NaKorn is where colonial Thailand vibes meet modern flair--and it's got a story to match! Picture this: Two incredible women owners not only built the place themselves (yes, including the stunning bar made of abacuses) but also created the Bangkok street scene mural and a hand-drawn map of the city. Now, let's talk service--impeccable. From the friendly host who upgraded our table to the server who answered all of our questions about the restaurant's history, we were in great hands the entire night. But the real star? The food. We started with shrimp in a deliciously tangy Tom Yum broth, then moved on to a chicken curry that was next-level. This isn't your typical Thai food--it's elevated in all the right ways. And dessert? Wow. It's called "A Trip Down Memory Lane" and let me tell you, it's a journey. A frozen croissant topped with coconut ice cream, shredded frozen egg yolk (yes, really), and gold flakes! The host explained it's a twist on a classic Southeast Asian street food, and honestly, I'm still dreaming about it. We were so well taken care of, and the food was so amazing, we're already plotting our return visit--like, now. read more

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at NaKorn. There is a lovely ambiance at the restaurant and delicious homemade food. Our waiter, Marc, really made the meal great - he was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. In this area of Evanston, NaKorn is a jewel as it is surrounded by fast casual restaurants. read more

Creative cocktails, lovely staff, and delicious food. I come here once or twice a month for lunch. It's a charming restaurant and definitely worth a visit. They take care to serve quality food with a thoughtful presentation. read more

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Worth the trip from the city to this lively restaurant with unique and delicious Thai style cuisine. All items are pretty creative and you will not find the typical menu items you may be used to seeing at most standard Thai restaurants. We didn't mind paying the 40$ deposit for a reservation at this bustling, upbeat, feel good little restaurant to ensure a table ( it's a deposit so if you show up you will get your money back), Great service and great food. Prices were fair. Loved the live music too. We shared a bunch of dishes which was definitely the way to go: Braised Short rib- very good Bourbon Popcorn shrimp- overly fried- not my favorite Papaya Salad - delicious Pan Seared Sea Scallops- great but tiny portion Coconut Poached Seafood - loved this !!!! Duck with noodles - great! Desserts were good too - we shared a chocolate cake covered in raspberry and marshmallow topping and a coconut pudding Overall an excellent meal and a great choice when in Evanston and even for those not scared to venture out for an evening away from the city to go to a restaurant in cute downtown Evanston. I definitely recommend this restaurant for the adventurous eater and will return read more

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Made reservations the day before via telephone. Arrived with a friend, only to find we were placed at the kitchen door. When I said I had made reservations, the hostess rudely said she didn't take it...so I guess she did not find herself responsible. When I asked if there was better seating -- she said not inside but yes outside. Then she literally placed us alone right on the street curb, not with the more hospitable area at the window. I will never go to that place again. read more

This is the best place in downtown Evanston. The food is interesting and dependably excellent. It is not your normal street Thai. It is truly urban Thai. We have been there many times. All our food choices have been excellent. When the lump crab dish is available, it is my favorite. The appetizers are good, we especially like the brussels sprouts. The Thai affogato is especially good. The service is attentive and professional (unusual for downtown Evanston). Reservations recommended. The ambiance is nice and noise levels are reasonable. read more

The food was so flavorful and delicious! Visiting daughter at NU and wanted fresh food and this more than delivered. The ambiance is so inviting and the manager Mark was wonderful. Friendly and great explanation of the dishes! Can't wait to come back when we visit next!! Thank you!!! read more

Partner and I were talking about how we're definitely coming back for future date nights here. The food is really good. Ordered northern thai sausage for an app, coconut chicken curry and the duck noodle soup for our entrees. The thai sausage app is really yummy and fun - like a Thai charceuterie coming with one sausage, egg plant relish, sticky rice, an assortment of fresh veggies and fried pork skins. You mix and match the flavors, really fun, & reminds me of how they give you fresh garlic cloves and peppers on the side to eat with your dishes in SE Asia. Coconut curry was great - chicken is tender and flavorful in the curry; it cones with these fried noodle strips on top that add a really nice texture to the dish. My partner's duck noodle soup was amazing too, the broth is *really* well done, the duck leg the soup comes with is so tender and falls apart at the bone, and the dish even comes with a cute vial of chili vinegar that kicks up the flavor a notch when you want a little spicy acid. The ambiance is classy and modern. Really a nice hip place. The waiters & waitresses are all well dressed & charismatic too. Service is really, really good. My only regret is not trying the dessert (they said they had an in house pastry chef!) or fried fish I saw coming out, but hey next time. Perfect date night. We'll be back with the parents next time! read more

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Consistently good service, delicious food and parking out front in quaint downtown Evanston. I returned to Evanston to dine here before a concert and we were very please. Our waiter was very good about answering questions. I've always had a nice dining experience at Nakorn. Check it out for your next dinner out. read more

Cute neighborhood restaurant. Food was high quality and flavors were perfect. Nice decor and vibe as well.

Ambience was great for a family dinner of 4. We ordered the arctic char, the curry braised chicken, pad thai w tiger prawns, and the coconut braised seafood. Super impressed with the food here. Usually coconut based curries I've had have always been heavy, but the curries here were really light, probably among the best I've had. Highly recommend! read more

NaKorn - Arctic Char - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

There are a lot of things I can look past when eating out, like the restaurant being too busy forcing me to sit outdoors. Or the fact that our food came out 40 minutes after we ordered it, or that the couple who came after us got their food in less than half the time that we did. But the one thing that I cannot look past, is horrible tasting food at this price point. The tapioca crackers dip was delicious, but it all went downhill from there. We got the angus beef with bah mi noodles, sauteed tiger prawn and thin rice noodles, and the coconut curry braised chicken. The chicken was super dry, and the flavors on everything else was very bland. The staff was friendly, but that wasn't enough to make me feel good about what was easily the worst Thai food I've had in my life. I don't enjoy writing bad reviews, but there's nothing that makes me more sad than paying for food that tastes worse than what I can find at a fast food drive-thru. 10/10 would not recommend. read more

[NaKorn] A traditional / contemporary mixed Thai restaurant in Evanston. There is an amazing article about the owners and the start of the restaurant that I will link below. https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/08/03/nakorn-urban-thai-has-unique-food-and-a-big-heart/ This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Evanston. I should be sponsored / get to try their new items the amount of times I've been here and recommended people to come Who's to say you can't start with dessert. This aesthetic was too good to not use as the first photo. 1. Dessert aesthetic (see slide 4 & 5) 2. Braised Duck with egg noodles 3. Crispy Rice, Iceberg Wedge 4. The Kiss of Venus 5. Rice Pudding 6. Sautéed tiger prawn and thin rice noodle (favorite item) 7. Coconut curry braised chicken Overall, I think this place is super aesthetic, good vibes, good food, and best of all it's relatively cheap. I will have to say from personal opinion that recent times I've been I've been somewhat disappointed in the food such as the Braised duck noodle and the crispy rice iceberg wedge. The desserts were insanely good and well plated. Overall, 10/10. @nakornkitchen please sponsor me and let me taste test your new experiment menu items https://nakornkitchen.com 1622 Orrington Ave Evanston, IL 60201 read more

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Great vibe which is fun, good food little pricey but good, service was the usual as any restaurant

My husband and I had a fabulous meal at NaKorn. The food was flawless. The service was attentive. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the decor and the lively dining room. From the front door until we walked out, we were treated beautifully. We'll be back! read more

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Lovely restaurant on the upscale end in downtown Evanston! The atmosphere and decor is very cozy and matched with warm service. Food-wise, everything tasted good -- particularly the braised duck with egg noodles (such an interesting broth! the flavor reminded me of Chinese pork floss) and coconut-curry braised chicken (topped with delicious crispy sweet potato). The curry was delicious, but the chicken was a little dry. The ginger bourbon popcorn chicken was recommended to us as a starter, and while it was tasty, it was less unique and personally I felt that it could be skipped. Similarly, the chocolate cake with housemade marshmallow fluff was good, but the richness of the chocolate didn't seem evenly distributed throughout the cake (which wasn't served warm) and didn't stand out to me as a dessert. Overall, very nice dining experience and I'd revisit -- but definitely pricier for students. Dined: November 11, 2022 read more

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We've been to NaKorn several times. It's always a great experience, and a nice spot for special occasions. They offer a complimentary dessert on birthdays, and a card signed by all the staff. Everyone who works here is warm, friendly, and good at their job. The decor is lovely. This is not your typical Thai place. They don't have pad Thai, nor a long list of stir-fries and curries. It's fine dining, with a small but great menu. Certain dishes are more like Thai "fusion" (ginger bourbon popcorn chicken, sweet-potato croquettes). Others have instantly recognizable Thai flavors like coconut milk, fish sauce, and basil. Everything I've had here was at least very good, and most things were outstanding. There is a full bar with fantastic house drinks, live music in the background, and an in-house pastry chef. NaKorn is popular and gets loud and crowded on weekends. Definitely make a reservation. If you get drinks, appetizers, and dessert, expect to spend $70+ per person including tip. It's worth it for a treat! read more

First time at Nakorn and I felt like I was in Thailand, Nakorn has a wonderful subtle authentic Thai vibe, making the ambiance of the place just lovely. And the food OMG it is the most delicious authentic Thai food, I have had and reminded me so much of eating in Thailand The Angus Beef Bah Mi is out of this world, wonderfully delicious, the beef so tender and flavorsome, it was heaven in a bowl and the butter cake dessert OMG so good. As well as great food, their service is very impressive, they are friendly, welcoming and attentive too. I can't wait to explore more of their menu - they really do know how to do Thai food read more

NaKorn - Inside Restaurant area - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

If the cheerful environment made me happy, the awesome food really made my day. We ordered a fried fish, shrimp noodles and fried tofu. The shrimp noodles instantly recalled my pleasant memories of Phuket island! Definitely I will go there again read more

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Items are overpriced and are not authentic to taste, but an ok place to take someone for the ambience if you're in the area. Walking in I really enjoyed the warm lighting and aesthetics of the many lamps. We came in on the weekend, and there was also live music if that's something you're looking for. Upon getting seated we were offered sparkling or regular water. Later on they brought out Perrier and of course this is an additional charge. I've been to places where they offer complimentary sparkling water and was disappointed they were not more transparent about prices. - The duck egg noodle was good, as was the vinegar Thai chili dressing, but it wasn't very filling and there was so little sauce for a $22 dish. - The coconut poached seafood was very watered down, bland, and without much substance even on appearance. Again, for a dish that is nearly $30. (I read some reviews praising this dish, and I refuse to believe we had the same meal.) - The coconut braised curry was ok, but could've used more chili and lime for my taste. The plating was also not favorable for such a soupy dish and made it look like there was more than there actually was. - The big fish was underwhelming in size. I appreciated the deboning and the presentation out of all the dishes, but its portion size was ultimately a let down and left us a bit hungry for something that was more than $30. The kale salad included with this dish felt a little out of place. - The popcorn chicken was satisfying and fair. Moving on to service, I sort of touched on the lack of communication when it came to pricing but we also felt a bit uncomfortable as the staff checked on us almost too frequently attempting to take dishes off that we were still working on. When it comes down to pricing I am totally fine with paying more for my food. However in this case the price did not correlate with the proportions nor the taste. I understand that ingredients may be locally sourced, but I've ate at other establishments where they pull it off better. In this case, the presentation was subpar and the flavors were bland, lacking the depth and level of spice, zest, and herbs that make Thai food so unique and flavorful. If the goal is to present a modern take on Thai food in a fine dining setting, perhaps there should be a coursed menu where dishes can be made with more intent. Otherwise, these flavors and portion sizes do not correlate. read more

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Chicken lettuce wrap was ok. Their version of pad Thai was very disappointing. Will not order again. Local alternatives better.

Menu was a little different from a typical thai restaurant but it was very delicious. I had thai food many times in ny and long island but food here was at least or might be better than the ones from NY. Strongly recommend. read more

True gem! I usually don't like Thai, bus this place is special. Everything is always tasty. Waiters are polite and don't interrupt in the middle of conversation. I feel good coming and bringing our guests here. Great restaurant. read more

AMAZING food! Service fantastic! Literally 10 of 10. We had papaya salad, lettuce wraps, chicken curry and braised beef noodles. Everything was beyond expectations! read more

We are outside and received Very attentive service. The coconut curry shrimp dish was delicious. It was our first time and I'd definitely return. read more

This place is a delicious local treasure. My husband and I have been twice for date night. We took our teens for a birthday dinner yesterday. We typically eat vegan, but eat fish on occasion. The branzino and arctic char are both delicious. The lump crab rice noodle curry dish is amazing. The dessert with cotton candy was mind blowing. Everything is beautifully presented. A good date night place. Beautiful space with great ambiance. They have nice seating outside as well. read more

We had a great experience last night. We told our server it was our first time there. He walked us through the menu. He recommended different appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Popcorn chicken was very good with an interesting sauce that we enjoyed. The tapioca crackers were really unique and unlike anything I'd ever had. Really unique and good. We had the char, chicken, and duck entrees. All were very good. The rice came on the side which was nice. They have a special dessert that only available on Friday and Saturday nights. Very good. Light and refreshing. With mango, mousse, a light meringue and the description doesn't come close to doing it justice. From the minute you walk in the hosts are friendly and welcoming and walking out you're thanked for coming and invited back. Overall superb experience. read more

Great service; great food; cool people and a fun vibe here. Especially love it when they have live music! read more

Amazing service, lovely setting, delicious food. Everything we had was perfectly balanced and fresh, but the standouts for me were the pomelo salad and the short rib (the broth needs to be served as a beverage). Can't wait to go back!!! read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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The service here is top-notch. From the greeter, to the busser, to our server. Everyone was helpful and attentive, but also knew when to give us some space. The food was really good -- I really liked the sweet potato croquettes; a unique twist on this appetizer. Last night was our first time there, but we'll definitely be back! read more

The staff in NaKorn are so nice! They always make sure they have speedy service and good conversation. The food is absolutely delicious. My favorite dish here that I've gotten several times now is their Coconut Curry Braised Chicken. I would highly recommend NaKorn! read more

Nice environment Creative dishes A little bit expensive, but worth the price Waiters are nice read more

NaKorn - good - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place had interesting menu items but ultimately the execution didn't make it past slightly above mediocre. We tried several appetizers, cocktails, wine, and a main dish and everything that arrived in the table was missing that something something. Chicken wraps were way too spicy. In fact almost everything was too spicy. I'm not a spruce wimp, but it just didn' seem like the heat was wielded appropriately here. Coconut curry chicken was very disappointing. I tasted no coconut and the chicken was not Asian style chicken at all. It was three bland chicken breasts that were so dry and unappetizing that even though they were swimming in the curry sauce they had no flavor. Cocktails left something to be desired in spite of their very creative ambition. Also the service got scant at the end when the restaurant got busy. read more

I sat down at this place by myself while I was exploring downtown Evanston. Truth be told, it was recommended to me by a couple of colleagues. I ordered their pad thai w/ tofu and a Thai iced tea - both of which were delectable. I'd go with a friend and try one of their curries next time. read more

~Monica's T.A.S.T.E. Test~ Taste: I ordered the kale and tofu, which sat in a lake of curry deliciousness. It wasn't spicy but not overly sweet with hints of tumeric and coconut. The tofu was coated with textured soy which gave it a crunch, and the kale was also crispy which held up each bite nicely. I upgraded to coconut rice which was a winner paired with this dish. Nathan got the 1/2 Amish chicken which he LOVED, see his review next! Atmosphere: The seating area is condensed into one open room that has different type types (booth vs small round vs standard square) and a bar area. Very cool decor and something different for our downtown Evanston area. Service: At first our table was forgotten, and it took 8 minutes before a server ever came over. However, once they realized we existed the service was on point. Tab: $38 after tip for 2 entrees and a side of rice. Not so bad for downtown. Not cheap either. But the quality was well worth it. Extra wow factor: The flavorful curry sauces they create. Mine was slightly different than Nathan. His was sweet yet spicy and light. I loved them both! Does it pass the T.A.S.T.E test? For sure. I already told Nate were coming back each time we have friends in town as our first introduction to the downtown eats scene. read more

NaKorn - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Our favorite restaurant in Evanston and probably all of the North Shore. An elevated Thai experience that strays from the cookie cutter takeout/delivery spots that are a dime a dozen (which has its time and a place) and offers a modern twist while still offering authentic Thai cuisine. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the portions are generous and the prices spot on for the quality and freshness that comes through in the ingredients. We've ordered most of the menu and have never been disappointed. read more

Food is incredible and the service is even better. Friendliest staff ever we loved it so much we came 2 nights in a row

This place is absolutely amazing. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a smile. We sat at the bar and the bartender was phenomenal! She gave us amazing recommendations. Everything from the drinks, apps, and desserts were out of this world. The ambiance inside is also such a nice factor. Would recommend a MILLION percent to anyone!! You will NOT be disappointed read more

Before I dive in, check the website for the most recent menu items. Even if the dishes people post on Yelp are no longer being offered, I have no doubt whatever menu they have running at the time will be phenomenal. Easily at the top of my Evanston picks! This isn't your typical Thai that you may be accustomed to. Every dish is colorful, flavorful, and elevated beyond your corner pad thai and green curry. Service is attentive and accommodating, and presentation is beautiful. - Chicken Lettuce Wraps - just a hint of spicy that mixes well with the acidic flavors, great appetizer to start - Sautéed Tiger Prawn and Thin Rice Noodle - noodles are chewier than typical pad thai, but I personally really enjoyed it. I'm usually not the biggest fan of pad thai because the sauce is almost always too heavy and strong, but this one hit the spot perfectly - Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken - the chicken was just okay for me, but that curry is A+. So creamy with a bit more sweetness than expected, and amazing with the jasmine rice - Violet Lemonade Soda - okay, first of all, beautiful drink- almost didn't want to disturb it! Would have liked a little less tartness, but still very refreshing read more

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Best restaurant on the north shore - ambience, service and food are top notch! Our fav spot to bring guests to impress!