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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!
2 years ago
The Epitomi of fine dining experience ! There is. Nothing like this restaurant within a 10 square mile radius ! Excellent food , amazing Atmosphere, great host and impeccable service ! Michael the owner has done a great Job with Organic ingredients ! Coming from someone who is born and raised in Thailand , the flavors in every dish are spot on ! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Food and ambiance are on point. Highly recommend this place, it feels like you are in Tulum. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
This place was truly underwhelming... I was really looking forward to trying this spot because all the pictures looked so amazing! We ordered the panang curry with filet mignon, drunken noodles with chicken, roti, and mango sticky rice. The curry was good but the filet mignon came well done.. It was so dry. The meat portion was also pretty small for the price of $39.. The drunken noodles were just okay in my opinion. Lastly, I was most excited for the mango sticky rice because it looked so pretty in pictures with flowers on it. However it just arrived to the table without much effort like how I've seen it in the yelp pictures. They could've used a little more effort with the prices they are charging. (It was also a slow night) read more
4 years ago
My family and I got takeout a couple weeks ago. We live super close to this restaurant, so we were very excited that a Thai restaurant opened up (we usually go to Siam Station for Thai). Ordering over the phone was easy...the girl taking my order was friendly. We ordered Chicken Padseew, Filet Mignon Panang, Fresh spring rolls, Tum Yum Soup, Thai chicken wings and an extra side of rice. GOODNESS GRACIOUS it came out to slightly over $100 . I was shocked but then I really wanted to try this restaurant out and I was hungry. When I went to pick up my order, I expected some huge bags of food, but I got 2 lunch sized paper bags. When I got home and opened them up... big mistake. The curry container was barely filled (see picture...that's what we got untouched) for $28! I understand it's filet mignon, but curry is cheap...fill that container up! It was tasty, though. The 2 spring rolls were $12! The shrimps inside the rolls were tiny and poorly rolled up...I could do better. If Brodard charges -$8 for 2 amazing rolls...what the heck? The Tom Yum soup was $12? And the container was the size of a miso soup container that comes free at sushi restaurants.... Now the chicken wings...$14 for 2 wings! They were really good but the price is ridiculous. The portions are ridiculously small for what you pay. I know this is Irvine and Irvine Company lease for their unit is probably super high, but no....just no. The quality and amount of food you get does not justify the price. La Sirena...please come back. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Had planned on having lunch elsewhere in this center and stopped in to Nara because we'd hadn't seen it before. So glad we did. Excellent food and service. Food presentation was top-notch and they were incredibly attentive. My wife has a few food allergies and they made all the adjustments we needed without batting an eye. The whole environment feels more upscale than many restaurants with similar menus - not a requirement for us but certainly nice and worth noting. We've already picked out what we're getting when we return - including which wine because they have a surprisingly good selection for a Thai restaurant IMHO. Already salivating just thinking about it. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your…
The food here was really really good. The best Thai I've had in a long time. They just opened a week or two ago, so going through a few kinks here and there but I'm sure they will work it out soon. The restaurant is beautifully designed and you can tell the owner knows what they are doing. From the restaurant decor to even the wine glasses they use. Even the cherry on my mimosa was so delicious, not the fake stuff it was the real deal. You can tell everything is high quality from the food to decor and a lot of thought was put into the whole place. I only wish we had more rice for the curry dish because it was so good I needed more rice to soak it up. Portions aren't that big so keep that in mind when ordering. I'm coming back soon to try all the other dishes! It was very authentic and flavorful. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
All of our prices and surcharges are clearly disclosed—on the menu,…
4 years ago
Beautiful ambiance, decor & amazing service. Came here around 3pm so it's a limited lunch menu. No complains as it had everything I wanted to order. I love how their soup came with a side of Thai chili & minced garlic. The portions are perfect & it was delicious with exquisite taste. I am a sucker for details so I also love love love their napkins & straws. Not a huge fan of the gold utensils because it's a bit hard to use but it sure looks pretty! read more
2 years ago
My wife and I love this Thai spot in Orchid Hills. Its unlike any other place in Irvine. First, you can taste the quality of the food and the authentic Thai flavor in combination with their own spin on some classic dishes. One of my favorite parts about Thai restaurants, besides the cusine, is a well rounded chili tray and they definitely have that so you can eat as spicy as you want. 2nd, the vibe of this place is unlike any other in Irvine. We have a toddler but it's nice to get a babysitter and step away into this oasis of good eats and music 3rd, service is impeccable! Kind, attentive and super friendly. We've been all around OC and surrounding areas for Thai cuisine and this has definitely gone to the top of the list. You won't be disappointed! read more
2 years ago
Top tier premium Thai food. Excellent ambiance, food is clearly the best quality ingredients and recipe. This place is a clear step above any other Thai restaurant I have been to, and it is probably my favorite ever. This place is upscale, so I can't say it is a value or an every day food place but for a nice night out and amazing dinner this place delivers the goods. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
I'm obsessed with Nara Thai. This place is a hidden gem in this area of Irvine. I come here whenever I want to treat myself to a meal in a great environment. I like to decompress here after a stressful day at work. The outside is unassuming but when you open the door, you are transported into an elevated dining experience. The food is amazing! I love their Pad See Ew, curry, and crab fried rice. I also love their roti ice cream. They take care in the presentation of their food, such as putting a full crab shell on their crab fried rice. They also have custom dishware and serve their foods In interesting, fancy ways. Not only is their food out of this world, their ambiance is extremely elevated and inviting. They have a cute wall bench on the back filled with festive pillows that create a warm, inviting space. I love eating here and just soaking up the environment. Last, they have great wines and beers on tap. I like to have a yummy draft beer with my meal and enjoy the ambiance and good music. I like to take people here to show them my new favorite restaurant. Even my husband, who does not like Thai food, really liked the curry and Pad See Ew here; he said this is the only Thai place he will eat at and wants to come back with me. I took my neighbor here and she loved it as well. I encourage you all to check it out and enjoy! Also, the owner Michael is very kind and a great host to his customers. He's really taken a great deal of thought in making his restaurant as inviting and delicious as it could be. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you for your review! At Nara Thai Kitchen, we pride ourselves…
3 years ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you for your review. We only use the best ingredients and no…
2 years ago
2 years ago
This is first time trying Thai food over Irvine area. The food and drink was really good. The place is nice and clean with beautiful interier design. The staff did really good job with friendly vibes. Let's try again next time read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
Very nice interior and delicious food! The portions are not big for the price, but you're paying for the quality of the ingredients and location. There were no cocktails available at the time we went, but they have wine and beer. The overall service was good, but it took a long time for us to get our check at the end. read more
2 years ago
It was perfect food and amazing service. I was so happy to meet a restaurant like this at Irvine. read more
3 years ago
This is a hidden gem. Came here twice already and I have to say, the quality of the food is spot on. I had the Tom Kha soup and it was very thick, which goes pretty well with the rice. Also had the Panang curry and it did not disappoint as flavor hit the right spot. The ambiance is super chill with good music and service was super tentative to our needs. Perfect place for friends gathering or even date night. We will be back to try rest of their menu! If you want quality and good ambiance, come give them a try. read more
4 years ago
The taste of this place wasn't bad; it reminded me of the food I ate in Bangkok, so far so good. The service was slow, and most of the food, including dessert, had already been sold out when I came. We were only there for 1.5 hours just for the soup and rice with egg, but I will return to try the food for dinner. I'll still give them 4* as an encouragement and because this is kinda like their soft opening and everything need to take time to improve. P/s: the price is quite pricey when compared to the portion. read more
3 years ago
every time we get ready to go to this restaurant it's always closed. There was a time when they said they opened at three we would get there at three and they weren't open today was again one of those times the times listed on the door are open daily 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, but they are never open every single time we want to eat there. we ended up going next-door to Zov's, which is always open and they have the best service and the best food. Big props for Zov's. Nara's Thai is never open! read more
3 years ago
Nara Thai Kitchen was a nice meal. My husband's friend was in town and was craving Thai food, so we found this place to try. The service was good, and the seating was easy. It's located off of Portola Parkway in like a shopping center, so parking was pretty easy as well. The food was tasty, no complaints about the food we ordered. I ordered Pan Fried Noodles-Vegetarian, my husband ordered Nara Thai Fried Rice-Chicken and my husband's friend ordered Pan Fried Noodles-Chicken. It wasn't anything crazy, but it was straightforward Thai fare. The atmosphere was nice, and it was a pretty good place to hang out. My husband and his friend enjoyed beer with their meal, and I had tea. We ordered a dessert too. I forgot the name, but it was ice cream and roti with a cotton-candy top. read more
1 year ago
We ordered affogato espresso and mango sticky rice, both of the desserts were great! Will definitely be back read more
Reservations were full so we walked in, hoping we get seated, and we did. Although very busy, they were very accommodating. The charming decor was inviting and not overdone. We started with the prawns Tom yum and the pad krapao and pad thai for our mains. All three dishes were savory and left me wanting more. Of the three, I love the filet mignon the best. The flavor was just delightfully amazing. Service was great. Everyone was attentive and friendly. Will sure be back soon to try the other dishes. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Michael A.
Thank you at Nara Thai Kitchen. We appreciate customers like you. We…
2 years ago
1 year ago
The restaurant was very nicely decorated, it was very clean and the food presentation was excellent. Staff was very clean and professional and service was great but now there are some things that we have to mention. We ordered Bangkok style papaya salad and we went to Bangkok and we knew what to expect, the presentation was nice, but the flavor just was not there. Also, we were not pleased to find out that there were hidden fees. We were not given a check to review the charges before we paid. The lady just told us how much and we paid, and after that we asked for the receipt, we looked at the receipt and we found out that two dishes that we asked to be prepared for to go were charged extra $.75 each, that was not disclosed to us when we ordered them plus there's a 4% charge to use a credit card unless you pay in cash, that was also not disclosed to us. Had we known about extra 4% charge we would have lowered the generous tip we left. And we mentioned to the server that it was our first time at this restaurant, so it was her duty to disclose all this information to us. The portions of our to go food were very small and also lacked the flavor. Very sad, we were hoping to have a new Thai place to go to... read more
2 years ago
Cravings satisfied! Stop by this place when you get a chance. Foods are very delicious and fairly priced. Ambiance was relaxing, just perfect on a sunday night. The owner happen to here at the time, she was very accommodating and humble. Check this place out! You don't want to miss out! read more
2 years ago
The food is all so delicious and the staff are so friendly, so this is a place I want to keep going with my friends. The ambiance really made me feel like I was in Thailand, and I could feel the owner's sensibility and sincerity in the props. read more
2 years ago
Loved, loved, loved my dining experience at this hidden gem! Located in the cozy Orchard Hill plaza, the ambience was very welcoming and it was obvious the owner paid a great deal of attention to creating an authentic, yet modern atmosphere for the place perfect for any occasion. The food was top-notch and the way every dish was presented was delightful. To top it all off, the service was amazing and during the whole two hours that we were there, we felt very comfortable and well taken care of by our server. Will definitely come back! Thank you! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Surprisingly good food and a great vibe, despite the small size. Immediate seating was a plus, and the fact that they take reservations is a big win for me. However, service was a bit lacking, especially considering the cozy space. Still, planning to return for the overall positive experience. 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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