I have probably been to E-San Thai at least 40 times over the past 2 years, and it has been consistently good and reliable each and every time. There's a bit more upscale/romantic/trendy Ruay Thai just 3 stores down, but for a more relaxed easy-going feel, try E-san. They have an awesome happy hour that usually lasts from 4pm to 9pm (woo!) with $4 glasses of wine and $3 appetizers. YUM. I've tried nearly all the appetizers by now and definitely recommend the curry puffs or the summer rolls - you will scarf both down in an instant. I tend to be a curry lover and so I've tried all the curries on the menu. The yellow and massaman curries are similar and both are excellent. However, the single reason I keep frequenting E-san time and time again is the PUMPKIN CURRY. Mm'mm mm'mm! There are actual chunks of pumpkin in the curry and it is so hearty and delicious! Overall, I give E-San 5 stars because it has good reliable food, super friendly service, and the PUMPKIN curry which I absolutely love. :)
Jessica L.
I would NOT recommend getting your meal delivered from here. I placed an order at lunch and my estimated arrival was 45 minutes. 45 minutes rolled around and I didn't hear anything, I waited for another 15 minutes and shot them a call to check up on my order. The lady who answered my call didn't ask me what my order number was and just said the food was on it's way and hung up. Gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited.. Another 30 minutes rolled by and called them back, again I was told my order was already out. When I raised told the man that I was told that when I previously called he said it was in my neighborhood and that they were busy. I understand businesses get busy during lunch time but they are only 15 blocks from my workplace I have a hard time figuring out how and why it takes over an hour to deliver. If I had known... I could have just as easily walked there and eaten my food in the time I waited. The only saving grace for this place was that the food was delicious. I ordered a vegetable pad see eww. It was very flavorful and the sweet soy sauce was not overpowering. The lunch special comes with a side of your choice and I got the salad with the peanut dressing. It was a good mix of sweet peanuty flavor with a slight spicy kick to it. I enjoyed this meal but wish I didn't have to wait an hour and a half to get it. I won't be ordering from here again. But perhaps Ill just make the 15 block trek next time.
Sara S.
My boyfriend and I find ourselves ordering take-out and sitting in at least once a week. Esan is a bit divey, but still our favorite local thai place... excellent curry, great everything else... The service is friendly and inviting if you spend a lot of time in Murray Hill Esan is definitely worth checking out
Cathy C.
While looking for a place to eat dinner in a snowstorm, I was glad to find this place. My friend was reluctant to go in since there were no one eating inside. I looked on Yelp and saw the wonderful reviews, so we went in to eat Drunken Noodles as many reviews had recommended We had a fragrant Yum soup and the recommended Drunken Noodles plus Thai tea. For dessert we had another bowl of the Yum soup!! Be sure to visit the restrooms with the elegant decor! We were fortified enough to brave the storm and go to our destination!
Nicole E
SLOWEST service ever. DO NOT eat here. Just do take out.
Fox Fox
Love this place!!!Great food all the time,fast service,good drinks,happy hours for lunch day time and for drinks after 5pm.
Yolanda L.
I eat at or order from Esan Thai at least once a week. I work in midtown so I've had lots of Thai food (all over Hells Kitchen) and I must say Esan is probably one of the best (if not the best) Thai I've had in the area. The restaurant usually does not have a wait so it's my go to dinner spot most Friday and Saturday nights. I really dig the multicolor haphazardly striped walls but some of you may my agree. My usual dining partner is vegetarian so we always get the vegetarian protein, which is is delicious, especially the veggie duck. The Drunken Noodles are always delicious as are the curries. Try the veggie duck, you'll never know that it's not real meat :) I recently had the mango sticky rice. Definitely hits the spot.
Feyi B.
Food was mmmmmm..... *licks lips*. I had the basil fried rice. Try the lychee drink, it was amazing. It was empty when I came here, but I was okay with that. Me n my boo got a cute lil table by the window, so no complaints!
Saheli K.
I am all about Esan thai because of the mango sticky rice. I've had mango sticky rice at several places, but this one is the best. It is sticky rice, with a sweet coconut sauce, served with tangy mangos that make this dish a treat for your tastebuds Besides this amazing dessert, the veggie dumplings, the veggie spring rolls, and the drunken noodles are also great. If you have some extra room in your belly after all of this, you can even order the donuts (not as good as the mango sticky rice, but still pretty amazing!)
Qian Liu
Service by far the slowest in the area....try the other Thai places... decent menu and food here isn't worth the thirty minute wait..food in your party guaranteed to not arrive at your table together
I don't recommend to anyone to this place!!! .. I asked before how authentic food here..they said very authentic !!! But I will never go back eat gain!!!
Rick Sannicandro
Love the food here. Probably better as take-out than a sit-down experience. Service is slow, atmosphere blah.
Bob B.
My wife and I had dinner here on April 29, 2013. We decided to return due to our past experiences. For starters we ordered Curry Puff @ $6 and shrimp in blanket @ $6. Very good choices! For our main dinner, Shrimp Pad Thai @ $12.95 and Cashew Nuts Chicken @ $10.95 with brown rice. Everything was very good and served hot temperature wise. We shall return on our next visit. They also did a great delivery on April 24, the date of our arrival in NYC. It was late and we didn't feel like going out, so we ordered in! Everything arrived hot and good!
Nic Stark
Awesome, awesome, awesome! This place just reopened and is really great. Their happy hour specials include 2 dollar beers and great prices on cocktails. I had a veggie fish plate which I had never heard of before, but it tasted delicious. The service was top notch, our waiter brought out the manager/owner and they made us a list of places to see on our upcoming trip to Thailand. We'll be bringing them photos upon our return!
Erica C.
(And this is where my other part of my veneer fell off. Thank goodness. Refer to my Mizumi post) So after arriving 7 hours early to work (another thing that can only happen to me), my mother decided to come here with me. She ordered here many times and approved of their food. Reading off the lunch special, I ordered the basil rice with beef and the green papaya salad. I did enjoy the green papaya salad but I think my rice was supposed to be spicy. It wasn't. I didn't say anything until later. My mother had my spicy rice all along. She ordered the thai rice with shrimp. I should have known. For the appetizer, my mother ordered the summer roll. I'm pretty sure the summer roll isn't supposed to be fried. They gave her two pieces and we just dealt with it. I have to say though, that waitress was really kind. She wasn't the one who took our order. Every now and then, she would make sure to come by to check if everything was okay. I would come back to give this restaurant another try.
I have probably been to E-San Thai at least 40 times over the past 2 years, and it has been consistently good and reliable each and every time. There's a bit more upscale/romantic/trendy Ruay Thai just 3 stores down, but for a more relaxed easy-going feel, try E-san. They have an awesome happy hour that usually lasts from 4pm to 9pm (woo!) with $4 glasses of wine and $3 appetizers. YUM. I've tried nearly all the appetizers by now and definitely recommend the curry puffs or the summer rolls - you will scarf both down in an instant. I tend to be a curry lover and so I've tried all the curries on the menu. The yellow and massaman curries are similar and both are excellent. However, the single reason I keep frequenting E-san time and time again is the PUMPKIN CURRY. Mm'mm mm'mm! There are actual chunks of pumpkin in the curry and it is so hearty and delicious! Overall, I give E-San 5 stars because it has good reliable food, super friendly service, and the PUMPKIN curry which I absolutely love. :)
I would NOT recommend getting your meal delivered from here. I placed an order at lunch and my estimated arrival was 45 minutes. 45 minutes rolled around and I didn't hear anything, I waited for another 15 minutes and shot them a call to check up on my order. The lady who answered my call didn't ask me what my order number was and just said the food was on it's way and hung up. Gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited.. Another 30 minutes rolled by and called them back, again I was told my order was already out. When I raised told the man that I was told that when I previously called he said it was in my neighborhood and that they were busy. I understand businesses get busy during lunch time but they are only 15 blocks from my workplace I have a hard time figuring out how and why it takes over an hour to deliver. If I had known... I could have just as easily walked there and eaten my food in the time I waited. The only saving grace for this place was that the food was delicious. I ordered a vegetable pad see eww. It was very flavorful and the sweet soy sauce was not overpowering. The lunch special comes with a side of your choice and I got the salad with the peanut dressing. It was a good mix of sweet peanuty flavor with a slight spicy kick to it. I enjoyed this meal but wish I didn't have to wait an hour and a half to get it. I won't be ordering from here again. But perhaps Ill just make the 15 block trek next time.
My boyfriend and I find ourselves ordering take-out and sitting in at least once a week. Esan is a bit divey, but still our favorite local thai place... excellent curry, great everything else... The service is friendly and inviting if you spend a lot of time in Murray Hill Esan is definitely worth checking out
While looking for a place to eat dinner in a snowstorm, I was glad to find this place. My friend was reluctant to go in since there were no one eating inside. I looked on Yelp and saw the wonderful reviews, so we went in to eat Drunken Noodles as many reviews had recommended We had a fragrant Yum soup and the recommended Drunken Noodles plus Thai tea. For dessert we had another bowl of the Yum soup!! Be sure to visit the restrooms with the elegant decor! We were fortified enough to brave the storm and go to our destination!
SLOWEST service ever. DO NOT eat here. Just do take out.
Love this place!!!Great food all the time,fast service,good drinks,happy hours for lunch day time and for drinks after 5pm.
I eat at or order from Esan Thai at least once a week. I work in midtown so I've had lots of Thai food (all over Hells Kitchen) and I must say Esan is probably one of the best (if not the best) Thai I've had in the area. The restaurant usually does not have a wait so it's my go to dinner spot most Friday and Saturday nights. I really dig the multicolor haphazardly striped walls but some of you may my agree. My usual dining partner is vegetarian so we always get the vegetarian protein, which is is delicious, especially the veggie duck. The Drunken Noodles are always delicious as are the curries. Try the veggie duck, you'll never know that it's not real meat :) I recently had the mango sticky rice. Definitely hits the spot.
Food was mmmmmm..... *licks lips*. I had the basil fried rice. Try the lychee drink, it was amazing. It was empty when I came here, but I was okay with that. Me n my boo got a cute lil table by the window, so no complaints!
I am all about Esan thai because of the mango sticky rice. I've had mango sticky rice at several places, but this one is the best. It is sticky rice, with a sweet coconut sauce, served with tangy mangos that make this dish a treat for your tastebuds Besides this amazing dessert, the veggie dumplings, the veggie spring rolls, and the drunken noodles are also great. If you have some extra room in your belly after all of this, you can even order the donuts (not as good as the mango sticky rice, but still pretty amazing!)
Service by far the slowest in the area....try the other Thai places... decent menu and food here isn't worth the thirty minute wait..food in your party guaranteed to not arrive at your table together
Restaurantji Recommends
I don't recommend to anyone to this place!!! .. I asked before how authentic food here..they said very authentic !!! But I will never go back eat gain!!!
Love the food here. Probably better as take-out than a sit-down experience. Service is slow, atmosphere blah.
My wife and I had dinner here on April 29, 2013. We decided to return due to our past experiences. For starters we ordered Curry Puff @ $6 and shrimp in blanket @ $6. Very good choices! For our main dinner, Shrimp Pad Thai @ $12.95 and Cashew Nuts Chicken @ $10.95 with brown rice. Everything was very good and served hot temperature wise. We shall return on our next visit. They also did a great delivery on April 24, the date of our arrival in NYC. It was late and we didn't feel like going out, so we ordered in! Everything arrived hot and good!
Awesome, awesome, awesome! This place just reopened and is really great. Their happy hour specials include 2 dollar beers and great prices on cocktails. I had a veggie fish plate which I had never heard of before, but it tasted delicious. The service was top notch, our waiter brought out the manager/owner and they made us a list of places to see on our upcoming trip to Thailand. We'll be bringing them photos upon our return!
(And this is where my other part of my veneer fell off. Thank goodness. Refer to my Mizumi post) So after arriving 7 hours early to work (another thing that can only happen to me), my mother decided to come here with me. She ordered here many times and approved of their food. Reading off the lunch special, I ordered the basil rice with beef and the green papaya salad. I did enjoy the green papaya salad but I think my rice was supposed to be spicy. It wasn't. I didn't say anything until later. My mother had my spicy rice all along. She ordered the thai rice with shrimp. I should have known. For the appetizer, my mother ordered the summer roll. I'm pretty sure the summer roll isn't supposed to be fried. They gave her two pieces and we just dealt with it. I have to say though, that waitress was really kind. She wasn't the one who took our order. Every now and then, she would make sure to come by to check if everything was okay. I would come back to give this restaurant another try.