Lemme tell you sumthin. I was dreading going to this fancy restaurant because: a) Maybe they couldn't "Find" our reservation or 2) seated but in front of the kitchen (where you put "all" the questionable dining guests). Got seated at the window of the kitchen. Oh well. MOVING ON... Daughter asked for wine guidance. Fancy man came over (I don't know these terms but YOU KNOW who I'm talkin' about). Guided her smoothly, respectfully, and discreetly to a wonderful wine bottle pairing. We brought the KIDS...(maybe why we are seated by the KITCHEN?) We ordered 3 different entrees and two shared sides plus dessert. One spicy, one not, one plentiful but appealing to 8 year old ridiculously timid palettes. I can't tell you what I ate cause I ate some of EVERYTHING. It was tastebud POPPING great! The service was excellent. When it was time for dessert our waiter came out with it...but KEPT GOING! What just happened?? My daughter noticed that the dessert flatware was not laid. Before she could say anything a person came and laid the flatware. A minute LATER our waiter came AGAIN with our dessert and we were served. Voila! No asking for ANYTHING except the check. The restaurant was crowded and much conversation could be heard EXCEPT From the kitchen. You know what I didn't hear? Clanking dishes, dropped silver, orders barked or traded from the kitchen! And I've sat at the kitchen door of more restaurants than I care to remember. Not A PEEP. How does a FULLY STAFFED KITCHEN communicate in SILENCE. I could SEE everything happening except the dishwashing. Where they doing THAT? But the food kept coming. Hot. Spicy. Not. Fresh. Designer. Wine guy pouring on CUE after each 5 bites or 8 minutes whichever came FIRST. This restaurant is inside Hotel Kabuki. Not my first stay but my nicest culinary Thai experience. A must for anyone trying a Michelin rated dining that isn't on Celebrity Cruise Lines read more

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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For the price and Michelin star rating, this was one of the more disappointing meals we've had recently: nearly every dish was too salty and overseasoned, with little subtlety or balance; the sauces overwhelmed the ingredients, and the sticky rice tasted stale. Service was polite but unremarkable, and overall the experience fell short of one-star standards, especially in a city with many stronger dining options. read more

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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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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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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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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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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

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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Staff is friendly and super efficient. They were helpful with the menu as well as timing of courses that will be served. Our table was cleared fast. Flavors were spot on. It's a beautiful spot I'd like to visit again. read more

Nari - Prik King Gai - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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I recently dined at Nari for the first time and tried their $125 chef's tasting menu. Honestly, if I didn't have a credit to offset the cost, I would have felt pretty ripped off. The food itself was good, but not exceptional enough to justify the price. Several dishes leaned overly salty, and a few were aggressively spicy to the point where it overshadowed the balance of flavors. The portion sizes were also disappointing. There were seven dishes, but the first course and the fourth "course" or should I say fourth item was literally a single bite. Overall, it didn't feel like a satisfying or well-paced tasting experience for that price point. That said, the restaurant is beautiful. The dining room has great ambiance, and the service was polished and attentive throughout the meal. No complaints there. The dish that stood out the most was their pork jowl and squid dish! Flava town!! Still, at $125 per person, it just doesn't feel worth it. If this menu were priced closer to $95 pp, it would make a lot more sense. As it stands, it feels overpriced for what you get, and it's not somewhere I'd return to. 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

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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Food and flavor was great! For being a 1 star restaurant 3 years in a row, I was expecting the service to be better. It was really loud and it felt like we saw our serving in the beginning and towards the end, but nothing really in between. Again, food was great, just thought the service and ambiance would have been a lot better. read more

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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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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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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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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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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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I desperately want to give a five-star review, as this was my first time at a Michelin star restaurant and we were celebrating my boyfriend's birthday. Ultimately, however, the food kind of fell short, which was really surprising as I love Thai food! I'm not sure if it's just my flavor profile, but I think most dishes were a bit too salty. This is not a complaint I normally have--in fact, I usually prefer heavier flavors. But I did love the drinks (I got the Kusuma) and the desserts! I also want to note that the service was exceptional (although they did serve our second course while I was away at the restroom, which is unusual for fine-dining). Our hostess and waiters were wonderful. They also printed a menu with a personalized "Happy Birthday" message! Overall, it was still a lovely meal. read more

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My husband and I recently had dinner at Nari for our date night. We had a great experience and our waiters were very attentive. The drinks we got were amazing! My husband had been here before for just drinks and had great things to say. The drinks still exceeded our expectations. We got the squid and pork jowl dish, the sweetbread and the eggplant curry for dinner. The waiter recommended 4 dishes for 2 people. However, we know that we aren't as big eaters as others and 3 was plenty for us and we still took some of the eggplant dish home. We had a great night and recommend! read more

If it's an Asian restaurant and nearly everyone dining there is white, that says something. Even they all seemed like tourists probably staying at the Kabuki Hotel next door. I genuinely don't understand how this place earned a Michelin star. The seats are incredibly uncomfortable, the service was aloof and inattentive despite prices that should warrant much better hospitality, and the food was a major disappointment. Nearly every dish was aggressively salty and spicy in an unpleasant way, with muddled flavors that lacked balance or harmony. Even two out of the four people in our party who ordered supposedly "not spicy" dishes struggled to get through the meal and felt it for the rest of the night. Overall, overpriced, overhyped, and nowhere near Michelin-worthy. read more

I made a last minute reservation for 2 on a Tuesday evening at 6PM to celebrate a girl friend's birthday. The restaurant is located inside, next to Hotel Kabuki's lobby in Japantown. Upon arrival, we were greeted promptly by the host, though her demeanor felt rather unenthusiastic lol no smile, just a quick acknowledgment before leading us to our table. The interior design had an abundant greenery creating a tropical yet modern ambiance. The natural light also made it feel bright and welcoming. We were seated at a tiny two person table, which felt cramped once we ordered four dishes to share. A larger table would have been more comfortable and accepted if offered. The dining room was quiet until around 7:30 PM, when we were preparing to leave. The restrooms located upstairs near the host area, was very clean and notably free of strong chemical cleaning odors like fabuloso or pine which I appreciated. Given the limited table space, it seemed the staff intentionally staggered the timing of our dishes. While practical, I prefer to have multiple plates on the table around the same time to enjoy variety, so the pacing felt a little slow eating one dish at a time. The food overall was good, but in terms of flavor, some dishes leaned too heavily on a single note, which made them less balanced. - Naem Khao Tod (crispy rice salad) - dominated by ginger and lime. The strong, salty profile overpowered the lettuce wraps and made the dish overwhelming. - Miang Pla (whole branzino) - beautifully fried with balanced notes of lemongrass, ginger, and peanuts. Still, I thought it could have benefitted from an herbal accent like thai basil or mint for added freshness. - Namtok Moo (grilled pork chop) - tender and flavorful, but the nam jim jaew sauce was excessively sour, with tamarind overwhelming the palate. I would have preferred the sauce on the side. It did pair nicely with the sticky rice, though lettuce wraps did little to balance the acidity. - Gang Bumbai Aubergine (crispy eggplant curry) was the highlight of the evening! This red curry struck a perfect balance of flavors without one overpowering the others. It was spicy, rich, and satisfying! This is definitely a dish I would recommend and order again! While the restaurant does acknowledge birthdays by printing "Happy Birthday!" on menus, they do not appear to offer complimentary desserts such as ice cream, which was a slight disappointment given the occasion. read more

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Nari has a very nice ambiance, but unfortunately everything beyond that was a disappointment. While the space itself is polished and inviting, the overall dining experience fell far short of expectations. Service was a major issue. Our server came across as rushed, unwelcoming, and disengaged. At first, I assumed it might have been an off moment, but after watching his interactions with nearby tables, it was clearly consistent. There was no warmth, no effort to explain dishes, and no sense of hospitality it felt as though he either didn't want to be there or was overwhelmed with too many tables. The menu itself is heavily pork-focused. If you are not a pork eater, I would strongly recommend skipping this restaurant, as the majority of the dishes include pork in some form, leaving very limited alternatives. We ordered two beers, both of which were poorly poured, arriving with approximately three to four inches of foam more foam than beer. It looked like beer topped with whipped cream, which immediately set a negative tone for the meal. For food, we ordered the Prik King Gai (crispy chicken stir-fried in sweet and spicy curry paste) and the Gaeng Bumbai Aubergine (crispy eggplant in spicy Bumbai curry). We were warned that the Prik King Gai was very spicy, so we planned to switch dishes if needed. When the food arrived, both dishes were equally and overwhelmingly spicy, with no depth of flavor beyond heat. The eggplant dish offered nothing but spice, and the chicken dish had the texture and taste of burnt crumbs tossed in dry chili no balance, no complexity, and no discernible flavors coming through. Overall, this was not an experience I would return for or recommend to others. While the ambiance is nice, poor service, limited menu balance, poorly executed drinks, and flavorless, overly spicy food made this a very disappointing visit. read more

Nari - Prik King Gai - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came to try Nari after seeing all the great reviews on Yelp and were excited to try an elevated take on Thai food. The menu looked amazing and while we wanted to order everything, we ended up getting the: Squid and Pork Jowl: My favorite dish of the night. The pork was tender and soft in contrast to the slightly chewy squid. The chili-lime dressing was so good to eat with the sticky rice. I just wish the rice wasn't so hard. Whole Crispy Branzino: Loved the crispy fish with ginger and lemongrass paired with greens to wrap the fish in. The fish was cut into bite sized pieces for easy eating but still presented with the fish for a fun plate! Massaman Lamb Shank: Lamb shank was tender and the curry pretty good but I would say this could have been a skip for something more flavorful. It was definitely a meat heavy meal but we wouldn't have had it any other way! Everything was delicious and the flavors are on point! I'll have to come back sometime to try the other items on the menu. read more

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We loved Chef Pim's other Michelin-starred SF restaurant Kin Khao, so we had high expectations of Nari ... which were met and exceeded. The cooking really stands out: confident, modern Thai with depth and restraint. We started with cocktails that set the tone early: Utai hit bright and layered with flamed grapefruit and spice, while Benja balanced shiso, plum, and ginger. My favorite ended up being Pikul: rye and pandan, spirit-forward but beautifully aromatic. From there, the dishes unfolded with precision. The Caviar with scallion roti was nostalgic with a twist: cool pearls of Kaluga under shaved salted duck egg, paired with warm roti. Yum Polamai, with its fruit and white soy, was light, fragrant, and a perfect segue into the richer flavors ahead. The Gaeng Gradang Tod arrived golden and crisp, its curry paste fragrant and balanced by pickles. Then came Miang Pla: branzino with lemongrass, ginger, and peanuts, with greens for wrapping the perfect bite. Khao Kluk Pla Tu, the grilled mackerel rice salad, carried this punchy mix of salt, and crunch. And Squid and Pork Jowl was the dish that surprised most: smoky, tangy, and still perfectly harmonious in its contrast. Among the mains, the Massaman Gae lamb shank was slow-cooked, rich, and wonderfully balanced. The Gaeng Som Pla offered the opposite: coconut-free curry with kampachi and squash was sharp, clean, and refreshing. We closed with Dreaming of Lod Chong (pandan parfait with salted coconut cream and ice), which was aromatic, cool, and understatedly sweet. Service throughout the night was calm, attentive, and well-timed. Dishes flowed steadily without rush, and the staff carried an ease that matched the room's soft light and lush greenery. Prices are very reasonable for its Michelin recognition. We really appreciated Nari's thoughtfulness, ingredient quality, and sense of place that feels truly San Francisco while staying rooted in Thai heritage. read more

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I didn't know I enjoy fancier Thai food until I been to Nari. Been a few times and never disappoints. My go to every time is the squid and pork. It's a MUST! I love their curries and it changes once in a while. I really like the grilled cabbage. Simple but cooked to perfection. If you want a blast of flavor, make sure you order the crispy rice salad. I really like everything at Nari. Prices are on the higher side for Thai food but they have a one Michelin Star! Totally worth it They are located inside a hotel in Japantown. The interior is super cute. Service is always friendly. read more