BKK New York (Bangkok Street Food)

Great place to have authentic Thai food in the city.

Ambience and service is superb!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Midtown, You’ve Been Holding Out on Us

We stumbled into BKK last night for a pre-concert dinner before seeing the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. Total last-minute booking because our original plans fell through and thank god they did, because this ended up being one of the most unexpectedly excellent Thai meals we’ve had in the city.

This stretch of 56th Street is usually a culinary dead zone, the kind of place you go for proximity, not pleasure, so finding something this good felt like cheating the system. The décor was surprisingly polished, almost transporting. It reminded us of the kind of sleek, design-forward restaurants you’d see in Bangkok where every detail, down to the plates and glassware, feels intentional.

We started with their signature shrimp donuts, and honestly, whoever came up with these deserves a raise. Fried appetizers tend to live and die by oil temperature and salt, but these were next-level: crisp, caramel-tinged crust, almost like a hint of molasses, and somehow still light. Don’t sleep on them.

The papaya salad with jumbo shrimp was bright and refreshing though I did ask for ‘Thai spicy’ and clearly got the “he’s can’t be serious, don’t hurt him” version. Next time I’ll insist.

For my main, I ordered the half roasted chicken, which was impressively tender, both white and dark meat perfectly done, no dryness in sight. It came with these small pickles that were so well balanced I could’ve eaten them as a side dish on their own. The sticky rice it came with was also a nice touch just what you want to chase every bite with.

My husband had the Pad See Ew with chicken and made a point to also say how juicy the chicken was which, let’s be real, almost never happens with chicken breast. His only critique: could’ve used a little more wok hei, that smoky char you want from a good stir-fry, but otherwise it hit all the right notes.

Dessert time: the Thai Iced Tea Panna Cotta was an absolute standout rich, aromatic, and not cloyingly sweet. Whoever decided to make Thai tea into a panna cotta deserves applause. The coconut ice cream with shaved salted egg on top was clever and generous in portion. The coconut flavor could’ve been stronger, but as someone who also loves plain vanilla, I didn’t mind at all.

Cocktails? Also excellent. I had the Sticky Situation (Earl Grey, citrus, something else I can’t remember but it worked). My husband had another equally creative one — strong, balanced, and beautifully presented.

All in all, BKK feels like the rare Midtown Thai restaurant that isn’t just going through the motions. It’s thoughtful, delicious, and clearly run by people who care about flavor and design in equal measure. I just hope they don’t water things down over time to cater to diners whose idea of Thai food stops at pad thai and spring rolls.

We’ll definitely be back preferably before another concert, but honestly, this place is reason enough for a special trip on its own.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Glammed up Thai food that is just fine, but is way overpriced. Staff was nice, but you can get better for way more affordable prices.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 4

Outrageously great. We were in town for 5 days and made reservations at many restaurants and cocktail bars in advance - your boy is a planner. BKK stood above the crowd. Tan and Prayer were absolute delights and it was clear the entire team was devoted to their work. Reading the cocktail menu and then chatting with Tan felt like stumbling upon Scorsese’s home videos.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing!! We got the Branzino and ribs were to die for !! Service was excellent as well. My family and I will definitely be returning. I would share pics but we finished everything!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

An impressive dining experience at BKK New York! The restaurant perfectly balances authentic Thai flavors with creative presentation while preserving the essence of true Thai cuisine. Each dish reflects both tradition and innovation. A must-visit for anyone exploring New York City — ideally after an evening at Broadway, as the location is conveniently nearby.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food here is absolutely incredible! We came all the way from Thailand, and surprisingly, the Thai dishes here exceeded all our expectations. Even in Thailand, it would be hard to find Thai food of this quality and refinement. Every dish was perfectly balanced — authentic yet elevated to another level.

It’s not just a meal, it’s an experience. The food, the staff, the vibe — everything was just wow. Easily a 10/10 dining experience. Highly recommended!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was my second visit to BKK New York, and it was just as amazing as the first. The food was absolutely amazing and the crispy pork belly, tom yum soup, and massaman curry are must-tries!

The service was equally outstanding. The staff were so warm and hospitable, and a huge shoutout to Jay Jay for going above and beyond to make sure we were well taken care of all night. We'll definitely be back soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Was curious with the concept but they played it pretty safe. The goong curry was soooo spicy. I felt like I drank so much water to tone down the spice my stomach was half filled with water after the meal 😂

Very good place for a nice dinner

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Very delicious drunken noodle! Will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Very appreciable service and full flavor menu. Yes the salad too.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great dinner experience , surprise find, would go back
Fun cocktails

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic spot. Came here on a rainy day and it surpassed all expectations. Personable staff. Highly recommend the fish larb. My mom enjoyed the mezcal cocktail a little too much.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Had a great experience at BKK. Friendly staff and great food and cocktails. They were very knowledgeable and capable on providing recommendations for vegan options. I would definitely go back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5