Nara Thai Kitchen

“I honestly don’t understand the bad reviews. Everything was fantastic! From the charming decor and very sweet service to the beautiful presentation and delicious flavors of every dish, everything exceeded expectations. The live music was such a nice touch, too. Highly recommend, and will definitely be back! 💕”

“Nara Thai Kitchen in Irvine is a must-visit. Went with my fiancée and we were blown away by every detail. The interior is cozy and intimate, with mood lighting that sets the tone perfectly — the whole aesthetic feels considered and intentional, right down to the menu illustrations and the cocktail names. The food matched the atmosphere. We had the papaya salad, Thai fried chicken, and the Thai fried rice with crab — that last one was a standout, unique and genuinely delicious. Presentation on every plate was beautiful. Highly recommend. We'll definitely be back.”

“We visited Nara Thai Kitchen for lunch and the decor and ambiance of the restaurant was modern and beautiful but was dimly lit and felt more like a dinner venue as opposed to a lunch venue. The service was impeccable and the food was not only delicious but also thoughtfully decorated. We look forward to coming back to have the massaman curry and the sea bass.”

“I found Nara Thai Kitchen through Resy and booked a reservation. Upon entering the restaurant, the first impression is the interior— beautiful, modern, and thoughtfully designed with a calming ambiance. A personal note: a friend completed the plaster work on the interior walls, which made the craftsmanship especially enjoyable to see while enjoying my food. The menu is simple- one page which makes decision making easy. This was my second visit. On this occasion, I ordered the chicken satay, yellow curry, and drunken noodles with chicken, requesting the highest spice level offered. Each dish was flavorful. To accompany the meal, I had a Mexican Coca-Cola and water. Service was efficient and unobtrusive. While not particularly warm or engaging, staff were attentive enough. A touch more hospitality would elevate the overall experience, but the quality of the cuisine remains the clear highlight. For dessert, I ordered the roti with vanilla ice cream. It was warm and sweet. Overall, Nara Thai offers a beautiful dining environment and excellent Thai food. It is a place I would return to, particularly for those seeking elevated Thai cuisine in a calm setting.”

“The atmosphere very chill. The decoration is cute. There a live music for you to chill with some cocktail We order 4 dishes in total. The star today is Papaya salad, very fresh, well seasoned. The drunken noodle and Tomyum is just okay for us, not too special The worst dish I had tonight is the pineapple fried rice, you cant taste any flavor except the raisin inside the fried rice, even you eat a whole piece of pineapple, there no taste The worst thing make me unhappy tonight is the service. If they assign you a server, the rest will ignore you like you nothing. My server name is Sophia, she super nice but the rest make me never want to step a foot back in here. I have to wait for 15 minutes to order my food. Another 5 to ask for a pair of chopsticks. There absolutely no teamwork or whatsoever in here.”