We loved everything we tried! The food was great and the service was exceptional. I had the Braised Pork Shank. The spicy chili-ginger vinaigrette on the side is so good that you will want to drink it. read more

We have been twice and the food is fantastic! I am gluten free and my husband is not - they have so many options for me to choose from! This is absolutely my favorite Thai restaurant! read more

The owner promptly responded to my review and explained how he has taken measures to ensure customers are not rushed during late meals. I've bumped up my review by one star to reflect how attentive the owner was to my concerns. Based on our exchange, I'd be inclined to give NaKorn another try in the future. read more

Not worth the money. All four of us left starving after 3 appetizers and 4 entrees. While the presentations are nice that alone cannot make up for lack of quantity at such high prices. read more

I went her for dinner the other night and wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard from friends to not go there for Pad Thai, or other "typical" american thai food. What I found was a menu that was much more complex and more refined than I thought. I ordered the braised short ribs- which was awesome! Sometimes short ribs can be heavy and leave me feeling weighted down- these were served in a bowl with a flavorful broth. Spinach and some other green vegetables were the base and the beef just melted in my mouth. My dinner companion got a seafood dish- I think it was the sea bass. It was very clean and simple- but flavorful. I think that was what struck me the most was the food was really fresh and light- not overwhelmed with sauces, etc. We also had the taro chicken appetizer. It is not a massive appetizer- which I was happy about since I needed room for the short ribs and the mounds of coconut rice I ate. The taro chicken was delicious- I honestly did not know what to expect and I found myself trying to lick the plate. I read mixed reviews about this place before trying it out- and to be honest I was really shocked when I left with how much I liked this place. We have a ton of choices in Evanston- but oddly enough not a lot of interesting high end ethnic food- and this place raises the bar for thai food. I still will seek out pad thai, and my yellow curry- but it is nice to experience thai food like a native would. I also think I should comment on our server- since I read reviews that were negative about servers- Ours was great. She was really knowledgable and attentive- without being overbearing. read more

Missing some of the traditional dishes Americans have come to expect at Thai eateries, but what's here is great!

One of the best food experiences in Illinois. A true authentic call to another culture. No better way to immerse into learning about the world around you than through delicious food. Genuine staff followed by wonderful management. read more

Great atmosphere and attentive staff! The crab cakes and vegetarian scallop are tasty to start off with followed up with the Kabocha chicken. read more

Everything was exceptional--by far one of the best new places in Evanston and a must if you're looking for something stimulating on the North Shore. The thoughtful attention to detail is what grabs you--welcoming, professional service, carefully planned and perfectly lit decor, nuanced and beautifully prepared dishes. I'm still beaming 24 hours later. This place should be packed with guests every evening. read more

We dined at NaKorn last night and it was delicious. The coconut broth (with shrimp, mussels, squid and mushrooms) was fantastic. The best Thai food I've ever had was Lotus of Siam (in Las Vegas) until I went to NaKorn! So happy to have it in Evanston. Great food, great service!! read more

The food was great! We ordered 3 appetizers (shredded beef, taro chicken, and charred eggplant). The charred eggplant was by far my favorite. For entrees we had the pork shank, crab noodles, and tofu steak. The tofu steak was kind of blah but the crab and pork were huge hits! I highly recommend the crab noodles, especially for non meat eaters. We had a couple sides of coconut rice and Brussel sprouts as well as black rice pudding for dessert. Even though the meal was slightly pricier than expected ($50 a person) the food, experience, and environment were lovely! Our waiter went above and beyond to tailor the dishes to meet 4 people and even vacuum sealed the shank bone for my friends to take home to their dog. This is a unique new spot in Evanston. read more

Really enjoyed our dinner here. It is not your typical curry/noodle, pad thai place, but it was a welcome change. Great date night place.

If you're looking for a traditional Thai restaurant with pad Thai, orange chicken, and crab rangoons this isn't the place... on the other hand, if you're looking for authentic Thai food, in a gorgeous restaurant, with incredible service, definitely give it a try! You won't be disappointed! read more

Loved this new Thai restaurant! The service and ambience were superb. We were with a party of 8. Got to sample 4 appetizers, all were delicious with unique Thai flavors. I had the white fish for an entree and every bite was amazing. Others at our table ordered the signature "Big Fish", White Prawns, and Short Ribs. No complaints from anybody! We are already looking forward to our next visit to try the other authentic Thai dishes! read more

Way overpriced. Poor service. Slight bad smell during my visit. Won't return.

Pros: Presentation, fresh ingredients Cons: Taste/flavor, price, portions When it comes to food, for me, it is simple. Does the food taste good, is it worth the price, and am I full after I eat? The food tastes OK. It is not as good as the average Thai restaurant. The flavors are bland, and some dishes don't taste like Thai food (tofu steak, for example, tastes like a Japanese dish). The price is ridiculously high for the portion sizes. This place is trying to be an upscale Thai restaurant without delivering on the taste, which is, to me, the most important part of a meal. It doesn't deliver. For the portion sizes - it doesn't deliver. And if the price were average, maybe I can take the small portion sizes and the below average taste in exchange for fresh ingredients and a nice ambiance. But with the price, it also doesn't deliver. Simply put, I won't be back here soon. And if this place is still here in a year, I will try it again only because they only way they must have survived is by significantly improving the flavor of the food. read more

The kale tofu is outstanding. Everything else was awesome too. The options are different than what you would normally find at a Thai place but are so interesting and well flavored. read more

I went here today for lunch and had the amish chicken and chocolate mousse for dessert. Both were spot on. I'd go now. Once people find out about the great food and service, it'll be hard to get a table. read more

Love LOVE this place! Each and every menu item we've had is delicious, original, and creatively presented. Our favorites are the Big Fish (never have had anything like it before!) and also the Slow Cooked Top Round with Banh Mi Noodle. Yum and comfort on snowy winter day! Comfy, relaxed atmosphere and groovy drink specialties!! read more

Such a beautiful experience from the moment we walked in - lighting and ambiance are striking and cozy. It's obvious the owners took great care to design with purpose- from the striking mural of the late King to the Thai bird cages that have been transformed into stunning light fixtures to the gorgeous tables and whimsical settings, Nakorn is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the stomach. It should be known this is not the typical Thai place - no Pad Thai on the menu - and Nakorn is not going for that at all. Instead, the menu is a labor of love with incredible dishes that honor various family members and their traditional recipes. We tried the bite tapioca crackers, with a delightful tamarind sauce. Our main courses were the fried fish -- simply amazing-- and the lump crab noodles- also standout. We both had the Thai ice coffees, which are definitely less sweet than typical Thai iced coffee but we both agreed that we actually preferred Nakorns. I also had a Mai Tai and enjoyed it's subtle sweetness as well. We finished with the chocolate mousse, which isn't necessarily a Thai dish but scrumptious nonetheless, with a lovely, artistic presentation. Yum! People have claimed the place is pricy but for all you are getting, I don't believe this to be the case. The sea bass is practically a steal if you know market prices. And the ingredients are so fresh. It's clear there's a care and quality to everything they do. If you want typical Thai, there's a ton of options for you. If you want an experience that is crafted with a designer's eye and deceptively simple presentations with nuanced flavors, Nakorn is a must. read more

Simple menu, great service and fantastic food. Great bar service and cool interior. Staff were friendly, informative and not hovering at your shoulder. read more

Loved the food and ambiance. Unique versions of traditional Thai food Yum! Great music and service too.

We went yesterday based on the very extensive and positive reviews. At this point I believe the owner must have written most of them. Yelp reviews rarely include 5-6 paragraphs of comments. If this was traditional Thai what did I eat at Sirocco in Bangkok? The restaurant was essentially empty at 5:30 - 6:00PM. The waiter arrived about 5+ minutes after we were seated. Since we were seated in a cold draft we moved to a table on the left side. The wine and spirits lists did not include any recognizable brand. The server said they were created by their owner! We order something resembling gin. We finally order a cracker and peanut sauce on decorative rice - can't remember the menu name - it was edible. We tried to order several entrees including steak but the waiter and then someone who may be the owner explained the steak could only be served medium well since it was previously cooked. I then order a lump crab meal which cam with cold noodles with the crab on several lettuce leaves. The few pieces of crab were ok; the noodles were not. My wife ordered lightly Tofu which she would not order again. While we were prepared for high prices based on prior reviews, given the size and quality of the food plus two drinks totaled $81 which we felt was higher than high. The decor was average except for the giant painted picture of a man we assumed was the owner - who knows who he really was. read more

NaKorn, a new upscale Thai inspired restaurant in Evanston is absolutely delicious. The sirloin with coconut cream curry sauce and the Khun Sompit's Big Fish (crazy name, crazy good). They haven't rolled out their full menu yet but the 7 things we tried were fantastic. Save room for dessert-the chocolate mousse (more like pot de creme) with candied pecans and vanilla ice cream is amazing read more

Wonderfully decorated restaurant creates a great atmosphere for delicious authentic gourmet Thai food and unique cocktails. Started with crab bites and charred tomato and eggplant. Continued with very tender tasty short ribs and Kabocha kale chicken. All amazingly flavorful and wonderfully presented. Ended our meal with coconut panna cotta, simply perfect. Highly recommend! We will go again. read more

I was recently visiting from Los Angeles and a friend of mine took me to this new Thai restaurant. Being very familiar with Thai cuisine I ordered some of my favorite dishes and loved them. The service was impeccable and the decor very charming. Love it when a restaurant blends warm and casual atmosphere with great food and very reasonable prices. read more

I visited Nakorn last week while on a business trip to Chicago, a good friend highly recommended the restaurant and I wasn't disappointed. I have been to Thailand several times over the years and have developed a taste for the cuisine and Nakorn has re-reated the true taste and ambiance of an intimate & authentic Thai experience. The meal that we enjoyed was filled with classic flavors and ingredients while being presented and served in a thoroughly modern and upscale way. I would definitely recommend Nakorn to anyone looking for great Thai food in the area. read more

Unlike any Thai food I have experienced in the US! These are not rice and noodle dishes. Very sophisticated flavors, very authentic. Presentation is practically art! A great date night place! read more

great experience and food! the staff were all so attentive and kind. the food was unique - a very interesting mix of flavors. check out the menu before going because its different than a typical thai restaurant youd find around chicago - but definitely gets high marks in my book! we ordered the vegetarian dishes and were very happy with everything. read more

We had such a relaxing time and incredible meal at NaKorn last night. Between three of us, we had Sea Bass, Jumbo Crabmeat, and Grilled Chicken. All of the flavors were flavorful and tasty. The brown rice turned out to be a nice side dish as it had a darker brown, nutty looking rice in with the traditional brown I was expecting - lovely! I was hesitant to order the house made soda because I do not like sparkling beverages and what a treat it turned out to be - again subtle flavors - refreshing. The chocolate mouse dessert can compete with any 5 star restaurant. If you are a chocolate lover, order it even if you are full. You will not be sorry. The poached pears in the sticky rice dessert was my husband's favorite and is also a win. We are looking forward to going back. read more

This was a great Saturday night dining experience. I can't remember the last time I have had authentic Thai. Certainly no restaurant like Nakorn in the North Shore. Taro Chicken app and Branzino whole fish entree were fantastic. Beautiful presentation, too. My wife loved the interior, with the wood bird cage light fixtures along with large wall mural of King of Thailand. We will definitely be back! read more

I have used Yelp for years, never as a reviewer, but last night's experience at NaKorn lands me here to urge you to try it. What a glorious surprise on every level for Evanston's dining scene. This place deserves immediate attention from foodies who want to be surprised by nuanced, modern Thai flavors and composed plates, balanced cocktails, hip ambiance and attentive service. read more

This new restaurant is as sweet and delicious and unique as they come. The food is extraordinary and way beyond what I expected! It is delicious and delicately prepared. Beautifully presented! read more

I came here for my first time and am blown away by the menu. I started off with the taro chicken and the grilled diced tenderloin they were both amazing. My main dish was was the jumbo blue crabmeat. It was bombdotcom. It comes with an amazing curry sauce and coconut rice. Freaking amazing. But what's even more amazing is the desert. I had the coconut cream pie parfait. Do not leave unless you try this dish. Love this place. Will definitely come back. read more

This place was actually so hip and amazing! Highly recommend the chocolate mousse. It was delicious

The food was absolutely amazing. The flavors, particularly in the sauces, were unique, delicious and interesting. We enjoyed trying something from each section of the menu. The ambiance is lovely and evokes an old world feel. We will come back again and again to see what comes next. read more

The atmosphere is simple but carefully created with authentic flourishes that add a sense of adventure. The meal is a stream of small plates filled with flavorful, delicious modern Thai kitchen cuisine that are refreshing and light. I will most certainly be going again. read more

I really loved the food and the service was amazing compared to other restaurants I have been to.I highly recommend it to everyone.

My wife and I invited a couple, including a Thai woman, to join us at NaKorn. We all had a great meal. The food is a great contemporary take on some traditional Thai recipes. It was really refreshing to see items on the menu not often seen at other Chicago Thai restaurants. If you go with a group, I recommend sharing a lot of dishes. The fish was especially tasty. The service was on point, and the decor was simple, but elegant. read more

Excellent flavors in all dishes we tried. Truly an upscale Thai restaurant worth every penny. Hope it does well and sticks around! A great addition to the growing restaurant scene in Evanston. read more