Chai Thai Kitchen Reviews

4.2

605 of 13,360 Restaurants in New York City


Reviews

Fab Thai

By Derek W |

Dug around on TripAdvisor and stumbled across this and glad we did.The food was lovely - you can ask for things to be more or less spicy if you want. The service was very friendly, helpful and generally excellent. When my daughter found her dish a bit to spicy for her they went out of their way to offer alternatives. Would happily go back ... sadly our NY trip is over :(

Okay place. Nothing special

By trip atkins |

Basic Thai place. Average prices, pretty much standard menu except for some Northern Thai dishes- I got one- good flavor, hard to eat, like pho with big pieces and no way to cut them. Quick in and out if you are seeing a show.

Great Thai

By Mbrookslxa |

I was traveling on business and staying around the corner. I had the pineapple duck. It was great! Service was excellent and it was reasonably priced. If you're looking for good Thai in Midtown-try it out.

Highly recommended

By Eyala |

Excellent Thai food, quick, efficient and friendly service. I enjoyed my dinner on my first visit so returned again on the next day

It's All about the Apps!!

By TNixon2014 |

My sister, my niece, and I had dinner at Chai Thai last week while we were in New York. We really enjoyed ourselves. The entrees--we had Pad Thai and Khi Mao--were good, but in all honesty, they were not better than our favorite Thai restaurants elsewhere. Where this restaurant really distinguishes itself is in the appetizers. My sister and niece loved the Thai crab cakes. We all agreed that the vegetable peanut dumplings were absolutely delicious. And the summer rolls were delightful. If I were to go back, I might just order a bunch of appetizers and leave it at that. The staff were friendly and helpful. With its wooden walls and interesting art features, the dining room is attractive--albeit rather small--and there is an upstairs seating area, too. Finally, the prices are quite affordable. We ordered a lot and didn't pay too much for dinner.

Delicious food

By Patricia d |

Small place but amazingly good food Have been in New York for 6 days and have already eaten there twice. Nice staff and price quality is perfect.

Microwave sticky rice - enough said

By bigapplesverige04 |

We wanted to go to a popular Thai restaurant on 9th and settled for this place. So so service, okay menu and mediocre food at best. But we were shocked when served sticky rice in a plastic bag. That's simply inexcusable and downright nasty. Avoid! Unless you enjoy microwaved food.

Quick & tasty

By Franeczka |

As I had tom yum & chicken green curry in Pattaya, I thought I would have it in BYC as well. And I was not disappointed. Of course, the dishes were not so spicy/hot.. but the taste was there. Tom yum did not have coconut milk, but then you do not need it... the service was quick, prices reasonable! The place got busy very quickly during lunch time

DELICIOUS FOOD !

By Nicki M |

Found Chai Thai almost by accident after a busy morning of shopping! Please have your photo ID and vaccine details at the ready (as most places require) otherwise, you will be refused entry. We went for the red thai curry with chicken (hot), sweetcorn fritters and a goong la po (jumbo shrimp with broccolli) . A couple of singha beers and I was ready for a nice snooze! Food delicious, staff super friendly and helpful and will visit again before going home!

Reasonably priced tasty Thai food, service so so, rushed

By Ange516 |

We were happy with the food here - the Pad Thai was a bit salty but otherwise tasty and the green curry was nice too. The prices are very reasonable - it might have been the most reasonably priced meal I ever had in Midtown Manhattan! Food arrived promptly, service was quick but "without heart" - almost a bit rude. They follow a strict policy that you can't be seated unless your full party has arrived which was terrible for us because one of us was really late and we were really hungry, so we would have loved to sit down and order some starters. We had to request the drinks menu because somehow that wasn't on their radar to ask us if we wanted to have any drinks. And they only had two deserts that didn't sound very appealing. At the end they asked us to leave because their space is tight and more people were coming. If you are looking for a quick, reasonably priced tasty dinner and don't mind the flaws surrounding it, this is a good place to go... But I wouldn't pick it for a nice dinner out where you want to relax and enjoy!

Great value for money

By Omar Q |

Was close to our hotel - walking distance - the food was tasty and great value for money - the restaurant is walking distance from the Theatre District So is frequented by people before or after a play.

Solid Thai in Hell’s Kitchen

By Adrienne C |

I thought my pad kee mao was quite tasty, though a bit too oily for my preference. I really enjoyed my Thai tea and the servers were very friendly. The music was blasting and rather loud, but this is a fun place to go with friends for a night out.

Like average Thai fast food

By P001148 |

The restaurant was around the corner from the apartment, so I tried take-out. One positive thing was that the food was ready pretty quickly when I ordered it on site. What was not so positive was that the dishes tasted a bit bland and seemed spartan. The coconut milk in the curry was too diluted, the spicy option was not spicy at all, and the number of ingredients was too limited. I cook a lot of Thai food myself and simply expect a different level in a Thai restaurant.

Can't rate this place enough!

By Jade H |

So amazing. After a damp day exploring the city, this was the place we needed. The food was so delicious, to a point I can't even describe and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The team were super helpful, and even reinvented the traditional pad-thai for me, as I have a nut allergy, but was super keen to try it! You won't be disappointed!

Wish I was local

By Chickpea_90 |

Stumbled across Chai when wandering and really hungry! So glad we found it, great Thai food at low prices. Gutted I live in the U.K. and can't just pop back!

Nice place to visit before a Broadway show

By J P |

We visited "Chai Thai" before we continued to a concert in Madison Square Garden. The interiour is a bit dark, but the service is fast and the different dishes are reasonable priced compared to other restaurants in New York. Food tasted good, so we would recommend the place to other visitors.

A Favorite stop!!

By DancingEagle71 |

Been many times!! An excellent Upscale Thai restaurant with low prices and top-notch faire. Everything is delicious; but the Pad-Se-Euw is my favorite...with beef. Enjoy!

Dinner

By Alicia O |

First time eating Thai food and the experience was excellent. Very good service and their drink list is outstanding, not big but everything was delicious. Food was superb. It is a small place but very comfy.

Good food, with good service

By 98lbs |

Enjoyed a great meal with family and friends. Expansive menu with some great choices. Expect a good meal that is tasty and not over-fulling.

Great food, excellent pre/post theatre meal

By shasta2088 |

My wife and I are always looking for good place to eat before/after our visits to Broadway shows. We found this place by accident after finding an old favorite had closed down. Staff was very welcoming and friendly throughout the meal. Downstairs is small (18 seats plus small bar area with stools) and very cozy. Food was very good and reasonably priced (especially for the Theater District). My wife and I split apps of Chicken Satay (good), curry puffs (very good), shrimp dumplings (very good), and duck spring rolls (excellent) and pineapple duck curry entree )excellent). Bill was less than $40. Food was very good and delivered quick, got us to the show on time.

Great Thai spot

By Ashley W |

Tiny restaurant but big flavor! Sweet staff, food came quickly, and it was all good. Lots of seasoning, but not too spicy. Nice dinner!

Cute and Quick

By mplstravel |

Delicious lunch special of pad see yew + spring roll. Cute casual restaurant and prompt service makes it a great spot for quick meal.

One of the best meals in NYC...

By MrThomas1981 |

I am not normally one for going to a place and then eating another country's national dishes but I can make an exception here. We took a chance based on the look of the outside (smart, modern and stylish) and went in. Popular with locals of all backgrounds, the food was amazing - beautifully cooked and fresh. For a small place there is a varied menu and a small range of drinks (its not a craft beer bar after all) which complement different dishes. Service was efficient and friendly and we weren't rushed through either our food or afterwards. The atmosphere is very relaxed and we could have stayed a lot longer for more drinks and felt like it wouldn't have been any trouble for them. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Cozy and delicious

By Elbert S |

Authentic Thai Cuisine. Good food, good service and nice atmosphere! Pleasantly surprised. Did not expect it to be this good

Tasty food

By cas65 |

Food service is prompt though staff not overly friendly. Busy place which is always a good sign. Vegetable spring rolls were really tasty. Satay chicken skewers were good but would have been nicer if the sauce was thicker. Same applies to the sauce with the cashew chicken dish. Certainly not enough of an issue to not go back again

Inexpensive, mediocre food and service

By Philipengs |

The service was okay but not overly friendly. The restaurant feels a little seedy. I did not like the bathroom. The prices and wine list are cheap. I like Thai food but I found two of the dishes a little too sweet. The chicken in my wife's dish was dry and did not look like chicken we are used to. The food was okay, but just not great. If you are not too picky and don't want to spend too much this place might work for you

Great food, nice atmosphere.

By Campbell W |

Food was absolutely delicious, nice décor in the restaurant, fast service. Food was delicious and somewhat artisan, the prices were also quite reasonable. Would definitely recommend, great food and service, only comment would be that the service was perhaps too fast, as soon as we had finished our starter, the main was out. Definitely a great restaurant and very reasonable prices.

Lovely little restaurant!

By Steph S |

This place is lovely. Service was fast and the food is great. Definitely a must if you enjoy Thai food!

Gread place great food

By Dag |

Very good place to seat and eat lunch or dinner. Ate there twice and it was excellent. Recommend very much.

Unusual Thai

By Patrizia C |

Small but clean. Not great choice of plates. Huge portions. Great cuisine although not classic. Expensive. Kitchen closes at 11. Service is formal and detached. Not very satisfying.

Bad food, Bad service

By shera m |

We went party of 4 for lunch after show. First we ordered the chicken coconut soup...it was ok..not special, missing a few thai ingredients that give it its unique flavor such as kafir lime and lemon grass, so it was just chicken broth and coconut milk. Then We ordered different plates so we can share and taste different things (roasted duck, beef plate, shrimp moodles). Two plated came cold so we sent them back to be heated. When they came back and started eating we found that All food was lacking flabores snd certainly not fresh...as if it was sitting on the kitchen counter for days. I sent my plate back and ordered something else..it was also bad. We talked to the waiter, he acted he didnt understand English so we asked for a manager first he said no manager available, then some person in charge came talk to us, he tried to convince us that the food was good and we just might not like the Thai cuisine. since everyone in the table had experienced thai food either in Thailand or in good restaurants that actually can make thai food so we knew that this discussion is going nowhere. We ended up paying for our drinks and soup and returned the food and went looking for another place for lunch. This place wasted our time and spoiled our mood.

Good food, medium service

By Raul K |

Everything is ok , except the service the attendant does not have patience to explain the Thai food. I recommend the N5 it is a little bit spice.

OK if you are in the neighborhood but don’t make a special trip

By Hugh H |

I stopped by on a bitterly cold Saturday night after the theater crowd was gone. As I entered the door, a couple of the staff chirped, “Cash only - we take cash only!” OK, but a little annoying, and you wonder how they survive in NYC with this policy. Singles and couples get relegated to the cramped downstairs with tables positioned elbow-to-elbow. The food was also OK. The coconut chicken soup and papaya salad were just a bit bland, a little sweet but not spicy at all. Maybe I should have requested a little heat, but that might be dangerous at a Thai restaurant. The crispy duck entree in a brown sauce was generous and good quality - highly recommended. Best thing on the table were the two icy cold Tiger beers.

Great little place.

By Humdinger04 |

Looking for Thai food in midtown, we came across this while strolling around. We dine early so we were seated quickly. A small restaurant. Great service. Good food. Very reasonably priced for NYC.

Delicious

By garym186534 |

Ate here twice and food was delicious. The kapow chicken was fab. Very quick service and relaxed, casual atmosphere. Good choice for pre-theatre or late night dining.

Outstanding NYC Thai

By Don E |

My expectations are rarely exceeded. No more. Chai Thai Kitchen is a gem. The location is convenient and the restaurant is cozy and warm. The staff was accommodating and friendly as I was seated immediately. The Northern (who knew) Thai food was sublime and fresh and spicy and noodley and I was served 10 minutes after ordering. By NYC standards the meal was inexpensive so a 30% tip was in order.

Dinner during a long weekend in NYC

By Louiecap |

We had a great Saturday night dinner. The food was tasty in a quaint atmosphere. We did not need reservations and were seated promptly

Pleasant Pre-Theater Meal

By SmithtownMike |

We dined here prior to going to the theater in nearby Times Square. All the food was very tasty with light sauces. My wife prefers spicy and I need non-spicy. We were both easily accommodated with the extensive menu despite the small number of tables. Fortunately for us, we sat down early in the evening. As suburban New Yorkers we definitely plan to return to this attractive reasonable restaurant.

Beautiful Restaurant

By Amy N |

We were attracted to this restaurant by the crystal chandeliers and the floating flowers in the front window. We sat upstairs. We started with peanut vegetable dumplings that were good. They do not have Siracha and you have to ask for hot sauce. The pad Thai was good. The bathroom was clean. I think you could use a wheelchair in there if you ate downstairs, which is where most people were any way. The service was ok. He put all 4 of our bills on one check without asking but he was courteous and prompt.

Different Thai food in NYC.

By tripplanner001 |

This place is beautiful in the interior, not so much room though but has very nice decors. The dim light setting is romantic but I didn't enjoy the food very much...very simple cooking nothing fancy compared to other Thai restaurants I have been in New York. If you are not very familiar with Thai food and cooking, you probably wouldn't mind otherwise I suggest try somewhere else. The price is a bit expensive as well. The staff are nice and welcoming.

A must in NYC

By Deirdre C |

For a restaurant so central in NYC we were very surprised at how reasonably priced this restaurant is. It is located only a couple of blocks from Central Park and a couple of blocks from Times Square. The food itself was top class and the service was exceptional. If you like Thai food, defiantly come here, its tasty, reasonable and has wonderful staff. It was perfect for date night.

It was alright

By Iulia (Yu-lee-ya) |

My friend and I went here since it was close to our hotel and we were getting pretty hungry. Loved the decor and dimmed lights, but the tables were a little too close to each other for my comfort. I understand it's New York, but I was always worried the waiters may spill other people's food on me because we were all SO close to each other. Other than that, the service was good. Food came out fast enough to satisfy our hunger. I had the Chicken Pad See Eww and my friend got the Indo-Chicken. Both dishes were pretty generous in size and tasted good. I've had better pad see eww, but can't complain about Chai's either. The place was lively even on a Sunday night, so I would get there early.

Best Thai food I've eaten!

By Laura H |

We came here on our last night in NYC, I'm so glad we did. It's a small place but the food is amazing! Very reasonable prices and we really enjoyed our meal. Would 100% return if I'm ever in NYC again!

Good Thai at Right Price

By KBD1990 |

Clean, well laid out Thai place right off 8th and 55th in downtown Manhattan. Very reasonably priced for the city, most dinner dishes were between $10 and $16. Can get busy since it's downtown but wait staff tries to keep up. Sometimes reminders for drink refills are required. All in all though, Great little stop not far off Times Square to get a dinner and relax.

Great food and cool vibe

By CPMH2010 |

We visited this gorgeous little Thai restaurant on our last night in NYC with our older teenage daughters. It was a warm and welcome retreat from the bitter wind. The service was very Thai, humble and friendly without being over the top. Food was varied and delicious. Portions not typically huge like other places but tasty and unique food from northern Thailand. Has a really cosy and fun vibe. A lovely evening.

Many delicious options

By Janine FB |

Good location. Many option in the menu. The glass of red wine was not that good. Good environment and delicious food.

Chai Thai Sigh!

By azad-musafir |

Nice looking place in the neighbourhood. We stopped by for a quick bite. From the reviews it seems clear that either the pandemic crushed this place or the reviewers pre-pandemic are the most appreciative in the world. In the event, we showed up and the first 5 mins should have warned me that no good was going to come of this experiment. To start things off, the "I'm really angry I work here" waitress picked an argument and refused to seat us before our son who was right at the door joined us to let her know we were all present. After a few sarcastic comments, a table outside was offered. The food itself was forgettable. Since it was our first visit, we stuck to the staples. To little avail. Tom Yum Koong was sweet. Papaya salad was mushy with a watery dressing diluting what flavour it might have had. Rest of the food was equally unappealing. The confrontation with the waitress continued. First with her failing to bring any condiments (direly needed) despite several requests. Then with her "anything else?" laced with impatience at us having requested more rice. Stay away.

Good Thai On 8TH Ave.

By Zoom_Gotti |

Has a good menu including a Vietnamese dish or two. Come before 4 PM and you qualify for salad or spring roll added to your meal. Downstairs seating can be a bit awkward. But I came alone so I didn't have to sit on the window bench. My go to dish for Thai is curried chicken. Just as long as I get enough rice included, it will work for me. And here they did fine.

With all the good Thai in the neighborhood..skip this one!

By PurpleGirl13 |

Met family here because of location and reviews. I have enjoyed very good vegetarian Thai in the neighborhood, this one was sub par. Vegetarian selections were bland an uninspired. The space was cramped and I was stuck in a seat with a bench and no back, wasn't a comfortable space at all. Skip this one and go to one of the many yummy Thai restaurants within a few blocks.

Great Thai food

By CraigLobstarr |

Great food and Service. We had an hour before a show on Broadway and found this small Thai restaurant. There is limited capacity downstairs but space upstairs. We did book online a few hours before we went. The place was busy but staff were very attentive. Had starters and main course all very tasty no complaints. We ate Pad Thai and a green curry all good and no complaints. Would definitely visit again if in NYC.

Excellent!!

By Patricia F |

Had my last lunch during my NYC visit this past week. This was amazing food. Very fresh; lots of veggies and lots of flavor. I got stir fried rice with steak-wow!! I also ordered soup and a house salad. Everything is artfully presented. The lunch special is very reasonable @ about $10.00 for appetizer and a meal. Highly recommend this place. I could eat here a few times per week if I lived in NY.

Change from Burgers

By Geoff S |

Walked past this place when the ladies were out at the the Theatre, and it smelt fantastic. We went back on a Friday night, it was busy but we got a seat upstairs straight away. The surroundings are nice but basic, the food is excellent. The starters were freshly cooked and tasty, I had the Mai Thai Curry for my main meal, a recommended dish, and it was superb, and lots of it. The young lady who served us was short on conversation, but remembered everything we ordered without having to write it down. However, she did burst into conversation when she told one of our group that we had not left a sufficient tip !! This is common now in New York, where you are given suggested amounts of tip on your receipt, going from 15% - 20%. We certainly didn't short change, however this was not enough in her eyes. The food is not over expensive, but some meals are not priced, so be careful. Still a very enjoyable meal, and I would recommend it highly.

Delicious lunch and great service

By seema60 |

I enjoyed the fried eggplant and rice plate at the Chai Thai restaurant. Service was good and I was able to sit outside. The eggplant was not too spicy.

Great Food, Great Value!

By RaJoM |

This is a low-key establishment and with its narrow street frontage, it is easy to miss if strolling by. The food is authentic Thai (based on my visits to Thailand) and well-priced for NY. Service is good and food arrives fairly promptly. I've visited Chai Thai more than once - which shows I like it. Most of the seating is upstairs and the ambiance is a little lacking (hence not 5 stars) but is in line with the menu pricing.

Wonderful Thai food

By Neta_Avivi |

I love this place. It is a relatively small place that offers an excellent lunch special menu 7 days a week. They have a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Very tasty.

Lunch time stop

By benji2601 |

Dropped in on the off chance of walking by, the exterior and interior is chic and inviting, a great mix of textures and materials to create a contemporary finish with hints of tradition. We chose from the lunch time set menu - a list which must have one of the best set of choices I have ever seen. The service was really quick and friendly. The food was some of the best that I have eaten during our visit to New York, and having visited Thailand the food was as good as what I ate there and just as fresh and quick. Amazing value for money ... a place not to be missed in NYC!!!!

Great Meal, Great Price, Great Atmosphere

By vino2go50 |

Have been here 3 times over several trips to Manhattan. Always pleased. I especially like the upstairs area better than down stairs. Love the dumplings. Not had a bad choice here. Generous portions. Very friendly service. Really great prices and very close to several hotels I have stayed at.

High Quality and Fast!

By Hank H |

Beautiful interior, great menu! The staff is great, and even with a waiting line, it's pretty fast to get served. I'lll come back!

Very poor service

By Josiah B |

From the moment my group walked in we got the impression our server couldn't be bothered with us. She screwed up her face and was rude immediately. Our starters tasted amazing but we're just dumped on the table. We had put in our food order before they took our drinks order. Our server visited a table next to us to give them water everytime their water went down but didn't come back to our table with water once. 2 out of 4 mains arrived cold and the server got an attitude when we asked to send them back. When they arrived the food tasted great but the bad service really let's this place down. We removed the gratuity tip they put on our tab and the girl picked up the cheque and stormed off. When we asked to speak to a manager a gentleman was quite rude saying im not the manager email him he's not here and waved his hands for us to leave. I will not be visiting again.

Great Little Authentic Thai Restarant

By fowlesp |

Chai Thai Kitchen on 8th Ave was out "find" restaurant of New York. We stumbled upon this modest restaurant whilst roaming upper-midtown Following a warm welcome, I foud the service fast, but efficient. The food itself was of a good quality, reasonably priced, and excellent value for money. The restaurant is a little small but great to drop into (tables allowing)

Rude staff but Good quality / price ratio

By Iggyxii |

The place is nice and in the middle of NYC. Good place to stop on your way to time square or going to Central Park. The food is ok for the price payed. The service can be better. We were not treated the best way as they were very rude

Return visit

By Louiecap |

Had a quick dinner before the theater. The Pau Thai was great and the service was fast and efficient

Great MidTown Thai Food

By DStuartLodge |

My family stumbled upon Chai while trying to find a restaurant in the theater district on a Saturday night. We were seated immediately and found a menu with twists on many Thai favorites. Every dish we ordered was excellent - the ingredients were very fresh and the tastes savory.

Great place

By Peter O |

Friendly staff. Great meal. Good spicy and fresh. Perfect attentive service. Worth every buck 😎. Good place in the evening. We stayed here in the „Dinner rush hour“ And where satisfied with everything

Great Thai

By 727marco2 |

Wonderful Thai food at very reasonable prices. Good cocktails and spot on service. Cannot wait to go back soon!!!

Great Service, Lovely food

By Graeme C |

After a day being greeted with some of the worst customer service I have experienced anywhere in the world, this humble restaurant shone like a lone beacon of light in the surrounding darkness. The servers were attentive without being obtrusive and, unlike the cliched fakers seen elsewhere, showed empathy and genuine interest in us as customers. For the first time on our trip to the US I felt a tip was genuinely deserved and not just expected. The food was delicious and although not the best Thai food I have eaten, I would definitely go back for more.

Great value for your money in NYC

By DAVID J |

Can't really recommend a special dish, none stuck out above avarega but the bill in the end was a pleasant surprise, having paid the least for a NY dinner , wouldn't celebrate my wedding there but would go again for a meal, anytime!

Warm lunchspot

By EmJayBV |

We were a group of foodies and picky eaters - the diverse menu catered well for all tastes and they have come great lunch specials. Food is served hot and tasty by friendly and attentive staff.

Not to go back restaurant

By Prisca B |

My girlfriend and I were so hungry, unfortunately the food was not that good We had a papaya salad with an enormous quantity of garlic, the chicken was tasteless and my noodles average, ingredients not that fresh

Great Restaurant

By alplan |

Good food, great service and good value for money! We went as a group of six and just managed to get a table. Everyone had something different and we all thoroughly enjoyed our food. I had duck with the cashews which included rice; lots of meat and cashews. Would definitely return.

Dinner

By Andrew S |

Excellent food and quick service. Ordered massaman chicken curry with sticky rice and a beer. Came to $21.50 including 20% tip. Great value for fantastic food!

Pre Theatre meal

By Christopher M |

Excellent food and service. Very tasty dumplings and satay and also curries. Service was friendly and efficient. Would definitely recommend and return

Cute place - good food

By Jane O |

I enjoyed my dinner here - tasty food and nice ambiance. The servers were all pleasant and efficient and I would definitely return.

Good and tasty dinner

By 4birdsrg |

Had my dinner at Chai Resturante. Exellent service. Would recommend their Tom Kha Gai dish and Chiang Mai Noodle dish. The prices are fair. Will return back to the resturante.

Delicious Pad Thai & Good Prices

By TeamHouston2016 |

I'm so glad I came across this place. The pad thai was wonderful, and the prices are actually decent, and not just by NYC standards. The service is great. The staff is friendly and helpful. When I first walked into the small place, only 1 or 2 tables were taken. The next thing I know, the place is almost full. I definitely know why.

Fresh Classic Thai

By Tomer Zadok |

My third or fourth visit to this place. Very clean, fresh and othentic tastes of thai food. This time on the way I had papaya salad and phad thai shrimps. Very accurate cocking, very familiar tastes. There's plenty of other good dishes in this small restaurant. Very good.

Great food and service

By Navigate57554850179 |

Me and my husband visited here on our honeymoon trip and it did not disappoint. Great service and even better food with amazing flavors and choice. Highly recommend the shrimp dumplings.

Excellent Thai food

By wooski |

We decided to try this busy establishment after walking by earlier. We were seated fairly quickly and cash was only method of payment that night. The menu is not overly extensive but had many items that caught our eye. We started with the crab cakes, followed by chicken pad thai, seafood pad cha and sautéed eggplant with chili basil. It was all delicious. One shortfall was the seafood pad cha. There were only 2 shrimp and 2 mussels and a lot of calamari. The dish was slightly overcooked. All the dishes tasted great though. The actual menu in the restaurant is smaller than the one advertised online.

Good quality Thai food

By Greener123 |

Small Thai restaurant with authentic style cooking. We were staying just round the corner at the moderne and didn't want to venture far for dinner after a long day and lots of walking. We were seated quickly upstairs, tables may be a little close together. Chicken satay and corn fritters to start were good, satay could maybe have been served better as it was awkward to get the satay sauce thanks to the small bowl it came in. Mains of beef massamam and tofu pad Thai were large and filling, again the massamam could have been served better - large bowl of curry and only a small plate of rice, nowhere to mix the two together - not sure how else I was supposed to eat it. Good value as well by NYC standards

loves it

By Nicole B |

best thai food we ate so far 😍😍😍 vers nice place, very nice people, quiet and lovely 😍😍 loved the starters, thai dumplings, and the massaman is very good 😜😜😜

Consistently good

By Laura F |

I had not been here since 2015, during a trip to NYC. So happy I happened upon the place again! Always delicious food. Fast, courteous service. So good, we were here twice during this trip.

Very good

By Chris |

We decided to try this place on passing. We went in and had to wait a couple minutes to get a table as they had to clean it. The place was reasonably busy. We sat down and looked through the menu and ordered some water. We ordered satay and also peanut dumplings for starters. I ordered the green curry and rice. These came out quite quickly. All the food was really nice and would recommend them. The food and sauces tasted fresh and had flavour. The green curry wasn't overly spicy which was good. I would recommend this place, the staff seem friendly and the food is good.

By Caxou |

Discovered by chance, it was a very good surprise! Welcoming, flavors, quality and price....it's all there! Don't hesitate!

Don't leave till last...!

By Michael L |

Seriously I've eaten at some of the best restaurants in NYC on this trip, Ascent and also booked a month in advance for the Polo Bar. Chai beats them both..! If you're a foodie.........this is a MUST. Great price and fantastic food... unfortunately this is our last night here and wish we had found it on the first night....! Deffo give it a try, your taste buds will love you for it... Portion size is perfect for a starter and main and you won't be disappointed..! Enjoy..!

Unauthentic but still good

By Klara O |

We’ve had chicken satay and crispy duck rolls for appetizers. it was good but not outstanding. then we has green curry. the taste was good but it was so unauthentic. the chicken was grilled, not cooked (it was exactly the same as the satay), the vegetables were only peppers and bamboos. i’ve been to thailand for a long time and these ingredients are not the ones it is supposed to be. my husband had the crispy duck. it was decent too. BUT i have to say that the price is very fair. Cheapest dinner in NYC.

Superb food

By TravelBugN |

We ordered in some Thai food from this place and everything was superb. From the Edamame to the Sautéed Spicy Mushroom Medley, Eggplant and the Green Curry- everything was fabulous. I highly recommend the food at this place. And delivery timings were spot on!

Mind-blowing vegan food with great atmosphere

By Anni Heikkinen |

We had two incredible servings of vegan duck which completely blew me and my companion away! So tasty and no doubt one of the best meals we've had before in our lives. Even the veggie dumplings were really good! The overall ambience was friendly and harmonic.

Good Thai Meal & Not Too Loud But Small

By Robert B |

We had no reservation but scored a table for four. Seating was very tight. We were next to the staff and guest bathroom. The presentation of the food and taste was good. Portions were okay. Service was good. Split check was okay and credit card payment was no problem. Accommodating a wheelchair looks like it could be a problem due to tight quarters. Green curry dish was very good.

Very reasonable and Very good Thai Food

By geckoman68 |

This was close to our hotel so we thought we'd try it. I was amazed at how good the food was. I had the peanut dumplings and the Vegetarian Duck in Red Curry. Both were amazing. The service was quick, and the staff courteous. This is definitely a restaurant I will return to.

Great taste and good value

By Jenny G |

Favourite meal in New York. Plenty of flavour, good service, good portions! Having spent 4 nights and days in NY and having been underwhelmed by most meals was really pleased that we found this delight!

Friendly staff, cozy setting and Wonderful food!

By allnamestakengeez |

I had a lovely meal here dining alone in New York recently. I found this restaurant an easy walk from my hotel on 7th and 55th. I was greeted immediately by friendly staff. I ordered soup, peanut dumplings appetizer ( never had these or even seen them before) they were delicious, then I had a beautiful green curry and Thai Tea. It was a very good meal and I recommend this restaurant. The curry can be pretty hot so be ready for that. Soup, appetizer, Tea and entree was only $25.00 ( I did have tofu and not meat in my dishes) I will tell you that the vast majority of the menu is meat. I requested tofu and it was no problem to substitute. Thank you to the sweet girls who tended to me.

Delicious Thai food!

By mehjgmty |

Great food and service at a very reasonable price for the location! We tried a variety of dishes including dessert and were happy with it all.

Oasis of Tranquility

By Mark F |

Good value, great atmosphere and excellent food. Ate there on the first evening of our visit and returned there the night before we left. Highly recommended.

Quality AND value.

By James S |

This pleasant and relaxed restaurant is located within a few minutes walking distance of several Broadway theaters. The service is quick and friendly. The food is not over-priced and is quite good. All the ingredients were quite fresh and delicious. From a price/value standpoint, this cannot be beat in Midtown Manhattan.

Good service, average food, good quality

By JohnXos |

We had a nice dinner of 2, although the flavors of the food was average. My portion of fried noodles was really big, but it has intense flavor of garlic! Soups and shrimps with ginger were just good. Prices were resonable for NYC standards: about 50$ for 2 soups, 1 appetizer, 2 noodles and 1 beer.

Excellent meal at a reasonable price

By Edward P |

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn over the weekend. We were looking for a good but reasonably priced restaurant and the hotel suggested Thai Chai Kitchen. We were very happy with the suggestion. We ate on the first floor but there appeared to be an upstairs as well. The main floor was small but not too small. The food was excellent and the prices were very, very reasonable - especially for NYC prices. I would highly recommend Thai Chai Kitchen.

Great quality standard Thai

By wahoowahey |

Great quality standard Thai fare, will keep coming back and back, everything on the menu is great, work your way through it

Great Thai food

By Crusty1967 |

Decent Thai food and very reasonable prices. Tempura prawns and fried squid to start which came at separate times (only seems to happen in Thai restaurants) both delicious. Then yellow curry and a prawn dish off the specials I can’t remember the name of, both also excellent. Cosy warm environment and friendly attentive waiting staff.

Love the Food!

By Shawn R |

The food was so good that I came back! Love the sweet corn fritters. Fried just right! The first time I came, I had the Pad See Ewe. It was very good. The second time, I had Pad Thai and it was just as good. Definitely may come a third time!

Loved it!

By Klyscc55 |

Great place, absolutely loved it! So tasty , good portions and very good price for New York prices. Lots of different options so much to choose from Would recommend

Delicious, Light, Generous Portions

By Kac |

We stopped in midtown for a bite to eat after shopping. The sake selections were awesome and described by taste. We were delighted with our choice as well as the meal. The noodles tasted fresh and the shrimp was generous for the dish. Portions were great. Could easily feed two. Everything was made to perfection and the staff was terrific. Place is always packed which is an excellent sign. Can't wait to go back. Yummy.

Lovely, informal restaurant, great food and prices.

By Stephen R |

We visited this restaurant twice during our stay in Manhattan. We had two great meals, and had great service both times. The food was fresh and tatty, and great value. Highly recommended.

Good

By Kangoojt |

Stopped of her on way home for something to eat great food vegetable spring rolls followed by duck with basil amazing partner had chicken coconut soup followed by chicken green curry delicious with bottle of wine 56dollars great value had here

Best Thai food I had after Thailand

By Mariana1405 |

We stopped in this little place to take a break from 5+ hours of waking and have a (very) late lunch! What a great choice it was!!! The restaurant is small and quiet, and the food was delicious! We’ve been to Thailand and we know how Thai food should taste and this place nails it! We had some PadThai with chicken and veggies - yes, they basically accommodated our tastes, the shrimp dim sums and a “popular” dish with grilled chicken and rice! Everything tasted great!!! Will definitely come back!

Good Thai food and service

By datadch |

Love coming here when I'm in Manhattan. Nothing really special about the restaurant but the food is generally good. I love the veggie spring rolls, tempura shrimp, but my favorite is the red curry. So delicious and always super hot (temp). My only complaint from my last visit was that they served my meal in a bowl that was clearly broken, which made me wonder why someone would serve it instead of taking it back and putting in a non broken bowl. Otherwise, good choice for cheap thai food.

Lunchtime- dissatisfaction

By Moni |

I was super excited to try this restaurant however it was super disappointing. Waited 30 mins for a appetizer & there is only one other table dining at the time . Never received my food . Never even was offered water. I just wanted dumplings and they did not deliver. The young lady only notice me because I was walking out . The only thing she could as is sorry . Thats nice however being that the service was piss poor , maybe you should have invited me back due to having a bad experience. I would’ve paid full price. However they have took great care of the Asian family in the back of the restaurant. I would love to experience the same service intensiveness.

Majorly disappointing

By Simonas2702 |

After passing in the day we travelled in the evening for a meal. We were seated straight away and ordered starters and mains. The food was average anyway not the worst but average. The trouble was as we’re eating starters which cane within a minute if ordering the mains came out too. It must us laugh at first it was so bizarre but we literally spent about 20 mins on there yet wanted a proper meal. Gutted I wasted one of my meals in NYC here Ridiculous way to run a restaurant

Very nice experience

By GuyT |

Nice restaurant with a lot of ambience. The dishes were looking very good. The taste was there no doubt. Full of flavours. Portion were right, not too much, just the perfect size. The service has been efficient and friendly. A lot of person walked in and many asiatic persons. To me this tells a lot on the quality this place serves.

Great food at reasonable prices

By Msanne123 |

We really love the Thai food here. This was our 2nd time here and we even ordered to go to bring back home! A four hour drive! N5 is awesome. #22 was a big hit too! We also had the spring rolls and I think number 41 or 42. Add a bottle of wine for $24! $80 for three of us including the wine! We will be back. ❤

Great After-Theater Dinner!

By Michelle V |

Stumbled upon this restaurant after a Broadway Play and decided to give it a try. It was great! The toasted corn fritters were so delicious and the egg rolls were good too. We also had chicken ka-pow and pad Thai. Everything was really tasty and I’d recommend to anyone in the area!

Very good

By Uranio Radioattivo |

Nice place and friendly staff. Well-kept dishes of Thai cuisine. All in all honest prices. Recommendation to those who like this type of cuisine.

Excellent value for money

By Omar Q |

Great service - we were seated within 5 mins - while waiting for the food they asked us if we could switch to another table (which had ample room for our party of 4) to accommodate a bigger group and they gave us complimentary beverages for that - the food was good and with ample servings - very affordable for an NYC restaurant - the chicken green curry was delicious and is highly recommended

Enjoyable visit

By lola-lms |

We were staying in the moderne hotel the the same block as chai Thai and decided to visit the restaurant after passing and it looked busy. The food was great and very reasonable in price. If staying local we'd visit again.

Small, friendly and great food

By Melissa C |

Found this cute Thai restaurant that was small and cozy. Service was friendly and welcoming. Food came out quick and was yummy. Summer rolls were delicious, as well as pad Thai and steamed veggies. Nice option for a GF person

Worth a Visit

By ReeceLiang |

Good Thai food with a creative and authentic twist. My food was better than average and the price was reasonable. Would recommend this place if you live in New York and are looking to try a new restaurant

Very affordable, especially for NYC. Healthy too!

By Jennifer K |

While many restaurants in the area were full on 12/29, we were able to get into Chai Thai Kitchen because we had cash. (Restaurant was cash-only that night). The interior is painted black with indirect, subtle lighting and large chandeliers. It was SO relaxing after dealing with enormous crowds in Times Square and Rockefeller Center. We all wished we had a room in our house like this to relax after work/school! Although there is no children's menu, our 10 and 12 year old kids were able to find dishes they liked on the menu. (She had Pad Thai. He had Shrimp Tempura). I adored the Sauteed Spicy Mushroom Medley (comes with green beans). With sticky rice, it was enough to feel full without over-eating. My husband wasn't thrilled with his BBQ Beef (too mild), but it was well prepared, and he appreciated the chance to eat a healthy, affordable meal. We would go again, with kids, and cash in hand.

Dinner before show

By Ollie J |

The service and the food was very good. The prices were very reasonable. I had the grilled pork which was very good. I would definitely go back.

Great Lunch Near the Theater District

By charisma2015 |

We had lunch at Chai Thai - we were in the city to see a Broadway matinee. There was a lunch special for just under $10. I ordered the Pad Khing with chicken; the special includes a salad or spring roll. The food and service were good. It got crowded so it is a popular spot -- would definitely recommend if you are looking for a reasonable and good lunch while in the city.

Great food, reasonable prices, all in N.Y.C.

By Robert D |

On a recent visit to N.Y.C. to see our daughter we wanted to find a place close to Columbus Circle and after consulting Trip Advisor, thought why not try Chai. Although the restaurant is a bit small, it provided enough seating for small or larger parties. After a hiccup regarding our order (it appeared that our waitress forgot to put in our appetizer order), we were please with the quality and portions of our food. The waitress did attempt to make up for the mixup by giving us free coffee, which did hit the spot. Overall, a great place to try out if you are in the Time Square or Columbus park area.

excellent thai

By DIAMIR1 |

Delicious Thai food, very well seasoned and spicy, nothing too much. Discreet and efficient service. The prices are very reasonable for a restaurant in the center of New York. Not to be missed for lovers of Thai cuisine.

Thai best restaurant in midtown with clean and comfortable.

By Miumiu M |

“One of my favorite places in New York. The must-try dish is the Chicken Satay, which is served with two types of sauces. Another great option is Tom Kha Kai, a Thai soup with coconut milk and chicken. It’s slightly spicy but not too overwhelming. I also love the atmosphere—cozy, clean and comfortable. The waitresses are very friendly and always attentive.”

Great lunch

By C K |

We stumbled across this small establishment and decided to try it for lunch. We had the Red curry and pad chai, and both were very tasty and reasonably priced. Good service and nice atmosphere.

Walk on By - Nothing to See or Taste

By traveljuggernaut |

Dropped in on a rainy Sunday around lunch. I had the Larb and my wife had the Pad Thai. Average. Nothing more. Pad Thai was dry and Larb also lacked moisture.

Absolutely delicious food

By Clint A |

We discovered this place almost by accident but so glad we did. We were running late for a show the first night we went but enjoyed it so much we returned a couple of nights later. the Dim Sums with plum dipping sauce is to die for!!

Tasteless food

By Monica M |

I ordered a Pad Thai with shrimp and it was the worst Pad Thai I have ever eaten. It was tasteless, dry, and very poorly served. Not worth the money I paid for it.

Lovely food

By 66Gisella |

Ver quick service, good range on the menu, tasty Thai food. Well presented, lovely decor and efficient staff.

Solid Choice for Thai Food

By Matthew Q |

There are a ton of restaurants in this part of Manhattan, some good, some not so good. So it's nice to find Chai Thai Kitchen that serves really good Thai Food. It's located at 8th Avenue and 55th Street so can be a nice alternative to a, before theater meal. They have some seating downstairs and more tables on a second floor level, so tables are usually available. The menu offers the classic Thai dishes. We had a Green Vegetable Curry and Pad Thai. Both were excellent. Prices are average for this part of town.

Best Thai Food

By dom&jess |

We went to Chai Thai for dinner and were very impressed. The service was excellent and meals were served promptly. I had the Tom Kai Gha soup for an appetiser and it was the best I’ve ever had. My husband had the duck spring rolls which he said were excellent. Main courses were just as good. We just wish we had found this lovely little restaurant earlier so we would have had the chance to go again and try some different dishes. Prices are very reasonable too.

OK but not great

By smokeater55 |

Had just been to Lincoln Center and as you can't get a cab after a show lets out, we were walking down 8th Ave and I was looking at Google for options. With a call ahead they told us they would hold a table. So happy as the place is small. I had to get up from my chair just to change my mind. Table next to us had a couple of millennials speed dating and I felt I could see where it was going... The two top we had was so small it was great when they departed that we could use the other table to hold our extra plates. Singha was not as cold at it should be. She got Sweet Corn Fritters that had very fresh corn and I'd think tasted more southern US VS. Thai but the curry paste was good and it was a unique dish. Slow cooked Pork was huge and cheap but a tad hard to eat, it was on the bone and had a lot of sauce; OK I guess but I'd not get again. Duck Basil was HUGE also and had a lot of flavor also a bit hard to manage on the small table till the other two top opened up. She got Chiang Mai Noodle that had chicken curry and was a little too crispy; also a huge dish. No doubt you get a lot of food for the dollar here.

Great Value

By Natalie2 |

We went without reservations on a Saturday night and were seated immediately. Service was prompt and food was served quickly. The food was very good and super reasonably priced. This is the perfect restaurant for good food without the fuss.

Nicely priced & delicous Thai

By Erica T |

Although busy we only had to wait like 5 minutes on a Sunday night. For starters we had shrimp dumplings, summer rolls and satay. The food arrived fast and to our surprise the mains were served at the same time. As mains we had the crispy pork with broccolli sauce and the sizzling pork shoulder. All food was delicious! And the good thing is that for New York it's nicely priced... so if you're in the neighbourhood you can definitely check this out. 🙂

Good Thai food, reasonably priced

By williedillo |

Restaurant serves a good variety of Thai dishes. Prices were quite reasonable, especially for midtown Manhattan. Everything that our party had was very good, especially the duck dumplings. Service was very prompt. Only negatives were that they tacked on a service charge for a party of 5 and that the staff was rushing us to leave when we were finished.

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IN NYC

By Robert H |

Take only good friends here who are experienced world travelers, they will love it. Tiny little authentic Thai that will rock you with their $4 Tom Kai Guy soup and other ridiculously low priced offerings. This is NOT fine dining, but the best Thai you may find in the city. Many of the customers are Thai, all of the cooks and servers are Thai, and of course fine presentation just doesn’t exist. Exactly like the little places on side streets in Bangkok or Chang Mai. We loved it. A hidden gem.

Awful experience

By Anita M |

Just ate here with my partner this evening. Probably the worst Thai food I have eaten and definitely the worst meal of our 10 day holiday in New York. Tom yum soup nothing like authentic Thai soup, we have holidayed in Thailand over a dozen times so have sampled their soup on many occasions as it is a favourite of mine. Crispy duck was lumps of undercooked fat around the meat. When I quietly complained I was told that was how it was. On my insistence it was taken away and brought back burnt and barely edible. I left most of the meal. No one seemed to care. Avoid this place like the plague.

Amazing good food, extreme

By Horacio Franco |

Amazing good food, extreme good quality of everything and also fantastic attentive and kind personal! Prices extremely reasonable and great decoration

Cute place, food okay

By Valerie G |

We walked by this place on our way back to our hotel one night and were caught by the décor looking in from the outside and the menu posted out front. We vowed to give it a try on our last night in the city which we did. We were seated upstairs. It is a really cute space. Our waitress was efficient but not at all friendly. More business-like. My hubby and I shared the sweet corn fritters which we both liked and would recommend. I then had the Pad Sea Eiw with shrimp. It lacked flavor and was really just okay to me. My husband had the fried red snapper. He said it was good but nothing over the top. There is not much of wine or cocktail list here. For me this is a nice enough casual place for a leisurely bite. I wouldn't give it top marks but if you are looking for simple Thai food in a casual setting then this would fit the bill.

Good Food

By gsxr |

While not the best Thai food, everything was very good. Especially enjoyed the Tom yam and spicy beef salad. Service was courteous. Prices for Manhattan are decent and surprised me.

Wonderful Food/ Need to think about alternative cleaning products

By TiffanyMS8 |

I went to dinner here solo while at business meetings all week. Let me just say- I LOVE the food. I would go back a million times more. That said, the entire place smelled strongly of bleach. I know since the pandemic, many people are cleaning with strong substances, but it really overpowers the lovely ambiance of the sweet little place. They need to consider cleaning with something that is disinfectant and not that potent of bleach. It takes away from the experience of the food. I thought it was maybe a one -off day. So - I actually went twice - because again- loved the food. But no- it was worse the second time so I gathered myself up and took food left to go. There are many cleaners out now that restaurants are using instead of strong smelling chlorox type products- they need to check out something as an alternative. With many people also sensitive to substances and chemicals these days and the negative side effects, it would be a good change. Really- it would be amazing to just smell the food while eating there:)

Delicious!

By Donna C |

Husband & I had late lunch here last week, very delicious food. He had Chicken Pad Thai & I had Rice w/pineapple & chicken & also Tom Kha Gai Soup (best ever). Service was quick. We will definitely return.

A must visit- delicious food, wonderful place

By Raluca L |

I discovered by chance this wonderful restaurant, two days before leaving New York. I immediately regretted planning the Central Park visit for the end of my vacation. (The location of the restaurant is also great, close to Central Park, Times Square and Theatres District). The place itself is beautiful and cosy and has a great atmosphere. The food is so good, that I returned next day with my friend to eat again no. 24 on the Sea Food section: Choo-Chee Goong and to take some pictures for this review. I will certainly return there to try other dishes and to eat again this mouth watering, amazing red curry with shrimps and coconut milk. It’s a perfect recipe! I guess it also contains tarragon- brilliant touch! Well balanced, rich, a festival of flavors! Creamy, spicy and fresh! The tea was also surprisingly delicious. I highly recommend the place.

Great reasonable find...

By Ellen |

We visited recently and found the food and the service to be very good. The menu offered a nice selection. We ordered the beef barbecue and the cashew chicken, and the portion sizes were decent and both were very flavorful. The service was prompt and attentive. Only draw back was cash only, but the prices were so reasonable even that wasn't an issue. Will definitely be back.

Wow- small but mighty!

By Eric S |

The restaurant is small, with extra tables upstairs with more than adequate decor in Thai style- staff is extremely friendly and helpful, really seem to want you have a great meal and a good time- the food was better than expected!! Try the Thai peanut dumplings as appetizer! The Maasamman curry was probably the best I’ve had in years- superb flavor, spiced just right, and plenty of chicken, red onions, potatoes and peanuts - a full serving for sure even before the accompanying sticky rice—- You have to try it-the owner/manager really cares and she’s hands on- They have a very reasonably priced wine list and Asian beers available to complement the various Asian food options available- highly recommended- and I’ll return for sure my next time in Manhattan!

Fantastic meal

By Kevin F |

We decided to go here after our friends recommended the restaurant to us. We were not disappointed. We had three different starters and I think the crispy duck with cashews was brilliant. I asked if I could have a curry off menu as I like it hot and nothing was too much issue. The service was prompt and the sticky rice was again perfect. Overall if your looking for reasonable prices but good quality then come here

Delicious meal and nice ambiance

By Eddie Zoolander |

I had the shrimp Pad Thai and it was my second time eating this here and still as delicious as the first time. My partner had Tum yum shrimp soup and he loved it. We had the peanut dumplings for appetizer and enjoyed them a lot! Our meal took about 30 mins to arrive thou it was not super busy, this is the reason for the 4 star review. Otherwise it was a really good experience.

BEST THAI IN NYC!!!

By Márcio P |

THE BEST THAI IN NYC!!!! Wonderful cocktails and perfect food. They make more than the obvious. Good location, beautiful place and good value for money. Nice crew, too.

5 star experience

By Tiia |

Had a great experience here. Staff was super friendly and food was excelent! Maybe gonna visit another time here in my vacay, cos it was so delisious! Even the restaurant was full, we didn't have to wait long for the food. 5 stars for this restaurant.

Lunch!

By vivimero |

8,95 for a food thai lunch With a good pad thai or green curry.we went there three years ago too and loved it so We came back. Thumb up! I love it

Good food, but very bad customer service! Awful lunch experience

By Beth Moore |

I just had one of the worst restaurant customer service experiences ever. I took my department (5 of us total) out to lunch to reward them for a job well done. We each ordered our entrees and two appetizers for the table. Three of the entrees came out first. That's fine. No big deal. Then one of the two appetizers. But the missing entrees for two of my colleagues did not arrive. After 5 minutes, I alerted the server who apologized and ran off to check on them. 10 minutes passed. 15 minutes. I asked again. Another server said she would check. Several tables around us were getting their food. Generally when there is a mix up in the kitchen, they quickly correct it and get the food out. It took 30 minutes to get the two missing entrees. By that time the two missing entrees arrived, the rest of our food was cold (as we were trying to be polite and not eat in front of them) AND we had to hurry and eat so that we could get back to work. We had to ask twice about the missing appetizer which came even later. When we asked for the bill, I assumed they would have at least comped the two very late entrees. Instead they offered us all complimentary Thai tea. What??! First of all, that's not a reasonable fix for the bad service, and second, we were ready to leave. Why would they offer us Thai tea NOW and not earlier when we were waiting on the food? To add insult to the situation, they pre-charged us 18% tip on our bill. Because it was a happy day for us and I did not want to cause I scene, I paid the bill and we left. We paid for cold food because we had to wait and then practically beg several times for our missing food AND we got charged an 18% tip. Are you kidding me? The servers involved deserved no tip. They should have called over a manager to rectify the situation. This was a terrible experience and these servers did not care or were completely not empowered to make things right. I won't be back.

Great Midtown Thai food

By Digant V |

Nice little Thai place placed in the Corner of 8th & W55th. Went there for a business lunch and service was prompt. Food was good and well presented, with great quick service. I would say the price is reasonable for mid-town restaurant.

Inedible

By Thomas A |

I visited this restaurant with my partner on a holiday to NYC and thought I had found a gem. However, my partners food was completely inedible and tasted like microwave food to the point she ended up having a subway after. The starters came out with the mains which left the mains to go cold. The satays for starters were like jelly and appeared undercooked. The waitress with the short hair was extremely rude in the restaurant and did not leave me feeling like a customer. The only positive of this restaurant was that the Coca Cola came with a slice of lemon. Overall, I would definitely avoid this place.

Pre show lunch

By NJBeachCruiser |

Food was tasty. Drinks were a bit overpriced. We shared pad Thai and some appetizers. Food was tasty very affordable, especially for NUC. Would definitely go back for dinner and order entrees.

Excellent flavor, should’ve asked for a little more spice in the spicy dishes

By timmerfish |

Loved the tom kha Kai soup and veggie peanut dumplings. Tried a new dish here, khi moa, and was as described but prefer more flavor and spice so will try another dish next time. Will definitely return!

Very tasty

By Mike E |

Just grabbing a late dinner and saw this place near our hotel. Simple place, friendly staff, and our food was tasty. Hit the spot, and only a couple $$ more than our favorite Thai place in Dallas.

A welcome refuge

By dartmoor-pony |

On a wet evening this was just perfect. A warm bowl of duck noodle soup hit the spot and was delicious. Staff were super friendly and would definitely return.

Chai Thai Kitchen is a New Discovey

By stardustdrive |

I found the Chai Thai Kitchen on a new restaurant reservation app. Never eaten here before, my friend and I discovered the unique eclectic Southeast Asia menu to include many specialties rarely found in a Thai restaurant. We started with Beer Lao from Laos and Vietnamese Ice Coffee and shared three delicious dishes -- Summer Rolls, Vietnamese Chicken, Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Lad Prick. Each dish was served with fresh ingredients and served in a sumptuous presentation. Service was accommodating and gracious.

Very disappointing, do not recommend

By bluebird343 |

We were very disappointed by this restaurant. Not only did the food not taste good, it was also far from fresh and it felt as though a lot of the food had been prepared way before and was simply reheated for us. None of the food that arrived was hot, all luke warm which was unpleasant. Poor choice of music and service was mediocre. We had to ask for a discount. Overall very bad quality to price.

Delightful

By Jodie T |

This was by far our best meal in NYC. The menu is fantastic and has do much choice. The drinks are reasonably priced as is the food! You really cant go wrong here. I had chicken satay followed by pad thai with shrimp. Amazing. We discovered this place on our last night otherwise i think we would have eaten here all week!

Not Great

By Kjfa15 |

We love Thai food and try every Thai restaurant we can when possible. We had actually eaten here 2 years ago when visiting NYC. This time was different than the first visit. First of all they messed up my husband's order. He asked for Chicken Pad Thai. They brought him beef Pad Thai. The beef was tough and did not have any flavor. I got Musamaan Curry - chicken. It was ok. We also ordered the corn fritter as an appetizer but it was not good. Needless to say we will not visit this restaurant again.

Great experience

By Katherine Sampson |

We had a really enjoyable meal at Chai. The service was so pleasant and responsive. The food was great. Decor is gorgeous too. Overall I would definitely recommend.

Good Food but the Worst Customer Service of Any NYC Restaurant

By Keke L |

After seeing the movie, "Love Gilda," my friend Marta and I strolled the sidewalks of 8th Avenue looking for just the right spot to dine. She wanted soft lighting, while I needed vegetarian options. The soft lighting quickly became something I looked for too, since some establishments were way to bright and lit up for the evening hours. We walked, read a few menus, looked into Windows and even went around a corner to check out a few places. We decided to head back to Chao Tai Kitchen. We walk into a packed ground floor room with no one to greet us, seat us or for us to question. We stood there looking around, looking for a place to sit and wondering if we should seat our selves. About 3 or 4 minutes later, a customer and his party walked down the stairs. He told us there was much more seating upstairs. I asked if we needed to be seated he said, "yes," I asked where are the people to seat us, he stated "they are upstairs." If it were not for this family, who by the way was from Germany, telling us what to do and that the food was good, we would have left. Upstairs there was much more room and less patrons. The male hostess, tall, Asian, black glasses did not appear very inviting. No smile, no welcome, not anything. In fact, I had to get his attention and tell him I needed seating for two. Then, we order. I ordered the Vegetarian Duck. The waitress tells me since I ordered the Vegetarian Duck she wanted to know if I was Vegan because the duck has a fish sauce on it. I told her I appreciated that. I asked if I could get the duck without the fish sauce, she said "no." I asked if there was another duck dish I could order instead, she again responded with,"no," and preceeded to get me a menu. I open it and find a duck dish with a basil sauce and a duck dish with garlic sauce. She obviously did not know about them. Food comes, everything is great, looks great and taste great. We are comfortable. There is not a lot of movement or loud talking. The pace of the restaurant is nice. The soft country music playing is at the perfect volume. I'm loving things right now. UNTIL, I get up to go to the restroom and am stopped and blocked by the waitress who says I can not use it. She stated the upstairs would be closing soon and I would have to go downstairs. Ok, so, you're closing soon but, you're not closed right now. I just need to use the restroom really quickly, she refused me the opportunity to use the restroom. Marta asked if it was out of service or did something happen because she had used it upon our arrival and I had washed my hands before eating. Well, the woman never answered Marta. We gathered our coats, hats, pocket books, umbrellas and went downstairs. There was someone in the restroom on the lower level, and someone waiting, with me joining the line near the woman waiting I literally was standing with my rear end facing the woman who was eating her food at the table behind me. The waiting area is too small for the amount of traffic there. You're just in the way. We left the restaurant. Unable to use the restroom I had to hold it for an hour and a half. The food was great. For appetizers I had the Corn Fritters, Curry Puffs and Vegetable Spring Rolls. The customer service though is the worst of any New York City Restaurant that I have been to. I will not say ever, but for a long, long time. You/I just do not experience such poor service, especially not to this degree. For service I give them 2** and for food 4****

Reasonably priced food

By Richard M |

Small restaurant just below Columbus Circle. Tight space, but the food was tasty and reasonably priced.

Good Thai in Midtown

By AndreasCS |

As I wasn't really overwhelmed regarding Sushi in New York, I tried this Thai and I wasn't disappointed ! I had Tom Kha Gai, some dumplings (with peanut) and Pad Thai. The Pad Thai was a little bit different than I know, but nevertheless delicious. I can really recommend this restaurant, the service was very good !

Great experience

By Michael J.P. |

I came with friends while in Midtown and had a great experience starting at the entrance. The restaurant itself was beautiful and cozy. They were a cash-only venue but they had an ATM inside, along with nearby banks. The staff was very kind and attentive, and were very helpful. The main dish I had ordered was prepared beautifully, but it tasted differently than what I had expected. The waiter had no issue making another suggestion to replace the dish for me.

Decent food at VERY reasonable prices

By Mark S |

I was on a business trip and spotted this place and thought I'd give it a try. Service was friendly and efficient. I had a fish cake appetizer that was all right. I had khi Mao noodles with chicken which was pretty good, but it was nowhere near as spicy as I expected. In retrospect I should have asked for some sauce to add to take it up a few notches. Thai iced coffee was great. One thing I was surprised about was how reasonably priced everything was. It was definitely a great value.

Cozy atmosphere and fantastic food

By mhershey |

We love Thai food and were very impressed with this place! We sat on the main floor, and there are many more tables upstairs. The Green Curry Chicken tasted fresh and flavorful, and the Chicken Satay was also terrific. Friendly service too, and we were able to walk right in on a Friday night around 6 pm.