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    Nawa Thai

    4.6 (230 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Desserts, Soup
    Closed • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Nawa Thai Takeout or Delivery

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    NAWA THAI ATMOSPHERE

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    Laura P.

    Pretty good restaurant with authentic flavors. Prices are a little on the higher side, but the dishes are interesting, like the special lobster pad Thai and soft shell crab pad Thai. The lobster one seemed especially popular, so I might give it a try next time. There's only 1 bathroom, so good luck during rush hour.

    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.

    Sea Salmon Special
    Dhanushree P.

    Good food, good vibe, good service. Sweet spot in Manhattan beach, I would highly recommend their Thai tea, and their salmon curry!

    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!

    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

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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

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    8 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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    7 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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    Really good curry dishes. The flavors are excellent. Staff is friendly and prices are reasonable

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    Metro Cafe

    4.3(509 reviews)
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    This WAS my favorite brunch spot: could count on delicious omelettes, yummy French toast, great…read moreservice, inviting space. BUT, today the service was all around terrible. Waitress was a bit brusque. Ok. We all have bad days. But she never checked on us: MIA. I needed a refill. Waited and waited she was nowhere to be found. Busboy delivered our food. We asked for an extra plate and a refill. We never got either. Still no waitress. Had to go to the bar to get the plate and the refill. What really soured me was the bartender/manager's attitude. I told her the service was not good. She grudgingly asked what was wrong. I explained. She responded defensively that they had a busy day. No apology, which really goes a long way. She came back to check on us, but was surly. I would like to think that today was a one off. But the service was a big fail from the very beginning with waitress to the busboy to the manager. This signals a serious owner/management problem. In all fairness, food was still good. But, not so good as to put up with unprofessional service. I left with a very bad taste in my mouth. Had been giving this place a shout out to friends. Won't be doing that anymore.

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    True Food Kitchen

    4.0(1.5k reviews)
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    Chloe Kooper made my entire experience. Even though the entire ceiling was flooding she made sure I…read morewas taken care of. Will keep coming back just for her!

    I'm a big fan of true food kitchen, and have been to the Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, and Newport…read morelocation. This was my first time in the El Segundo location and I absolutely loved it! It's located in a shopping area in El Segundo called The Point. Parking: parking can be a little tricky, but it's free parking! Such an anomaly in the LA area lol. Kat was our waitress and she was phenomenal. Camine also came by and she was so hospitable. Everything that we ordered was on point! (Pun intended lol). My daughter got the cheese pizza and my son got the penne pasta. I kind of wish they had a side of vegetables or fruit, but thankfully, I had just given my kids some fruit before, so avoided the mom guilt lol. The edamame dumplings is an absolute must! It's an umami flavored dish! We also got the eggplant dish, and it was really good! If you've been to elephante in Santa Monica, it kind of reminds me of that, but the eggplant is a little bit more dense, but really great flavors. You may have to order an extra eggplant dip, because the ratio isn't exactly favorable towards the eggplant. Got the kale salad with shrimp. The shrimp was cooked to perfection! Kale was pretty good, but asked for extra cheese. My husband was all about the burger and he claimed it was one of the best burgers he's ever had! He got an IPA beer and I got a watermelon mint Mojito. It was really good, but I think I will try the skinny margarita next time. The price is actually pretty reasonable for the clean /delicious food! We are most definitely coming back!

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    Little Sister - The Shorty

    Little Sister

    3.9(668 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    DELICIOUS!!!! I love this place! Highly recommend!…read more Food came out pretty quick! Would definitely bring clients back for lunches.

    I usually go to the Redondo Beach location but decided to try the El Segundo restaurant. I am…read morewriting this review after 2 visits. As far as decoration and space, I like the El Segundo location better. Also, the cocktails were well balanced and refreshing. Additionally, the staff from hostess to our server and busser were all amiable and professional. The downside was the food, which is the most important thing for the restaurant and determines if I will come back. I used to be so delighted at the flavors and creative little twists at Little Sister. However, the food these past two visits to Little Sister was basic at best. For example, we ordered the papaya salad and there was no flavors as in no dressing. We ordered the short ribs and the flavor was uneven and bland in 2/3rd of the meat and the noodles were also dry. Even their famous garlic noodle and crepe was too soggy and even bitter (overcooked ingredients). I was with good friends and with the cocktails, we still had a fun night but was very disappointed at the food has really gone down in the past few years. The sad thing is the quality of the ingredients was not the issue. Seems like the prep and execution has gotten lax and lazy and it really felt like the kitchen was phoning it in. I am still giving it a 3 stars instead of less stars to wish them improvement. The fried rice with prawns and imperial rolls still holds up. And due to their service staff, I cannot give them less. These days, it is hard for restaurants to get professional and decent staff so please appreciate them.

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    Northern Cafe -  El Segundo - Steamed Custard Buns

    Northern Cafe - El Segundo

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    This was my first trip to this location of Northern Café in El Segundo. I live on the east side and…read morethis is one of my go to restaurants out there I was able to online order my food, and there were lots of different options to order from. I want this hot and sour soup, the noodles, and the beef rolls. I would've ordered some other items, but it was too much food for just myself. The restaurant is nice and spacious. Parking can' be a little bit dicey because of how popular all the establishments are here in this plaza. I got really lucky for finding the spot I was able to find. But I feel like it easily have been a nightmare and me looping around for a long time. But otherwise, I felt very fortunate funding the parking that I did Northern cafe here in el segundo is a great addition to the restaurant variety.

    I've been to Northern Cafe in El Segundo a few times, both for dine-in and through Uber Eats…read more Unfortunately, my first couple of experiences were not great when it came to the food, although the service was good. I decided to give it another try today and ordered the chicken dumplings with chili oil, pork ear, and custard buns. The custard bun was the only dish I really enjoyed. The pork ear was way too salty, and the chicken dumpling filling was dry, extremely oily, and very salty. I could only eat two pieces before I had to stop. I really wanted to like the food because the service has been good, but after several visits, the food just hasn't worked for me. I hope they can improve the seasoning and consistency because I'd be happy to give it another try in the future.

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    Kagura El Segundo - Three fish sashimi. Great!

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    4.4(710 reviews)
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    Love love love this place! Been coming here for years. Definitely my favorite kagura branch…read more Everything on the menu is delicious. I personally just prefer to get sushi or sashimi. The fish is super fresh and the variety is good. The sets are really filling with lots of side dishes. I usually always have leftovers. Staff is great and attentive. Overall a 5/5 experience.

    I've been to a few Japanese restaurants in downtown El Segundo over the years. How on earth did I…read moremiss this gem!? Huge props to my coworker for suggesting this place. Hidden in plain sight, Kagura is a top tier Japanese dining experience. It should be noted that this place is more $$$ than it is $$, and that's a compliment. I dropped $50+ here and it was easy to say it was worth it. I treat myself to the Kagura Gozen chef especial that was limited on how many was served per day and a Orion Okinawa draft beer. Plus, I had leftovers. The chef special came with more-than-a-little of everything. Each dish was unique and delicious. I was treated to a full spread of amazing Japanese cuisine. Sashimi was fresh, katsu was thick and juicy with a lightly breaded crust, eel was flavorful and soft, and the soba noodles were perfect. The restaurant is clean and beautifully laid out. I got vibes of actually being in Japan. If you have a reservation, you can get a private booth. The attractive staff were fantastic. Friendly and fast. Water glass was always full and empty dishes were promptly removed. Last tid bits. Two clean solo bathrooms and street parking.

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    Wooga Sullungtang - Mul Mil-Myeon - chewy noodles in cold beef broth

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    4.5(420 reviews)
    6.5 mi
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    Quick dinner before headed back to our hotel, this restaurant was bustling when we came in around…read more7p on a Friday night. We were seated immediately which was super nice and able to order fairly quickly. The restaurant is decently sized and run by the nicest people ever. They were very patient and courteous our whole dining experience in the restaurant. The menu is extensive but with the humid weather my friend and I were very excited for a bowl of cold noodles. The cold noodles were perfect, and the portions were huge for the price you pay! Everything was delicious, and the banchan was probably some of the best I've ever had at any Korean restaurant in the US. Highly recommend coming here if you're in the area!

    Came here as our post-church lunch spot. A Korean place open on Sunday is already rare. Came…read morelooking for Naeng-Myeon on this hot, summer day, and this fit the bill. It was a busy day for Mul Naeng-Myeon but they conveniently had a couple tables for us. They can get busy, and there was a line forming as we were eating, so it is understandable if the service can seem a little pushy at times, and this comes out in very subtle ways (i.e. There's no AC, only a small fan. If they want you to leave, they'll position the fan away from you). Cold water is also only available upon request, as well as extra napkins. Otherwise, you'll be wiping your mouth with a one-ply napkin the whole time. The banchan was great. I especially loved the onions and perilla leaves. The kimchi tasted fresh and tangy, but the radishes were a bit too sweet and cut very clunky. The Naeng-Myeon was good; it tasted very heavily of sesame, and not much else. The meat was also pretty tough to chew. Very filling, but expensive for the amount of meat you get. Definitely made use of the vinegar and mustard, which they eventually took away to give to another table. I'm thinking I just ordered the wrong thing and came on the wrong day. I saw what other people ordered, and it looked delicious, always served with enthusiasm. Next time, I'll have what they're having.

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    Nawa Thai - thai - Updated September 2026

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