Nara Thai Kitchen, nestled in Irvine's serene Portola Parkway neighborhood, promises exquisite Thai fusion cuisine. My anticipation of savoring its flavors had been brewing for some time, yet the steep prices had previously deterred my indulgence.Today, fate intervened, and I joined my husband and a dear colleague for lunch, eager to explore the culinary offerings. Opting for the cashew nut chicken, the panang curry, and the yellow curry, we embarked on a journey of discovery as our taste buds savored each dish. Although the cashew nut chicken arrived with a milder touch than requested due to a minor slip-up, its essence remained intact.The chicken, delicately encased in a light batter, offered a delightful crunch that harmonized with the rich flavors, making every bite a pleasure to savor.The panang chicken curry, though ordered mild, surprised me with its fiery undertones, adding an unexpected kick to the dish. Yet, amidst the heat, the robust flavors of the curry shone through, leaving a lasting impression.Across the table, my friend reveled in the comforting embrace of the yellow curry, its aromatic blend of spices infusing each morsel of potato with a delectable essence. Her satisfaction echoed my own, affirming the culinary prowess of Nara Thai.However, as we reveled in the culinary delights, the reality of the bill sobered our enthusiasm. The bill for lunch at Nara Thai exceeded $100 for just three of us, including an appetizer and beverages. Despite its exceptional dining experiences, the restaurant is more suited for special occasions than casual visits.In conclusion, Nara Thai undoubtedly stands as a beacon of Thai cuisine excellence in Irvine. Its dishes tantalize the palate with flavors that leave a lasting impression. While I'd like to return, the high prices might mean I can only indulge occasionally. Financial constraints could make Nara Thai a place for special occasions rather than a regular hangout.Typically, I wouldn't consider spending $36.67 per person, excluding gratuity, for lunch, but on this occasion, I felt justified in indulging.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sabino p
Nara Thai , greeted by the elegent owner Fiona, wonderful atmosphere , amazing decor, delicious food and good service . Try the Shrimp Tom Yum soup and their drunken noodles with beef is also wonderful !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pad See EW, Tom Yum, Papaya Salad, Chicken Satay
Joe Crotty
I had an excellent dining experience today at Nara Thai Kitchen! Great service, great food, wonderful ambience, and reasonable prices. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drew
Customer service is excellent. Food is great! We had the pad thai and crab thai fried rice and the quality and portion size was fine! Definitely coming back as a regular for the great food and service. Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Fried Rice, Pad Thai
Chloe L
This restaurant is terribly understaffed. There was only one frazzled server trying to do everything, when we came in on a slow night, 3,4 other tables were occupied. We had to sit with no water for 15 minutes before the harried waiter finally got to us. Then half the menu was unavailable because they were out of ingredients. Uncomfortably loud music makes it very difficult for us to hear each other talk.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Lizzy's Grandfather
Best Thai in Irvine by far. But it's expensive.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Ryan CK Yoo
I guess chef wasn’t here today. Pork is too burn, food is too salty & spicy. ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Ali Zarazvand
Staff were rude and not accommodating for our birthday celebration. This was despite the mandatory 20% tip and another 3% surcharge.We were a party of nine having lunch on January 19, 2024. We asked to talk to the manager but the server told us that our policy is fixed and the manager was not available. The server then told us that we should not argue with her!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Kanwal Chopra
Really top notch and a hidden gem. The ambience is super cool, the food delicious and service very personable and prompt. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Raghavendra Olety
Had a good experience at this restaurant today. Food, service and ambiance were good. The waitress was great and had good suggestions on what to pick. They were able to customize the food as we are vegetarians. Would definitely recommend the restaurant. Other reviews I am reading nowadays kids weren’t allowed for dinner, we however took our kids and didn’t have any issues.Vegetarian options: Can customize most items
Surprisingly good food and a great vibe, despite the small size. Immediate seating was a plus, and the fact that they take reservations is a big win for me. However, service was a bit lacking, especially considering the cozy space. Still, planning to return for the overall positive experience.
T N.
Delicious food, nice ambience, service not so great, def be back for the food though!!
Hannah K.
Very nice interior and delicious food! The portions are not big for the price, but you're paying for the quality of the ingredients and location. There were no cocktails available at the time we went, but they have wine and beer. The overall service was good, but it took a long time for us to get our check at the end.
Wang Vivian
Don’t come this restaurant. The food and service was all very disgusting. If u come here you will regret it and waste your money to pay for some very gross food, also their manager attitudes was bad too, he never care about his business. Good luck for this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Roy Kanemoto
Ordered food online. The website said there would be an approximate wait time of 50 minutes. Well, 15 minutes later, I get a text saying the order was ready. Early would have been ok, but we were timing this order with another order at a nearby restaurant. When I got to the area for pickup, there were a few people around, but nobody said anything. Then finally someone came to help me. Food was ok, but my wife said that she had had better and that the chicken was dry. And the food seemed overpriced. Not only that, they charged a 3% California inflation fee. Made it seem official by putting "California" in the name of the fee, i guess. I would consider this fee as a way for the restaurant to gouge the customer and pass the blame on to the state.
Nara Thai Kitchen, nestled in Irvine's serene Portola Parkway neighborhood, promises exquisite Thai fusion cuisine. My anticipation of savoring its flavors had been brewing for some time, yet the steep prices had previously deterred my indulgence.Today, fate intervened, and I joined my husband and a dear colleague for lunch, eager to explore the culinary offerings. Opting for the cashew nut chicken, the panang curry, and the yellow curry, we embarked on a journey of discovery as our taste buds savored each dish. Although the cashew nut chicken arrived with a milder touch than requested due to a minor slip-up, its essence remained intact.The chicken, delicately encased in a light batter, offered a delightful crunch that harmonized with the rich flavors, making every bite a pleasure to savor.The panang chicken curry, though ordered mild, surprised me with its fiery undertones, adding an unexpected kick to the dish. Yet, amidst the heat, the robust flavors of the curry shone through, leaving a lasting impression.Across the table, my friend reveled in the comforting embrace of the yellow curry, its aromatic blend of spices infusing each morsel of potato with a delectable essence. Her satisfaction echoed my own, affirming the culinary prowess of Nara Thai.However, as we reveled in the culinary delights, the reality of the bill sobered our enthusiasm. The bill for lunch at Nara Thai exceeded $100 for just three of us, including an appetizer and beverages. Despite its exceptional dining experiences, the restaurant is more suited for special occasions than casual visits.In conclusion, Nara Thai undoubtedly stands as a beacon of Thai cuisine excellence in Irvine. Its dishes tantalize the palate with flavors that leave a lasting impression. While I'd like to return, the high prices might mean I can only indulge occasionally. Financial constraints could make Nara Thai a place for special occasions rather than a regular hangout.Typically, I wouldn't consider spending $36.67 per person, excluding gratuity, for lunch, but on this occasion, I felt justified in indulging.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nara Thai , greeted by the elegent owner Fiona, wonderful atmosphere , amazing decor, delicious food and good service . Try the Shrimp Tom Yum soup and their drunken noodles with beef is also wonderful !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pad See EW, Tom Yum, Papaya Salad, Chicken Satay
I had an excellent dining experience today at Nara Thai Kitchen! Great service, great food, wonderful ambience, and reasonable prices. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Customer service is excellent. Food is great! We had the pad thai and crab thai fried rice and the quality and portion size was fine! Definitely coming back as a regular for the great food and service. Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Fried Rice, Pad Thai
This restaurant is terribly understaffed. There was only one frazzled server trying to do everything, when we came in on a slow night, 3,4 other tables were occupied. We had to sit with no water for 15 minutes before the harried waiter finally got to us. Then half the menu was unavailable because they were out of ingredients. Uncomfortably loud music makes it very difficult for us to hear each other talk.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Best Thai in Irvine by far. But it's expensive.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
I guess chef wasn’t here today. Pork is too burn, food is too salty & spicy. ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Staff were rude and not accommodating for our birthday celebration. This was despite the mandatory 20% tip and another 3% surcharge.We were a party of nine having lunch on January 19, 2024. We asked to talk to the manager but the server told us that our policy is fixed and the manager was not available. The server then told us that we should not argue with her!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Really top notch and a hidden gem. The ambience is super cool, the food delicious and service very personable and prompt. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a good experience at this restaurant today. Food, service and ambiance were good. The waitress was great and had good suggestions on what to pick. They were able to customize the food as we are vegetarians. Would definitely recommend the restaurant. Other reviews I am reading nowadays kids weren’t allowed for dinner, we however took our kids and didn’t have any issues.Vegetarian options: Can customize most items
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Surprisingly good food and a great vibe, despite the small size. Immediate seating was a plus, and the fact that they take reservations is a big win for me. However, service was a bit lacking, especially considering the cozy space. Still, planning to return for the overall positive experience.
Delicious food, nice ambience, service not so great, def be back for the food though!!
Very nice interior and delicious food! The portions are not big for the price, but you're paying for the quality of the ingredients and location. There were no cocktails available at the time we went, but they have wine and beer. The overall service was good, but it took a long time for us to get our check at the end.
Don’t come this restaurant. The food and service was all very disgusting. If u come here you will regret it and waste your money to pay for some very gross food, also their manager attitudes was bad too, he never care about his business. Good luck for this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ordered food online. The website said there would be an approximate wait time of 50 minutes. Well, 15 minutes later, I get a text saying the order was ready. Early would have been ok, but we were timing this order with another order at a nearby restaurant. When I got to the area for pickup, there were a few people around, but nobody said anything. Then finally someone came to help me. Food was ok, but my wife said that she had had better and that the chicken was dry. And the food seemed overpriced. Not only that, they charged a 3% California inflation fee. Made it seem official by putting "California" in the name of the fee, i guess. I would consider this fee as a way for the restaurant to gouge the customer and pass the blame on to the state.
Food: 2
Service: 2