Don't be fooled by the pretty packaging. The decor looks good but it feels and sounds like you're in a nice cafeteria. It's supposed to be cozy but the chairs are hard, uncomfortable for how long you wait for the food. It's more lunch vibe than romantic date night:( They spend more time making the food look good than taste good. The food was ok but it took way too long. The service wasn't great. . ***The white male manager was not kind to his all Asian staff. I wanted to ask the girls to blink if they needed help. Someone needs to check this guys browsing history. And one last thing, why add a service fee to the final bill? If they're this shady at the end of the dining experience how can you trust the quality of food or their cleaning practices? Something is off about Nara Thai Kitchen. read more

very beautiful space and delishous food, recommend for friends for a dinner night! not crowded at all

Really impressed with the food here. Everything tasted fresh and authentic, with great Thai flavors. Portions were generous and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend! read more

The food was generally on the sweeter side, and the lighting was too dim, which made it uncomfortable for lunch. Also, the prices felt too high compared to how much we actually enjoyed the food. read more

Note: they add a 3% inflation fee to the bill as a separate line item. At least their suggested tip amounts are pre-tax (and pre-inflation fee), and they say so on the receipt. Although the prices are on the higher side and portions on the smaller side... the food we ordered was really delicious made with high quality ingredients. The two waitresses we had were also really sweet and attentive. We ordered: - Tom Yum soup with shrimp ($14) - Nam Tok with pork ($22) - Crab fried rice ($28) Everything was just enough for two, but when the Tom Yum soup came out I was caught off guard by how small it was. About half the size of other Thai restaurants. The crab fried rice was probably the best value because it had chunks of fresh crab meat and also a Thai omelette topping the fried rice. The nam tok was refreshing with tender pork and delicately sliced red onions. It does have a kick though due to bits of Thai peppers. *** I reviewed based on our personal dining experience here, but did want to make mention of the below for awareness *** Found out after we ate here that they don't have kid friendly policies and they have a dress code, so be mindful if you want to dine here. The policies and responses to the one star yelp reviews are also off-putting, and doesn't make me want to come back. It's really unnecessary to have a strict no child policy. Usually parents are aware which places aren't kid-friendly and will self-elect not to dine at certain places with their kids unless for a special occasion based on vibe and ambiance. Even Michelin star restaurants don't blatantly have no child policies. Or for more local examples - places like Chaak Kitchen, Kin, etc. A restaurant like this is better served in downtown lively places, not in a suburban neighborhood plaza surrounded by families with kids. read more

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This place is a gem. Right when I walked in the place was very clean. I sat on the lounge couch area very comfortable and the ambiance was nice chill and they played my favorite music from Sade!! The food was spectacular!!! The ingredients were so fresh to a point were you can taste everything. I got the Lychee soda and it was so aromatic It taste like flowers and soda. I absolutely loved it! For the main course I got the Panang Curry, with the jasmine rice mmmm .. I automatically tasted all of the flavors and I couldn't stop eating it. The server was impressive she handled the whole room solo and she did a great job! This is my new favorite place. I can't wait to try other dishes. I am forever a customer. Thank you I enjoyed myself read more

This upscale thai restaurant has a beautiful interior and beautifully plated dishes/drinks. I was drawn to this place since it's located in a convenient plaza with lots of parking. Items are the menu range from $18-30 depending on your protein choice. My favorite items on the menu were their pad see ew and Thai iced tea, both of which were plated beautifully and not overwhelmingly sweet. We also got their pad kee mao which was fragrant and had lots of fresh basil! Service was kind as well and I think this place is worth checking out. read more

Can't call to make an order, they charge a "surcharge fee" and now walking in to place an order for takeout and told "we are too busy for takeout." Great food, great staff, HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Beyond disappointed. 4% fee for zero explanation. Didn't even know it until I paid and read the receipt. Shame on them! - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Nara Thai is upscale, beautiful, and high quality. The interior design is worth the visit itself. Their drink menu is ample in options from Thai tea to speciality cocktails. Their food menu is also classic, with pad Thai, fried rice, papaya salad, and pad see ew. The Service was good, however for a nearly full house they only had 2 floor staff, which was disheartening to see them run around so much. Thankfully, our servers were kind and patient. Please also note they charge 3% on top of your total to account for inflation. Which is not tip. Overall, food and drinks were great, and the view of the resultant made it worth while! read more

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Omg the food here is sooooo good. But comes with a hefty hefty price. Most expensive Thai food I've had. Definitely not an "everyday" place to go but if you're looking for a cute date night or birthday dinner, Nari is so good and the aesthetic inside is gorgeous! read more

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Super good！ I highly recommend lychee soda，fried chiken， and pai thai！！good environment and enjoy the night. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Super good！ Highly recommend friend chiken wings and pai thai and lychee soda！ - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

We always love this restaurant. This is a high quality gem with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors. Delicious!! There are no Thai restaurants like this anywhere in Orange County. I would travel great distances for these dishes. read more

This isn't my first time here, but they definitely deserve a review! I absolutely loved this place! Everything we ordered was incredible--Pad See Ew, short rib curry, fried chicken, and mango sticky rice. The flavors were so good we honestly couldn't pick a favorite. On top of that, the ambiance is beautiful--probably one of the best interiors I've seen in a Thai restaurant. The staff was amazing, and the manager (I think he was the manager?) was super friendly and made us feel really welcome. Already planning my next visit! read more

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We had a lovely experience at Nara. Michael, the manager was very kind to welcome us in and the servers were very attentive throughout the meal. The food was delicious, especially the Pad Thai and the Tom Yum soup. It's a great spot to come for a date night. I loved the warm lighting and wood decor! Def will be back. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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Delicious dishes and great flavors, but the prices are on the high side. We were also charged an extra 4%, and the explanation was that it's for "the freshest ingredients." The food is good, but the added fees make the experience less appealing. I will make sure to remove 4% from my tip. read more

If you're looking for a place with overpriced food, indifferent service, and flavorless dishes wrapped in pretty furniture -- congratulations, you've found it. Nara Thai Kitchen feels less like a restaurant and more like a stage set for people who want to feel cultured without actually tasting anything authentic. The food? Imagine a Thai cookbook reinterpreted by someone who's never been to Thailand but owns a ring light and a TikTok account. The $20+ pad thai was aggressively mediocre, the curry tasted like it was made by someone afraid of spices, and the mango sticky rice was, frankly, offensive. I've had more flavorful meals in airport lounges. Service? Somewhere between "invisible" and "why are you even here?" Our server looked like they were being held hostage by minimal wage and Instagram dreams. This place is a temple to aesthetic minimalism and culinary apathy. If you enjoy paying a premium for bland food and posting about it online to impress people you don't like, this is your mecca. Otherwise, go literally anywhere else. read more

I live nearby and have never tried Nara because it seemed very pricey for Thai food. We finally decided to give it a shot today, but we were turned away because our baby was in a Duna stroller (they are tiny compared to regular strollers). I found this borderline humorous because it was a Saturday at noon and the place was empty. I mean literally empty. Nothing like a nice family friendly environment. read more

Why was there a service fee charge for 2 people tagged onto my bill? It wasn't alot of money... under $4.00 and I was going to take a picture of my receipt as proof, but thought it wasn't alot of money so I threw away the receipt. The service was friendly and the food was good. There were no substitutions for any ingredients that I ordered for our mango salad, drunken noodles and a penang curry...so not sure why they had this additional service fee. read more

Cons : It gets very warm in here. We were all sweating and with Thai food that's already hot and warming so it was so uncomfortable. The food timing is off so it makes the experience not as nice when everyone gets their meals 10 minutes apart. We ordered 4 dishes and they all came out very far apart. I only saw 1 chef. The restaurant seems understaffed. The female server we had was nice however she was waiting on the entire restaurant, we felt really bad for her. Pros : The interior is nice and food is good (wouldn't say spectacular but good for the area) but if I can't eat with the people I come with without someone's food sitting getting cold waiting for the rest to arrive I'm not sure I'll be back. I wouldn't recommend coming with many people or ordering multiple dishes... I don't think they're equipped for busy hours. read more

I came here on a Thursday night with my friend for dinner. Price: 2/5 I know that this place is located in Irvine and the area has higher standard of living, but it was $20 for each of their dishes. Thai food in the San Gabriel Valley, Thai town in Hollywood, and just about anywhere else is about $15 at the high end. In addition, if you wanted beef or seafood, it would be an extra cost. Lastly, if you ordered the curry, it does not come with rice. Food: 4/5 The food was decent, but nothing special. I like their Pad See Ew, it was flavorful and the tofu was well seasoned. The Pad Thai was mediocre, the chicken lacked flavor. Service: 5/5 The service was great. We were able to get seated really quick and all the food came out relatively fast. We were fortunate to go before they busy. They were a bit slow to clean up the tables around us because it seemed like they were short staffed. Ambiance: 4/5 This place is well decorated and has a romantic feel to it. They have a cool open kitchen concept. However, the tables were a bit close together. We were seated within arms distance of the table next to us. read more

Had a really great dinner with my girls at Nara! We wanted to try a restaurant we've never been too and the experience was 10/10! The vibes, the ambiance, the menu, and presentation - so good! The service was great and our server had the best recommendations and steered us in the right direction when we were indecisive. We started with lychee martinis and shared the drunken noodles and Panang curry and finished off with a Thai tea! The spice and flavor were perfect. Already planning our next visit, can't wait to try more items! read more

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Service and dining space was impeccable. The pad see iw was actually very good. But the slap to the face was a wet crab fried rice. Grains of rice should be separated and granular for fried rice. Especially when paying almost 30 dollars for a portion. Crab quality was nice no fishy smell but the porridge that was served as fried rice was a huge huge let down. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Fried Chicken (top left) Pad See Ew (left) crab fried rice (middle) Grilled Filet Mignon Nam Tok (right) - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Nara, is truly a hidden gem. Let's start with the decorations of the place. Superb, elegant design and great peaceful music playing through the background. The drinks. My wife had Thai ice tea and I had the lemonade with tea. Simply: to die for, the Thai tea was delicious yet it wasn't like the regular creamy Thai teas, and the lemonade was refreshing and the mix was perfect! Not an Arnold Palmer! The food- excellent! Michelin star worth! We had the spring roles, the chicken satay, the pad Thai with crab (my favorite), and the pineapple fried rice. Everything was phenomenal! The sauces, the portions, everything! The service was incredible too, quick and without hesitation. This gem, Michelin star worth food is a hidden gem that you must try! read more

Excellent food excellent service . A notch above the rest . I rarely review a place but this one is exceptionally good , the ambiance is relaxing cool looking and inviting , the two plates we ordered were exquisite not to mention the service was professional friendly A must try for most even if you are not into Thai food read more

Nara Thai Kitchen serves up delicious, authentic Thai food--highly recommend the Drunken Noodles and steamed sea bass. Service was great, but the noise level was pretty high, which made it hard to relax. Still worth a visit if you're craving flavorful Thai dishes. read more

Food was lightly spiced to suit American palate but still tasty and non-greasy. No overwhelming smell of oils or seafood sauce. Presented nicely. Portion sizes on smaller side compared to traditional Asian restaurants. Beer quantity varies greatly depending on which brand you order even through you order them from the tap. service is courteous but they brought our soup after dinner and as over! They add 4% to your bill and say that is not for gratuity, so no idea what it it for! We missed reading it and have a good tip on top of this - had we known about this wierd charge, would have gone a bit lower. read more

Fried chicken was my favorite dish. The vibes were immaculate. Service was slow but it looked like they only had two people w

Nara is a great restaurant! It has the ambiance, the style, and most importantly, the flavor! We came here for dessert and got the seasonal mango sticky rice and affogato. This is definitely one of the most decadent mango sticky rice you'll find in OC. We also loved the service. The owner and service were really sweet and welcoming, which is an added plus. Thanks Nara read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Mango Sticky Rice and Affogato Espresso - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food is sub par. We spent over $100 on food for two of us and nothing stood out to us. We had Drunken Noodles, Thai Angus Beef Jerky, Pineapple Fried Rice, Tom Yum Soup, Pad Krapao and Chicken Satay. Am I missing something or do all the people giving this place 5 stars never venture out of Irvine. I typically love Thai, Vietnams, Laotian, Cambodian and Malaysian food. I just don't see this place hit the marks on good southeast Asian food. I would rank this near the bottom 10 of Thai restaurants I've tried. I think they are just trying too hard without being able to properly execute it. read more

It was my first time here and the food, service and decor were all 5 stars. Sophia was a very sweet and attentive server. Our 3 dishes: chicken egg roll, drunken noodles and Nara's salad were all delicious. The environment is very calming. Highly recommend! read more

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What a truly wonderful experience! Everything from the atmosphere to the service to the food was fantastic! The owners have really put their heart and soul into this amazing restaurant and it shows. Our server explained all of our dishes as they were brought out and suggested which spices or sauces to use. Their homemade roasted chili powder and chili fish sauce are soooo good. ALL the foods has amazing flavor, unlike any other Thai restaurant I've been to. Just when you think it couldn't get better the next dish comes and is equally delicious. The short rib and crab fried rice were favorites along with 2 beef dishes we tried. The best though may have been the cod. While different, I will say it gives Nobu black miso cod a run for its money. Nara Thai is definitely a not to be missed restaurant and we will absolutely be back! read more

Food is ok but quite pricey Tips suggestion is higher than standard rate Service is good Ambiance is good read more

First of all, this is finally the first Thai restaurant in Irvine that offers an adult relaxing vibes. The ambience, decorations and music are all unlike other Thai restaurants that I have been to. The manager told me that they don't use MSG on all their foods which made me really surprised. Strongly recommend this place to my friends and family to come try read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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I come here once a month or whenever I'm near in the area. I always order a lot, bottle of wine, and extra foods to take home. I took my friends here and refer this place to my friends. Very disappointed to see the additional 4% tax and the poor waitress could provide me a good explanation. -- Management, if this is how you treat your supporters, we won't come back. All of our friends are disappointed. I don't need all of points, promo b*llshit. Get real. I do not need BS comments from management either. read more

If you're looking for a great spot for a date or just to hang out with family or friends...this place is great! If you love Thai food like myself then you're gonna love this place! 5 star atmosphere ! Food was great. I especially love the Pad Thai dish! I spoke with the owner and got some inside secrets . They use all the top ingredients & you can even get Kobe beef! Yum! I would highly recommend this place! read more

Good as always. Pleasure coming back here. However, the Pad See Ew needs work, I ordered this 2 times already in different months and its never good. Highly recommend the braised beef curry! read more

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I came here for my first time for my birthday and was absolutely blown away by the ambiance, food, and service! First off, the ambiance is unlike any Thai resturant I've been too. It was modern, sexy, and cool. I can tell the owners take great attention to detail -- from the flatware and serving dishes to the aesthetic interior. Next, the food. The food was incredible. We tried a couple of different dishes and each one was amazing. I highly recommend the Pad Thai and the Tom Kha soup - both were flavorful and left me wanting more! Despite being so full we also had to try the espresso ice cream (spoiler alert: it was delicious!) Lastly, the staff was very friendly and attentive. We felt well taken care of while dining here and will absolutely be returning again in the near future to bring our families. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Pad Thai + Tom Kha Soup - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

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Delicious food! Got the white lotus cocktail which tastes like mango sticky rice in a drink! The yellow curry and pad see iw were fantastic as well. Amazing ambiance and great service, definitely recommend! read more

Food was fresh and met expectations. I like the fresh green pepper stalk. Yumm. Tasty pad Thai yellow curry perfect spice.

First off let me say this. Leaving bad reviews isn't my MO. I don't believe that i am a particularly picky person so if i do leave some negative stuff its not because i am "overly" sensitive. Got to this restaurant, very nicely decorated inside. Nice wooden tables, wooden chairs as well. Pretty chairs, but they were pretty hard as well. But no biggie. I ordered 1 green curry, Fiancé ordered chicken yellow curry, and we got a chicken fried rice. $76.00 plus tip. Basically 3 dishes cost me $90. Now don't get me wrong the food tasted good but good Lord the prices were crazy. Especially considering the fried rice was slightly larger than my fist. See attached picture. So bottom line food is a 4, and the prices are a 1, I settled on 3 to be somewhat positive. But 30 plus bucks per dish is ridiculously high IMO. read more

Nara Thai Kitchen - Chicken fried rice. I put my hand in the picture to show the size of it. - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California