I work nearby and have gone to lunch at L'il Chef Mama weekly since discovering it 5 years ago. I enjoyed the Honey Pork Slider, the Sweet Sausage Fried Rice and the Chicken Basil though my favorite plate is the Chicken Ginger. I found all of those to be delicious. The staff is always friendly and helpful and the restaurant has a nice, comfortable feel to it. read more

The food was amazing! We stopped in after our plans were cancelled during a rain storm. First off the food was ready pretty fast, we didn't wait long and we were starving so that was good. The staff was lovely and helped us with the menu as well, highly recommended by a NYC girl who loves Thai food What a cute restaurant, I can tell it's family owned and I felt very relaxed and welcomed in the restaurant. It's really well decorated so my friend and I had an amazing time taking photos read more

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Hmm where do I start? The items took forever to arrive and 2/4 of the entrees arrived so much later that the first two guests in my party were already done. The beef in the pad siew and curry were slightly tough. Portions were smaller than I'd like. They forgot things like sharing plates, rice (that came with the curry), didnt fill waters up etc. Basically dont come if you in a rush lol. Taste is fine but portions and service needs improving. read more

Lil Chef Mama - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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Lil Chef Mama If you're looking for something cozy, comforting, and full of heart, this place really hits different. The food tastes like it's made with love -- simple, flavorful, and satisfying without trying too hard. Perfect spot to slow down and enjoy a real meal in the middle of the busy Financial District. Now they're open for brunch (finally ), which makes it even better for weekend vibes. Great option if you want something chill, not too crowded, and actually delicious. Just a heads up -- they're closed on Mondays, so plan your visit right! Definitely coming back again soon #FiDiEats #NYCBrunch #HiddenGemNYC #SupportLocalNYC #FoodieFinds read more

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Lovely delivery. Food arrived hot. The spring rolls were crispy, and the sauce had a lovely acidic hit that broke the greasiness of the fried rolls. The green curry had a depth of flavor you don't normally find in take out green curry. read more

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Been here multiple times and each time the service is super slow and lacking. Food is mediocre and need to ask for plates to share the appetizers and when curry dish was served came without the rice and I had to go look for the waiter to ask for it since our seating was in a nice cozy corner up the stairs. We ordered 2 curries so he bought one after I told him we were waiting for it and then realized another one was missing after I pointed it out. Only reason I come here is I love the decor and its super close by to where I live. read more

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Caught up with a friend here for brunch. Weekend midday options are pretty lacking in FiDi, so I was hoping Lil Chef Mama, with its interesting Thai-American fusion brunch offerings, would be a hidden gem. It was....more like a hidden pebble. Not bad, but not exceptional either. My Thai Basil Burger had some interesting herbal/sugary elements to the meat, but the patty more or less fell apart as soon as I picked up the sandwich, making it very difficult to eat. The burger was also quite greasy, which is never pleasant. The spiced fries were crispy and tasty, though I think they could've used even more seasoning. The Thai Omlette was like any other meat and veggie-filled omelette--to my disappointment, there was nothing noticeably Thai (or even Asian) about it. My friend's Honey Pork Fried Rice was decent, with lots of pork slices, but it lacked the flavor bomb characteristic of other traditional Thai fried rices. At least our Thai Iced Teas were creamy and satisfying. Service was friendly, no issues there. The restaurant has a cute plant nursery-esque decor in its entryway that sadly does not continue through the rest of the restaurant. But it's still a nice sit-down spot with warm wood tones. read more

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A very cute Thai restaurant in the Wall Street area with great service and reliably good food! My mom always stays in the area when she visits New York, so this is our go-to when she's in town. The restaurant is pretty big, with a generous amount of seating, and I loved the floral decorations. During my most recent visit, I ordered the Honey Moo slider and a set meal, which I think is a dine-in only special. The slider was so, so good: tender and juicy, with just the right amount of sweetness. Note that it comes with just one slider, so may be difficult to share. The set meal was also beautifully presented: I chose the ginger fish for my entree and mango sticky rice for my dessert. It can feel a bit steep, at ~$40, but everything was fresh and delicious, and I loved the variety. Along with your entree and dessert, you get a bowl of edamame, a small salad, a scallion pancake, soup, and rice. The mango sticky rice came with a generous amount of mango! I also had enough food left over for lunch the next day. Can't wait to be back! read more

Lil Chef Mama - honey moo slider - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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lil chef mama is a slightly hidden Thai food gem in Financial District / Seaport area. The ambiance is great for any occasion - dates, dinner with friends, dinner with parents. I recently went in the afternoon and had brunch there. You are able to order from the regular dinner menu during brunch hours. We walked in and were seated right away. Ordered the honey pork friend rice, tom yum soup, house salad, and a red curry. This was a lot of food for 2 people, we had lots of leftovers. The honey pork fried rice is really good, it reminded me of bulgogi. Overall, a solid spot that you can walk into read more

Lil Chef Mama - Honey pork Thai Fried Rice (L) - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

One of the nicest decorated Thai spots I've been to in nyc. Very chill and casual ambiance. Came on a weekday night and was seated right away (we just missed their happy hour lol) but they had a nice traditional Thai menu with a variety of interesting cocktails. We got the pad thai, fried calamari & glass noodles with chili. We're big fans of Thai food as we have it quite often & this spot didn't disappoint. Everything was delicious and on point. Servers were attentive and friendly. Prices were fair and comparable to any other Thai spot in the city. I love how they have this location nearby my place because I'll definitely be coming back. read more

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Love having this Thai spot in FiDi! Have dined in and grabbed take out from Lil Chef Mama and it's always delicious with reliable service. The space is large with an open kitchen and lots of seating. They've got great decor as well. Drunken Noodles with Mock Duck: 4.5/5: Love the mock duck, noodles are fresh and flavorful. Could use some extra spice Basil Fried Rice with Tofu: 4/5: Not bad, could also use some extra spice, so I usually ask for the chili garlic on the side. Thai Iced Tea: 4.5/5: Sweet and creamy, the perfect complement to the meal. Overall, quick and reliable. Will be back! read more

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Delicious! Always a great experience with Lil Chef Mama, food is fresh and great for takeout!

Side street in Sea Port Area - a sandwich sign caught eyes - over we went half block.. large space, dim-lit, lotsa cute lights.. chefs wafting steam cooking aggressively.. ordered pad thai with chicken and friend got mango with sticky rice (dessert).. thai iced teas were on-pont - and got a my thai cocktail - sweety and smooth $71 was steep bill but the fresh quality yum pad thai had TLC present read more

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Yum! This place was delicious I can't wait to come back!! The roti w curry was really small but yummy. Pannang duck curry was solid. The noodle was really good and so was the fish. The flavor was perfect, just the right blend. read more

Lil Chef Mama - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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Mediocre overall if they didn't try to upsell the larb that wasn't even on the menu. Pad Thai was fine - missing tamarind, peanut sauce driven. Chicken was good. Roti was fluffy and expected. Pork Larb was so bad - the dish we wanted (sausage) was not available and we asked if they had larb. They said yes and delivered the larb obviously trying to create on the spot. Chopped flavorless pork. Would appreciate more if they told us they dont do it and not qualify to serve it. It was dry, flavorless, textureless , ruined the whole meal. Service was slow. We expressed the larb was bad and heard nothing back. Would not come back. read more

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Lil Chef Mama catered a climbing event I went to in Gowanus and the food was so tasty that I had to try it again. I went with 3 of my friends. We ordered: Pad Thai (Recommend) Pork Sliders (Recommend) Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp Beef Red Curry (Recommend) Chicken Wings Beef Dumplings Yuzu Soda Orange juice Butterfly Pea Lemonade (Recommend) The atmosphere is beautiful, they made such creative and effective use of the space. The entrance is great for photos and you won't feel crowded in this space. Vegan options were clearly labeled. Travis and Joe were great and attentive servers, and not overbearing. I saw Lil Chef Mama on my way to the restroom and I had to say hi and she was kind enough to offer us complimentary mango sticky rice because she remembered me from the climbing event. She is an absolute sweetheart and please let her know how much you enjoyed the food when you visit. We will certainly be back for the chefs specials, and some other items we had our eyes on. Definitely a place worth trying. I am confident this place deserves its praise. And if you do happen to order the chefs specials, call to order in advance as they take ~30min to prepare read more

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What a cute hidden treasure in FiDi! walking in, i was impressed by the ambiance & the kind employees. I got the Khao Soi (named differently on the menu) & the flavor was so good, I just wish they put more sauce. My friends enjoyed their pad seew & pad thai. The Thai Iced tea was pretty good too & not too sweet! Pricing is reasonable, would definitely come back! read more

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The staff here is SO friendly. They were so kind and courteous the whole time. The inside of the restaurant is also beautiful. It feels like a garden. I took my food to go, and was pretty satisfied with the taste. I got Pad Thai and it was good. I would come here again and try other dishes. They have a wide variety of meats for the fried rice, which I haven't seen before. I do think the price is comparable to other places but the portion was a bit small. I've gotten Thai takeout before and this container was legitimately smaller than others I've had. OverLl if you're in Fidi I would definitely do a sit down dinner here and enjoy the good food, nice staff, and pretty ambiance for the price. read more

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The food was great, the service was great, the ambiance was excellent, and the prices were reasonable.

Just being honest - I've eaten here 3 times in the past two weeks. The first time I went was for dine in, and I was actually kind of impressed with the interior. It's a big space and a little funky. Definitely an easy place to go with a group of people. All the food we tried was good, but what keeps me coming back.... The Tom Kha soup. It's DELICIOUS. The best I ever had. I get it with chicken and a side of rice. It's perfectly balanced, creamy but not too rich, and just perfect. When I'm not eating it, I'm dreaming about it. Come for the Thai food, but you better not leave without trying the Tom kha soup if you like coconut! read more

Lil Chef Mama - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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I had been walking all day in the rain due to the bands of Tropical Storm Ophelia hitting NYC. I was in the mood for amazing Asian food that NYC could offer without having to walk to Chinatown in the rain. I saw this hidden gem on my apple maps and the name alone caught my eye, then it said Thai and boom I was on my way walking 0.5 miles (10 mins) from the World Trade Center to this place. The sign is cute and welcoming. Once I walked inside I felt like I was transported to another world. It was so warm and inviting. Lots of plants and bamboo. Each table had this cute little lamp that gave this rich aesthetic feel. I was so wet from the outside that I needed to use the restroom immediately after asking for hot green tea as my beverage of choice. As I was walking towards the bathrooms, I was looking at everyone's plate and the plate that stood out to me the most was the Basil Stir Fry with Jumbo Shrimp and the dumplings, so you know I had to order it. Sooooooooooooooooooooo GOOD!! Boy, I was so impressed. I could only imagine how everything else tasted. The fact that I paid so cheap for Jumbo shrimp in my meal was just astounding. I legit was flabbergasted when I saw my bill. However, the dumpling price was too much to pay for me. I didn't even noticed the price but that was on me. I still can't be mad because it tasted so good. I appreciate the hospitality and the friendly smiles from the hostess to the chefs. Definitely a place to bring friends or even a date. Enjoy people, you will not be disappointed!! read more

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Hidden treasure alert!! HIDDEN TREASURE ALERT!!!!!!! I find myself in the South Street Seaport Area so infrequently, I would have NO idea where to go for a meal! Thanks to a mix of Google Searching and meandering, we discovered Lil Chef Mama. A converted lobby/industrial space on a side street, the interior architecture gives the restaurant a unique vibe (stringed lights and faux plants warm a space filled with archetecerter quirks). Greated immediately with that stereotypical Thai charm, we were seated and watered immediately. We ordered family style cause we were HUNGRY but might have gone too far!! Shared some roti with a delicious curry dipping sauce; flaky and buttery and disappeared quickly. Everything else we ordered was phenomenal, flavorful and flowing over with food (large portions...thank goodness)! The Brunch Sweet Pork fried rice was rich and savory; the Kings Chicken (one of a list of 'specialty' dish that say can take longer to come out) was an omelet with chicken inside. Just the right amount juicy chicken but that umami egg cooked crispy that you want. The pork Soup was a stand-out hit. Not like any Thai soup I've had, it was like a lighter Ramen mixed with a rich Pho or BBH! Stocked with perfectly tender pork, there was plenty to share here. Great service, fast kitchen, left overs taken home! Winner, winner, Thai for Dinner! read more

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I came here with a friend, it was a cute restaurant. The restaurant was pretty slow that night but the service was good and food came out timely . Prices are great for the area. A nice touch was the glass of wine for only $10. The dish I ordered was a take on khao soy. The flavors were all good. I would've preferred the traditional khao soy but the dish was still comforting and familiar. read more

Lil Chef Mama - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Authentic food. Phenomenal service. A must visit. Glad I found this spectacular hidden gem read more

I came here based on reviews and cravings for Thai food. I was in the fidi area, so that made a difference as well. When you first walk in, you see the decor, which was really nice and thought out to make you feel as if you're dining in Asia. I took many pictures of the indoor space. There's no outdoor dining here. Just know that the restaurant is by a small narrow street and it's dark in the alleyway. I was torn between what I should order as there was so much to choose from. However, I decided on the pork belly noodle soup for the entree and the honey moo slider. Just know there's only one slider, and the prices went up from what is posted on the website, which is listed as $6, but it is currently $8. The five spice pork belly noodle soup is under the Mama's Special category. Both were good, but one wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be. All in all, there are so many Thai spots in the city, so I don't know if I'll be returning. read more

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Hot, fresh, and food reminded us of home- New Orleans. A go to spot in the financial district!! read more

Lil Chef Mama - Chicken fried rice, wings with spicy sweet honey sauce, and sweet potato pastry - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Cute little Thai place! It's really nicely decorated inside and they have multi-level seating which was fun. Very nice service, and they're not too busy so we didn't feel rushed at all. We had the Pad Kee Mao and the Kang Dang Curry, which were both good!! The Pad Kee Mao noodles were nice and chewy, but the beef was slightly tough. The serving sizes were also really generous and it was a perfect amount to feel full off of. We both wished the spice level was a little more on the dishes, but it was still great. I really want to try other things on the menu!! read more

Lil Chef Mama - Pad Kee Mao and Red Curry - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

4.5 stars! Pleasantly surprised to find this yummy thai spot tucked away on a side street! The restaurant is incredibly spacious and well decorated, and is perfect for both intimate and large groups for dinner. Between the 3 of us, we split the shrimp pad see ew, red curry with chicken, and the "In Honor of the King". Shrimp pad see ew erred a bit on the sweet side, but was still incredibly tasty and well seasoned. The shrimp were sizeable and perfectly cooked! Red curry with chicken was probably my favorite of the night. Even at mild spice, it packed a good (but not overwhelming) amount of heat, and was aromatic and flavorful. They don't skimp on the curry fillings either - this was packed with veggies and chicken. In Honor of the King is like an egg wrapped chicken breast/cutlet. Not my favorite of the night (solely a personal preference thing), but it was really well cooked. Service here is great - our water glasses never went empty, and the wait staff here is incredibly kind. Overall, the meal came out to about $79 after tax and tip, which really wasn't bad at all since we were stuffed! Will definitely be back again. read more

Lil Chef Mama - Pad Sieew, Red Curry, In Honor of the King - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

We tried the lunch special where you get to try 3 different Thai dishes with rice. They were really good & quick.

Cute little restaurant nestled in a small side street. The whole vibe was super authentic Thai and the food did not disappoint. Everything I ordered was super authentic, and service was gentle and hospitable. Also, as a vegetarian they have tons of options, including mock duck, which is absolutely delicious. Would 100% come back to this place and recommend for a date night or lunch with friends. read more

Lil Chef Mama - Spicy Pad Kee Mao - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Went on a Friday night around 9:30 pm. There weren't many people by the time we entered. The food was so delicious! We ordered the honey moo sliders, fried shrimp rolls, and Thai style fried rice with chicken. The honey moo slider was divine, and the shrimp rolls were nice and crunchy. The fried rice was light and flavorful. The decor was so fun and had overall good vibes. Cute string lights hung everywhere, plants filling the space making it feel fresh, and soft pop playing in the background. Would come back again read more

Lil Chef Mama - Honey Moo Slider, Fried Shrimp Rolls - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

The best Thai food in New York City! The care, the service and the space are phenomenal. What a gem in FiDi! The owner is there and very much hands on and what a difference it makes! read more

Lil Chef Mama - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Food was fresh, tasty and packed with flavor. Had a classic chicken pad Thai and the wings as an appetizer. Service was also solid. Good place for lunch! It will definitely be one of my go to spots when I'm at work. read more

This restaurant located was formerly called Thai Sliders (which I never ate at) had some tasty options and huge lunch portions.I came here at a lunch meeting last week. The restaurant served lunch, and the portions were huge. I had to take my leftovers to go. Pad Boong Fai Dai - so good, missed this dish. I would eat this every day in Thailand. Curry Puffs - these puffs have a lot of filling. This could even be a small meal for one. Som Tum - this dish was ok. Chiang Mai Noodles - the noodles are bathed in massaman curry with egg and mixed vegetables - amazing and ate the other half for dinner. Pad Thai - my boss loved it and devoured the entire plate, and fell into a food coma returning to the office. What does that say? Hand roll dumpling - vegetarian - my coworker liked it. I've also eaten here in the past, and the chicken ginger and pad prik khing are good options if you want to explore other dishes outside of pad thai, pad cee eiw and pad khee Mao. Finally, the lemon ginger hot drink is worth getting to help digest all that is consumed. read more

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Wow! Service was awesome. Food incredible. Interior design pretty. Prices solid. The grilled flavor of the Thai basil was sooo unique & worthy of a happy dance. I literally think this Thai restaurant can have #2 spot now. If you can wow me with a completely subtle flavor than your competition & the presentation is also beautiful, you deserve a higher rank on the list! The spring rolls were great as well. I loved the touch lamps on the tables. Any restaurant that delivers a flower garden photo opp is a winner in my book. So pretty. And, any restaurant that keeps a candle lit in their bathroom values their customer experience. Lol Now, I don't know who came up with the name or if the chef is blasian, but it very much is a standout name. Haha Go, enjoy!!! read more

Lil Chef Mama - Spicy Chicken Basil I think - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

The service was great. Food was excellent and very tasty. More than what was expected read more

Lil Chef Mama - One happy family - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Very friendly, quick service, in a unique space with a varied menu that had me wanting to try lots of things. Settled on a curry with fake duck and was blown away by the flavor and perfect level of spice. My only negative note would be the music - it's a pop playlist of songs we've heard too many times! Switch that up and this would be perfect. read more

Lil Chef Mama is one of my favorite local Thai spots in Fidi. The restaurant has plenty of space to eat in with friends, or dine alone if you prefer. Each time I've visited I've been able to walk in without having a reservation. Favorite dishes include the chicken satay, pad see ew and panang curry. They serve a limited selection of some beers, wines and cocktails. Been a few times and always enjoy the atmosphere. read more

Good Thai food!! Got the Pad Sieew and In Honor of the King to share with a friend. I liked the Pad Sieew a bit more, felt the flavors were stronger. The In Honor of the King dish comes with curry rice, which I thought was pretty good. The dishes on the "Special" menu do come out a bit slower (they estimate ~30 min on the menu) so def plan ahead for that if you want to order something from that part of the menu. Service was pretty good as well :) read more

Lil Chef Mama - Pad Sieew - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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What a great find...we were in the area and decided to try this spot for an early weekday dinner. The place was practically empty when we arrived on a Wednesday at 5.30. We were quickly seated by our server. The place has a great vibe, and decor is done very nicely. Decided to order a couple of main dishes : curry, rice noddles and fried rice. Everything was super delicious and I have to admit, this was after a long time, I tasted the perfect silky tofu in my curry, the flavors were bold and yet hit the right taste buds. Definitely coming back here when in the area, and this is one of those spots, I'd drive down to city just to eat here :) read more

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