisine concept for sure, but they do it good. Nakorn is one of the many places in Evanston to get this kind of stuff. Mostly it focuses on Thai such as noodles and stuff with coconut. The prices aren't bad for the usually great quality. At lunch things are a bit cheaper. It's the main reason we came at this time. There's also plenty of good vegan and vegetarian choices and lots of spicy stuff or whatever. It's about $12 for a cocktail. There's a good amount of Asian inspired ones. Among these is the Bangkok Mule. This was made with kaffir lime infused vodka. Crisp and refreshing. The food is kind of pricey, which is the only bad thing. It's about $16 for an entree. The vegetarian choices include the Crispy Rice With Iceberg Wedge. A lame name but it was good. This had chili lime dressing, ginger, peanuts, shallots, tofu noodles, and white jelly mushrooms. Good just slightly Americanized Thai food. It's pretty authentic to be honest. The lunch is a good time to come and try some of the recently brought back menu, which has plenty of options for meat eaters, as well as vegans and vegetarians. read more

NaKorn - Bangkok Mule And Crispy Rice With Iceberg Wedge - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Came in on Sat night, luckily we mad a reservation a little earlier that same day. Place was full. Front desk help was pleasant and helpful. Got seated very shortly after arrival. Kinda dark, had a musician playing, pretty loud with crowd noises. We're used to west coast asian food and have been to Thailand, so we have some baseline on Thai food. Overall the food was very decent. Little bit Americanized, but key flavors came thru. Spices a bit muted. Order: Thai iced tea- very good. Not so fakey premixed flavor. Northern Thai herb sausage- flavorful but not overpowering. Sweet potato croquettes- very nicely done/textbook, flavor was spot on. Chicken lettuce wrap was similar to PF Chang but a hair spicier. No complaints. Coconut curry braised chicken- all flavors came out very well, all items cooked nicely. Sautéed tiger prawn and rice noodle. Vegan chocolate cake was super good highly recommend. Peek a boo was awesome but wish had more of it. Overall would stop back again to try more menu items. read more

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I've been here many times and it's always good experience. I went on a Saturday night with a friend. We managed to get a reservation an hour before, which was the last available spot that night. I do recommend making a reservation early as it's a pretty popular restaurant. Food has cute presentation. We got a starter - Thai sausage. It's a little salty but flavorful. Main dishes were the two on the seasonal menu. I got the thai rice noodle with prawns, and my friend got fried chicken. The noodle was in pink color, soaked in coconut. It tasted summery, light flavor which I liked. I had a bite of my friend's fried chicken, which tasted decent, and the garnish (I think it's seasoned potato slices) was slightly soured, which complimented the chicken well. The dessert - mango sticky rice was decent. The thai-tea affogato was very tasty! It's a good balance between icecream, hot chocolate, condensed milk, and thai tea. Although it's on the sweet side (which I assume is the nature of this dessert), I liked it very much. The vibe is exquisite with a touch of casualness. Nice decor, moderate noise (comparing to trendy Chicago restaurants). I wouldn't say it's the best Thai food I've ever had, but the overall experience is always good, with nice vibe, decent food, and friendly service. read more

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Loved this place!!! Well curated Thai. Not your ordinary. We had the branzino and it was awesome. Staff was very attentive with multiple people asking if everything was good. We took some comfy seats near the bar and it was very relaxing. Will highly recommend to anyone looking for a place in Evanston. read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I thought the food was excellent. If there was no musician coupled with an already loud interior, I would give it 5 stars. The food is excellent & I'll be back for lunch which should not be nearly as loud. read more

NaKorn - Curry dish - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Absolutely incredible. Great ambiance friendly staff and well priced. I've gone many times

This is probably my third review on NaKorn but I just have to express my utter joy dining here. Joy not only because Mark, along with the whole staff, are so professional and genuinely kind but the food is a grand slam EVERY SINGLE TIME. I have had so many menu items here and I can't find a flaw. Had an exhausting week of work and Mark surprised me with delicious ginger and lemon grass tea on the house. The Pomelo Salad gave the right type of refreshment that I needed. The Coconut Curry braised chicken...phenomenal! And then that Peek-A-Boo...who in the world came up with jasmine and toasted rice ice cream? The level of creativity in each of their dishes is award winning. How this place is not Michelin recognized or a James Beard award winner yet should be a crime. And such culinary art in a comfortable, classy, yet, relaxed and casual atmosphere. NaKorn is the real deal. read more

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This place is fantastic! Really good more gourmet style but delicious Thai! Get the Bahn Noodles with the braised beef yummmmm! It's heavy! And VERY spicy but you can request mild. Cute spot, good for groups up to 6. Live music by guitar soloist Service is good but when they get busy it can be a while so be patient! Parking is challenging so be prepared to walk a bit. read more

NaKorn - Yummy Banh Mi Beef Noodle bowl. Next time will ask for mild and less crispy noodles! - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This is a fantastic place for a meal. The menu is small, but the dishes are perfectly done and presented. Service is immaculate. Great place. read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Amazing place! Food was delicious, we got the coconut curry chicken, duck confit, and soft shell crab. Flavors were really good and I thought it was cool how the duck confit had lychees in it. The duck was definitely a standout. The only thing is that the sticky rice didn't seem much different from the jasmine rice. Service was really good, the staff was very kind and attentive. I also loved the interior of the restaurant. It was decorated really cute and had a clean and vibey environment. Would love to come back again! read more

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My husband and I met two great friends for dinner tonight! We were all so excited to try NaKorn! It absolutely did NOT disappoint. From the minute we walked in the service, ambiance, and food were impeccable. Our server came by and gave us a great run down of the menu, as well as, background information on the restaurant itself. My husband and I started by sharing the northern Thai sausage and the frisée tofu. Both were delicious and the sauce on the tofu was soooo good!! We also ordered two NA drinks, one was a delicious lychee drink and the other was tea with lemon and co2. We then shared the Braised Angus Beef with Bah Mi noodles. IT WAS SO GOOD! The meat was so incredibly tender and it had a great spice on the backend that was perfect. All of the service was beyond attentive and we were so appreciative. We were some of the last people in the restaurant because we were having such a good time and they were so nice about it. We can't wait to go back and continue trying the rest of the menu! read more

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NaKorn did a beautiful job catering a party I had to attend. The party itself was like sitting through a concert of nails on chalkboard. But the soothing setting, the memorable food and the capable yet down-to-earth waitstaff were all superb -- truly cannot say enough good things about the quality of this restaurant. They made an otherwise insufferable evening mostly bearable. Very skilled at what they do. read more

One word....EXCELLENCE!!!!! I ordered the Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken. Absolutely amazing! Extremely flavorful and tender! And the presentation was beautiful. I will definitely be coming back. The staff is extremely friendly and very attentive. I found this place because I made delivery here. So, I got to see behind the scenes, and got a look at the kitchen and their downstairs area. SUPER CLEAN!!!! So you know they take care of business and don't cut any corners. You will not be disappointed read more

Delicious again. We love everything here. Unique drinks. Great foods. This place is Why you go out. read more

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Great food and service. The fried chicken had the most light and crispy breading I've tasted. The popcorn chicken, chocolate cake, and duck were great as well. The waitstaff is really friendly. I would go back here 100%. read more

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This is amazing place. The service was impeccable and the food was outstanding. All of our dishes were flavorful and light. Perfect for a summer night. This bar provided great libations and the atmosphere was energetic. read more

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Let's be real here, it's white washed Thai food.. like come here if you're expecting that but if you actually want some authentic Thai food. This is not the place. I had the worse pad Thai here and funny thing is they don't even call it pad thai. Would not recommend I don't understand why it has such high rating. Hope this helps because I was definitely fooled by the rating... read more

Truly a tasteful dining experience--from the inventive explosion of flavors in every main dish, to the attentive service of the friendly and knowledgeable staff, and on to the amazing and artfully prepared desserts. NaKorn is the perfect venue for a date night or special occasion but is also very family friendly. The kids' menu features healthy noodle and protein dishes with broccoli and carrots (and was a hit with my toddler granddaughter). read more

NaKorn - Stir-fried Aubergine main dish and an assortment of amazing desserts - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This was a great weekend dinner experience. Had reservations and it was very busy, with very few empty seats. The restaurant is relatively small so it was very loud, though they were close to max capacity. The inside looked nice and had a chill vibe to it. They had a musician playing the saxophone. The food was great and I would highly recommend to anyone. Ginger Bourbon Popcorn Chicken - $15.00 This was an amazing appetizers with a good amount of flavor. Definitely recommend this appetizer. Braised Angus Beef with Bahn Mi Noodles - $28.00 One of the best dishes that I've had in a while. The noodles were initially crispy and would soften when mixed with the broth. There was a perfect mix of spice, sweetness, and flavor. Highly recommend this dish. Coconut Curry Braised Chicken - $27.00 This was great and had a good amount of flavor, with the chicken being very juicy. The coconut cream curry was delicious as well. I would recommend this dish. In addition, the drinks were great. I would recommend this place to anyone. It is a little pricey but definitely worth it for something like a date night or a more special occasion. read more

NaKorn - Ginger Bourbon Popcorn Chicken - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Food is delicious. Presentation is nice. One of the better Thailand restaurants. They also have delivery service. read more

I dined at NaKorn for a work dinner and was not disappointed. While I liked most of the dishes, my favorite by far is the Tofu and Swiss Chard Curry. It is like a warm hug- I found no fault in it. The service is good and the ambiance is elegant yet modern. It wasn't super busy but there were a few large groups, probably graduate students given that the restaurant is located in Evanston. read more

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Beautiful restaurant and amazing service. The location is so pretty and loved the ambiance. The food was also great. I ordered the prawns noodles (pad Thai) it was good but wasn't the tastiest pad Thai I've had. My cousin ordered the curry chicken and that was amazing. It was super flavorful and delicious. I would definitely order that next time instead of the pad Thai. Overall a great and beautiful location. read more

Absolutely one of the most unique meals I have ever had- don't miss out on the Pink Pamelo or Shredded Crispy Beef! Ambience is perfect for duos or even medium-sized parties. Service is 110%! The gentleman with the Eastern European accent was a delight and treated us to stories behind the dishes and gave excellent recommendations' read more

My wife and I stopped in NaKorn this past Wednesday night for a celebration. If I could sum up our experience in one word - Incredible. We sat at the bar and had some of the best service we have had in awhile. The food was absolutely top notch, the honey bourbon chicken was my favorite and my wife loved the lettuce wraps. Though the absolute stand out was the Drinks!! Lo took us on a journey with our drinks and left us appreciative that we were able to partake in the art of a Master of their craft. We will gladly be back and are looking forward to trying some other offerings from the bar menu. You can get a cocktail from just about anywhere now-a-days, but rarely can you find a place that delivers an experience. read more

So so happy we finally came here! On a whim, we decided to try NaKorn tonight and are beyond delighted! From the moment we entered (with our 3 month old in his carrier), the staff wore huge smiles and were incredibly gracious. Then the food... yasssss. Started with the papaya salad which was a huge portion and perfectly seasoned without being salty or too spicy. Also the northern herbed pork sausage. You could taste all the ingredients blended to a marvelous experience that, like all the dishes, combined at least three of the major taste sensations. Then we shared the braised short rib dinner and it was just the most flavorful, tender, complex meal that left us beaming. Finally we just had to try a dessert so got the seasonal Cold Snap that had a smooth, only subtly sweet ginger custard under shaved ice with a grapefruit cranberry flavor... luscious. We will DEFINITELY be back, perfect date night but warm enough to bring the baby :-) Thanks, NaKorn!! read more

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Thank you Nakorn for your hospitality, beautiful food & a great experience. We loved everything we ate, everything we drank & your beautiful space. We loved sharing everything! The tapioca crackers & pomelo salad were our favorites... but nothing disappointed. I'm not a gin drinker but wow, the Aries Rose cocktail was amazing! read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

$.5 stars for this amazing place. The service was spot on 5 stars. got seated right away. the men was explained right off the bat. We ordered cocktails they were amazing. We also had the GF cracker w an incredible peanut sauce. The cracker was tapioca crisps. the sauce was a killer. Wife had the branzino which was nice a crispy. Needed some kind of salsa or something to spice it up a bit. The duck noodle were huge. A quarter - thigh and drum with a nice broth with egg noodles and mushroom and veggies. Really filling. The killer though was the honey and tea GF dessert. We almost licked the bowl it was soooo good. Everybody was friendly like going to a cheers bar. read more

NaKorn - Honey and tea dessert. OMG - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place completely blew me away. Everything was absolutely incredible and bursting with flavor. I was so impressed and honestly couldn't stop smiling the entire time. I can't wait to come back read more

Super friendly service, lovely ambiance and creative, elevated dishes make this gem of a restaurant my new favorite Thai resto! I was delighted by the freshness and acidity in the green papaya salad. The sweet potato fritters, a fall special, was a umami and texture bomb. The creamy interior contrasted well against the crisp exterior. So addictive. For the main, I enjoyed the Bangkok style beef with a perfectly fried over easy egg atop fragrant rice and an ample serving of ground beef sautéed with peppers. I look forward to returning for dinner service as the menu is different in the evening. This is one of those gems where you want to try everything on the menu; a drive from Chicago is warranted to partake of this culinary experience. Hats off to the entire team from the front to the back. Job really well done!! read more

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Service is definitely 5 stars with Rush playing host extraordinaire to a room packed with happy guests. The hostess who warmly greeted us with a smile as we walked in made sure that we got a table even when f we walked in without reservations on a Friday night. It was quite a feat really and again, 5 stars for going the extra mile. The other crew members who took our orders, brought our food and took away our empty plates all did their share in making us feel welcome and cared for. Now on to the food. Hubby was happy with his prawns and noodles - their version of the classic Pad Thai. I found it lacking that traditional wok-seared flavor (referred to as wok hei in Chinese cuisine) is that lends the iconic dish with smokiness and added umami. It was good but not the best we've had. The grilled chicken was good but needed an additional five minutes or so to cook it through. The meat closest to the bone was still a tad rare. The pink pomelo appetizer with toasted coconut flakes, kaffir lime leaves, toasted hazelnuts, crispy shallots with tamarind-chili jam dressing was waaaaay too salty. The staff said that there wasn't any salt in it except for the fish sauce in the dressing, but I swear there were flakes of salt in the dish. The pomelo was sweet and did not offer enough acidity to balance the dish. Rush offered to replace the dish for us but we declined. We ate used to dipping the pomelo in salt where we grew up in the Philippines and ate the whole dish anyway. The fact that we did does not take away from the fact that the dish could use a lot less salt and maybe a squeeze of a tarter citrus like lime to balance the flavors. Dessert was sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and coconut ice cream. Scrumptious! The pudding was chewy and flavorful and the deep caramel notes complemented by the smooth and creamy coconut ice cream. The floating market (root beer crème anglaise with vanilla bean meringue and sweet and sour cherries was also good - light and just the right amount of sweetness, and offset by the tartness of the cherries. Skip the Thai iced tea. It tasted artificial and lacked the depth of flavor that a good tea offers. The place was clean and the vibe young and energetic with touches of South East Asia here and there, including a quirky and colorful boat to hold the bill. We would come back and order the other items in their menu or perhaps the same items to see whether it was just an off night for the kitchen staff. 5 stars for service and 3 stars for the food. So a 4 overall. We will be back! read more

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I went here for the first time for dinner because I was drawn to the vegan options. Although there are only a few, what I ordered was delicious! They had an appetizer special of sweet potato croquettes. The order arrived with 4 small pieces, but since they had the perfect combination of texture and flavor, I felt like I wasn't missing out. For the main entrée, I ordered their tofu and chard curry, which came with a small serving of jasmine rice. Everything tasted amazing! I truly appreciated the flavor and texture combinations. The curry had a tiny bit of spice, which enhanced the dish. The service was also excellent. The staff was professional and courteous. They made us feel welcomed and well taken care of tonight! They kept an eye on filling our water for us, even though the carafe was on our table. Meals were brought out with perfect timing. The atmosphere was trendy and traditional at the same time. The restaurant was warm and cozy and the music was at a comfortable level. Will be back!!! read more

NaKorn - sweet potato croquette - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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A beautiful room, but other than that, really a huge disappointment. The food is pretentious, contrived, and mediocre. Portions were smaller than most Thai restaurants, and even if they were generous, we wouldn't have taken leftovers. The food wasn't very good. With dishes like Ginger Bourbon Popcorn Chicken (are bourbon and popcorn chicken a highlight of Thai cuisine?), Vegetarian Scallops (just call it what is ... MUSHROOMS!) and Brussels sprouts (seriously!) gracing the menu, I felt as if I had entered an alternate universe. If you are serving Thai cuisine, serve Thai cuisine. If you are serving an eclectic menu that hints at Thai cuisine, do that. But get your act together. What really bugged me was the service. The owner of the restaurant took our order and served us. And he sat down at our table! My husband and I were entertaining a new hire at his firm and the owner kept stopping by our table as if we were long, lost pals. Learn your place sir. If you are going to sit with us, pick up the check, otherwise remember we are your customers, not your friends. Familiarity breeds contempt. We were very uncomfortable with this level of "chumminess". Just because the owner has a shared interest, doesn't mean he has free reign to interrupt our conversation by seating himself in the empty chair at our table. There was no delicate way to extricate ourselves from the situation. All in all, not a great evening. I wanted to like NaKorn because it's so convenient, but well go elsewhere in the future. read more

Why hasn't NaKorn Thai restaurant won awards for the whimsy and beauty of its interior design? It deserves them. Pass through the cerulean curtains into the dining room and you're greeted by a portrait of Thailand's King Rama IX rendered in the style of Mao-era propaganda posters. It's stunning. The bar is made of antique abacuses, yes, the calculating instrument that uses beads on rods to represent decimal places. And abacuses appear elsewhere in the dining room, too. The table bases are the legs and treadles of vintage sewing machines. A flock of bird cages turned into chandeliers lights the dining room. If you're a design buff, this is a destination restaurant just to take in the decor. Our meal was delicious. The whole fried branzino was so fresh that I ate every part of it, the eyes, the cheeks, the tongue, reducing the head to a pile of splinters. My favorite dish was the turmeric-coconut blue crab curry noodles. Each team member who visited our table shared stories about the origin of each dish and the inspiration behind the decor. Service was extraordinary. NaKorn Thai restaurant 1622 Orrington Avenue in Evanston read more

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My wife and I have been to Nakorn 3 times now. Nice ambiance, friendly wait staff, they even an excellent low-key jazz pianist set the mood. But I'd never write a restaurant review unless the food is the star. So I came back specifically for their tofu in coconut-tamarind sauce -- it's the best red curry I've had anywhere. If you like a tasty, spicy curry I recommend you try it. read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Fantastic restaurant! Friendly atmosphere and very flavorful food. The pomelo salad was outrageous. I didn't want to share. Luckily I distracted my family with the sweet potato appetizer and chicken lettuce wraps which they also enjoyed. I had the flavorful eggplant for my entree. The rest of my family enjoyed the blue crab curry noodle and chicken curry, Each dish is better than the next one. read more

Overall a 3/5 experience. The food was delicious although the coconut chicken curry was not very warm (despite it being my favorite flavor wise). The dishes were great in flavor and I also liked the falling for you dessert. We also the got the sodas but they were not on the sweet side and lacked flavor. Quick note on service: the waiter asked us to leave 2 minutes after paying our check, despite the fact that it was 6:10 and we had a 5:30 reservation (we arrived at 5:15). A bit off putting and not the best way to end our meal. read more

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My brother and I love love loved this place. The tapioca crackers which I'd read about in reviews was So Good and I highly recommend you eat it. My brother was hoping I wouldn't like it so he could eat it all but we both loved it. We also really loved the lemongrass panna cotta as dessert. We enjoyed this meal a lot and the food was so fun and yummy. The service was also great and I appreciated how welcoming the staff was. I have recommended this spot to my friends in Evanston and talked about how great this place is. Also, the decor and interior is very cute. read more