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

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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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

Very chic local Thai restaurant with quality food. Was a cold night and both of us were feeling under the weather so this place was the perfect spot. Here's what we tried 1. Tom kha with tofu: ordered the large which gives you about two bowls of soup. Served with burning heat to keep the soup warm throughout dinner. Good and recommend. 2. Panang Curry: pretty good curry and up to par with other Thai curries tried elsewhere in town. 3. Mango and sticky rice: was hoping to try their jackfruit version but was off season. So instead ordered the mango sticky rice which I never disappoints 4. Of course had coconut straight from the source. Asked the shell to be opened and scraped the coconut meat all out. Yum Overall would recommend if you're looking for good Thai food. read more

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Been here a few times now and I can't help but rave about it--and honestly wonder why there are any negative reviews. Every visit has been consistently excellent! Service is exceptional. Our waitress has been genuinely friendly, attentive, and on top of every detail without hovering. You feel taken care of start to finish, and this type of service makes the experience phenomenal! The food is top tier. You can taste the quality in the ingredients and the care in preparation. I have to say I've discovered some favorite dishes here like Moo Ping, and their filet mignon. The ambiance is really neat, well decorated, and creates a warm, polished atmosphere that's perfect for date night, dinner with friends, or a special occasion. Some reviews call it overpriced--I disagree. You're paying for quality across the board, and in my experience, it's absolutely worth it. Highly recommend. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Had a great first experience with out family! The drinks were yummy, the food delicious & presentation was lovely & fresh. The service was excellent, the servers were also kind & attentive. Such a cute vibey place. Will definitely be coming back again another time. Thank you! read more

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

Love this place! Nice service, nice vibe, and the food was super authentic. I feel like this is a perfect spot to catch up with friends! definitely coming back! read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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This place is a bit shady. We asked to see the breakdown of our bill and waiter said we will see it after we sign and receipt is printed. Nobody explained what this 4% charge was and they were too busy to come explain to us. On top of that the food is mediocre at best, certainly not worth what they're charging. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Beautiful space but pretty expensive for fairly standard Thai food. Staff here were attentive and helped me with recommendations and favorites, which I greatly appreciated. This place does the job when you are craving Thai. read more

Very unhappy with this restaurant. We had 5 people, and they charged a 20% "large party" tip without telling us when we made the reservation. The portion sizes were also extremely small -- a $42 steak came with only five pieces of meat. We also ordered a to-go order and waited 20 minutes, but it was still not ready. When we asked to cancel, they refused. To make things worse, they also charged a 20% tip and a 4% "restaurant support" fee on that to-go order. I've never seen a restaurant charge an extra 24% on top of the bill without clearly informing customers. They don't tell you when you walk in or make a reservation -- it's just hidden in fine print on the menu. So please, read the fine print carefully before dining here. If you don't want to pay an extra 24% and still leave hungry after waiting over 30 minutes for your food, I do not recommend this place. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - 5 people already consider large party here. And will charge you 20% tips .Also 4% support fee is mandatory here. - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Complex flavor profiles and high end ambience. Our waitress Grace had some great suggestions from the menu. Massaman curry and lettuce wraps were excellent. Wonderful experience read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Beautiful presentation - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Been a regular here since it opened and this is the most consistently best thai ever. I've tried most of the menu and never once had something that was less than delicious. The salads definitely are my favorite and the pad thai and curries are always hits too. Appetizer selection is very good. Drink selection is great I love the thai iced tea and lychee soda so good and so are the cocktails and sake. Service is amazing! All of the servers are very nice and patient and they all seem to know what they're talking about. I don't know much about ambiance but this place definitely has a good vibe. Lighting is nice and decor is definitely very pleasing too. Love the writing on the wall. I really recommend! read more

Nara Thai Kitchen provides and upscale Thai dining experience. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the elegant ambiance -- warm lighting, tasteful décor, and a refined atmosphere that leans more toward fine dining than casual eatery. It's definitely the kind of place where you'd want to dress nicely and expect the same from your dining companions (including well-behaved kids). The service was polite -- attentive without being intrusive, and friendly. Our server made great recommendations and was happy to explain ingredients and spice levels (medium for me, please!). We started with the Tom Kha soup, which was rich, aromatic, and perfectly balanced between creamy coconut and tart lemongrass -- comfort in a bowl. For the main courses, we shared the steamed Chilean sea bass, which was incredibly tender and infused with a delicate blend of herbs, and the Panang curry with shrimp, which was full of bold, nutty flavor and had just the right amount of heat. Overall, Nara Thai delivers a sophisticated experience with authentic, high-quality dishes. It's perfect for a date night, special occasion, or a classy dinner out. read more

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Overall, food quality and taste was great. As was the ambiance. However, the prices compared to the amount of food given was extremely off. For only having ordered two appetizers and 2 entrees, I was shocked at how much we spent. The portion sizes were very small, so I don't recommend sharing with more than one person. The Tom Kha soup was super good but again, shocked at how small this soup was. It was more of a personal size. The cocktails were all good, especially the Lychee Mojito, however, all of their drinks here are sake based, but still the price of a normal alcoholic cocktail elsewhere. read more

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Decent food. not worth describing what more can be said. Unfortunately, I was looking forward to coming back because how local it was and but I won't be. read more

More like a 3.7 star than 4 but I can't figure out how to do half stars lol anyway food quality and portion was amazing. The massaman curry and green curry we loved with their brown rice. Short rib in massaman curry was an interesting twist but too much fat on the ribs. Service also could be better with only one server... ambiance was super cute tho I feel like if it wasnt in a parking lot they could get so much traction. Most Thai spots never have nice ambiance so pleasantly surprised with interior decor; brown wooden vibes cool wood piece tables. Bathroom dark and sultry. Loved ambiance. also one of the best Thai iced teas I've had!! wish their menu did have dumplings tho lol read more

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This place is so nice and the food is soooo good. The Thai Jerky was ridiculous good. I ate it all myself. And I had to get my favorite Drunken Noodle with filet. Sooo good. I just sat here taking my time drinking Singha enjoying the nice atmosphere and great service! read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Drunken noodle - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Just an overall nice place with a good ambience and food--I liked the decor and their bathroom feels like you're inside a fancy spa. The food is pretty tasty but I can see why people have some reservations about the amount of food in comparison with the price. We got the panang curry and fried rice with beef and we to-go tom kha. All the dishes are tasty and I don't think you can go wrong. The curry is filling but yes, I'd have to say the fried rice was more like a shareable amount in my opinion. We added beef to the fried rice and while the beef is very tender, the amount you get is not much and the current menu for adding beef is an extra $18. Basically a bougie place that sells Thai food--I think it's worth a try and it seems like the people in that area enjoy coming here for a date or girls' lunch. read more

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Nara Thai Kitchen is an upscale Thai eatery focusing on delicious food, aesthetic presentation, and amazing ambiance. This spot is located in the Orchard Hills plaza where there is a good amount of parking spots. Wifey and I made reservations for our anniversary dinner and were seated right away upon arrival. Inside, they have about 7-8 tables for seating surrounded by boho chic tulum-inspired decor. The dimly lit lighting in tandem with the decor made for a very nice and romantic atmosphere. As for their menu, they have all the Thai staples with some upscale twists along with some more imaginative Thai inspired dishes. We opted to try the Thai Style Fried Chicken, Tom Yum Fried Rice with Filet Mignon, and Pad Thai with Black Tiger Shrimp for our dishes and a Thai Iced Tea and Nara Thai Lime Tea for our drinks. To top it all off, we got the Fried Roti with Mango Sorbet for our dessert. Everything we had was beyond flavorful and delicious. The portion sizes were great for sharing and every bite was as delicious as the last! Overall, I would definitely recommend this spot for your next dinner date or for a more upscale environment for your next hangout with friends/family. All of the staff here are very friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be back forsure! read more

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What a pleasant surprise! We ordered something standard: papaya salad and curry. The most well balanced papaya salad I've ever had and a very good curry. The quality justifies the price. The meal was elegant and not just normal Thai. I think this place beats some of the better known Thai places in Irvine/Tustin area. Service is fast despite of being understaffed. read more

This restaurant does not have a phone to call them. They expect u to login rather than using phone info of customer. Also they only allow 6 person reservation max when one reserves online. Please post the phone number in ur response read more

Food are ok, prices are over most of Thailand Restaurant. One things bother me the most are the additional 4% charge ( waitress can't explain what for? ) plus 18% recommend tips charge. According to California Honest Law is illegal charge any addition service charge. and special charge. How they can get away to robbed customer with this unknown charge. Also say this is not gratitude. Thanks for understanding ? For What ? We all stupid ? I will report this to authority and stop this nonsense charge from greedy owner !!! read more

Delicious dishes and great flavors, but the prices are on the high side. We were also charged an extra 4%, and the explanation was that it's for "the freshest ingredients." The food is good, but the added fees make the experience less appealing. I will make sure to remove 4% from my tip. read more

This place is so pretty and beautiful and I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately, the food is okay. The service is okay as well. I ordered green curry which comes with egg plants, but I didn't get any eggplants and they brought another dish out and I was too full by that time and it was just alright. We also ordered tom kha, but the flavors weren't as good as other places I've been and we also ordered pad se ew and it was just alright. It's also interesting they make you pay extra for all kind of proteins. Even for tofu! I wish I would say I would be back, maybe in the future one day. I am glad I got to try it though read more

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Coming here, make sure you're aware of the prices and what you might be paying. I'll base my review entirely off the food because it's given that this place is on the pricier end. I got the moo ping pork skewers, Thai fried rice (shrimp), and pad see ew (chicken) just north of $90. Every dish had the "wok hei" aka smokey flavor that I look for in Thai food. The gorgeous ambiance and price might throw you off to think it lacks authenticity, but the flavors here were well done and very deeply seasoned. We liked the pad see ew the best and the vegetables were cooked down, noodles seasoned and nicely oiled, and chicken that was not dry. Moo peng skewers had that grill taste, and the sauce was like a sharper, more citrusy Vietnamese fish sauce which I liked. Fried rice had really apparent wok hei and was also seasoned nicely and not bland. Overall, the food here is good! But if you're willing to pay the price. Service was great, thanks for dining us. read more

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This is a good Thai restaurant in Irvine. When you walk in the decor is beautiful boho chic and inviting. First glance at the menu, they offer many traditional Thai cuisines, and also if you have a gluten intolerance they are able to accommodate. Unfortunately, after speaking to the server she didn't recommend dining with them if you have any other allergies such as sesame (we asked for the future if we ever wanted to bring our children). We started with the Tom Yum and the chicken satay. The Tom Yum was delicious and full of flavor, and so was the satay. For our main course we ordered the shrimp Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, and the Beef Short Rib Massaman. The pad Thai and pad see ew could use some more flavor, but it wasn't bad. Unfortunately, the short rib I didn't love. The beef was not tender at all, but the curry was good. The food was more on the pricey side, but I think you are paying more for the ambiance and presentation. I would come back and try different things on the menu. read more

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Got some takeout from Nara Thai. It's located in a shopping plaza in the Orchard Hills neighborhood. The ambiance is nice and the menu is solid. We placed our order, then were told it would be an hour for it to be ready, which is long but okay we could deal with that. Food: we ordered a curry, and a couple noodles. The curry was fantastic! An explosion of flavor in your mouth. The noodles were bland and oily. We got the pad Thai, drunken noodles and pad see ew. All were unfortunately equally disappointing. For $25/entree it's on the pricier side for Thai, but I guess that's the Irvine premium. read more

Really impressed with the food here. Everything tasted fresh and authentic, with great Thai flavors. Portions were generous and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend! read more

Food is great. The ingredients are fresh and I'm impressed that they use prawns in the pineapple fried rice(normally at other Thai places they just use smaller shrimps). Price is indeed on the higher side. That's why I'm giving 4 starts. If you want to get higher quality Thai food (not the street snacks style) then I would recommend Nara Thai. read more

This place is a gem. Right when I walked in the place was very clean. I sat on the lounge couch area very comfortable and the ambiance was nice chill and they played my favorite music from Sade!! The food was spectacular!!! The ingredients were so fresh to a point were you can taste everything. I got the Lychee soda and it was so aromatic It taste like flowers and soda. I absolutely loved it! For the main course I got the Panang Curry, with the jasmine rice mmmm .. I automatically tasted all of the flavors and I couldn't stop eating it. The server was impressive she handled the whole room solo and she did a great job! This is my new favorite place. I can't wait to try other dishes. I am forever a customer. Thank you I enjoyed myself read more

Nara Thai ( In Orchard Hills Shopping Center) has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants in Irvine--we find ourselves coming back almost every week. Tonight, being a Friday night, we brought the whole family along once again and finally have time to write about our experiences! We ordered four dishes, Thai flied rice, curry with angers beef, papaya salad,...each beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. The four drinks we tried were vibrant, refreshing, and full of flavor: Thai Pink Milk Drink, Mango Soda, Thai Ice tea. The moment you step inside Nara Thai, it feels like you've been transported straight to Thailand. Every detail in the decor--from the tables and lamps to the wine rack and wall art--reflects the owner's thoughtfulness and passion. Even the restroom is immaculate, with the feel of a 4-star hotel! The dining experience is elevated by high-quality plates, utensils, candlelight, and above all, attentive service. The staff knows the menu inside and out and provides genuinely warm hospitality. It's worth every penny to enjoy such a well-rounded, flavorful experience with friends or family. We wouldn't hesitate to give it a full 5 stars! read more

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Been going to Nara Thai in the Orchard Hills plaza as it has great quality Thai cuisine + service, and the interior is gorgeously arranged with dim but warm lighting, a very chic and an ambient mood for a dinner. Their dishes are all very flavorful with varying levels of spice, and they can be pricey as it is more on the upscale end of Thai restaurants in OC. My family always loves their Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Drunken Noodle, Som Tum/Papaya Salad but also liked their Beef Short Rib Massaman Curry - it was on the sweeter side with fragrant spices, and the beef was a little tough but could be cooked a little less next time. In regards to the price, the portion is a bit small so probably will check out their other entrees as well on our next visit! read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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The food was tasty but the price doesn't match the portion... I only ordered 3 sides but the portions I received are ridiculously small. I'm not sure if it's a $$ restaurant. It might be $$$$$$$... I am feeling a deceived by the online ordering. Edit: The owner replied that the inflated prices are through third party services but I actually placed the order directly through their website. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Guys this is $70 - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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We had a party that ordered fully vegetarian for lunch. We were told that the Papaya salad wouldn't be good without fish sauce so we didn't order that. We liked the Pad See Ew and Rad Narh flat noodle dishes, but the Massamun curry felt a bit bland and not quite authentic. But overall the restaurant was nice and clean, very comfortable. read more

I come here once a month or whenever I'm near in the area. I always order a lot, bottle of wine, and extra foods to take home. I took my friends here and refer this place to my friends. Very disappointed to see the additional 4% tax and the poor waitress could provide me a good explanation. -- Management, if this is how you treat your supporters, we won't come back. All of our friends are disappointed. I don't need all of points, promo b*llshit. Get real. I do not need BS comments from management either. read more

I experienced Nara Thai with a friend in June 2024. Nara Thai is located in Irvine off Portola in the Orchard Hills Shopping Center. The vibe is like a modern, upscale Thai spot. Super cute for a first date, lunch meeting or if you're just craving Thai food. We ordered pad Thai and curry. Both 5/5 I've been to Thailand a few times, so I feel like I can say I know what good Thai food is :) The dishes here are flavorful and you can tell they really focus on the presentation. The prices are a bit on the higher end for Thai food. Otherwise, service is attentive and professional. read more

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ordered the Tom Yum soup at Nara thinking I was just signing up for a nice warm bowl of broth. Little did I know I was about to take a first-class ticket straight into the spicy, sour, lemongrass-scented jungle of flavor. First spoonful? My taste buds stood up and did a standing ovation. By the third spoonful, I was sweating like I owed the soup money. It's hot--but not like "regret-your-life" hot. More like "I-just-had-a-spiritual-awakening-through-a-chili-pepper" hot. Shrimp were plump, mushrooms were mysterious, and the broth was so good I considered baptizing my phone in it just so it could experience the joy. Would I order it again? Already did. Twice. May name my firstborn "Tom Yum" in its honor. read more

​I visited your restaurant for lunch today and, while the service on-site was good, I am writing to resolve an issue with my takeout order. I ordered the mango sticky rice, but upon opening the container, I discovered it was missing both the mango and the coconut sauce. ​I attempted to contact you immediately, but encountered several barriers: ​Phone: I was unable to reach a person as the line is restricted to an AI assistant. ​Website: Your 'Contact Us' form is currently malfunctioning and would not allow me to type my first name, preventing the form from being submitted. ​Since I am no longer in the area and cannot drive back, I am requesting a refund for the mango sticky rice. I also hope you will consider improving your remote customer service options so that guests can more easily reach a human representative when issues arise. ​I look forward to your response. Update: ​I am updating my review to reflect the prompt follow-up from the management team via yelp. ​Shortly after posting, the restaurant manager reached out to me personally to discuss the concerns I raised. I really appreciated his activeness and genuine interest in addressing the issue. He listened to my feedback and assured me that he is taking internal actions to make specific improvements to ensure this doesn't happen again. ​Additionally, he kindly offered a full refund for the dessert, which was a thoughtful gesture that I truly value. It's rare to see a business take such quick and accountability-driven steps to make things right. Because of this proactive communication and the care shown to resolve the situation, I'm much more confident in returning. ​Thank you to the management for being so responsive! read more

We had an amazing experience here! Tofu green and chk red curry were absolutely delicious perfectly balanced flavors and just the right amount of spice. Everything else we ordered was also fantastic. We were celebrating a friend's birthday, and the staff made it feel extra special. Dessert was yummy. Highly recommend! read more

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Food and service were amazing! Came here with one of my friends for her birthday. Ambiance / Interior is definitely a plus as well. Would definitely recommend the Tom Yum Fried Rice & Massaman Curry. I wish I heard about the place sooner !! read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - THAI ICED TEA - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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