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    Nawa Thai

    4.6 (228 reviews)
    ModerateThai
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order Nawa Thai Takeout or Delivery

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    Lobster pad Thai
    Tom C.

    Likely the best Thai food I have had in over 20 years. I honestly can't rate this restaurant high enough. Started off with the lobster pad Thai. They actually serve you a whole lobster tail with the main dish. If you're a pad Thai fan, I highly recommend it. We then ordered the yellow chicken curry. This dish was sensational. Likely the best Thai chicken curry dish I've ever had. It was the subtlety of the different flavors that made all the difference. The server was a very nice lady and very informative, who gave useful information. Can't wait to go back and try their crab fried rice dish. Based on the photo in the menu, it looked amazing.

    Tom Yum noodle soup
    Ivan Lawrence A.

    Food Went in for a quick friday lunch. It was a particulary cold day by the beach so I was craving for something to keep me warm. I ordered the tom yum noodle soup. The soup was delicious, perfectly spiced to give off the right amount of heat that doesn't overwhelm the palate and the soup's temperature was just right. Good portion size as well. I ordered it with chicken, making it the perfect comfort food for the weather. Service/Ambiance The place itself is pretty small but had really nice vibes going for it. Our server was nice and we got served the food pretty quickly

    Mango with Sticky Rice
    Jasmin W.

    I came here with family and the food was DELICIOUS! I ordered the panang curry and it was so flavorful and delicious! I should have ordered it slightly milder as it was very spicy but it was sooo good! I also ordered a Thai iced tea which was delicious as always. We ordered chicken wings which were okay nothing special, crab cream cheese wontons which were also okay and egg rolls which were good. I decided to try something new the mango with sticky rice and it was unlike anything I'd tasted before but was very good! The service was very attentive as no one else was there. The restaurant is a little small but it fit our party fine. This was a great find! I definitely would come back!

    Reality Check: Expensive Thai Food.  10% discount with cash payment.
    David D.

    I really like the atmosphere here, the location, clean bathroom, easy parking, and all the food except the chicken. The employees here are the nicest people I have ever met in a Thai restaurant. I had my usual Spicy Eggplant with Chicken and Shrimp you can see in the pics. The sauce and eggplant were great--what a great taste, but: I could not finish the chicken--it just did not taste good--and not in a make me sick way--it just had a bad taste and I know it can be better--I have a lot better at Thai restaurants. The shrimp was excellent but you don't get a lot. The thing about chicken breast in Asian restaurants is that many use pre-cut bagged frozen like you find in the grocery store and that kind just does not taste good. I would not be able to order the chicken here again and that is a shame because the rest of the food was excellent. Here is my suggestion to the owner: See if LA LA Thai in West LA will allow you to sit in with them and learn how they buy and prepare the chicken. ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/lala-rice-thai-eatery-and-more-los-angeles-2?osq=lala+thai ) This is the best Thai in LA and their chicken is excellent always. You are far away and not in competition so probably they would show you. No one in South Bay is going to come to LA LA for Thai--South Bay people don't like to drive in LA. And while you are there, teach LA LA where to buy and how to cook brown rice because LA LA's brown rice is mediocre and yours is a lot better. Last, prices here are expensive--probably the highest I have ever encountered for these Thai dishes. It's basically $50+ for 2 people to dine here. But Nawa is in the very high rent district so that is probably where a lot of the money is going--to the landlord. A lot of people not in real estate don't know that the cost of land in Manhattan Beach exceeds the price per square foot in Beverly Hills or Bel Air. It's that expensive here.

    Sean Z.

    Located by the heart of Manhattan Beach. Walking distance from the shore. There was no private parking but plenty of street parking. The decor was simple and touch of Thai style. The service was great. Water and menu were brought to the table immediately. The food were served without much of a wait. The food was absolutely delicious. The shrimp in the papaya salad was tender and fresh. The portion was slightly small. Nonetheless, it was still a satisfying experience. The price wasn't too bad for its location. Overall, it gets a 4.7 out of 5. May visit again!

    Crab Fried Rice ($23.95) Medium Spicy

    Parking is convenient with meters out front and a structure across the street. Just make sure you pay because parking enforcement is active. This place feels like such an underrated gem. Every time we visit, it is never overly crowded and the waiters are always friendly. The Crab Fried Rice ($23.95) is my absolute favorite here. They give a generous amount of real crab meat, and ordering it medium spicy gives it just the right kick. The portion is large enough for me and my husband to share, with leftovers to take home. The Pad See Ew with beef ($20.95) is another must-try, also great medium spicy. Both dishes are packed with flavor and quality. One thing to note, it does get a little warm inside. On our last visit, it felt like the AC might not have been working. There were two fans that sprayed mist, but they didn't completely cool the restaurant down. Overall, this has become our go-to Thai spot in the area. A little on the pricier side but worth every bite.

    PatrickJ T.

    Celebrated a Fantastic Birthday dinner at Nawa Thai Restaurant in Manhattan Beach, California!! There was only one negative factor that occurred that special evening. It took forever to find parking!! We went there on a Saturday night, and Manhattan Beach was bustling with activity and traffic. Had to drop off my family while I searched long and hard for parking. Other than that, it was a perfect evening. The parking issue was no fault of Nawa Thai. The restaurant is not very large, but it is cozy. The staff were attentive and kind. The food was DELICIOUS!!!! I don't remember the names of all the entrees that we shared, but I do remember that we were all happy with the food! Everything from the Thai Iced Tea to the Pad Thai to the Mango with Sticky Rice was very very good!! We are not in the Manhattan Beach area very often. If we were, then we'd be regulars at Nawa Thai. Look forward to returning someday.

    Fried Shrimp Donut
    Ray M.

    Small quaint location in North Manhattan Beach. Service was friendly and precise. Never had the fried shrimp donut before but its possibly the best asian food appetizer I have ever had. Then the Pad See Ew was fixed perfectly and with the requested amount of spice (Spicy). Great experience. Only losing a star for the canned sodas.

    Lunch menu
    Audry P.

    Excellent customer service Casual ambiance Delicious and flavorful food If you're in the neighborhood, this place is open 7 days a week! (Closed from 3pm-4pm week days) Lovely assortment of beers, including Singha, Sapporo, Stella, Leo. They also have red/white wine and sake. There is no outdoor seating ,but there are plenty of tables available inside. They have the ability to seat parties of 6, but I recommend calling ahead. They do offer plastic free to-go containers, as well as reusable utensils. All-in-all a delicious lunch! I can't wait to go back, and try the lobster pad thai

    Lobster pad Thai
    Lorsine L.

    We came to check out Nawa Thai while in the area and we were pleasantly surprised by the selections. My fiancé jumped on the lobster pad Thai and I sampled a couple of their appetizers. The chicken satay and crying tiger were really good. My fiancé especially loved that they cut off the fat of the beef and put it to the side since he doesn't like the fat (there's still some lean meat on it, I loved it). He didn't love the lobster pad Thai but that's more because it's on the sweeter side and he likes more savory dishes. I thought the pad Thai was good personally, so something to keep in mind. Our server was very attentive and food came out quickly. He even distinguished between the room temp water for me and ice water for my fiancé. Music was nice and mellow and decor was nice and green. Parking was your typical beach parking so it wasn't great... side note: did you know that the parking meters in Manhattan Beach know when you leave your parking spot? The person in front of me left and had more time than me, so I pulled forward and BOTH meters reset. Just a word of warning for those looking for parking or hoping to use someone else's spot

    Pork fried rice is subtle and nuanced
    Jonathan B.

    Wow and wow. It seems to be relatively easy to make passable Thai food and with some effort decent Thai food, but Nawa is neither. Nawa is exceptional. In fact it is so good that I would place it in the destination category! Meaning it's worth a drive of an hour or even more give. Its location too. This is the best Thai food I've ever had! And the customer service is top shelf!! Hats off.

    Fish Cake
    James Q.

    Hands-down, the best Thai restaurant in the neighborhood and perhaps the greater Los Angeles area. The food here is not only authentically flavorful, but also interesting. They have dishes that other restaurants do not have for example they have a pad Thai with a lobster tail, and they have crab fried rice. Their mango sticky rises to die for, I recommend you eat at the restaurant because when you get the mango sticky rice the rice part will be piping hot. Simply extremely delicious. Also, if you eat at the restaurant, the owner will bring you a wide assortment of different spices. My wife considered the spices extremely special and perhaps the highlight of the meal.. Pro tips: There's a discount if you pay cash. Parking is quite difficult, consider ubering here and try their Thai beer!

    Fried Shrimp Donut
    Liam R.

    Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 3/5 Beautiful, casual and cozy restaurant with phenomenal service and solid Thai food in Manhattan Beach. Will was an absolutely outstanding server, and we heard multiple others eating around this time also comment of the exceptional service -- super attentive but not overbearing, thoughtful, professional and courteous, and made the dining experience wonderful; this man deserves a raise! The food was tasty but not standout, though it may just be the dishes we tried and personal preference. Dishes we tried: - Fried shrimp donut: fun concept and tasty fried fare but didn't have strong shrimp taste; the menu notes that this is also made with a combination of chicken and the taste perhaps had more resemblance to chicken, paired with a unique sweet plum sauce for dipping - Papaya salad: refreshing and served with well prepared shrimp, we opted for the mild which wasn't spicy at all (which we were fine with) so there are certainly options for those who don't want something too spicy; there is also a no spice option; for those who want some kick, may want to choose at least medium - Pad Thai: generous portions, the sauce leans sweet and sweeter than the dish at any other we have tried, too sweet for our preference Parking is tight in Manhattan Beach. There is a paid lot across the street with limited spots that gets busy. Pro tip: paying in cash comes with a 10% discount so prepare in advance for a saving!

    Sea Salmon Special

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    4 months ago

    My go to for fast delicious friendly Thai. Get the Thai iced tea!!! And the tom Kha is bomb!!!

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    3 months ago

    The food was so fresh and delicious. It blew me away. The staff is so nice as well. New go to spot for sure

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    3 months ago

    Really good curry dishes. The flavors are excellent. Staff is friendly and prices are reasonable

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    8 months ago

    The food is a little pricy, but the food quality and service was truly exceptional, I can't wait to come back

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    Page 1 of 6

    Nawa Thai Reviews in Other Languages

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    Thai Dishes MB - Coconut Shrimp Soup

    Thai Dishes MB

    4.0(1k reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    Came in for a quick soup for this cold and this was the perfect place for it!…read more Service was friendly and attentive. My Thai tea was perfect and so was my iced water. I got the Tom yum chicken noodle soup and it was a hearty serving it came with a side salad. Everything was yummy in both dishes,only down fall for me would be that I cannot request it spicy. Yes they give you chili paste, powder and pickled chili but none of it was spicy enough. That's just a personal preference but the soup alone was so flavorful and full of noodles and mushrooms. I could not have asked for more perfect serving of soup lol I appreciate the specials, a lovely place to dine in solo or with some friends.

    It has been years since I've been to Thai Dishes Manhattan Beach but today I made it back to this…read morespot. I've always been a fan of their lunch specials and I was curious to see how it is years later. Their lunch specials now is what they call "Street Food Lunch." They've got 20 different items for $15.95 to choose from and each dish comes with their house salad with sesame dressing. This lunch special is served until 2pm daily. I was impressed with the variety that the Street Food Lunch menu offered. I love how they had some classic favorites as well as unique dishes that aren't commonly found. They had House Noodle Soup, Ba Mee Hung, BBQ Roasted Duck, Mint Leaves with Ground Chicken, Cashew Nut Chicken, Kao Pao Crispy Pork Belly, Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork Belly, Pad Thai Noodles with Shrimp and Chicken, Ba Raan Noodle Soup, Kao Soi Chicken, Mixed Vegetable, Garlic Pepper Pork, Spicy Eggplant Tofu, Spicy Fried Rice Chicken, Tom Yum Kai Noodle Soup, Pad Kee Mow Chicken, Pad See You Noodle with Beef and Chinese Broccoli, Kang Karee Chicken, Kang Pad Beef and Green Curry Shrimp. Certain dishes you could substitute protein for an extra $1 or add egg for $2. I was actually pleasantly surprised that several of the dishes already included egg. It was hard to choose from the good variety of items but my friend and I chose to get their Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork Belly and their Kao Soi Chicken. The Kao Soi Chicken was beautifully plated. It came with a tall stand of fried egg noodles on top of coconut curry broth with chicken, egg noodle, onions and pickled package. The Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork Belly came with lots of pork belly with stir fried Chinese Broccoli and sides of white rice and fried egg. Both dishes were delicious! I loved the creamy, rich coconut curry curry broth from the Kao Soi Noodle. There was lots of tender chicken in the soup and it paired well with the egg noodles I also tried my friend's dish and appreciated the crisp pork belly and flavorful Chinese Broccoli. The Thai flavors were on point! I definitely want to come back and try more of their Thai Street Food. I enjoyed lunch here very much. Not only were the entrees flavorful, they were also large in size. I even had enough for dinner. I am excited to try their other dishes like the Tom Yum Kai Noodle Soup and the Kang Karee Chicken.

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    Ayara Thai - Khao Soi Northern Thai Chicken Curry Noodle

    Ayara Thai

    3.9(2.9k reviews)
    4.2 miWestchester
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    I used to order here a ton when I lived in the area. They were by far, the best Thai place on the…read morewest side. It's a tiny place in a random plaza, parking is fairly easy, they have both street parking and a lot if you walk a bit further down. We used to always order them lunch special, I personally loved their khao soi and crispy pork belly with Chinese broccoli. Their spicy beef salad, tom kha chicken soup and when tigers cry were also really good and highly recommended. Their pad Thai and pad see ew were good but they felt just standard for a Thai restaurant. The only downside it the food takes forever if you order ahead. Like I'm talking 40-60 mins for a to go order and when they give you that estimate, they're not lying. It really does take that long for the food. Definitely worth trying out if you're in the area, it's one of the best Thai places around.

    This Michelin Guide-listed Thai restaurant is a foodie oasis in the Westchester neighborhood of…read moreL.A. Flight crews from Thai Airlines dine here, so you know it's good. This is the best Thai food west of Jitlada! Had a splendid meal at Ayara tonight. A friend from rural Oregon is staying with us and she was starved for good Thai food. Started with the fried calamari- love it when it includes the tentacles. Duck salad, Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Yellow Curry, and Bok Choi followed. Highly recommend eating family-style so that everyone has a taste of all the dishes. The Pad See Ew and Yellow Curry are some of the best examples of these classic dishes we have had in L.A. Finished with an excellent Mango Sticky Rice plus a Mango Sorbet. These desserts were so fresh. Love it when mangoes are in-season. Our house-guest gave the experience a 10/10. Ample, free parking; friendly staff; indoor and outdoor seating; and very good value for a foodie-satisfying meal. Reservations available through OpenTable. And, they just added a full liquor license. Bon Appétit!

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    Little Sister - Pho banh cuon

    Little Sister

    3.9(643 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    Update: Little Sister reached out and made things right, so I want to reflect that here…read more We planned a family event and had our order cancelled two hours before with no warning, which left us scrambling. It was frustrating, especially as long-time loyal customers. But to their credit, Megan and the team followed up, addressed our concerns sincerely, and handled it with real care. They never asked us to update our review so they genuinely accepted their mistake and now I feel bad lol. That kind of accountability goes a long way. We've always loved the food and service here, and honestly this experience reminded us why we kept coming back in the first place.

    Nice ambiance, but that's about it…read more Food was mediocre and bland. Service was worse. As a Latino party of 4, we were treated noticeably differently than the two Caucasian women seated next to us. Our server was friendly, attentive, and checked on them often, while we were ignored, given attitude, and had to flag her down just to order. We ended up getting drinks and appetizers only and left to go somewhere we actually felt welcomed. Didn't catch the server's name she never introduced herself, and I was too upset to check the receipt. The host, however, was much nicer. We even told her wish you were our server on the way out! She said of no was there a problem.... We didn't want to make a big deal and walked away while my father in law did tell her that server had a stick up her you know what... she quickly said yes I know, I'm so Sorry! So we know for a fact it wasn't the first time! Really disappointing experience. Do better, Little Sister.

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