A good bowl of khao soi in New York shouldn't require a reservation booked three weeks out, but at the city's best Thai restaurants, it often does. Between them, the five spots on this list have logged more than 34,000 Google reviews, and not one sits below a 4.7. That kind of consistency across Midtown, the East Village, and the Flatiron says more about the current state of Thai food in New York than any single tasting menu could.
Short answer: Mitr Thai Restaurant tops the list at 4.9 stars across 10,029 reviews, a fine-dining spot in Midtown known for consistency even during the dinner rush. Close behind is LumLum (4.9, 5,182 reviews) in Hell's Kitchen for grilled river prawn and crying tiger steak, and Soothr (4.8, 7,287 reviews) in the East Village for family noodle recipes and a Bangkok street-food vibe. Expect to spend $15-25 at lunch and $40-100+ for a full dinner with drinks.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days
Mitr Thai Restaurant
4.9★★★★★10,029 Google reviews
Mitr Thai Restaurant is a fine-dining Thai spot in Midtown Manhattan, a few blocks from Bryant Park. The restaurant describes itself as focused on high-quality ingredients and atmosphere over quick turnover, and it runs a full cocktail program alongside a signature and seasonal menu. It's open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with later seatings on Friday and Saturday. Reviewers consistently mention the modern, upscale room as much as the food itself.
What people praise
- Consistently praised for authentic, well-balanced Thai flavors
- Modern, welcoming atmosphere for date nights and group dinners
- Staff make specific dish recommendations, including for dietary restrictions
- Vegetarian menu section clearly offered
Worth knowing
- Reservations recommended, especially on weekends
- One reviewer flagged inconsistent front-of-house warmth on busier nights
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume10,029 · 98th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Mitr earns the top spot on both volume and rating, over 10,000 reviews at 4.9 stars, which is a rare combination at this price point. If you want the safest bet for a special dinner, this is it.
📍37 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
#2🕑 Open 7 days
Soothr
4.8★★★★★7,287 Google reviews
Soothr is a Thai noodle bar in the East Village built around family recipes from founders who grew up in different regions of Thailand. The menu leans into home-style noodle dishes alongside a rotating chef's-special menu, and the room is designed to evoke Bangkok street food with a modern finish. It's popular enough to host guest-chef collaboration dinners. Reviewers describe the space as lively and sometimes loud, which fits the concept.
What people praise
- Praised for creative, gemstone-themed cocktails
- Panang duck lychee and khao soi called out repeatedly as standouts
- Efficient service even during peak hours
Worth knowing
- Portion sizes run smaller than typical American plates, by design
- Noise level can be high during dinner rush
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume7,287 · 88th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown88% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Soothr's 7,287 reviews at 4.8 stars make it the second-most-reviewed name on this list. It's the pick if you want something more casual and energetic than a white-tablecloth night out.
📍204 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003
#3🕑 Open 7 days
Thai Villa
4.7★★★★★7,785 Google reviews
Thai Villa, near Union Square, specializes in dishes originally prepared for Thai royalty alongside the familiar pad Thai and tom yum. The restaurant limits reservations to complete parties and caps groups at 12 without a private buy-out of the space, which points to a kitchen built for quality control over volume. It's been serving the neighborhood with both classic and lesser-known regional dishes for years.
What people praise
- Ambiance described as elegant and well-suited to date nights
- Duck chuchee and Royal Pad Thai singled out by multiple reviewers
- Attentive table service, with staff remembering repeat guests
Worth knowing
- Seating capped at 6 without advance arrangement for larger groups
- A 10-minute grace period on reservations before tables are released
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume7,785 · 93rd
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown80% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Thai Villa holds 7,785 reviews at 4.7, the largest review volume on this page. The rating sits a touch below the top two, but the royal-cuisine angle makes it the most distinctive menu here.
📍5 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003
#4🕑 Open 7 days
LumLum
4.9★★★★★5,182 Google reviews
LumLum is a Thai seafood and grill restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, known for charcoal-grilled river prawn and its crying tiger steak. The bamboo-paneled bar area gets specific praise as a comfortable spot for solo diners, not just an overflow seating zone. It's open for lunch and dinner daily, with extended hours on Saturday.
What people praise
- Charcoal-grilled dishes called out as a standout, not an afterthought
- Comfortable, well-designed bar seating for solo diners
- Coconut ice cream dessert mentioned by name in multiple reviews
Worth knowing
- Vegetarian selection is more limited than some competitors on this list
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume5,182 · 83rd
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown92% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: LumLum ties Mitr for the highest rating on this page at 4.9, though on a smaller base of 5,182 reviews. If you're eating solo or want the grill program specifically, this is the one to try.
📍404 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
#5🕑 Open 7 days
Hey Thai
4.8★★★★★3,864 Google reviews
Hey Thai serves the Financial District with a full lunch-special program that reviewers repeatedly call good value, plus a dinner menu and bar. It's the only spot on this list also tagged as a bar on Google, and it draws a strong lunchtime crowd from the neighborhood's office towers. The restaurant also gets specific mentions for a large vegetarian and vegan selection.
What people praise
- Lunch specials, often quoted around $16, called out as generous and well-priced
- Large vegetarian and vegan menu section
- Staff clearly communicate which dishes are vegan on request
Worth knowing
- One detailed negative review describes an inconsistent meal despite the high average rating
- Limited street parking near the Financial District location
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume3,864 · 78th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown90% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Hey Thai has the smallest review base here at 3,864, but still holds a 4.8. It's the practical pick for a Financial District lunch rather than a destination dinner.
📍127 John St, New York, NY 10038
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Claim this spot › How we rank these
We score every restaurant on its live Google rating, how many customers have actually left a review, how recently people are still reviewing it, and how complete its public listing is (website, phone, hours). Confidence weights the star rating against review volume, so a 4.9 built on 10,000 reviews counts for more than a 4.9 built on 40. No restaurant can pay to change these numbers.
How much does Thai food cost in New York? (2026)
Prices track what’s actually posted in reviewer highlights across these five restaurants. Lunch specials run cheapest; a full dinner with drinks and appetizers climbs fast, especially at the fine-dining end.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|
| Lunch special (entree + soup or salad) | $10 - $20 |
| Dinner entree, casual spot | $20 - $50 |
| Full dinner with drinks, fine dining | $60 - $100+ |
Ranges compiled August 2026 from reviewer-reported price-per-person data on Google Reviews across the five restaurants listed here.
Serving all of New York
These five span a real cross-section of Manhattan: Midtown near Bryant Park, the East Village, the Flatiron/Union Square area, Hell’s Kitchen, and the Financial District. Wherever you’re starting from in Manhattan, one of these is a short subway ride away, and several take walk-ins outside peak dinner hours if you’d rather skip the reservation scramble.
What to know before you book a Thai restaurant in New York
- Do they take walk-ins, or is a reservation required for your party size?
- What’s the spice scale, and can dishes be adjusted for your tolerance?
- Is there a dedicated vegetarian or vegan menu section?
- What’s included in the lunch special, and what are the hours it’s offered?
- Is there a minimum seating time or party-size cap during peak hours?
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings paid?
No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.
How did you choose these Thai restaurants?
We pulled every Thai restaurant in New York with a meaningful Google review base, then ranked by real rating, review volume, and how recently people are still reviewing.
How often is this updated?
This page was last verified in August 2026 using live Google data. We recheck ratings and review counts periodically to keep it current.
What’s the best Thai restaurant in New York for a special occasion?
Mitr Thai Restaurant tops the list at 4.9 stars across over 10,000 reviews and is built for a fine-dining night out. Thai Villa’s royal-cuisine menu is another strong pick for a memorable dinner.
Which spot is best for a quick, affordable lunch?
Hey Thai in the Financial District gets consistent praise for its lunch specials, which reviewers describe as generous for the price.
Do any of these restaurants have good vegetarian or vegan options?
Hey Thai stands out for a large, clearly labeled vegan and vegetarian menu. Mitr Thai and LumLum also offer vegetarian sections.
The bottom line
For a safe, well-reviewed night out, Mitr Thai Restaurant is the default pick at 4.9 stars across more than 10,000 reviews. Book ahead regardless of which of these five you choose. Weekend dinner slots at all of them fill up fast, and a same-day reservation is the exception, not the rule.
