Nice environment Creative dishes A little bit expensive, but worth the price Waiters are nice read more

NaKorn - good - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Taste | Ambiance | Service Taste: I have not gone to a lot of thai restaurants over the years but this experience will make me. I had the Amish chicken and it was one of the best 5 dishes I've had in the last five years. The sauce, fried sweat potato shavings, and spices were done to perfection. Ambiance: the Resturant is quaint. There are essentially 4 sections: the middle for big groups (6+), upper tables with seating for four by the windows, side tables for 2, and the bar. Overall the restaurant is perfect for lunch or dinner. Ideal for a date or catching up with family because you can hold a conversation pretty easily even though it is always busy. Service: the only low light of our night was the service. It took about 10-14 minutes for our waiter to talk to us. Given that there are no more than 20-25 tables in the whole restaurant (inside and outside) this was a bit concerning. We chalked it up to confusion between the server and hostess because after that delay our waiter was very good the rest of the night. Pro Tip: The outdoor area is not great given it is right on a busy street and does not separate you from people walking by. Pro tip: northwestern discount only applies during lunch. read more

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This place had interesting menu items but ultimately the execution didn't make it past slightly above mediocre. We tried several appetizers, cocktails, wine, and a main dish and everything that arrived in the table was missing that something something. Chicken wraps were way too spicy. In fact almost everything was too spicy. I'm not a spruce wimp, but it just didn' seem like the heat was wielded appropriately here. Coconut curry chicken was very disappointing. I tasted no coconut and the chicken was not Asian style chicken at all. It was three bland chicken breasts that were so dry and unappetizing that even though they were swimming in the curry sauce they had no flavor. Cocktails left something to be desired in spite of their very creative ambition. Also the service got scant at the end when the restaurant got busy. read more

I sat down at this place by myself while I was exploring downtown Evanston. Truth be told, it was recommended to me by a couple of colleagues. I ordered their pad thai w/ tofu and a Thai iced tea - both of which were delectable. I'd go with a friend and try one of their curries next time. read more

We went there on a cold evening (2°F) to dine in the outdoor tents. We were worried about the cold and brought blankets. There was an infrared space heater running in the tent and with the blankets, we were comfortable. The staff was good with distancing, hand sanitizer was provided and they took the order through the tent wall, which was a nice touch! We both had hot tea and shared two starters, one soup and one main dish. It was plenty of food and we took some home. The Brussels sprouts were buttery and crispy and went well with the ginger. Popcorn chicken was very crunchy and had a delicious sauce. The Angus beef noodle bowl was spicy and so fragrant with basil. The coconut curry braised chicken was also delicious and so tender. The food was very authentic and delicious! We would definitely consider going there again to sit outside! read more

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Our favorite restaurant in Evanston and probably all of the North Shore. An elevated Thai experience that strays from the cookie cutter takeout/delivery spots that are a dime a dozen (which has its time and a place) and offers a modern twist while still offering authentic Thai cuisine. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the portions are generous and the prices spot on for the quality and freshness that comes through in the ingredients. We've ordered most of the menu and have never been disappointed. read more

The dishes here are really delicious and the music is great as well. Service was relatively slow for our visit. read more

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

Fantastic experience once again at NaKorn. The entire menu is a feast for every place on the palate. I'm convinced that NaKorn should be a destination for every foodie out there. They absolutely nail it with the acid, heat, texture, sweetness. This is a restaurant you come to not eat. But be entertained by the artistry of the plating and the tastes that is just quite pleasant. I kind if feel like I had a multitude of salads but they were wonderful for a complete meal. read more

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This place is absolutely amazing. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a smile. We sat at the bar and the bartender was phenomenal! She gave us amazing recommendations. Everything from the drinks, apps, and desserts were out of this world. The ambiance inside is also such a nice factor. Would recommend a MILLION percent to anyone!! You will NOT be disappointed read more

Another fantastic time at NaKorn, Mina and Sam know how to do it! The first time I went here was for a Yelp event and had the most wonderful time and couldn't stop raving about it. This time I was eagerly waiting to eat here again and it once again exceeded my expectations. We ordered the Monika's ginger bourbon popcorn chicken- like a popcorn chicken Thai style. Served with a small little salad that has a sweet and tangy dressing. Crab cake bite- this reminded me of the Chinese tofu skins stuffed and deep fried. The four on your plate aren't satisfying enough! Coconut blanched banana blossom- this was delicious, a variety of veggies nicely dressed with a tamarind dressing, the right amount of crunch to sweetness. Crispy rice, iceberg wedge- this was definitely different and in a good way. The pieces of crispy rice made you feel like you were eating some kind of protein but nope just rice. The white jelly mushrooms added a nice texture to the dish as well. Jumbo lump blue crabmeat- a popular dish here at NaKorn as I probably saw at least 10 orders come out, we had nice seats right by the kitchen window. This comes out with the sauce in glass that is poured over table side. Though popular this actually wasn't my favorite dish of the night, but still strong and solid in flavors. Khun Sompit's Big Fish- a whole fish fried to crispy perfection. The presentation is lovely, as if the fish is mid-swim. It does become a bit flaky and messy, well at least the way we ate it, but the bits of skin and fish were great to munch on throughout the meal. Coconut curry braised chicken- tender, moist, juicy chicken. Those are three words that I rarely give out with the word chicken at a restaurant but this was phenomenal. Not overcooked, not dry but juicy and delicious. The portion was big too considering our party had a hard time finishing this dish (we ate family style). Sam also brought out a pomelo salad for us to try, refreshing and loved the variety of textures. Mina greeted us at the end of the night, what hospitality and warmth from a great pair! The amazing part of it all is the simplicity of ingredients used that come together and makes the most amazing flavors in your mouth. I can't wait to try more of the items on the menu! read more

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Best restaurant on the north shore - ambience, service and food are top notch! Our fav spot to bring guests to impress!

What went well? Food service ambience all three This is no ordinary Thai restaurant Unique with stunning flavors read more

The food was absolutely incredible, and our server, Bojan, was incredibly sweet and attentive. read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Went for a quiet suburban dinner with mom. This place has been on Our List for a while and we finally made it in. Started off with some fantastic cocktails! Really fun kind of upscale tiki drinks in a way, so check out their drinks if you like something sweet. The food was also great and the presentation was stunning. We would've ordered the whole menu if only we'd had room. I would say if there's one thing you MUST get it's the whole fish. It's crispy and beautiful and light. You'll be licking your fingers! read more

I'm not sure how hidden this NaKorn is to others, but it certainly was to me. I was introduced to this charming restaurant by fellow chef Q Ibraheem. Owner Chef Sam's take on Thai cuisine is truly remarkable. Bold, but not overpowering flavors with a modern twist and presented elegantly. I ordered the vegetarian scallops (oh my!), rice crackers. coconut curry braised chicken and tea & honey for dessert which you'd have to experience to appreciate it. NaKorn's pastry chef creates unique, palette-pleasing deserts which compliments the food perfectly. Warm and inviting atmosphere and great menu. Certainty worth the trip to Evanston. Thank you, Chef Sam! read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for months and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go today. The waiter was really nice. More importantly, the food - it hit the spot!!! I was stressed because parking can be a pain around evanston but after 1.5 glasses of prosecco, I was fine! We started out with their soup of the day - delicious. It was rice and chicken. It reminded me of porridge - my comfort food! I had to get some for my son as he would LOVE it. We ordered: Fried tofu - delicious with coconut cream dressing coconut braised beef and bahi mi noodles - it was good but very spicy! :) Grilled Amish chicken - the coconut rice was a great compliment to the chicken. The side of papaya salad was delicious. Everything was fabulous. I can't wait to come back and try other dishes. This place is authentic Thai and I've been looking for a restaurant just like this. Thank you! read more

We thought we knew Thai food. We definitely enjoyed Thai food. Sooo, we looked forward to our meal at NaKorn. The restaurant name means metropolitan. And that's probably a good way to describe the menu--metropolitan Thai. A very different and very enjoyable taste treat. We did not have a single item that was familiar to us from other Thai restaurants. We studied the menu, placed our order and the restaurant came through magnificently. A couple of examples: chicken meatballs and Khun Sompit's Big Fish, branzino served crispy and whole, with Belgian endive and lime gastrique--5 star wow! While I didn't have the branzino gluten-free, it's available that way (as are many items). Very culinary Thai! Very 5 star! read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Flavorful Thai food and attentive service. Each dish was yummy but could have been improved slightly. The popcorn chicken was crispy and multidimensional in its flavor, but I would have preferred slightly less breading. Smoked whitefish was delicious and refreshing, though a little heavy on the ginger. The tiger prawn noodles were delicious, and the noodles had a great springy texture, but they clumped together. The prawns were cooked perfectly. The seafood in coconut broth had a very generous amount of mussels. Two of the squid pieces were great, but the other two (the more "tentacly" parts, were so chewy as to be almost inedible. I'm definitely glad I tried this restaurant, and I appreciated the unique twists on the dishes that sets this menu apart from the more typical casual Thai spots around Chicago. read more

Great dinner! Everything was truly amazing. Drinks were made very well, service was excellent, and everything was just so fresh and great.

This is not a typical Thai restaurant. Very creative and interesting flavors. Brought a couple friends recently who had never been here before. They are true Asian food aficionado, and Thai is their favorite. We shared three appetizers and three main courses. They were blown away at each dish. In addition togreat food, the services is excellent! Highly recommend!!!! read more

Food - hot out of the kitchen- flavor party in my mouth- tasty cocktails Service- attentive and friendly Ambiance - artistic and welcoming read more

Yes, please! My husband and I looove this place! The owners are so sweet and the food is amazing! The popcorn chicken is delicious, and the atmosphere is super cute. In the summer they have live music in front; can't wait to go back when the weather warms up. read more

I went here on the Fourth of July with a few friends and it was absolutely wonderful! With all of the closings in the area, my group was so happy to have NaKorn open their patio for us. We were a large group (12) and they were able to accommodate all of us quickly and safe (at 3 separate tables of 4). Everyone at my table ended up ordering the Coconut Curry because of the way our waiter described it - and it definitely lived up to the hype. I've eaten at many a Thai restaurant in my life and this has got to be my new favorite dish and restaurant. I was quite literally talking about this food for days. There aren't any regular Thai features such as pad Thai, which we enjoyed because we were able to explore flavors in new, delicious ways. To pair, I got the Double Lindy to drink, and it was quite lovely. I'm a mezcal and a spicy margarita fan, so I loved that they put a spin on this drink to incorporate the two together. It was delicious and refreshing. The staff here was courteous, conscious of COVID sanitation requirements and social distancing, and very helpful to us. 10/10 would come back! read more

NaKorn - Double Lindy (take on a spicy margarita) - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Food is incredible and the service is even better. Friendliest staff ever we loved it so much we came 2 nights in a row

Wow!!! Just had dinner at NaKorn. Best Thai I have ever had and I have had Thai from many many places. The food is So flavorful. So beautiful. I can't wait to go back!! Very elegant service as well. What a treat!! read more

(Make pad Thai!) Wow the food was so delicious. It was worth the long trip for me driving from West Chicago to midway to Evanston. The restaurant has really nice decorations making you feel the air you are in Thailand with typical birth nest as decoration as lamps. The food was so delicious NOT your typical Thai food. Everything was exquisite. I just wish they will make my favorite Thai food pad Thai but they do not make I am sure if they do it would be the best. Compliments The the cooks the food was amazing a little pricey but it was all worth it read more

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Delicious food all around. The restaurant also has a nice ambiance to it, and the servers were very friendly. Our favorite was the Kale and Tofu which came with plain white rice -- it was delicious and the kale paired well with the curry sauce. And that curry sauce was sooo good! It had a nice kick to it and we wanted more! I made a reservation through open table since it was our first time, so I had to put a card down, which I think was pointless, but it didn't really bother me. But overall, I enjoyed being and eating here. read more

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A Flavor Of It's Own... And Secretly Delicious This is how I'd describe NaKorn. My accurate star rating is a 4 1/2 but it'd be an injustice to give it 4. I've yet to experience Thai cuisine in this unique presentable style, and this meal was deceptively tasty and interesting. Just looking at it, the presentation was 100! Gorgeous presentation! Everything was placed intentionally and my mind was in wonder. So, I took a bite of the chicken by itself. At first cut, it was plainly underwhelming. The chicken was.... chicken. HOWEVER, by the time I included the vinegarette and rice, I was totally enthralled into the dish and trying to gather every morsel I could achieve. It was sweet, spicy, and completely creative. I went from meh to Wow! When you mix all of the flavors, it's almost like a symphony playing some Russian crescendo. I think I said "Oh my gosh". If I were in the area, then I'd comeback just to retry this dish. Post-entree reached into an Instagram-worthy, picturesque custard with billowing pumpkin purée. Just looking at it was Grand Champion worthy of decoration. HOWEVER, this is where the half-star came into play. When I tried the custard, the purée completely overwhelmed the flavor of the entire treat. And unfortunately, the purée reminded me of an unsweetened pumpkin with light butter. Had there been a smaller amount of it, perhaps it would have balanced. Without the purée, everything else (custard and sauces) tasted great! Still, this place is very worthy of your tastebuds and I'll definitely be back for more. read more

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I never write reviews, but when you visit a place that hits all of the marks it has to be done. My partner and I came to Evanston for a show last night and wanted to grab dinner beforehand. After narrowing down our choices, we landed on NaKorn. When we walked in we were greeted by super friendly staff and a gorgeous low-light ambiance, complete with a unique attention to detail that I'll let you notice when you come to visit. Drinks: My partner stuck with a gin martini and I had the White Tail. Both were well portioned and delicious! Dinner: We shared four of their bites: the vegetarian scallops (out of this world. I am weary about mushrooms sometimes but they were my favorite of the night), fried tofu (the attention to detail in plating these was amazing, and the dressing delicious), the ginger bourbon popcorn chicken (a last minute add on for us but delicious and balanced the meal out), and the poached tiger prawns (I don't eat shrimp, but my partner raved about them. I ate the broth over some sticky rice and was impressed). Dessert: we had the "you asked for it", a vegan chocolate cake with Turkish cotton candy and a coconut cream sauce. I'm probably forgetting something here, but it was divine. For their pastry chef to work so hard on a vegan dessert was sweet to hear , and they certainly deserve all the praise on this one. We also finished the night with a digestif, which was neat to see on a dessert menu. I wasn't expecting it, but love that addition. Service: Okay, you don't get better service anywhere else. We met Rush, Marc, and one of the owners (I am so sorry that I didn't catch your name!!) We didn't wait long at all for our food, there was plenty of fun conversation with everyone, and we felt taken care of the entire time. My partner and I are former/current service industry folks so we're understanding if something goes wrong, isn't perfect, etc, but genuinely we were blown away by the entire experience from every turn. Living over an hour away, I want to make a special trip out here and take others to experience this level of dining because it was just that amazing. Spots like this deserve recognition far beyond a positive yelp review and I hope they continue to crank out some of the most delicious food and hospitality I've ever experienced. I hope you'll give this spot a chance if you haven't because it won't take long before you're planning your next night out to NaKorn. read more

Lovely restaurant. Impeccable attention to detail. The presentation of everything is top notch. The food is amazing as well. The desserts were above and beyond. Every corner of the dining room beholds something beautiful and either hand-made or curated and imported from Thailand. Every detail has a story that the owners are happy to tell. The sights aren't the only thing to behold here - the food is fantastic as well. Our favorites were the fall-off-the-bone braised pork shank and jumbo lump crab meat with noodles. Also good enough to order a second round - Coriander Crispy Shredded Beef Brisket, yum! Fantastic! We highly recommend and we will be back! The desert was worth dying for! read more

I went to Nakorn with my wife and friends and absolutely loved it! The service was friendly and attentive, and the price point was reasonable as well. I look forward to my next visit! read more

Nakorn consistently provides excellent service and delicious creative dishes. I truly enjoy every time I dine here with family or friends.

Just wonderful. Terrific, attentive service and the duck confit was absolutely perfect. Next time I'm in the area I'll go there again, no question. read more

I've been recommending the restaurant to friends. We got pad Thai and smoked white fish fried rice! I loved how the pad Thai was not too sweet and had great flavors. The food was high quality, fresh, and definitely will eat there again. Price is so reasonable for the upscale ambience. The manager Mark was so nice too! read more

Wanted to try this hidden gem in Evanston, as defined by my fellow Yelpers. Went for a date night on a random Sunday evening. Reservation was easy to make via Yelp. I went on a beautiful Sunday and sat outside, enjoying the weather and the view of people. Upon arrival, our hostess was really nice. We were contemplating between outside or inside and she waited patiently. And throughout the evening, she checked in with other tables and checked on my table once. I give her 5 stars. Food- I studied the menu via Yelp pictures and website for updated menu. I ordered Jumbo Lump Blue Crabmeat- just had to; it seemed like a popular dish. I thought it was so cool how the waiter poured the curry over the dish. However, it was cold. I wasn't expecting such a cold dish, especially a cold curry. I wouldn't get it again. I actually switched from my dining mate because I couldn't eat it. I switched from my date's New York Strip Steak and that was tasty (but also cold)! We first ordered those 2 dishes mentioned above because we weren't sure what else we wanted to order, but for sure, we knew we wanted a third dish. However, those 2 dishes came super FAST! When our waiter came to deliver the food, we placed Taro Chicken and Mango Sticky Rice for dessert. Well, these 2 dishes were complete opposite in the speed. I am guessing it's the waiter's fault, and not the chef. The Taro Chicken came out 5 minutes after we've finished those dishes, but we did place it late. It was very disappointing because the chicken was super dry, and I was also hoping it'd also come out super fast, just like the other 2 did. Lastly, ahhh.... the mango sticky rice. It came out SUUUUUUPER late. Like 20 minutes after we were done eating everything, considering we placed the order way early. And so frustrated from waiting that we almost wanted the check- I mean, to skip my favorite dessert? However, the waiter was nowhere to be found. We saw more of the hostess, busboy, and maybe the manager(?) who kept walking throughout and checking in on other tables. Everything was going great in the first hour of the meal. It almost seemed like the servers switch off tables to every other table outside, but we were the last one out there so he didn't come out to check on us. Either that or they were short staffed. Other than the little frustration, it was good overall. Not sure if I'd return, but if you're into Thai, especially Thai furry, go check it out. read more

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The place: dimly lit, unpretentious, cozy. The service was helpful and really went above and beyond. I asked if there was a way that I could taste- just a sample- of their house made ginger ale, and at first the waiter said it would be too hard because they make every order fresh and they make a 12-16 oz - (a typical serving). I understood, but was surprised when the waiter came back a few minutes later with a shot glass of fresh ginger ale. Even with only a few swigs of it, I got the full kick associated with the ginger experience. This was a sweet gesture, and like I said totally unexpected, and unnecessary. The taste - wow. We shared the ginger bourbon popcorn chicken. It was seasoned perfectly; the texture was exactly what you'd expect, and consistent across all popcorn bites. The mushroom scallops were interesting. The texture did mimic scallops, and they were sizeable, and a perfect shareable portion. The short ribs were the stand out though. I'm not sure what was in the savory, unctuous broth, but it was divine. The short ribs were also cooked perfectly. I'd go back just for the broth though, if I'm being honest. We shared and subsequently decimated the salted caramel banana bread. My face: I was so pleasantly surprised by NaKorn. ~ $30 a person with a drink and dessert each. Only now am I wishing I still had leftovers. read more

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Terrific friendly staff..... lovely cocktails. Aries rose yummy, always prefer old fashioned cut with water here. Tapioca crackers, prawns a favorite, too read more

Simply the best! Incredibly delicious food with subtle spice blends. The best service ever and a warm, romantic ambience. The pomelo salad and beef curry noodles were fantastic last night. everything we've tried in the past has been equally good. read more

Came here for dinner, and it was bustling. Ordered a red wine, and I must say I love it when a restaurant serves wine in clear, crystal glass -- its was a real pleasure. Ordered a bunch of appetizers and I highly recommend the shredded beef. In the entree's the coconut chicken curry was excellent. Did not care too much for the char even though the menu description looked real exotic. Highly recommend... read more

A Thai restaurant without pad Thai? Oh my! NaKorn charts its own path on the Evanston restaurant scene, challenging diners to expand their definition of what Thai food is. Sam, a co-owner, is a pure delight. She greeted me, made sure all was well with my meal, and explained that she grew up in a Southern Thai town that didn't have a street light until she was ten. There was no grocery store, only a guy in a truck she waived down for food. NaKorn was birthed to bring Evanstonians a taste of what she ate growing up. While you won't find pad woon sen or lard nar, you will delight in the pleasure of Kuhn Sompit's Big Fish, "branzino served crispy and whole with Belgian Endive and lime gastrique," and other delicacies. If you love the adventure of discovering new foods, eating in a beautiful space, and getting treated like you're a guest in their home, stroll down to NaKorn. You won't regret it. read more

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