Omg so delicious. A standout restaurant from those we've visited this year. Situated in the Hotel Kabuki, immediate left if you walk through main hotel doors, Nari is a two level bar and restaurant. We were led to the more sedate dining upstairs (which had a second bar!). We were offered complimentary sparkling (which I always appreciate) and reviewed some unique cocktails. I had the Unakarn (zero proof) and vasana (visually like a tall pisco sour but not sour at all. Smooth and creamy). We started with Goong Grob $21 which were small shrimp in dry spice which you dip tail first into the Mayo. Wow. Great flavors balanced by the Mayo. Light and crispy. Then we had the branzino $44 which was prepped in fried chunks with peanuts, lemongrass, chili and you create your own lettuce wrap with it. Hands down fave dish. We ate the entire portion which was huge for two. Then we tried the squid and pork jowl $30 which was more tangy. The pork was soooo tender. That was excellent. The squid was more just there. Guess it's their surf and turf interpretation. Then we finished with Prik king gai $38 crispy chicken and green beans in a dry preparation. Spicy but great with the jasmine rice. Our veg side was the cabbage $16 which had a smoky grilled char on it and paired with whole cooked garlic. The soy and fish sauce base was delish over the rice and went well with our chicken. Everything was excellent. We look forward to coming back. read more

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I hesitate to give it such a low rating since it was pretty popular when we were there. This low rating isn't for the service or the ambiance since both were great. Our waiter and wait staff were amazing. They were attentive and were absolutely prompt and efficient at what they did. The restaurant is beautiful itself and it gave a feel of us being in an aquarium with the romantic lighting and the high windows. The food though - I can't get over how one note all the food was. The cantaloupe salad at the beginning was the highlight, but even then, it was sparse. We had the chef's choice so we could try what was best on their menu. Everything afterwards was one note - salty or spicy or sometimes two notes - salty and spicy. Even the curries, which I thought were a highlight, was still very one note. The dessert was by far better than the dinner, but it was also nothing to write home about as I found them a little unoriginal - the chocolate mousse was decadent (that's it), the Thai inspired dessert was refreshing - nothing else. I gotta say that this meal was exceptionally overrated. read more

We went for my husband's birthday and I was looking for a romantic spot, Nari hit the spot. First, beautiful decor, it's cozy but elegant we were in the dinning room area, the 2 people booths are perfect and would have preferred them but it was okay. His name on the menu wishing him happy birthday was cute. The service was great, very on point and descriptive of the dishes as usual in a Michelin restaurant. We ordered the croquettes that were very flavorful and perfect snack with the drinks (mine was delicious-Toronto). Then for mains family style the miang pla, perfect crusty fish, a little bit to much ginger, then the squid pork jowl, which was perfect and the Gaeng Bumbai Aubergine a bit spice and heavy but usual for a curry. A small treat for the birthday would have been nice but in general a good experience. read more

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Came back again for the Chef's Choice for a quiet birthday celebration. There are so many different types of dishes that I would not be sure what to order. The selections, from appetizers to salad to entrees were all fantastic. We really tried not to eat too much rice but still ended up stuffed before dessert. So many great dishes, but the real standout was the charred cabbage with roasted garlic. It was simple but so tasty. Service was excellent, with lots of help in explaining dishes but not being intrusive. read more

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Was lucky to try this one Michelin starred modern Thai restaurant! My favorites were: - ma hor (caramelized pork, prawn and peanut on an apple). small bite but crazy unique flavor and textures. - gaeng bumbai aubergine (eggplant curry) - prik king gai (spicy crispy chicken) - cabbage in fish sauce read more

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Went to Nari for our anniversary and had a really good time. Service was awesome and very friendly and the ambiance was very pretty with lots of lighting and plants! We were very happy to check out Nari. For our food, we ordered: * Pork croquette's - these were okay as I felt the pork had a gamey taste, but it came on pickles with salad on top. We ate each bite altogether which was fun * Pork Jowl & squid - this dish was absolutely phenomenal and also came with a side of sticky rice. The squid was tender and yummy while the pork jowl was caramelized with the perfect amount of fat and meat. The sour tangy sauce worked well to balance out different flavors. Definitely need to have it with rice though! * Crispy eggplant curry - I love eggplant and this dish was amazing. The curry is to die for and was definitely one of our absolute top items of the meal. This came with rice and went really well altogether. The crispy eggplant is nice as it's soft on the inside while crispy on the outside. Definitely order this one! * Stir fried chicken - this dish came with like a shrimp stir fry sauce thing with little flecks of egg yolk on top as well as string beans. This dish was also pretty yummy and was a nice addition when having the eggplant curry. * Pandan parfait with coconut sauce - this was the dessert ice cream thing we also loved. The pandan was ice cream texture and was lightly salty and went so well with the sauce. There were also ice bits on top that gave each bite altogether nice crunch Overall we really enjoyed our time here and had a fabulous meal! read more

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This place has a refreshing verdant vibe that makes you feel relaxed and ready to enjoy a great meal. It didn't disappoint! We ordered several dishes and shared them family-style. The Massaman Nuea (short ribs in a curry with scallions, potatoes and grilled peaches) was the showstopper for my husband and I. So delicious! The Yum Palomai (stone fruit salad with soy and lime dressing) was also very flavorful and unique. My daughter, who is vegetarian, found several great meal choices too. Some dishes were spicy, so if you don't like spicy food, consult the waitstaff before you order. The restaurant also has an extensive beverage offering. I had their "Blue Flower Limeade" that was very refreshing. The waitstaff was very attentive throughout the meal. Such interesting and tasty choices! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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Came to Nari with a friend to close out my decadent birthday weekend and overall, I found the flavors to be bold and creative but also a tad bit salty all the way through. We began our meal with the croquettes which was probably the most balanced dish. I liked the crispy element and the pork curry within was both sweet and savory. The croquettes also rest on a pickle slice which provided a nice crunchy acidic bite to the richer pork curry within. Up next was the citrus salad. I do wish that there was an easier way to pick up all the small elements for a holistic bite but the flavors were surprisingly complementary! Never would I have thought to make a salad from orange wedges, peanuts, mint, and fried shallots. Fair warning, the vinaigrette is quite punchy so don't scoop too much at once. For mains, we got the charred cabbage which is a Thai classic. It was sweet, smoky, and tangy! I also really enjoyed the fried whole garlic pieces throughout! As for the pork belly "curry", I really liked how tender the pork belly was. I also thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of the collards, but each bite, especially with the cabbage was saltier than I would have liked. To round out our meal, we got the pandan ice cream which was surprisingly dense but also really good? The crispy ice chips made the ice cream literally ICE cream. It was playful and very tasty. Servicewise, Nari was excellent! I had giggled when they texted me to ask who the birthday person was but I really appreciated all the small details! The printed menu was a particularly fun surprise for me! Thank you for making me feel special! read more

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Modern Thai restaurant located inside the Kabuki Hotel, immediately to the left when you enter the front door. Would recommend parking in the Japantown Main Garage -- there's an entrance directly into the Kabuki Hotel from there (just take the elevator to the lobby). All solid dishes, great service (though a little slower towards the end of our 6pm reservation), and pretty value for a 1 Michelin star restaurant (we got a lot of food!) though nothing blew us away. I feel like a lot of the dishes had some fried/crispy element and kind of wish there was more seafood or something lighter to balance it out. Decor was 10/10 though. I LOVED all the plants lining the entrance, walls, and by the tables. I loved the way the light streamed through, I felt like I was in this beautiful cafe. I'm really bad with spicy but nothing felt unreasonable but I did get a little cooked towards the end with the crispy chicken, you best be believing I drank a lot of water and ate a lot of rice LOL. - Goon Grob (fried shrimp): the tamarind flavor came through so nicely and the shrimp were perfectly fried - Yum Polamai (stone fruit salad): really refreshing with the fruits + toasted coconuts, unexpectedly a little spicy - Hed Khao Tod (crispy sticky rice salad with maitake mushroom): lots of flavor and liked the crispy rice, note the mushroom also has that sour flavor (like the meat option) and we wished the dish was slightly smaller because it was getting to be too much towards the end - Miang Pla (diced and fried whole branzino): really enjoyed this dish! Lots of flavor and you can tell it's high quality because it's not too sweet. Wished it had fewer small ginger cubes though lol - Squid & Pork Jowl (with sticky rice): our favorite by far!! The pork jowl was so rich and had so much flavor, you have to eat it together with the sticky rice - Prik King Gai (crispy chicken in sweet & spicy curry paste): good flavor and nice crispiness! The spiciness was starting to get to me at the end though lol read more

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4.5 stars! So glad I was finally able to try Nari! Our group of 6 came on a Wednesday for dinner and were seated in the main dining area. It's always a little tricky ordering family style for a larger group so we just took our server's recommendations. Between the 6 of us, we ordered: gaeng gradang tod (pork croquettes), yum palomai (stone fruit salad), miang pla (whole branzino), hed khao tod (crispy sticky rice salad with mushroom), squid & pork jowl, namtok avocado, gaeng bumbai aubergine (crispy eggplant curry), massaman nuea (beef short rib curry), prik king gai (crispy stir fry chicken). We also got the cabbage and rice as sides. Honestly, everything was delicious. My favorites were probably the squid & pork jowl (so flavorful and juicy) and whole branzino. You also can't go wrong with stone fruit salad during the summer when these fruits are in season. We were also intrigued by all the desserts so we ordered one of each to share which was perfect. I'm a huge fan of pandan so I loved the dreaming of lod chong which is a pandan parfait with salted coconut cream. The chocolate loka was also very delicious. I thought the wan yen was just okay but I think it's more of a personal preference of what I like. For drinks, I tried the som, which was a twist on a gin and tonic, which I liked. Overall, it was a great experience. Good food, good service. Highly recommend! read more

Nari was phenomenal! It's located in Hotel Kabuki so had an elevated vibe. The cocktails were on the pricier side but had some unique options. All the food we tried was delicious, but my favorite was the cabbage which actually paired well with the pork belly curry! The croquettes were also quite good and had great flavor. The dish that surprised me the most was actually the citrus salad. I've never had anything like it and it had really balanced flavor. Lastly, the pandan dessert - didn't know what to expect and it turned out really good. Make sure you eat it with the ice for texture variation! The staff was so kind and was always checking in on how we were doing. It was also my friends birthday and they gave her a custom printed menu that wished her a happy birthday. If I wanted to treat myself again, I would definitely come back :) read more

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It's been a while since I've been here. What I remember was that it was good, not great, and expensive. Good atmosphere but no dishes really stood out. I also remember our table for 2 was a bit small and packed for our dishes, and it wasn't like we ordered too many dishes. Good place to eat on corporate dime IMO, otherwise just pass. read more

I truly hesitated between a 2 or 3 star but ultimately decided to do a 2 star ONLY ON THE FOOD WE ATE. Service was amazing so I do have to give a shoutout to our server Charlotte (?) for checking in on us and the staff as well! Nari is a 1 Michelin guide restaurant tucked in Kabuki Hotel located in Japan town. Parking can be a bit difficult so definitely come early! We were seated in the middle of the restaurant where all the crowd was and were given menus to look at. Our serve suggested anywhere between 6-8 dishes so we ended up ordering things to share family style. Honest opinion? The dishes felt lacking. The menu isn't super extensive so there wasn't much dishes that caught our eye. Overall, my friends and I collectively felt that the flavors in each dish didn't have any balance. It was either too citrusy, salty or spicy. The pork jowl and pork belly dish was very tender but the flavor profile was very similar. The portions were decently ok but considering the each dish was $20-41 each so the price point is high for Thai food. Drinks were so small that it sucks a mocktail and cocktail for the same price. I probably won't eat here again and feel that you can find a better Thai spot anywhere in the city! read more

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Nari is a hidden Thai gem in a Japanese town. Coming from Southern California, we stayed at the Hotel Kabuki for the weekend. Naturally, we had to try the much-hyped Nari: a Michelin-starred Thai restaurant directly connected to the hotel. Though we accidentally filled up on chicken wings a few hours prior, we weren't going to let a good reservation go to waste. But we opted to a la carte over the prix fixe, which may or may not have spoiled our perspective. We ordered the (a) Miang Pla, (b) Naem Khao Tod, (c) Squid & Pork Jowl, (d) Carmelized Fish Sauce Cabbage, and (e) Pandan Parfait. The Miang Pla was a European sea bass, deep-fried, served with peanuts, misc herbs, and lettuce wrap. The portions were large, the fish flavor was subtle, but slightly too salty and overpowered by the seasoning. The Naem Khao Tod was pork sausage, served with peanuts, misc herbs, lettuce wrap, and sticky rice. It was hard to taste the pork sausage, but the fried sticky rice was a fun, crunchy texture. Dish was a bit salty. The Squid & Pork Jowl was topped with peanuts, cilantro, and sticky rice. The pork jowl was phenomenal, "melt-in-your-mouth" texture, a thick fatty cut. The squid was passable, with one minor gripe: its "pen" was still intact. Nitpicky, but if you know its texture, the gladius is akin to soft plastic, which would be completely unacceptable in any other context. The Carmelized Fish Sauce Cabbage was well-balanced. The cabbage was charred, slightly sweet. Ironically, the fish sauce wasn't too salty. It was rather savory with an oily mouthfeel. It went well with the sticky rice from the other dish. The highlight for us was the pandan parfait. It was not too sweet, the coconut cream was "intentionally" salty, which really strengthened its nutty flavor. This is a must-try! We're not Thai food experts. We're adjacent, southeast Asian outsiders open to trying all worldly cuisines. To us, the entrée accompaniments felt slightly repetitive, overpowering the subtle flavors of the main ingredients, whether the fish, the pork, or the squid. Maybe the prix fixe menu offers a more balanced experience. Besides the food though, Nari knocked it out of the park. As patrons of the connected hotel, the location was super convenient, we didn't have to step outside. The customer service was top notch. Staff checked in on us several times throughout the night and made sure everything was good. They forgot to put in a drink order for us. Upon realizing their mistake, they swiftly delivered and comped it. And the ambiance is dim, welcoming, and surprisingly spacious inside. Nari was a good experience just with how well we were treated and the environment they curated. Though the food could dial the salt back a bit, it was still delicious and filling. Just know what you're getting into beforehand. read more

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My friends and I dined at Nari to celebrate a birthday and we all participated in the tasting menu. Overall, the experience was mixed. While service was generally pretty good, there were a few shortcomings that stuck with me throughout the night. Additionally, while some of the items from the tasting menu were absolutely delicious, there were others that were forgettable, and far too many dishes were that were too salty, too sour, or unbearably spicy. When we were deciding between ordering a la carte versus the tasting menu, our waiter wasn't able to concisely describe what was and was not included in the tasting menu. Additionally, if you do go with the tasting menu, you do not receive a print out of what you're able to eat that evening. On the positive side of service, waters were always refilled quickly, napkins were promptly folded when somebody left for the bathroom, courses came quickly, and the table was tidied up and new plates and cutlery were given out between the first and second courses. The meal started off strong with an amuse-bouche of what tasted like compressed XO sauce on top of a crispy apple piece. The next appetizer that showed up was also quite tasty -- a duck stuffed empanada with curry dipping sauce. The duck was lean and tender, the pastry was flakey, and the curry was fragrant and had a nice sweetness to it. The best bite of the night came shortly after. The squid and pork jowl was hands-down the group's favorite dish. While the pairing of the two proteins was a bit odd, the pork jowl was the star of the night. The jowl had a delicious sweet coating on the outside and had a beautiful crispy char, similar to the burnt bits that you get when you order Cantonese char siu. If you're ordering a la carte, this is the single dish that you have to order. Once the larger dishes showed up, that's when our palettes started to get destroyed with the over-seasoning. The branzino was nicely fried and the small pieces of fish were crispy and well sauced. However, there's far too much diced up lemongrass, ginger and chilis in the dish that completely overpowers the fish; the fish honestly could have been any species or cut at this point. The namtok neua -- 28 day dry-aged New York strip with nam jim jaew sauce, was the salt-bomb that nobody asked for. No amount of rice, lettuce wraps, or water could have made this more enjoyable. For $100 -- if ordered outside of the tasting menu, this was a huge miss that I would highly recommend skipping over. After a single bite, I couldn't really enjoy anything else for the next 30 minutes of the meal. Another theme that persisted throughout the evening was every dish in the second course felt incredibly heavy. In the gaeng bumbai aubergine, we enjoyed how crispy the egg plant was fried, but the curry was a bit too oily. Similarly, for the gaeng moo chamuang -- a braised pork belly dish, there was a thick layer of rendered fat just pooling at the top of the curry that wasn't especially appetizing. Two desserts came with our tasting menu -- a pandan parfait with salted coconut cream, and a chocolate loka -- an entremet glazed in chocolate, filled with strawberry-makrut gelee and chocolate mousse. I generally really enjoy desserts that have a salty element to balance out the sweetness, but the pandan parfait was simply over-salted. Of the two desserts, I much preferred the chocolate loka, which was rich, but more thoughtfully composed. Overall, the tasting menu is good option if you're indecisive or if you want to try a wide-variety of dishes. In terms of quantity, you get a ton of food; the value is there. If you're unable to finish any of the dishes, I would definitely recommend asking for the item to be packed up in a to-go container. If I were to come again, I would not get the tasting menu and would only order my favorite items a la carte. In summary, the highs were high, but the lows were quite low. I think there were far too many dishes that could have been toned down in terms of spice and seasoning, and the menu could have included more bites and flavors to cut the fat and heaviness across the dishes. For me, Nari is a 3.5 that rounds down to a 3. read more

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A very solid meal where the service was just a bit strange. Ordered the tasting menu which was great as it came with quite a lot of things to try. Flavors were strong in a good way. Highlights were the first bite, kind of a beef jerky on Apple thing, the sweetbreads, and the marinated pork. Desserts were also really good, a jelly pomegranate sago thing and pandan ice cream. The weird stuff was the pacing of the tasting menu- courses came out one at a time but with strange spacing. I would sometimes get a progression of four dishes without having had time to finish (but not at the same time). Not sure if this was intentional. The other minor complaint was the server was pushing some menu items quite aggressively. I heard multiple times around me the squid and pork jowl proclaimed as a must try. Just a bit off putting and not what I would expect from a one star read more

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What a fun birthday dinner! My boyfriend took me here for a birthday celebration. Tucked away in Japan town, the restaurant has super cute vibes. We were seated quickly, and service was quick and friendly. The menu felt very fun and creative. We opted out of the set menu so we could choose what we wanted. Some highlights were: - the sweetbreads (delicious!!) - pandan dessert (super creamy) The steak was good but a bit pricey (but expected). The squid and pork jowl was good but a little salty. Overall a good experience, and I'd definitely come back with friends to try more of their dishes! read more

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We recently celebrated our anniversary at Nari and left with mixed feelings. For a Michelin-starred restaurant, there is still significant room for improvement, particularly in service. Our main server was cold, unsmiling, and seemed uninterested throughout the meal, even though he knew we were celebrating our anniversary. Hospitality is a big part of the dining experience, especially at this level, and unfortunately it was lacking. The most disappointing moment involved the mango salad. It was extremely sour--to the point that it was barely edible. After only one bite, we informed the waiter. Instead of proactively addressing the issue, he asked whether we wanted it removed or wanted to order something else. We assumed a replacement appetizer would be provided, so we ordered another dish. To our surprise, the mango salad still appeared on the bill. When we questioned it, the server claimed that we had eaten most of it, which was simply not true. It was a small dish, we had taken one bite, and he had taken it away himself. Only after we pushed back and explained the situation again did he speak with the manager and remove the charge. At most restaurants, especially Michelin-starred ones, a dish that is clearly inedible to the guest and returned after one bite would be removed without debate. As for the food, it was inconsistent. The squid and pork jaw dish had good flavors but was overly salty. The pork belly curry was disappointing--the pork belly itself was well cooked, but the curry sauce was one of the weakest sauces we've had. On the other hand, the eggplant curry was outstanding and easily the best dish of the evening. It was the one dish that would make us consider returning. The ambiance of the restaurant is good, pretty nice! Overall, I agree with many other Yelp reviewers: the food tends to be expensive, heavily seasoned, and often too salty. The eggplant curry is a standout exception. We may come back for that dish alone, but we absolutely do not want the same server again. He completely changed the tone of our anniversary dinner and unfortunately diminished what should have been a memorable experience at Nari. read more

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Dinner review. Thai tasting menu. Michelin*. (Highlight - Best) Duck meat puffs and with curry Included in tasting menu (non-exhaustive, included several off-menu items): pretty hot sweetbreads Crispy veal sweetbreads in a tamarind + sriracha glaze, bird's eye chill, & ilme zest yum tawal salad of winter vegetables, chicories, & sour fruits in a curried-peanut dressing squid & pork jowl grilled Monterey squid in chilli-lime dressing with sweet & succulent pork jowl, topped with peanuts & cilantro served with sticky rice namtok nuea 28 day dry-aged flannery new york strip, slathered in nam jim jaew sauce, topped with herbs & toasted rice powder served with sticky rice & lettuce to wrap (Tasting menu version had pork instead) (Highlight) Oxtail curry with roti Overall, "I'm a fan." read more

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Having visited Nari a few times, I've found the kitchen to be impressively consistent, even if the flavor profiles can feel a bit one-note and spicy across the meal. The Pork Jowl & Squid and Dreaming of Lod Cheong remain a must-order every single time.. read more

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We came here to celebrate a birthday on a Saturday late afternoon. We made the reservation a few weeks beforehand - it was pretty easy since we aimed for an early dinner time. We were seated immediately and given menus. The menu had a cute happy birthday header on it, which was a nice touch. We opted for the chef tasting menu ($125pp), so we didn't order anything specific off the menu. Overall, I enjoyed everything that came out, but some more than others. As both of us are Thai/Lao, we're really familiar with the flavors of Thai food, so some things stood out to us more than others. I think the nam tok was super salty, to the point of face-puckering, but the meat itself was tasty. I liked the curry dishes but I don't think there was anything that special about it. The dish that was most interesting was the salad, surprisingly. It had really interesting flavors that were harmonious. We also got a birthday dessert, which was a nice buttery pandan treat. I would recommend Nari to my friends who like Thai food. I would also recommend the chef menu if you haven't been here before, since you can get lots of different dishes. I probably wouldn't get it again a second time and would opt for ordering off the menu next time we come here. read more

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This Thai restaurant inside the hotel was a surprise. Almost everything we ordered was good and we honestly didn't really miss with any dish. Loving the cozy contemporary ambiance and service was friendly and attentive. Here's what we ordered: - Naem Khao Tod was tasty but a bit salty for my preference. -Squid and pork jowl is a must order. Really nice sweet and sour flavor and super satisfying. - The caramelized cabbage reminded me a lot of Chinese hot and sour cabbage in a good way. Surprisingly comforting. - The scallops were well seasoned and flavorful, just wish the portion was bigger. There was another dish we ordered that I can't remember the name of, but it was also really good. Dessert was the only thing I wouldn't order again. Pretty average. I had two bites and didn't feel like finishing it. Overall a great meal with strong flavors. Would definitely come back and just skip dessert next time. read more

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For a special occasion, my companion surprised me by taking us to Nari. Nari has been high on my list for numerous reasons--it has a Michelin star, it's the sister restaurant to Kin Khao (where we've dined before), and he and I both enjoy Thai food. I went in surprised and with no expectations, and left full and very pleased. We arrived at the restaurant earlier than our reservation time, and to our surprise, we were immediately seated. The restaurant is unassuming, located in a hotel. But once inside, it is dark, sophisticated, and full of loud and happy patrons. We were sitting in the corner, which was perfect as we had ample space and a quiet nook. The restaurant is well-sized, with tables suitable for both pairs and large parties. The service by the staff was courteous. Not really interactive or friendly, they checked on us, went about their duties, and would stop by occasionally to refill our water. For a Michel star, don't come in expecting mind-blowing service. Now to eat, we feasted! Companion and I shared multiple dishes, ordering Khao Kluk Pia Tu, Miang Pia, Squid and Pork Jowl, and Gaeng Bumbai Aubergine. Every dish stood out uniquely in its own way, and we savored each one. We agreed the branzino was our favorite. The mackerel rice, our first item, was superb--salty, spicy, and featuring a nice balance of sour and savory flavors. The branzino was phenomenal--crispy, perfectly fried pieces with subtly spicy and lemongrassy additions. The squid and pork melted in our mouths, and the curry was creamy and thick, but the star was the perfectly fried eggplant. I'd order all of these items again. Nari is a popular choice for couples, working professionals, families, and friends. I highly recommend dining here. The food is superb and will leave your taste buds wanting more! The restaurant is located off Post St. inside the Kabuki Hotel in Japantown. read more

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This is a great affordable upscale Thai inspired + Michelin star meal. One disclaimer is that it isn't your typical Thai restaurant and doesn't have the mainstream Thai curry/noodle dishes you're probably used to. I've now been a couple times and my favorite dishes/must gets are the whole branzino (very flavorful and not fishy), and the crispy eggplant in their spicy bumbai curry. They also have a sister restaurant downtown - Kin Khao which I do prefer for the food but this one has nicer ambiance. I also liked their pandan mango lassi drink. Good spot for a special occasion and not too hard to get a reservation but definitely recommended! read more

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Outstanding restaurant, especially for a big celebration. I went to celebrate an anniversary and the food and service were phenomenal. We got the chef's tasting menu, and the dishes, although contemporary, still were very authentic in flavor and vibe to true Thailand. No dish was a miss, but the pork/squid, oxtail curry, and salad were definitely standouts. Definitely left full after the tasting. Staff was super helpful and friendly, and answered our many questions, and even made us a specialty off menu cocktail. Drinks were really good too, I really enjoyed my play off of a white negroni. Restaurant was very nice inside, ambiance was classy and easy to get to with the parking garage. Will definitely be back. read more

Came here for our 6 year anniversary and had a great time! We did the set menu which was a great variety and portion size for the two of us. The server was very kind and the custom menus are always a sweet touch. Highlight: the salad, empanada-like app (the dipping sauce was so good we wiped it clean), and the dessert (had ice in it which was so unique but also worked so well?) Notes: some dishes were on the saltier side (I think one of the meat dishes) but it wasn't too bad since the portions were too big. Their drinks aren't as sweet as I expected. Ambiance: loved the foliage and decor. It was a great spot for date night :) read more

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Nari is a unique and exceptional Thai restaurant. The owner, Pim Techamuanvivit, has a deep understanding of classical Thai seasonings and ingredients. Her flavors are more true to Thai cuisine and more artful even than most of the top restaurants in Thailand (we are familiar with many of them). However, she is extraordinarily creative in adapting these flavors in new combinations, and she offers highly original dishes incorporating fresh local ingredients. Although it honors the best traditions of Thai fine cuisine, Nari is not a museum of Thai cookery - it's an homage and an adventure. This is by far the best Thai food we have experienced anywhere in the United States and Canada. After our second visit, we were fortunate to meet Khun Pim, who is a very lovely and gracious woman, completely unassuming but clearly a brilliant chef who runs an outstanding restaurant. read more

We went to Nari on a Saturday night without reservations, and as expected, the downstairs was packed. However, there was no wait for the small upstairs section, which has a few round tables and a bar. The food is definitely on the smaller side portion-wise, but the flavors are really intricate and well done. The eggplant curry was tasty but spicier than we expected. Our waiter mentioned the squid and pork jowl was their signature dish, so we tried it. The squid had a great smoky flavor, and the pork jowl was super soft, though a bit salty on its own -- much better with rice. For dessert, we had the pandan ice cream and it was delicious. Easily my favorite thing we ordered and something I'd get again. Overall, a solid spot for elevated Thai food with bold flavors. Great for trying a few dishes and sharing, just don't expect huge portions. read more

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I honestly do not understand how this restaurant received a Michelin star. The overall experience was far below what I would expect from a Michelin-rated restaurant. The food was very average. Nothing felt particularly creative or memorable -- most dishes were simply salty or spicy, without much depth or balance. For a Michelin one-star restaurant, I expected much more in terms of flavor, technique, and originality. However, the biggest issue was the service. This was, by far, the worst service I have ever experienced at any Michelin-starred restaurant. The staff was impatient, inattentive, and unprofessional. We ordered a cocktail, and I politely mentioned that it tasted much stronger than expected and did not really match the description on the menu. I asked if they could make a small adjustment. The server immediately became extremely rude and impatient, waved her hand dismissively, and said something along the lines of: "We don't modify our alcohol. We don't do anything like that. If you don't like it, just add water." Can you believe this is the experience you get from a restaurant???? I was honestly shocked by this attitude. A restaurant at this level should know how to handle customer feedback with basic professionalism and respect, even if they cannot modify a drink. Instead, the response was dismissive and condescending. Overall, the food was mediocre and the service was unacceptable. I would absolutely not recommend this restaurant. read more

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I visited Nari on a Saturday night and it didn't disappoint. For starters, I ordered the yum sum-o and the yum mamuang pla duk fu. Both were amazing. For my main I ordered the miang pla. Cooked perfectly. The trout roe was a great complement to the sweet savory sauce. The service was amazing. Staff was very attentive, anticipating your needs before you had to ask for anything. We sat downstairs but the bar upstairs was very nice and intimate. Great for a date spot or just hanging with friends. read more

Nari - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here on someone else's expense account... wanted to try a Michelin Star restaurant. Overall it was very good and we could see and taste the work that went into the pricey dishes. But honestly, the two things that stood out as particularly memorable were the short rib entree and the chocolate torte dessert (pictured). The fancy cocktails were a new experience though. Their Sazarac was made separating the absinthe from the rest of the liquors so you can mix it if you want, but it's more absinthe than the traditional rinse. Also, for a relatively small amount of liquid, it gave me a pretty big buzz. Atmosphere is nice... feels spacious even though the tables are close to each other (see photo). Two different floors make it feel like regulars would find the spots they like the most. read more

Nari - View of the main floor from the second level. - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visited Nari Restaurant which is Michelin One Star rated gem located in the Hotel Kabuki San Francisco, Japan Town. Eager for an elevated Thai dining experience. The venue delivers a lively, bustling weekday vibe with an energetic crowd and stylish ambiance-an ideal setting for a modern, upscale Thai outing. We ordered the following: mixed seafood curry, caramelized fish sauce cabbage, yum solamai fruit salad, and pandas coconut dessert. The cabbage offered a crisp, sweet savory edge that stood out in a good way. The Yum Solamai was bright and fresh, using current season fruits, providing a nice counterpoint to the richer mains. The pandan coconut dessert rounded things nicely-smooth, aromatic and satisfying to complete a meal. The only disappointment was the fish in the mixed seafood curry, which I was most looking forward to, carried a fishy smell. Unfortunately, that implied the fish may not have been as fresh as one might expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Overall, Nari is certainly an attractive destination, fashionable, vibrant, and with several strong dishes that show creativity and skill. However, the seafood dish was a bit disappointing. Since I am a pescatarian, I did not have the meat dishes which I saw on many tables walking by. If you are going for trendy Thai with flair, Nari delivers but ask the server for a replacement if you find your dish is not fresh. read more

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Really good meal overall. The dishes were unique but still had recognizable Thai flavors. My favorite was the branzino. Fish was lightly fried so the skin was crispy but the inside was still soft. The peanuts added a nice crunch. Sauce was sweet and a little spicy. It was also fun to eat as a wrap. However the ginger flavor was a little too strong and kind of distracting. squid and pork jowl was delicious as well. I loved the contrast between the sweet, soft pork jowl and the sour/spicy, chewy squid. The salad had a nice nutty flavor, but I would've liked a bit more greens. We were already full, but I'm so glad we still got dessert because it was so unique and so yum. The pandan parfait came with pandan ice cream, salty coconut cream, and crunchy ice. The sweet and salty worked so well together, and the crunchy ice helped make the dessert feel less heavy read more

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Amazing flavours and lots of spice Standout dishes for me were the gang bumbai aubergine (crispy eggplant in spicy bumbai curry), and the squid and pork jowl with sticky rice. They are not playing with the spiciness, I was crying while eating the eggplant curry but the eggplant was so crispy I couldn't stop. The pork jowl was insane as well, crisp exterior but very soft on the inside. Loved the punchiness from the lime dressing on top. Also had the massaman gae (lamb shank in massamen curry with cherries). The lamb was cooked well and very tender. The overall flavour of the curry was good but I don't think the cherries added anything. The service was very friendly and the interior decor is very green and lush. It was really busy and quite loud. read more

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Some of the best curry - the eggplant red curry was so delicious I'm still thinking about it. Overall the food is great, the restaurant itself is gorgeous and our server was so funny and personable. The squid and pork jowl was so so good esp with the jasmine rice. I'll definitely be here again! read more

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This was one of the worst meals I had in SF in a long time. The restaurant was cold when we were there, I wore my jacket. The food was just deep fried, salty junk food that you could get at the mall, but we were paying high end restaurant prices. The branzino, was cut into little pieces and fried, rather than frying the whole fish so it was crispy on the outside and delicate on on the inside. The chicken was fried as well, and it was such small pieces that it was hard to taste the chicken. We had several other dishes and nothing was well executed or worth mentioning, flavors were all the same, overdone and salty. Skip this one! read more

My husband and I came here on a Monday night as a party of five. We'd made a reservation prior to coming and we were seated as soon as our entire party was at the restaurant. The restaurant is really beautifully decorated, with sleek dark furniture and lush plants all around. As soon as we were seated, we were brought menus and water, and the wait staff returned soon after that to take our food orders. We ordered a variety of dishes, including caramelized fish sauce cabbage, branzino, fish curry (and a few others that I don't remember). All of our dishes were pretty flavorsome. Nothing was bad but I thought the food was a bit underwhelming. Perhaps it was that my husband's colleagues hyped up the restaurant too much. Either way, I think this is worth coming to if you're craving Thai food and would like to dine in a location that feels more upscale. read more

Nari - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here with my mom for a Sunday night dinner. The restaurant was hidden to the left side of the hotel and we were seated quickly at a corner table. The overall vibe was chic and clean. The wait staff were all very attentive and friendly. We wanted to try more vegetable heavy dishes so we got melon salad, squid and pork jowl, eggplant curry, and fish sauce cabbage to share. The melon salad was very refreshing with a sweet and savory flavor with some kick and crunch. The squid and pork jowl was ok. The pork tasted amazing with a sweet and sour taste and perfect tenderness but the squid tasted a bit bitter and did not have as much flavor as the pork. If the dish could just be pork jowl that would be better. The eggplant curry was AMAZING and definitely lived up to the hype. The eggplant was crispy but soft inside. The curry sauce is so flavorful. My mom loved it. The fish sauce cabbage was not super worth. The flavor is nice but it's something Asian parents could cook up at home so my mom wasn't impressed and wished we would've tried the fried sticky rice dish instead. We were quite full so we ended up asking for the curry and cabbage to go. Our waitress was very nice and packaged everything neatly. We ended our meal with the chocolate mousse. The presentation is flawless and the compote inside added layers to the chocolate taste. It's also not too sweet. Overall we were very impressed by the curry and the service but some of the simpler dishes did not stand out as much. I'd love to try the sister restaurant. I'd recommend coming here with a bigger group or getting the chefs tasting menu so one could try more dishes. read more

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Food - Naem Khao Tod: huge fan of crispy rice salad dishes, so I always order them when I see it on the menu. This one leans more on the aromatic (specifically ginger) vs others I've had which I enjoyed. It does lean salty, so I would balance it with dishes on the sweeter side such as the miang pla - Miang Pla: pleasant surprise of the night! I'm not a huge cooked fish person, but this dish didn't have a strong fish taste but rather leaned leaned into the sweet savory coconut flavor. I do wish the herbs, specifically the lemongrass came through more - Gaeng Bumbai Aubergine: really enjoyed this dish from the crispy eggplant (beware: quite hot when it comes out) to the spicy curry. It again does lean a tad salty, but the creaminess of the eggplant with the spiciness of the curry does help to balance that out. It definitely was a surprise to my brother that I'd lived in SF for a few years now and hadn't visited this spot yet. After trying it, I've definitely been missing out. I thought the three dishes not only were very tasty but also worked well together. The service was fairly attentive, making sure to refill our waters and clean the tables when applicable. Definitely excited to come back read more

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Stopped by Nari in SF for a cocktail while waiting for a dinner reservation elsewhere on Valentine's Day. The atmosphere was nice and the space upstairs where we sat had a cool lounge vibe, but overall the experience was just okay. The craft cocktails were fine, but nothing particularly impressive, and the presentation was also pretty standard. The food coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing, though we didn't actually eat since we were headed to dinner somewhere else. One thing that stood out was that it took a while for us to be greeted, which was surprising because the upstairs lounge area wasn't busy at the time. Maybe it was just an off night because of the holiday. I might stop by again someday... or maybe not. If you go on a non-holiday, let me know if the experience is better! read more