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First time here, tried the crying tiger and pad thai. What stood out to me was the interior, prob one of the most aesthetic thai restaurant in this area. The interior was modern and even the bathroom was beautiful. The crying tiger was very tasty, good tenderness but the portion was too small based off the $40 price tag. Pad thai wasnt over oily, it was good as well. Servers were attentive and nice. On the more expensive side but would come back
It's my first time here and came here for my early birthday celebration and i like the ambiance of the place and sharing for three people is more than enough, a little overpriced for chicken satay but still tasted great. I love the taste of the yellow curry and the pad krapao as well. Service was really quick too !!
Great place if you're looking for an ambient lighting and aesthetic dining. Like some of the other comments mentioned they only have few vegetarian meal options like the curries. But their noodles dishes do have oyster/fish sauce, which is pescatarian friendly but not vegetarian (if you are a strict vegetarian) friendly. However, the server did explain this to us after asking for my party's dietary restrictions. So I am happy that they did voice this before we ordered, unlike some other restaurants that just say they can't guarantee everything is vegetarian. Other than that, I loved their cocktail options and the roti + curry was flavorful! Would probably not come back again due to my own dietary restrictions but great for those who aren't strict vegetarians.
We ordered the Pad See Iw with tofu, and it was delicious! I especially appreciated that there was a generous amount of Chinese broccoli that you could actually see and taste. Some places serve mostly noodles with barely any vegetables but that wasn't the case here. The tofu had soaked up the sauce nicely, making every bite flavorful. I'm a big fan of Tom Yum Soup and this one didn't disappoint. It had just the right balance of tangy and spicy without being overpowering. I especially the loved this oyster mushrooms! We also tried the yellow curry with shrimp and a side of jasmine rice. The curry was flavorful, and paired perfectly with the rice. My only suggestion would be to add another shrimp or two as a portion was a little light. Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable dish. We'll definitely be back! I'm already looking forward to trying the fried rice and another curry dish. We may even dine inside next time as the dining area look cute, cozy, and peaceful. It seems like a nice spot to sit back and relax and enjoy a good meal.
Overall, this place was okay. Love the location in Orchard Hills but this plaza definitely needs more stores. It's almost like a ghost town past the Pavilions store. When walking inside, this place was beautiful. Love the dark themed vibe and tall ceilings. I have to say, it's pleasantly clean and the service was very good. We ordered the thai sausages and papaya salad for appetizers. The sausages were really flavorful. I just wished that they were cut better and provided more garlic. The salad had great seasoning, though I don't get the presentation with the wooden stick inside. Also, I never had it with raw green beans, which gave off a weird raw veggie flavor. For mains, we ordered the panang curry with chicken and the pad thai with shrimp. The curry was nice and aromatic, flavor was great. However, nothing mind-blowing. The pad thai however, was probably one of the better ones I've had. The noodles were very chewy and the flavor was fantastic. The shrimp was nice and plump, absolutely nailed. We ended with the mango sticky rice, which was delicious. I would want to give this a higher rating but my issue was the price and this is on top of the 4% surcharge they include. It's probably one of the higher price spots in the area for humble thai food. Also, it's a little weird that they have to act like a fine dining spot. There was absolutely nothing different other than serving the food in fancy bowls and plates. I do like the no children for dinner policy... probably should post it on the door though rather than just the website haha.
The best Thai food we have had, it was so worth the hour drive! It will now become our go to spot! The shrimp rolls were absolutely delicious , and the pad Thai amazing !
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.
Pros: the ambiance gives an intimate vibe with dim lights and there were a lot of empty tables so the wait time was pleasantly short. Cons: service was slow but it could be because there was only one server working. Having more servers would be a big help for the one server working. After we were seated, we were told we would be charged $25 for bringing cupcakes into the restaurant. Yes, we were celebrating 2 birthdays, however, we were NOT planning on eating cupcakes inside this restaurant. These cupcakes were for later OUTSIDE of this restaurant. We just didn't want to leave the cupcakes in our car. I don't understand why we would be charged $25 just for bringing cupcakes inside. The server said we brought in a cake but it was not even a cake, it was 12 small cupcakes in a box. There's no sign in the restaurant and no indication on the menu or website that there will a $25 charge for bringing cakes or cupcakes inside. We ended up leaving our cupcakes in the car to avoid getting charged $25. The food was okay. There are better Thai restaurants such as Siam Station, Manao, Hanam. Moving forward in my review. I have included a picture of the receipt as well as some of the dishes we ordered. I also labeled the prices of these dishes corresponding with the receipt. One of the dishes we were surprised about was the Yellow Curry with Beef as it turned out to be $41.00. When the server asked us about the protein we wanted with the yellow curry, we asked the waiter what are the options as we do not know what the choices are. We were told there is chicken, beef, tofu, and other protein options. For context, the reason we did not know what the protein options were was because the menu for protein options is a little hard to read and we simply did not see it. The lighting was dim and the print for protein options was in a small yellow font on yellow-ish paper. We only found out about the price for beef protein with yellow curry once the bill came (as shown in the picture of the receipt). I would recommend using a different color and a bigger font on the menu for listing protein options. The pot stickers is 4 pieces for $17 and the mango avocado salad was $24. Nothing stood out with these two dishes. I don't really eat salad but I will say the salad was my favorite dish out of everything we ordered. For those who are unaware, a party of 5 or more will have a 20% large party fee. There is also a 4% service gratuity added to all checks. We were not informed about it by the staff. It's stated on their menu but if you did not happen to read it then you wouldn't know about it. It's something I'd like to point out because where it is printed can be easily missed. I think there is also a sign in the front but again it can be easily missed or overlooked. I'd recommend the staff to verbally disclose it to customers before seating them. For customers: I would recommend reading other reviews because there seems to be a pattern
Amazing food! I got the namtok filet mignon and I loved it! Great flavors that comes with either a jasmine rice or sticky rice with coconut flavor. The service is great and super friendly. Nice ambience as well.
The Tom Yum soup was absolutely delicious! The broth had the perfect balance of spicy, sour, and savory flavors without being overwhelming. You could really taste the lemongrass, lime, and herbs, and everything tasted fresh. It was comforting but still packed with flavor. Definitely one of the better Tom Yum soups I've had, and I'd order it again!
Nara Thai does an amazing job with both flavor and presentation. The Som Tum was beautifully plated, colorful, and fresh, making it just as enjoyable to look at as it was to eat. The Lobster Red Curry was another standout, presented elegantly with generous pieces of lobster and a rich, vibrant curry that made the dish feel truly special. Overall, a beautiful dining experience where the presentation complements the food perfectly.
The food was absolutely delicious! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Highly recommend this restaurant!
1 year ago
7 months ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you for the kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed the White Lotus…
I absolutely love this place. It's close to me and the food is great. If you're ever craving Thai food make sure you stop by Nara Thai Kitchen. I love that you can sit outside if you decide bring your dogs and they have heaters. However we usually dine inside the decor is so beautiful. The food is outstanding and for dessert I usually end with mango sticky rice and the Roti with mango sorbet. read more
1 year ago
Great vibes, friendly staff, and consistently delicious Thai food make Sabai Thai Kitchen a go-to spot. The Pad See Ew is perfectly savory, and the special menu shrimp roll is a must-try. With its cozy atmosphere, it's perfect for date nights or a fun GNO with friends. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We greatly appreciate…
1 year ago
2 years ago
My FAVORITE Thai restaurant! All dishes presented so gorgeously( wish I could take more pics!) and of course, SO yummy!! Every single dish was so flavorful and delicious. The waitress we had that day was super nice and knowledgable about the menus. Lastly, the vibes and atmosphere of the interior were pretty amazing. Everything matches really well. I will definitely come back here soon! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you for your feedback. We would like to clarify a few important…
1 year ago
Food was subpar. So difficult to order. Cant call and place an order for takeout. Cant call to substitute or make requests. Everything needed to be done online. First time trying this place out. Disappointed. They forgot to add an item. Ordered the yellow chicken curry, pepper steak, fried rice and extra order of white rice. Came out to $100. read more
Business owner information
Michael A.
We are extremely apologetic that you thought the food was self part.…
3 years ago
This is an upscale, modern Thai restaurant but is quite expensive for what it is. The food is decent but pricey. But it's nicely presented. It's a cute place for a quick date. Small restaurant but nice vibe. Service was ok, but they brought a dessert to the table that neither one of us ordered and we were charged for it. We both thought the other person ordered it, so we didn't question it at the time. It was good, just a little pricey for regular Thai food. read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
Sophia and team took extra good care of us. We celebrated birthday here and it truly was extra special. The food, service, ambience were perfect. We have extra picky eaters in the family and everyone was impressed and satisfied. Great place for a night out, lovely ambience for date night. Wine list, cocktails, cocktails, coconut juice a plenty. The little ones were happy also. Thank you Team Nara! Will be back soon! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This is my favorite Thai restaurant. I love the food. The lady boss is very beautiful and hospitable. I love everything about them. read more
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FIRE food! We were blown away with all the dishes we ordered. The Tom kha soup was definitely a favorite. Green curry was solid and tasted even better as a leftover the next day. The Tom yum rice had a good kick. Will be back soon! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly…
8 months ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Stopped by to have lunch. The door was closed and there were staff inside the time on the door said open from 11:30 AM to 9 PM daily I knocked on the door. The staff looked at me, but completely ignored me, and all I was trying to do was basically ask has the time changed so I could come back, but they just simply ignored me as I knocked on the door for two minutes eventually I walked away. Every time we come here the hours are always different, so we never actually know when they're open and when they are closed. read more
2 years ago
Best Thai in OC hands down! ...not said lightly. Nara Thai Kitchen is an absolute gem, offering an exceptional blend of authentic flavors and beautiful presentation. Highly recommend the Panag curry, Pad See Ew and Mango sticky rice. Quality filet mignon, cooked perfectly. Their attention to detail in both the food and service is impeccable. The ambiance is warm and inviting. If you're seeking a memorable meal that captures the essence of Thailand, this restaurant is a must! read more
2 years ago
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1 year ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Unfortunately, you must not have a pallet for finer quality Thai…
10 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
The food was good, the service was reasonable. We wanted to order some food from the menu but we were told they don't have it because they only cook with the best available seasonal ingredients (did not see this details from the menu!). We ordered two Thai tea, two Pad Thai and a yellow curry. This was 2nd time we came here. We booked via web site but came half hour early. The restaurant was almost empty when we came. If you have time and do not care much about cost, this may be a place for you. But I feel it is very over priced. The green bamboo decoration leave on the pad Thai is not real leave but plastic one. There was 3% California surcharge for rising cost and additional 3% if you using card to pay. I asked if 3% can be waived if I use debit card to pay but I was told that I still need to pay the 3% additional card charge. I almost wanted to go to nearby Wells Fargo to get cash but did not do it. Who would bring cash these days! Ridiculous ! read more
Business owner information
Michael A.
we use only freshest and the best ingredients and organic whenever…
2 years ago
2 years ago
A Culinary Gem in the Orchard Hills Neighborhood If you're on the lookout for an exceptional Thai dining experience, Nara Thai Kitchen should be at the top of your list. Conveniently located close to the Orchard Hills neighborhood, this gem offers a blend of high-quality food and a fancy yet inviting atmosphere that makes it a go-to spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. Dishes That Delight During my visits, I've had the pleasure of trying several standout dishes: Pad See Iw: A flavorful stir-fried noodle dish that perfectly balances sweet and savory flavors. Beef Short Rib Massaman Curry: This is my personal favorite. The beef is incredibly tender, and the curry is rich with a perfect hint of sweetness and spice. Pad Krapao Filet Mignon: A delightful take on the traditional Pad Krapao, using filet mignon to elevate the dish to new heights. Chicken Satay: Succulent chicken skewers served with a delectable peanut sauce. Filet Mignon Pepper Steak: Another winner, offering tender filet mignon cooked to perfection with a peppery kick. Impeccable Service What truly sets Nara Thai Kitchen apart is the exceptional service. Sophia, our waitress, is always welcoming and friendly. She even remembers our preference for tall glasses of ice water! The business owner, Michael, adds a personal touch by greeting every guest and stepping in to assist the staff during busy times. Their commitment to service makes every visit feel special. A Weekly Ritual The ambiance of Nara Thai Kitchen is both elegant and comfortable, making it a perfect spot for frequent visits. I find myself dining here about once a week, primarily for the irresistible Beef Short Rib Massaman Curry. My fiancé has explored many other dishes on the menu, and we've yet to find one that isn't superb. Final Thoughts Nara Thai Kitchen combines high-quality food, a welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding service to create a dining experience that stands out. Whether you're a Thai cuisine aficionado or just looking for a great place to eat, Nara Thai Kitchen is well worth a visit. Rating: If you're in the area, make sure to stop by--just don't be surprised if you find yourself becoming a regular too! read more
1 year ago
The food and ambiance were both really on point. And Sophia was just the sweetest waitress! We wanted to take pretty photos and immediately she made 3 gorgeous drinks for us. She understood what we wanted and often checked in on us to make sure the food was good. Our pleasant interactions made the whole experience so much better. Thank you Sophia! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
We will have a lunch menu soon with some combos and lunch items.
2 years ago
Disappointing First Experience 1. Service The service was nearly nonexistent. The staff took our order and brought the food and water, but that was the extent of it. They appeared impatient and uninterested when taking the order. After delivering the food, they never checked on our table--no water refills, no inquiry about how the meal was, and no clearing of empty plates. 2. Food/Price We ordered the yellow curry with Angus filet mignon. In my experience, the server usually asks how you'd like your steak cooked, but this wasn't the case. When our food arrived, the steak was overcooked--dry and rubbery. We've attached photos to show just how dry it was. I'm unsure whether this was due to poor food quality or simply a lack of communication from our server. Additionally, we ordered four chicken wings for $16 and a Thai tea for $10. With prices that high, we expected something special, but the food was no better than what you'd get at any average restaurant. The quality did not match the price at all. 3. Additional Charges There was an unexpected 3% surcharge added to the bill at the end, which we weren't informed of beforehand. Not being notified in advance felt disrespectful. read more
More info about Nara Thai Kitchen
3931 Portola Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92602
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(949) 822-8799
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https://www.narathaikitchen.com
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