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

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

Everything about this place is amazing! It's no wonder why my students begged to come here. I advise some Northwestern students, and as a celebratory dinner they wanted to come here. Everything from the food to the service was outstanding. First of all, Mark is absolutely phenomenal and offered impeccable service during the duration of our experience. He tended to our table as much as possible and had a fun attitude. He even took steps to tell us interesting facts about the restaurant and it's history. 10/10 on Mark alone! Outside of that, the rest of the staff was wonderful as well. Food was absolutely delicious and quick. Came here as a party of 7 and every single one of us loved what we got! Some got the chicken curry, some got the blue crab meat curry (see pic), and someone got an eggplant stir fry dish. We also got the popcorn chicken and Brussels sprouts appetizers... GET THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS!!!! The atmosphere of this place was so nice as well. Very modern and trendy with personalized easter eggs from the owners (thanks for the trivia, Mark). Very nice decore and would serve as a great date spot. No complaints whatsoever, I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it read more

NaKorn - Jumbo Lump Blue Crabmeat with Curry - 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

Worth the trip from the city to this lively restaurant with unique and delicious Thai style cuisine. All items are pretty creative and you will not find the typical menu items you may be used to seeing at most standard Thai restaurants. We didn't mind paying the 40$ deposit for a reservation at this bustling, upbeat, feel good little restaurant to ensure a table ( it's a deposit so if you show up you will get your money back), Great service and great food. Prices were fair. Loved the live music too. We shared a bunch of dishes which was definitely the way to go: Braised Short rib- very good Bourbon Popcorn shrimp- overly fried- not my favorite Papaya Salad - delicious Pan Seared Sea Scallops- great but tiny portion Coconut Poached Seafood - loved this !!!! Duck with noodles - great! Desserts were good too - we shared a chocolate cake covered in raspberry and marshmallow topping and a coconut pudding Overall an excellent meal and a great choice when in Evanston and even for those not scared to venture out for an evening away from the city to go to a restaurant in cute downtown Evanston. I definitely recommend this restaurant for the adventurous eater and will return read more

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The staff was extremely polite and welcoming. I felt as if I was apart of their own little family! The food was spectacular and among the best I have had in my life. Mark was a great server and I look forward to visiting again! read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Partner and I were talking about how we're definitely coming back for future date nights here. The food is really good. Ordered northern thai sausage for an app, coconut chicken curry and the duck noodle soup for our entrees. The thai sausage app is really yummy and fun - like a Thai charceuterie coming with one sausage, egg plant relish, sticky rice, an assortment of fresh veggies and fried pork skins. You mix and match the flavors, really fun, & reminds me of how they give you fresh garlic cloves and peppers on the side to eat with your dishes in SE Asia. Coconut curry was great - chicken is tender and flavorful in the curry; it cones with these fried noodle strips on top that add a really nice texture to the dish. My partner's duck noodle soup was amazing too, the broth is *really* well done, the duck leg the soup comes with is so tender and falls apart at the bone, and the dish even comes with a cute vial of chili vinegar that kicks up the flavor a notch when you want a little spicy acid. The ambiance is classy and modern. Really a nice hip place. The waiters & waitresses are all well dressed & charismatic too. Service is really, really good. My only regret is not trying the dessert (they said they had an in house pastry chef!) or fried fish I saw coming out, but hey next time. Perfect date night. We'll be back with the parents next time! read more

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Ambience was great for a family dinner of 4. We ordered the arctic char, the curry braised chicken, pad thai w tiger prawns, and the coconut braised seafood. Super impressed with the food here. Usually coconut based curries I've had have always been heavy, but the curries here were really light, probably among the best I've had. Highly recommend! read more

NaKorn - Arctic Char - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place is a delicious local treasure. My husband and I have been twice for date night. We took our teens for a birthday dinner yesterday. We typically eat vegan, but eat fish on occasion. The branzino and arctic char are both delicious. The lump crab rice noodle curry dish is amazing. The dessert with cotton candy was mind blowing. Everything is beautifully presented. A good date night place. Beautiful space with great ambiance. They have nice seating outside as well. read more

NaKorn is where colonial Thailand vibes meet modern flair--and it's got a story to match! Picture this: Two incredible women owners not only built the place themselves (yes, including the stunning bar made of abacuses) but also created the Bangkok street scene mural and a hand-drawn map of the city. Now, let's talk service--impeccable. From the friendly host who upgraded our table to the server who answered all of our questions about the restaurant's history, we were in great hands the entire night. But the real star? The food. We started with shrimp in a deliciously tangy Tom Yum broth, then moved on to a chicken curry that was next-level. This isn't your typical Thai food--it's elevated in all the right ways. And dessert? Wow. It's called "A Trip Down Memory Lane" and let me tell you, it's a journey. A frozen croissant topped with coconut ice cream, shredded frozen egg yolk (yes, really), and gold flakes! The host explained it's a twist on a classic Southeast Asian street food, and honestly, I'm still dreaming about it. We were so well taken care of, and the food was so amazing, we're already plotting our return visit--like, now. read more

Creative cocktails, lovely staff, and delicious food. I come here once or twice a month for lunch. It's a charming restaurant and definitely worth a visit. They take care to serve quality food with a thoughtful presentation. read more

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Delicious food, beautiful ambiance, friendly service. Loved the Tofu Red Curry and Pad Thai.

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at NaKorn. There is a lovely ambiance at the restaurant and delicious homemade food. Our waiter, Marc, really made the meal great - he was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. In this area of Evanston, NaKorn is a jewel as it is surrounded by fast casual restaurants. read more

There are a lot of things I can look past when eating out, like the restaurant being too busy forcing me to sit outdoors. Or the fact that our food came out 40 minutes after we ordered it, or that the couple who came after us got their food in less than half the time that we did. But the one thing that I cannot look past, is horrible tasting food at this price point. The tapioca crackers dip was delicious, but it all went downhill from there. We got the angus beef with bah mi noodles, sauteed tiger prawn and thin rice noodles, and the coconut curry braised chicken. The chicken was super dry, and the flavors on everything else was very bland. The staff was friendly, but that wasn't enough to make me feel good about what was easily the worst Thai food I've had in my life. I don't enjoy writing bad reviews, but there's nothing that makes me more sad than paying for food that tastes worse than what I can find at a fast food drive-thru. 10/10 would not recommend. read more

Made reservations the day before via telephone. Arrived with a friend, only to find we were placed at the kitchen door. When I said I had made reservations, the hostess rudely said she didn't take it...so I guess she did not find herself responsible. When I asked if there was better seating -- she said not inside but yes outside. Then she literally placed us alone right on the street curb, not with the more hospitable area at the window. I will never go to that place again. read more

This is the best place in downtown Evanston. The food is interesting and dependably excellent. It is not your normal street Thai. It is truly urban Thai. We have been there many times. All our food choices have been excellent. When the lump crab dish is available, it is my favorite. The appetizers are good, we especially like the brussels sprouts. The Thai affogato is especially good. The service is attentive and professional (unusual for downtown Evanston). Reservations recommended. The ambiance is nice and noise levels are reasonable. read more

[NaKorn] A traditional / contemporary mixed Thai restaurant in Evanston. There is an amazing article about the owners and the start of the restaurant that I will link below. https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/08/03/nakorn-urban-thai-has-unique-food-and-a-big-heart/ This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Evanston. I should be sponsored / get to try their new items the amount of times I've been here and recommended people to come Who's to say you can't start with dessert. This aesthetic was too good to not use as the first photo. 1. Dessert aesthetic (see slide 4 & 5) 2. Braised Duck with egg noodles 3. Crispy Rice, Iceberg Wedge 4. The Kiss of Venus 5. Rice Pudding 6. Sautéed tiger prawn and thin rice noodle (favorite item) 7. Coconut curry braised chicken Overall, I think this place is super aesthetic, good vibes, good food, and best of all it's relatively cheap. I will have to say from personal opinion that recent times I've been I've been somewhat disappointed in the food such as the Braised duck noodle and the crispy rice iceberg wedge. The desserts were insanely good and well plated. Overall, 10/10. @nakornkitchen please sponsor me and let me taste test your new experiment menu items https://nakornkitchen.com 1622 Orrington Ave Evanston, IL 60201 read more

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The food was so flavorful and delicious! Visiting daughter at NU and wanted fresh food and this more than delivered. The ambiance is so inviting and the manager Mark was wonderful. Friendly and great explanation of the dishes! Can't wait to come back when we visit next!! Thank you!!! read more

Consistently good service, delicious food and parking out front in quaint downtown Evanston. I returned to Evanston to dine here before a concert and we were very please. Our waiter was very good about answering questions. I've always had a nice dining experience at Nakorn. Check it out for your next dinner out. read more

Cute neighborhood restaurant. Food was high quality and flavors were perfect. Nice decor and vibe as well.

My husband and I had a fabulous meal at NaKorn. The food was flawless. The service was attentive. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the decor and the lively dining room. From the front door until we walked out, we were treated beautifully. We'll be back! read more

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Lovely restaurant on the upscale end in downtown Evanston! The atmosphere and decor is very cozy and matched with warm service. Food-wise, everything tasted good -- particularly the braised duck with egg noodles (such an interesting broth! the flavor reminded me of Chinese pork floss) and coconut-curry braised chicken (topped with delicious crispy sweet potato). The curry was delicious, but the chicken was a little dry. The ginger bourbon popcorn chicken was recommended to us as a starter, and while it was tasty, it was less unique and personally I felt that it could be skipped. Similarly, the chocolate cake with housemade marshmallow fluff was good, but the richness of the chocolate didn't seem evenly distributed throughout the cake (which wasn't served warm) and didn't stand out to me as a dessert. Overall, very nice dining experience and I'd revisit -- but definitely pricier for students. Dined: November 11, 2022 read more

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First time at Nakorn and I felt like I was in Thailand, Nakorn has a wonderful subtle authentic Thai vibe, making the ambiance of the place just lovely. And the food OMG it is the most delicious authentic Thai food, I have had and reminded me so much of eating in Thailand The Angus Beef Bah Mi is out of this world, wonderfully delicious, the beef so tender and flavorsome, it was heaven in a bowl and the butter cake dessert OMG so good. As well as great food, their service is very impressive, they are friendly, welcoming and attentive too. I can't wait to explore more of their menu - they really do know how to do Thai food read more

NaKorn - Inside Restaurant area - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

If the cheerful environment made me happy, the awesome food really made my day. We ordered a fried fish, shrimp noodles and fried tofu. The shrimp noodles instantly recalled my pleasant memories of Phuket island! Definitely I will go there again read more

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Great vibe which is fun, good food little pricey but good, service was the usual as any restaurant

Items are overpriced and are not authentic to taste, but an ok place to take someone for the ambience if you're in the area. Walking in I really enjoyed the warm lighting and aesthetics of the many lamps. We came in on the weekend, and there was also live music if that's something you're looking for. Upon getting seated we were offered sparkling or regular water. Later on they brought out Perrier and of course this is an additional charge. I've been to places where they offer complimentary sparkling water and was disappointed they were not more transparent about prices. - The duck egg noodle was good, as was the vinegar Thai chili dressing, but it wasn't very filling and there was so little sauce for a $22 dish. - The coconut poached seafood was very watered down, bland, and without much substance even on appearance. Again, for a dish that is nearly $30. (I read some reviews praising this dish, and I refuse to believe we had the same meal.) - The coconut braised curry was ok, but could've used more chili and lime for my taste. The plating was also not favorable for such a soupy dish and made it look like there was more than there actually was. - The big fish was underwhelming in size. I appreciated the deboning and the presentation out of all the dishes, but its portion size was ultimately a let down and left us a bit hungry for something that was more than $30. The kale salad included with this dish felt a little out of place. - The popcorn chicken was satisfying and fair. Moving on to service, I sort of touched on the lack of communication when it came to pricing but we also felt a bit uncomfortable as the staff checked on us almost too frequently attempting to take dishes off that we were still working on. When it comes down to pricing I am totally fine with paying more for my food. However in this case the price did not correlate with the proportions nor the taste. I understand that ingredients may be locally sourced, but I've ate at other establishments where they pull it off better. In this case, the presentation was subpar and the flavors were bland, lacking the depth and level of spice, zest, and herbs that make Thai food so unique and flavorful. If the goal is to present a modern take on Thai food in a fine dining setting, perhaps there should be a coursed menu where dishes can be made with more intent. Otherwise, these flavors and portion sizes do not correlate. read more

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We've been to NaKorn several times. It's always a great experience, and a nice spot for special occasions. They offer a complimentary dessert on birthdays, and a card signed by all the staff. Everyone who works here is warm, friendly, and good at their job. The decor is lovely. This is not your typical Thai place. They don't have pad Thai, nor a long list of stir-fries and curries. It's fine dining, with a small but great menu. Certain dishes are more like Thai "fusion" (ginger bourbon popcorn chicken, sweet-potato croquettes). Others have instantly recognizable Thai flavors like coconut milk, fish sauce, and basil. Everything I've had here was at least very good, and most things were outstanding. There is a full bar with fantastic house drinks, live music in the background, and an in-house pastry chef. NaKorn is popular and gets loud and crowded on weekends. Definitely make a reservation. If you get drinks, appetizers, and dessert, expect to spend $70+ per person including tip. It's worth it for a treat! read more

Menu was a little different from a typical thai restaurant but it was very delicious. I had thai food many times in ny and long island but food here was at least or might be better than the ones from NY. Strongly recommend. read more

Amazing service, lovely setting, delicious food. Everything we had was perfectly balanced and fresh, but the standouts for me were the pomelo salad and the short rib (the broth needs to be served as a beverage). Can't wait to go back!!! read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Great service; great food; cool people and a fun vibe here. Especially love it when they have live music! read more

~Monica's T.A.S.T.E. Test~ Taste: I ordered the kale and tofu, which sat in a lake of curry deliciousness. It wasn't spicy but not overly sweet with hints of tumeric and coconut. The tofu was coated with textured soy which gave it a crunch, and the kale was also crispy which held up each bite nicely. I upgraded to coconut rice which was a winner paired with this dish. Nathan got the 1/2 Amish chicken which he LOVED, see his review next! Atmosphere: The seating area is condensed into one open room that has different type types (booth vs small round vs standard square) and a bar area. Very cool decor and something different for our downtown Evanston area. Service: At first our table was forgotten, and it took 8 minutes before a server ever came over. However, once they realized we existed the service was on point. Tab: $38 after tip for 2 entrees and a side of rice. Not so bad for downtown. Not cheap either. But the quality was well worth it. Extra wow factor: The flavorful curry sauces they create. Mine was slightly different than Nathan. His was sweet yet spicy and light. I loved them both! Does it pass the T.A.S.T.E test? For sure. I already told Nate were coming back each time we have friends in town as our first introduction to the downtown eats scene. read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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We are outside and received Very attentive service. The coconut curry shrimp dish was delicious. It was our first time and I'd definitely return. read more

We had a great experience last night. We told our server it was our first time there. He walked us through the menu. He recommended different appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Popcorn chicken was very good with an interesting sauce that we enjoyed. The tapioca crackers were really unique and unlike anything I'd ever had. Really unique and good. We had the char, chicken, and duck entrees. All were very good. The rice came on the side which was nice. They have a special dessert that only available on Friday and Saturday nights. Very good. Light and refreshing. With mango, mousse, a light meringue and the description doesn't come close to doing it justice. From the minute you walk in the hosts are friendly and welcoming and walking out you're thanked for coming and invited back. Overall superb experience. read more

True gem! I usually don't like Thai, bus this place is special. Everything is always tasty. Waiters are polite and don't interrupt in the middle of conversation. I feel good coming and bringing our guests here. Great restaurant. read more

AMAZING food! Service fantastic! Literally 10 of 10. We had papaya salad, lettuce wraps, chicken curry and braised beef noodles. Everything was beyond expectations! read more

Chicken lettuce wrap was ok. Their version of pad Thai was very disappointing. Will not order again. Local alternatives better.

The service here is top-notch. From the greeter, to the busser, to our server. Everyone was helpful and attentive, but also knew when to give us some space. The food was really good -- I really liked the sweet potato croquettes; a unique twist on this appetizer. Last night was our first time there, but we'll definitely be back! read more

The staff in NaKorn are so nice! They always make sure they have speedy service and good conversation. The food is absolutely delicious. My favorite dish here that I've gotten several times now is their Coconut Curry Braised Chicken. I would highly recommend NaKorn! read more

Before I dive in, check the website for the most recent menu items. Even if the dishes people post on Yelp are no longer being offered, I have no doubt whatever menu they have running at the time will be phenomenal. Easily at the top of my Evanston picks! This isn't your typical Thai that you may be accustomed to. Every dish is colorful, flavorful, and elevated beyond your corner pad thai and green curry. Service is attentive and accommodating, and presentation is beautiful. - Chicken Lettuce Wraps - just a hint of spicy that mixes well with the acidic flavors, great appetizer to start - Sautéed Tiger Prawn and Thin Rice Noodle - noodles are chewier than typical pad thai, but I personally really enjoyed it. I'm usually not the biggest fan of pad thai because the sauce is almost always too heavy and strong, but this one hit the spot perfectly - Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken - the chicken was just okay for me, but that curry is A+. So creamy with a bit more sweetness than expected, and amazing with the jasmine rice - Violet Lemonade Soda - okay, first of all, beautiful drink- almost didn't want to disturb it! Would have liked a little less tartness, but still very refreshing read more

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