A great authentic Thai restaurant in the heart of downtown Evanston. Wonderful presentation, high quality ingredients, prepared to order so everything is fresh when served. I had a wonderful whitefish pan fried with tamarind sauce (served on the side so it did not overwhelm the fish). Wonderful find! read more

The veggie scallop was a bit chewy, but other than that everything was really good. The chicken was the star dish.

I was super excited to try this place out after reading reviews and seeing photos of NaKorn's many offerings. While I did enjoy my meal on their outside seating, the interior appeared quite clean and very welcoming. All of the staff were friendly and my waiter was great with explaining the details of each dish I ordered. We started out with a Thai iced tea and a Thai iced coffee. Both were delicious and quite refreshing, however, I thought the tea was a tad too sweet for my liking. Now, onto the food. We started off with the Taro Chicken as our appetizer. While it wasn't bad, it didn't really blow my mind. The presentation was excellent though. The dish consisted of deep fried pieces of dark meat chicken that weren't crispy enough. I wasn't really a fan of the sauce, as it had some large pieces of chopped peanuts that threw off the texture. The taro puree on top was definitely a nice touch. For our mains, we ordered the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Meat noodles and Mina's Braised Short Ribs. Again, the plating and presentation of the dishes were very appealing. The appearance, however, was the only redeeming quality. The noodles had a curry with nice flavor, but beyond that, it was very lacking. The crab meat did not have much flavor and was quite bland. The braised short ribs dish was even more disappointing to me. The meat was pretty tender, but the rest of the dish was lacking. It was very reminiscent of the soups that many of the Chinatown restaurants serve before bringing out the main courses. Definitely not worth $18. My NaKorn experience was pretty NaKrappy. I was sorely disappointed after reading so many raving reviews of its authentic food. I understand that this is supposed to be an upscale Thai fusion restaurant, but I would be much happier spending my money at a small hole-in-the-wall Thai joint. read more

Delicious traditional Thai food and not the same pad Thai that Americans are used to. Beautiful space in downtown Evanston that reflects a funky twist in traditional Thai aesthetics. Flavors are good as well as the service. read more

NaKorn was 100% delicious. Do not pass this gem up. We were there for the 2nd Anniversary weekend (congrats!) and were blown away by the flavors, balance and expertly prepared dishes. Top to bottom, no exceptions. On top of all that, the care and love that the NaKorn put into each dish shone through, and elevated the meal from "really good" to "omg this is fantastic." Lest you doubting Thomases worry that this is a suburbanite's uneducated-palate-turned-over-inflated-Yelp-review, my usual Thai choices are in the city--Loop, River North and Lincoln Parkish areas--and NaKorn would stand out against anything I've ever had in any 606xy zip code. In fact, I'd trek to Evanston for NaKorn even if all of those city-proper Thai options were closer. Highly recommended: -House made Pandan tapioca pearl crackers -Rainbow trout -Coconut cream pie parfait For you bourbon lovers, the Jasmine Old Fashioned is light, delicious, and well balanced. read more

Food that is more hype than anything else. The concept sounds hip but deconstruction of Thai food into something else is contrived. Still it seems to survive but my meal was one and done. Never a good sign when the styrofoam chips are the highlight of the meal and you feel fleeced when you leave. Stick to the real deal and save some $$ in the process. And yes gentle reader, a well run Subway sandwich shop does beat the pretentiousness of a high end hacking-- there is no illusion of what you are about to eat. read more

Three of us gave this place a try over the weekend. Three different dishes, three good opinions. All were good, although I would have liked a bit more spice. But all the flavors were Thai. Service was good. My only down grade was because the shrimp I had were tough as shoe leather. Roasted cauliflower was a excellent side. read more

Wonderful dinner last night. I would recommend the duck and the bass. Both were excellent. Also we had several appetizers and all were very good. In addition we had an excellent cab. I can't remember the name. I wish I could! The owner told us that the dishes were prepared from family recipes. They were unique and delicious. The prices were appropriate for the quality and quantity of the food. The service was excellent with just the right amount of attentiveness. I will definitely come back again. read more

My fiancé and I wanted to try this place to celebrate both our birthdays. We saw the raving reviews on yelp and decided to try it out. The atmosphere is romantic, and cozy. We ordered the taro chicken bites as our appetizer, and for the main course we wanted to order the pork chops but thirty minutes in we were told they no longer have them. We were a little annoyed, so we just ordered the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Meat because it was the fastest to get. Sure enough, within 10mins, the chef came out and served us that entree, and told us the chicken was on them for the misunderstandings. All in all, after that, everyone on the floor came to us to make sure our food was delicious -- which it really was! Super happy with their service and the team work of the staff to make sure we were greatly catered to, very excited to come here again! read more

NaKorn is beautifully decorated and has great service. This place has creative dishes and I recommend going here, especially if you're tired of the typical dishes at traditional Thai places. However, I think the dishes are overpriced. My husband and I both enjoyed the food we had, though the portions were somewhat smaller than expected. The same was true with the cocktails- tasty, but very small and expensive. I also thought they were somewhat weak. Overall, this is a nice restaurant that is worth trying once, but it's not somewhere that I'd visit frequently because of the steep prices. read more

Very creative take on some classical Thai/SEA dishes. Staff is really friendly and the inside is cute, low lighting. Would recommend if you are looking for a different night of Asian dining that is a little more upscale than the usual read more

ok let's level set here - this is not your typical "thai" restaurant. think of it as more thai fusion or new age / upscale thai. i kind of wish i had done my homework before coming here (oops, failed to be a good yelper, sorry!) because then i would've realized they do NOT have any of the classic noodle dishes i was craving. that oversight aside, if taken at face value, the food here can be quite good. there were huge hits and misses in my opinion though. once we were seated and realized this was not your typical thai restaurant, naturally we asked for recommendations on what was best to order. of the 5 or 6 dishes that the waitress recommended, we ordered the crispy shredded beef brisket (under "bites"), the roasted duck breast (under "meat") and the chilean sea bass (under "sea"). let's start with the bad and end on the good. the bad - the shredded beef brisket was essentially a brick of hard rice topped with a some stringy beef brisket that was cooked to a brittle crisp. the presentation was great. the flavor? not so much. the so so - chilean sea bass has never failed to disappoint, and the trend continues here. did it blow me out of the water compared to every other chilean sea bass i've ever had though? definitely not, more like middle of the pack. the good - the duck breast was some of the most tender i've ever had. the addition of shiitake mushrooms and coconut and daikon in the broth was a nice finishing touch as well and really contributed to the depth of flavor of an otherwise light broth. service was friendly and attentive, though perhaps a bit TOO attentive when different staff kept coming by and asking if we were finished with plates that still had food left on them (we're just slow eaters and big talkers, ya know). overall, i'd say this place is 3.5 stars. rounding down because it's quite pricey for the smaller portion sizes. read more

I can't say enough about how good this place is. Literally every time I eat here, my mind is blown. Finally, good Thai I'm Evanston! And really, this is so much more than what you think of as "Thai", its upscale. Not your typical dishes. It's so much more complex. And the drinks are also great! If you haven't tried it yet, you're doing yourself a disservice. read more

This is a lovely little Thai restaurant with the not so normal Thai flair. I recommend going with the family style approach so that you can taste everything. I had vegetarian dishes and they were fantastic! read more

Had high expectations given the reviews. Went on a Saturday evening and sat inside. The positives, service was good, fun drink list and decent wine list and the menu looks interesting albeit not traditional Thai, which I knew going in. Bottom line is the flavors don't deliver. Most everything was somewhat bland. There was zero spice level on every dish we ordered. We have lived in Asia for 7 years and been to Thailand multiple times so we do know Thai flavors. I am fine with deconstructed/modern takes on a cuisine if they deliver on the flavor, unfortunately our meal did not. papaya salad was fresh but had more carrot than green papaya and was basically a lime dressing with no fish sauce, and no chiles or spice. Thai sausage was dry and had all these elements that did not fit together. Popcorn chicken was the tastiest of the apps but was more orange chicken than anything else. Big fish.... Very dry with no sauce. Don't get the reviews on this dish at all. Curry chicken - curry sauce was delicious but it was served with basically a white chicken breast that was not cooked in the sauce. Dry and bland. I really wanted to like NaKorn but that was not the case. read more

I am puzzled by bad reviews - this place is an absolute gem. I am a vegan and gluten free, and it is hard to find something that I can eat that won't be tasteless. The dishes that we had were so full of flavor and tasted amazingly unique - not like any other Thai place that I've ever been to. I HIGHLY recommend. read more

Awesome, flavor-filled, and beautifully presented food. Our server, Tristan, was very knowledgeable and friendly. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Would definitely come back again! read more

Came here for dinner on Saturday. Our server seemed to know the menu very well and had good recos for us, including the vegetarian scallop which I normally would not consider. The chicken and sea bass were also spot on. Restaurant ambiance was warm and inviting, intimate but not claustrophobic. Nice to expand thai cuisine belong the expected and everyday! read more

We absolutely loved the food and drinks. The apple cider bourbon cocktail is perfect for a chilly fall night. My boyfriend and I are both vegetarian and the food was great for us. The mushroom scallops are amazing. read more

NaKorn - Mushroom Scallops! - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Lovely place. Inventive, fresh Thai food with great care taken. Have had a few dishes, all tasty: curry with crab, cabbage rolls (perhaps the best). Get the brown rice side for the extra sauce; take it from someone who normally doesn't like brown rice much! The pickled mustard greens are also worth having. I normally associate this type of pickle with Japanese food. Flavorful. The braised chicken in broth with rice noodles is basically a light colored version of something I've had as Kuay Teaw Tom Yum Muu Sab, which is tom yum with noodles and ground and roast pork. Perfect chicken. Would be a great place for a relaxed date. read more

NaKorn - Braised chicken in broth and mustard green side - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We enjoyed the ambiance, our server was attentive, knowledgeable. The presentation, flavors and creativity excellent. We enjoyed the chocolate mousse dessert as well. We'll be back read more

We are all for having restaurants in evanston that are higher end and not catering to students, but we found Nakorn really overpriced for the qualit of the food and the presentation, particularly the entrees. $28 for a pork shank with only a smattering of greens (more a garnish) just seems over the top. my husband liked the dish, which for me had a strange texture as it had been sous vided on the rare side. The big fish was not all that big, being a branzino vs the more typical snapper, and it was overly salty and too heavy on turmeric, but to its credit, it was perfectly flash fried and not at all greasy. The pickled endive on the side was a good complement. $32 for this dish might fly in a byob place or tony downtown spot, but here, it seems high. Paying an extra $3 for rice just seems like an insult. On the appetizers, my husband like the watermelon dish but i did not care for the fishy taste imparted by the salmon dust. I thought the tapioca crackers were really tasty and perhaps the best part of the meal. The dessert we shared was too dense to be called a mousse and the ice cream and candied nuts with it was just an odd combo and overly sweet. The service will need some tweaking before the grand opening. Our appetizers came before my husband's drink though the place was not busy. And he did not get what he ordered. Dont waiters write anything down anymore? Ugh, i absolutely hate this will-they-remember-what-we-ordered game that seems so popular in restaurants these days. Anyway, there was no complimentary anything to make up for the service issue, just an apology after the fact. The waitress asked how the food tasted only after we were finished. Nakorn would also benefit from some hooks to hang your coat, perhaps near the bar, or a coatroom or coat check. The rounded chairs just dont cut it, i absolutely hate sitting with my back pressed against my coat. At this price point, its hard to imagine how this was overlooked. On the plus side, the decor is charming and the ambience is romantic. We are considering whether to give Nakorn another chance once they formally open. However, at over $100 for a light meal of two small appetizers, two entrees, two orders of rice, one cocktail and one dessert, we will have to give that some real thought. read more

*GLUTEN FREE REVIEW* Evanston finally has an authentic Thai restaurant. The dishes at NaKorn are very similar to what I have eaten in Thailand. The menu offers multiple Gluten Free items which are all clearly noted as "Gluten Free". I enjoyed the Grilled Sliced Tenderloin appetizer, which had both savory and sour (lime) notes. I also had a curry shrimp entree, which was full of flavor and perfectly cooked shrimp. I'm also delighted to see their Gluten Free menu items change frequently, which will keep me coming back for more. read more

This was pretty much the worst meal we've had since we moved to the area 4.5 years ago. Horrible service. Noodles overcooked. Pretentious for no reason. So bummed we spent the evening here. read more

Excellent food and excellent service! The blue lump crab and seafood coconut curry were incredible and staff were friendly and extremely attentive read more

Four of us had dinner here last week. We didn't spend more than a few minutes inside, but it looked very nice. We appreciated the outdoor seating, as it seemed a bit warm inside. We started off with a round of cocktails. I ordered the NaKorn Nigroni. When it arrived I joked with the server, asking, "Where's the other half? Did you drink my Nigroni?" We all had a chuckle, but really, what did happen to the other half? I guess I should elaborate. Almost every time I have ordered a Nigroni elsewhere, the glass (about the same size) arrives about 80% full. Yes, there is ice, but there is a lot of Nigroni as well. In this case, the ice consisted of a perfect 2" sphere of ice, but the liquid occupied less than half of the glass. It tasted good, but the serving size was disappointing. My wife ordered a Mai Thai and it was filled to the rim. And also tasty. We ordered the grilled octopus appetizer. Rather than a nice big tentacle, the octopus was cut into small pieces. Clearly, they made every effort to make it look as beautiful as possible, but at the end of the day, it was quite a small portion. The skirt steak ... well, I guess I'm not a fan of skirt steak. I haven't had skirt steak in decades and remembered why. I rarely see it on a menu, likely because it's a rather tough piece of meat. (Whisper to chef: beef tenderloin.) Overall, the presentation of everything was quite nice. Exceptional, actually. As other reviewers have pointed out, this restaurant does not attempt to reproduce the typical Thai menu found in most Thai restaurants. I applaud them for that, however, the quantity of food served is just barely enough. On the plus side, there is no need for a doggie bag here. ;) Our server was attentive, polite, and friendly. Atmosphere: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Food: 4 stars read more

Very unique place. Almost no vegetarian options listed but you can trust the chef. Love the ambience. Those wall hangings make for a pretty decor. read more

I am a Thai food snob. Lived in Thailand, search out every authentic place I hear about, all over the city. Nakorn is something really special. Not only are their flavors everything I love about Thai food, they are taking it to the next level with creativity and innovation. It's not just the average greasy noodle place (which has a purpose), it's truly fine dining with a cuisine that is usually street food. For anyone with an imagination and a love of Thai food, this will be your go-to spot for years to come. I know it will be for me! Favorite thing: Top sirloin. But everything was outstanding. seriously. Go here. read more

This place has a very unique menu for a Thai place. The appetizer - chicken popcorn was overly fried. Buffalo Wild Wings are far better. The entree swordfish was NOT fresh - very fishy odor. They did subtract 11 dollars from the bill. The curry was supposedly a Persian-Thai historic curry but it was very ordinary- nothing special with a single boring piece of breast meat - for over 20 dollars. Very overpriced and certainly not worth going back. read more

This might be my new favorite spot. I loved the cozy atmosphere, not too flashy but tastefully decorated. We were there on a quiet night so the service was amazing. Tristan, our server was fantastic. He made great suggestions for me (I'm vegetarian). The food was fabulous! My husband had the short ribs and I had the lettuce wraps. I would've included a photo but it looked so good we devoured it quickly! read more

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I love the food and design of restaurant. It's so good. The location is also good which in the downtown of Evanston. Crab cakes are delicious! read more

Food was good and def not your typical Thai menu. Waitress was trying hard but it felt like she was trying too hard and was inexperienced and awkward. Do not go here if you want to have a conversation with your dinner companions. It is one of the noisiest restaurants I have been in. There was a big group a few tables over and it was ridiculously loud. Really poor acoustics. read more

We stumbled upon this place when looking for an Asian restaurant that was more bistro than noodle bar and it hit that note perfectly. Definitely a place to dine and savor rather than merely eat to get full, but our table of three grown men could not finish all of our apps and entrees. Coconut curry chicken was a highlight but the char and prawns also delivered. Service, ambience, and cocktails also top notch. The special seasonal appetizer salad was lovely though can't remember the name of the seasonal fruit it included ... but a taste we've never encountered before, what a treat. Folks looking for delivery style Americanized Thai or the Panda Express Thai equivalent and commensurate prices may be disappointed, as some of the weaker reviews note. We were also happy to pay a deposit for our reservation knowing how flakey no shows drive up prices for everyone. We may try delivery or take out as well but I think we've found our go-to for dine in upscale Asian without having to trek downtown. read more

Great service and food with real history and personality. Everything I've ever tried there had been phenomenal. Great restaurants run by great people. read more

NaKorn is amazing!!! From the food, staff, owners, down to the decor. Light and flavorful food! Exciting new place set apart from the norm Thai food. Love it all!!! Hope they are in the Thai fest next year for more exposure. For now I'll be recommending to everyone I know! read more

Outstanding food, service, ambience. Great and unique flavors. Do not expect traditional Thai (pad thai, curries, etc.). Expect Thai flavors in unique dishes. This place is straight out of the city, and Evanston is lucky to have it. Innovative, ethnic food on the North Shore. Go figure. When you go, order the crab cakes and Big Fish. read more

This restaurant offers dish upon dish of wonderful, modern twists on traditional Thai dishes that somehow preserve the wonderful flavors of this amazing cuisine and add texture, presentation and unique ingredients that take it to a sophisticated and intriguing level. You can tell that the owners and chef have put a love, thought and care in every dish! We loved everything we tried - the eggplant and tomato salad was magnificent, the duck breast was flavorful and perfectly cooked and the sea bass was sooo good! And to top it off, the ambiance and service were spot on! Finally, don't leave without trying the desserts - the star is the chocolate mousse! With this restaurant, Evanston is really becoming a foodie destination! read more

Excellent atmosphere along with full flavored Thai cuisine. Drinks are not your boring everyday run of the mill cocktails and let's just say they are impactful. Wonderful experience. read more

We had a weekend family lunch. All of us have dined worldwide and generally like flavorful food. Pros: Decor, location, quality ingredients Cons: Menu descriptions confusing, strange textures, portion sizes tiny, too far away from traditional Thai dishes/menu to be appealing to many. Bottom line: seems like they have a traditionally trained Thai chef who is being asked to do funky dishes. The papaya salad and shrimp curry (after repeated requests to spice it up) were on point, but the rest of our party's "contemporary" dishes were not appreciated. Suggestion: offer old school menu too. Hope they stick around! read more

This place is fantastic! The menu is not extensive, but the flavors and presentation outstanding. We had the lump blue crab with noodles and the strip steak. Each came with a delicious curry. The steak's curry was coconut based with green chilies. Delicate and delicious. The crab's was broth based with saffron. Awesome. Best of all, very reasonably priced (about $20/entree). Service was attentive and the sidewalk patio a good choice. read more