Delicious food! Got the white lotus cocktail which tastes like mango sticky rice in a drink! The yellow curry and pad see iw were fantastic as well. Amazing ambiance and great service, definitely recommend! read more

Nara Thai is an upscale Thai restaurant in Irvine that opened in 2023. It has an elevated and high-end atmosphere with an intimate ambiance. When we walked in I really liked the dim lighting and the candles everywhere. We made reservations online ahead of time and were seated immediately for a party of two. THAI ESARN SAUSAGE ($14) - this was flavorful and I loved the char. I also liked the varying accompaniments like garlic, lime, and chilis for added flavors. This was my favorite dish. 4.5/5 THAI STYLE FRIED CHICKEN ($17) - this was crispy and I liked the sweet chili dipping sauce. There were only four pieces and I wish there were more given the price. 4/5 CRYING TIGER FILET ($40) - we ordered medium rare and it was slightly undercooked and chewy but the flavor was decent. It was also super spicy (for us) and addicting because of the nam jim jaew. I thought it was the star of the dish but I would've preferred they put the sauce on the side instead of drizzling it all over the meat so I could control the spiciness. 3.5/5 DRUNKEN NOODLES ($23) - we ordered it mild and were told it was a 2-3/10 on the spice level. There was a decent spice and I thought this dish was just okay. 3.5/5 For cocktails the yuzu offering ($18) and butterfly bloom ($18) were light and refreshing. The green aura ($16) was one-dimensional and just okay. I noticed that some of their cocktails were either soju-based (no hard liquor) or were non-alcoholic (although not explicitly mentioned) so beware when you read the ingredients. We also ordered the thai iced tea ($8) which was more tea-forward than others I've had. It was not as sweet and had hints of sweetened condensed milk instead of the typical heavy cream. It was one of the better ones I've had at restaurants. We finished with Nara's mango sticky rice ($17) which looked cool and was decent. Some of the dishes were flavorful while some were more disappointing. The cocktails were just okay. The prices were on the high side and some of the portions didn't match those prices. The interior was really cool and is a great spot for a nice night out. read more

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Food was pretty good, cocktails were okay (a bit too sweet on one but mostly good). Drunken noodles were delicious and their curry was normal (good). I'd recommend the lettuce wraps for an appetizer. 3 stars mainly because there is a random 4% charge for no reason added to all checks which isn't gratuity (wth?). If it was solely food I'd say 3.75/5 Lesser annoyance was the AI voice response when calling, couldn't understand anything. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Menu - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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It's hard to find a Thai restaurant that not only taste delicious but also has a great vibe and nice style. Everything from the music, the interior design and quality of the food is by far one of the nicest Thai restaurants I've been to. Perfect for date nights or catching up with friends. Staff is friendly and helpful in choosing what to order. Very chill and relaxing vibe read more

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The prices are pretty high and I would not return because of that but the service was amazing and the quality of food was good. The ambience was just as good as the Service. If you're looking for a nice dinner for you and your spouse, this is a great place if you're bringing your family expect a hefty bill. read more

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All I gotta say is $42 pad see yew with filet mignon is ridiculous. Even if it's a filet the price is unreasonable. Might as well put some caviar on it and charge double. Also, sounds like "Michael" the manager doesn't care what anyone else thinks about the food and service (weird 4% surcharge for no reason) and neither do. Overpriced and rude service. Only thing nice about the place is decor. For a Thai place read more

First Time Dining Just This Past Saturday. Friendly Hostess While Checking In, Who Was Also The Order Taker & Server!!! Very Quaint Small Restaurant & Pretty Dim Even During The Morning/Day. Probably Had Between 10-12 Tables. The Dishes I Tried Was Good For The Area & For What It Was. Not As Authentic As I've Had, At Other Thai Restaurants. read more

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High end thai resturant, was a given since its in Irvine. For the price of the short rib curry I wish they would at least give you another piece. However I will tell you that is some of the best I've ever had and I would order it again. The yellow curry was also quite delicious. I was surprised at how much I liked the salad to be honest. The only bad thing is when you try to to-go your food since the bowl was porous. Great service with no wait time since we had a reservation. The restaurant was quite packed so I would recommend making a reservation if possible. Saw lots of couples in the resturants and looks like they could do about 3 or 4 families. I would come back read more

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Stopped in for a date night here yesterday, and was pretty blown away. Beautiful restaurant, amazing food, great service left us immediately wanting to make this a frequented spot. Food (5/5) - Large menu with steep prices, but delivers on quality and presentation. We shared orders of: Moo Ping, Giant Prawn Pad Thai, and the ground chicken Pad Kra Pao and everything was delicious. The pork skewers were so rich, complemented with the citrus-y sauce served with them; the pad thai was cooked well and so were the prawns, grilled to perfection and not dry inside; the pad kra pao was a tad salty but the flavors were VERY prominent and great regardless. Service (5/5) - Showed up a bit early to a reservation, and got greeted nicely and sat early at a gorgeous wooden table in the middle of the restaurant. The servers were very on top of refills/pre-bussing plates and checking up on us. Lovely people that work here! Ambiance (6/5) - This might be the first restaurant i've been to where the decor possibly impressed me more than the food. i hope life for whatever interior designer you folks hired is going exceptionally because i was in awe at how detailed, elegant and cultured this place is! While i will say this restaurant is tiny, they made the absolute best use of what they have with the bar, open kitchen being classy while providing atmosphere for the rest of the dining area, packed full of quirky decor and earthy dinnerware/plates we loved. A must recommend spot for a fancy occasion! read more

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Nora Thai Kitchen has a great cozy vibe--modern but still feels like a real Thai spot in terms of ambiance. It's a small place, maybe 10 tables, so it feels pretty intimate. We had the Pad Kra Pao with filet mignon--super tasty, but the filet was an extra $13, which felt a bit much. The Panang curry was just okay; good spices but could've had more flavor and the chicken was a bit on the drier side. Drinks were a mixed bag--the mango soda was $9 and not very fizzy, but the Thai iced tea was solid. Service was great, super friendly, but there was a surprise 4% charge at the end of the bill (not a tip or service charge, just a cost increase due to "rising costs"), which was a little confusing and disappointing to see. Overall, nice spot with great service and decent food, but a bit steep in terms of pricing. read more

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Came here to use the Amex $100 Resy credit. Ambiance and dish presentation were nice. Price was high for what you get so we likely won't be back, but we overall did enjoy the food. For the appetizer we got the papaya salad ($18). The salad was surprisingly big and tasted fresh. I'm glad I got the sauce on the side because it was spicy for me. I enjoyed the tomatoes, green beans, and peanuts in the salad. For entrees, we got the grilled salmon green curry ($36) and the pad thai with crab ($39). The salmon was ok. It was small, not super tender, and the curry flavor didn't go that well with the salmon. For $36 for 1 piece of salmon and rice, this dish wasn't worth it. The pad thai was yummy though. The flavor was rich, and I enjoyed the crab pieces. I asked for less sauce/salt, but the crab meat itself was too salty. read more

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Food was delicious and service was great would def recommend shout out our server Tara read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

I was initially hesitant to dine here after reading some of the reviews, but I'm truly glad I decided to give it a chance. It's clear that the restaurant has taken feedback seriously and made noticeable improvements.To address some of the common criticisms first: many mention the pricing, and while it is higher than typical Thai restaurants, you're paying for the upscale ambiance and overall experience... it's elevated for a reason. Others noted that the food lacked spice or was catered to milder palates, but that was not my experience at all. We're accustomed to Viet chili-level heat, and the medium spice delivered a satisfying kick. As for my dining experience itself, our food arrived quickly, the service was genuinely warm and attentive, and the presentation was beautiful, especially the papaya salad. I particularly enjoyed the tom yum and panang curry. The pad thai, however, was more average: slightly too sweet and not enough protein. Overall, I would return if I wanted a nicer thai dinner. Bonus note: they're on Resy, and this has been my favorite Irvine restaurants to use my Amex dining credit on. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous restaurant with breathtaking decor and beautifully presented dishes. However, the service was super slow on a Thursday afternoon and it took us 45 mins to get our entrees. The flavor profile was very similar to other local Thai places that charge a lot less so you're definitely paying for the ambiance. If presentation and ambiance is what you're looking for, Nara is absolutely perfect. If you're looking for an authentic Thai meal, there are a few nearby places that offer the same. read more

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Papaya salad is good here but why the heck are we putting it in paper boxes???? Not to mention this type of dish has fish sauce. please find a better storage container this is kinda ridiculous. Also 30 min for some papaya salad is kinda long. Please get a better container something that wont leak through. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Papaya Salad (Som Tum Thai) - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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I have seen videos of this restaurant and have wanted to try it since! After having my fair share of dining at Thai Restaurants (and being a Lao person who's very familiar with Thai dishes), this would rank 4th on my list. First, the service was nice and the server was sweet. She was attentive and would check up on us. The ambiance was really chill and lowkey, I can see how the decor draws from natural elements. It is a pretty dim restaurant, so something to keep in mind if you have trouble seeing. The food was good, but not the best that I've had. If I'm ever craving Thai food and the other restaurants that I like aren't open, then I would consider this place. As an appetizer, we ordered the crispy shrimp rolls. They came out hot and fresh. Overall a 7.5/10, I would want to try something else next time. For my drink, I got the White Lotus and it was yummy, came in a pretty lotus holder as well. 8.5/10 And for my entree, I got the cashew chicken that automatically comes with a side of jasmine rice. This dish wasn't spicy at all and the flavor was a nice sweet but savory sauce. I would say this was the highlight of my dining experience, giving it a 10/10! For dessert, you can never go wrong with mango sticky rice. The mangos were soft and yummy, the rice was warm. It was your run of the mill mango sticky rice. Overall, pretty good Thai place, but there's better out there at more affordable prices ‍ read more

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I had an amazing experience at NARA Thai Kitchen. I ordered the yellow curry with chicken, and it was absolutely delicious, rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, with a generous portion size that was very satisfying. The interior was beautiful, featuring creative tables and a modern, welcoming atmosphere. The staff was amazing as well, friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. Great food, great service, and a great environment. I will definitely be coming back to try their other food and drinks and highly recommend this place to anyone looking for quality Thai food. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Yellow Curry - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food and the ambience was superb! We went on sun eve and they had the live music playing. Loved the entire exp. Will def recommend it if you are looking to try good thai places. Seating is limited so make a reservation before you goz. read more

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Great atmosphere and delicious foods. They definitely have very courteous and friendly servers. read more

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The food was very good, had a reservation didn't need to wait easy to navigate. Great setting, inside of restaurant makes you feel like you're somewhere else. Three meals ordered one took 15 minutes longer than the others even though one of them was the same as the other. read more

Not going to lie, I feel a bit conflicted about how to rate Nara Thai Kitchen. We came in around 5pm and got seated by a female worker. It didn't take long for me to realize that she was the only one working on the floor. It was pretty empty but got pretty busy around 6pm so I highly recommend getting a reservation if you want to dine at a regular table. We didn't receive any explanations of the menu, no greetings, no offers to refill our waters or extra pleasantries. That's fine and all, but for the steep prices, you have to offer amazing service to go along with that. 17 dollars for 2 standard spring rolls. I was a bit shocked to be honest. We spent over 150 dollars for 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and one appetizer. That's fine, but I left feeling empty. We were ignored the entire service and it was honestly giving me anxiety seeing all the food piled up ready to be taken to the tables. The food was sitting there for at least 15 min before the worker went to bring them to the customers. As a result, our food was not hot. The food tasted average to be honest and the OC has an abundance of amazing Thai food with better service and quality. The reason why I am giving it 3 stars instead of 1 is because I feel bad for how understaffed they are. The workers deserve better than this. read more

Came here for some Thai tea. The presentation was great and tasted amazing. The vibes are pretty nice inside, and the staff are super friendly. Service is great and always swing by when I'm in the area. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

We decided to try this spot for a little date night where we went restaurant hopping. We stopped here first. Firstly, it is so beautiful inside. We loved the decor and the ambiance. We ordered the filet panang curry and I believe the drink I got was the lotus flower. It was all so delicious! We definitely want to go back and try other items. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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Take out review. Nara is by far the best Thai food that I've had in Irvine. I've eaten in restaurant but mostly takeout. The food is incredible, super high quality and always delicious. They are also pretty consistent in how long it takes to get food regardless of how busy it is. The restaurant has an upscale, clean vibe that's enjoyable. I could definitely tell they were lean on wait staff today compared to the number of people eating there. The website could also use a little work as there are a couple dead links and if you want to order online you need to find the DoorDash link because the direct order page doesn't load. Would highly recommend their drunken noodle and Som Tum spicy. read more

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I live nearby and have never tried Nara because it seemed very pricey for Thai food. We finally decided to give it a shot today, but we were turned away because our baby was in a Duna stroller (they are tiny compared to regular strollers). I found this borderline humorous because it was a Saturday at noon and the place was empty. I mean literally empty. Nothing like a nice family friendly environment. read more

I made a reservation through Resy and had such a great experience here! The vibes were super cute, perfect for a date night but also totally comfortable if you're dining solo like I was. I ordered the tiger prawn, crab fried rice, tom yum soup, and a Thai iced tea. Everything was delicious, especially the prawns and fried rice...definitely recommend those! The only dish that fell a little short for me was the tom yum, which I found to be a bit lacking in flavor compared to the rest. The servers were incredibly sweet and attentive, and even though the place was packed, the wait time for food wasn't long at all, really impressive. It's definitely on the pricey side, but hey, it's Irvine...and this feels like a refreshing take on Thai fine dining. I'll happily give it 5 stars and would absolutely come back again! read more

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The inside was soo pretty and aesthetic! Perfect for pictures. The food was also so yummy, we got the green Thai iced tea, drunken noodles, and crying tiger filet. I could eat a whole plate of the drunken noodles myself- it was that good! read more

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Changing my review because the owner was extremely kind in his response. The food here is still a 10/10! read more

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Happy new year Yelp! Nara Thai Kitchen leans more upscale than your usual mom-and-pop Thai spot. The vibe is a bit fancier, but it still delivers on flavor. We ordered the Tom Yum Fried Rice, Beef Short Rib Massaman Curry, and a Thai Tea. Let's start with the highlight: the curry. It was incredible. The short rib was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the curry itself had this rich, slightly sweet flavor that felt layered and complex. We were told they only make ten of these a day because of the long cooking process, so we were lucky to snag one. Worth it. The Tom Yum Fried Rice? It was... fine. If you've had fried rice before, it's basically that with tom yum seasoning mixed in. It wasn't bad at all--just nothing that stood out. A solid dish, but not something I'd go out of my way to reorder. Now, the Thai Tea surprised us. The tea notes were bold and forward, not drowned out by milk or sweeteners like you find at some places. It was refreshing and felt like it was made with care. Service was great--attentive but not overbearing. Our server answered all our questions and even gave us some solid recommendations, which we appreciated. The only downside? The surcharge. There's a 3% fee for "rising costs of doing business in California". I get it, but I'd rather they fold these into menu prices. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to keep in mind. Yelp Adventures 2025 - 1 of ?? P.S. Their restrooms are really vibey, 10/10 place to #2 and think about life read more

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To start off this place has has a great interior design! It is really nice and there is lots of seating, I still made a reservation just to be sure we got a table. There is also a lot of parking outside the restaurant as it is located in a pretty big plaza. We ordered the chicken egg rolls, Tom yum soup with chicken (it cost additional to add the chicken), the pepper steak filet mignon, and the mango sticky rice for dessert. The chicken egg rolls were really savory and delicious and my favorite with the tom yum soup. We added chicken as we wanted some meat in there but there was an additional charge for that. The soup does come with mushroom and there was a lot more mushroom than there was chicken. However, the soup itself is flavored nicely and has a bit of spice that balances out the slight sourness in the soup. The pepper steak filet mignon (kind of like a salad) was recommended to us but it wasn't as good as expected. Although the sauce on it was good the meat was way too dry. It comes with jasmine rice or sticky rice; the sticky rice we got was really really hard and we ended up soaking it in the tom yum soup to eat. We wished that the rice itself was a bit softer. The sticky rice in the mango sticky rice we got on the other hand was a lot better. The rice wasn't as hard and it was softer to eat still having that "sticky" feeling. The mango was also really sweet which went well with the sauce and the sticky rice. I will also point out that this restaurant is more on the expensive end. We ordered an appetizer, soup, one main dish, and dessert, which came out to about 107 and after tips was about 130. I would say it's a nice place for a date but not really for casual dining. read more

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Nara Thai Kitchen is another great Thai spot. The food is consistently solid, full of flavor, and clearly made with care. Everything comes out fresh, well-balanced, and satisfying without feeling overdone. The vibe is relaxed and comfortable, perfect for an easy meal, and the staff really makes the experience better. Huge shoutout to Sophia, she's awesome, super friendly, and genuinely attentive, which goes a long way. Good food, good service, and an easy place to keep coming back to. read more

First, they advertise gluten free without understanding what gluten is and it turns out that all the dishes have soy sauce. Second, they have a voicemail saying that kids under 6 are not recommended to come on certain days and that they don't do takeout over the phone. Third, the food is mid at best. Certainly not worth the price. In response to owner: You made an assumption about this review. We were physically there and asked multiple times. you can talk to your staff. Party of 6 arrived at your restaurant at 5pm on 12/27/25. We ordered and then my husband went to clarify with waitstaff that there was no soy sauce used for the dishes we ordered clearly marked gluten free. The response we got was well, that dish has sweet soy sauce. Let me ask the kitchen. The kitchen (a white guy) then told her that everything had soy sauce. We said even the curry?, the waitress said yes, even the curry, which is surprising because you can make it with salt. So either you don't accommodate or you hated us because we had 2 kids under 6 in your empty restaurant at 5pm. My child has celiac so we left that day. It's a pity because we come to this plaza all the time since we live nearby. You seem to forget that children grow up. Regulars visit often. I came back yesterday to do take out. Because surely, even if they can't accommodate her allergy, maybe we can still enjoy Thai food at home and get her something else. That's when I heard the voicemail. Do not claim to be safe and accommodating when we were told, sorry we are unable to accommodate you tonight in an empty restaurant. Celiacs, avoid this restaurant. It's not safe! By the way, we drive to signature Thai in Anaheim at least once a month. The cost is the same. The service is attentive and the food is actually good! read more

The food was generally on the sweeter side, and the lighting was too dim, which made it uncomfortable for lunch. Also, the prices felt too high compared to how much we actually enjoyed the food. read more

Been here a few times but didn't get to review it until now. Love the place very cozy and inviting. Always great service. The food I say is one of the best Thai I have experienced. It's very flavorful and just the right spices. But unfortunately I noticed that the quantity of the food has decreased significantly. The price does not do justice to the amount of food you are getting now. I mean soup we got was good for only one person and the rest is good for two people. I mean their food is delicious no doubt. But the quantity is not the same anymore. read more

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Too expensive and small portion Crying Tiger was $40 and the portion iOS extra small Very disappointed read more

This is my second time here and the waitress remembered us! She is absolutely the sweetest and genuine. I absolutely adore her and she is a big reason why I return, the other half is because the food itself is amazing. The moo ping was so juicy and paired with the sauce, I highly recommend. The crispy tofu was perfect with sauce. If you love a good crunch with a soft middle, it's an absolute must!! read more

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Great Thai option for date night! I feel like there's not many good Thai places in Irvine but this place is solid and pretty upscale. The interior is gorgeous and you can tell they pay a lot of attention to ambiance and details here-- even the bathroom is stunning! The drunken noodles were pretty spicy and I loved the fried rice! read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - thai fried rice and drunken noodles - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Food was decent but not particularly memorable, and not a go-to spot for Thai food. The dishes leaned on the sweeter side overall. We ordered the Thai-style fried chicken, Pad See Ew with chicken, Pad Krapao, and Panang curry with black tiger shrimp. Everything was fine, just nothing that really stood out. That said, the customer service was excellent and very friendly. The ambiance had club-style music playing in the background, which was okay if you're into that kind of vibe. read more

First time trying this place! The food was good - we had the pad thai, tom yum fried rice, and a side of roti. I really liked the pad thai and tom yum fried rice, but the roti was a bit too oily for my liking. The staff was very attentive and friendly and the ambiance of the restaurant was very well decorated. Definitely recommend trying this place for a date night! read more

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Besides the fact we found a hair in our pad Thai, the food was also lacking in flavor. Pad Thai was bland and no hint of flavor other than the lemon juice we squeezed. Server was nice enough to make us a new dish after discovering the hair, but it still lacked flavor. Cool interior design and fancy bowls/lights. Price was definitely high than other Thai restaurants. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - 3% surcharge - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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