Narkara NYC: Discover Authentic Northern Thai Fine Dining in Union Square

Narkara Introduce

For New Yorkers seeking an elevated and genuinely distinctive Thai culinary experience, Narkara in the vibrant Union Square neighborhood presents an essential destination. Moving beyond the well-known staples of Central Thai cuisine often found across the city, Narkara focuses on the bold, aromatic, and comforting flavors of Northern and Northeastern Thailand, regions with a rich, unique culinary heritage often inspired by the Mekong Delta. This fine dining establishment promises more than just a meal; it offers a cultural journey where every detail, from the handcrafted ceramics to the thoughtfully designed, luxurious interior, is meant to transport guests to the unseen taste of Thailand.

Narkara seamlessly blends tradition with an elegant, modern presentation, making it an ideal choice for special occasions, a sophisticated date night, or simply for those who appreciate authentic cuisine delivered with a high-end, refined touch. The professional service, which customers have noted reaches a "Michelin level," ensures a seamless and attentive dining experience that perfectly complements the intricate flavors on the plate.

Location and Accessibility

Located in the heart of Manhattan's Flatiron and Union Square area, Narkara is perfectly situated for easy access from nearly anywhere in New York City. The address is 5 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, USA. This prime location is moments away from the bustling Union Square Park and is extremely well-served by public transportation.

The Union Square subway station (14 St-Union Sq) is one of the city's most central hubs, providing connections to multiple lines, including the $4, $5, $6$ (Lexington Avenue Line), the $N$, $Q$, $R$, $W$ (Broadway Line), and the $L$ train (14th Street-Canarsie Line), making it a quick trip from both uptown and downtown. Additional subway options nearby include the $F$ and $M$ lines. For drivers, both free street parking and paid parking lots are noted as available amenities in the immediate area.

The restaurant is also committed to ensuring a welcoming environment for all guests, with full accessibility features including:

Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Narkara is proudly an Asian-owned business and maintains a welcoming atmosphere for all patrons, identifying as both Family-friendly and LGBTQ+ friendly, including being a Transgender safespace.

Services Offered

Narkara provides a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet various dining needs and preferences within a refined setting.

Dine-in Seating: Experience the full, elegant atmosphere of the main dining room or the separate bar and lounge area. The venue features sophisticated design elements, including custom bamboo installations and hand-thrown ceramics.
Takeout Service: For those looking to enjoy the exceptional Northern Thai flavors at home or the office, takeout is offered.
Lunch and Dinner: The dining room is open for both lunch and dinner services, accommodating different schedules.
Reservations Accepted: Guests are encouraged to make reservations to secure their seating, reflecting the establishment's fine dining approach.
Private Dining Room: A dedicated private area is available for larger parties, private events, or more intimate gatherings, featuring space for two long tables.
Bar Service: A full bar is onsite, offering a highly creative cocktail program, along with a selection of Beer, Sake, Hard liquor, and Wine.

Features / Highlights

The menu at Narkara is a distinct highlight, concentrating on less-common regional Thai dishes that emphasize bold flavors and traditional techniques.

Authentic Regional Thai Cuisine: The focus is on the rich, robust, and sometimes fermentation-forward flavors of Northern and Northeastern Thailand, moving beyond typical Thai-American fare like Pad Thai or Green Curry.
Creative Small Plates: Explore unique appetizers such as Thai Fish Ceviche ($28.00), Spicy Raw Beef Tartare ($25.00), Thai Coconut Crab Pancakes, and the regional delicacy Chilled Red Curry Terrine (a savory, rich, chilled pork red curry).
Signature Large Plates: The menu features impressive entrees including Northern Chicken Herb Soup ($35.00), Seared Iberico Pork ($36.00) served with a fiery chili dip, Seared Duck Dry Stir-Fry Curry ($42.00), and the luxurious Seared New York Strip Steak ($75.00) with a tangy Thai dipping sauce.
Inventive Beverage Program: The bar offers cocktails infused with Thai botanicals and spices, such as the Smoked Chili Margarita ($21.00), Salted Plum Sour ($22.00), and the Rice Paddy Herb Martini ($23.00), alongside unique zero-proof options like Longan Pandan Juice ($14.00) and house-exclusive Narkara Lager and IPA.
Dessert Excellence: Conclude your meal with a warm-cold contrast like the Poached Banana With Coconut Ice Cream or the Taro Custard With Palm Sugar Ice Cream ($20.00).
High-End Ambiance and Decor: The interior boasts a stunning, sophisticated mix of black and gold tones with woven and bamboo textures, creating an elegant, intimate, and story-filled atmosphere that enhances the fine dining experience.

Contact Information

To plan your visit or inquire about reservations, please use the following contact details:
Address: 5 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
Phone: (212) 914-4987

What is Worth Choosing

Narkara stands out in the competitive New York dining scene by offering an exceptional blend of cultural authenticity, high-level service, and artistic presentation. It is the premier choice for diners who are ready to explore the less-represented but intensely flavorful side of Thai gastronomy, specifically Northern and Northeastern cuisine. Choosing Narkara is choosing an immersive experience—you are paying not just for food, but for the craft, the rare regional focus, the stunning atmosphere, and a level of hospitality that is often described as truly world-class.

The dedication to quality is evident in customer reviews which praise dishes like the crispy-yet-soft Stuffed Chicken Wings, the rich Thai Coconut Crab Pancakes, and the smoky, juicy *Seared New York Strip Steak* elevated by its Thai dipping sauce. When you dine at Narkara, you are supporting an Asian-owned establishment committed to honoring Thai heritage while providing Manhattan with a sophisticated, fresh, and unforgettable dining adventure. For New Yorkers looking to elevate their Thai food expectations, Narkara is a must-try culinary gem.

Narkara Menu

Large Plates
Northern Chicken Herb Soup $35.00
Steamed Savory Egg Custard $24.00
Grilled Herbal Pork In Banana Leaf
Poached Chicken In Spicy Herb Broth
Seared Iberico Pork $36.00
Seared Duck Dry Stir-Fry Curry $42.00
แกงขนุนอ่อน $32.00
Salt-Crusted Roasted Branzino $59.00
Roasted Seabass In Banana Leaf $48.00
Seared New York Strip Steak $75.00

Sides
Savory Pork Blood Rice $15.00
Grilled Sticky Rice With Crab $10.00
Seasonal Stir-Fried Vegetables $16.00
Steamed Jasmine Rice $5.00
Steamed Sticky Rice $5.00

Dessert
Poached Banana With Coconut Ice Cream
Taro Custard With Palm Sugar Ice Cream $20.00

Cocktails
Smoked Chili Margarita $21.00
Salted Plum Sour $22.00
Roselle Cosmo $21.00
Green Tea Milk Punch $22.00
Rice Paddy Herb Martini $23.00
Makwaen Penicillin $22.00
Kaffir Lime Diablo
Basil & Sand $22.00
Larb Mary $20.00

Zero-Proof
Ping Garden $17.00
Phony Negroni $16.00
Yom Horizon $17.00
Coconut Green Tea $16.00
Nan Rouge $17.00
Longan Pandan Juice $14.00

Beer
Narkara Rice Lager $12.00
Narkara Ipa $14.00

Sake
Tedorigawa Kinka
Dewazakura Awa Junmai

Water
Aqua Panna Still $12.00
San Pellegrino Sparkling $12.00

Small Plates
Sweet Corn Salad Two Ways
Green Papaya Salad With Noodles
Thai Fish Ceviche
Asparagus & Yanang Aspic Salad
Spicy Minced Duck & Foie Gras
Skewered Iberico Pork
Spicy Raw Beef Tartare
Thai Coconut Crab Pancakes
Stuffed Chicken Wings
Chilled Red Curry Terrine
Crab Butter Custard With Uni
Thai Sausage Platter

Others
Sweet Corn Salad Two Ways $25.00
Green Papaya Salad With Noodles $22.00
Thai Fish Ceviche $28.00
Asparagus & Yanang Aspic Salad $22.00
Spicy Raw Beef Tartare $25.00
Thai Coconut Crab Pancakes
Stuffed Chicken Wings
Spicy Minced Duck & Foie Gras
Skewered Iberico Pork
Hilled Red Curry Terrine
Ab Butter Custard With Uni
Sausage Platter

Narkara Details

From the business
Identifies as Asian-owned

Service options
Takeout
Dine-in
Delivery
Onsite services

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Assistive hearing loop

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Comfort food
Hard liquor
Private dining room
Small plates
Wine

Dining options
Lunch
Seating

Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom

Crowd
Family-friendly
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
High chairs

Parking
Free street parking
Paid parking lot

Narkara Photos

Narkara Location

Narkara

New York New York County New York East 17th Street

5 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, USA

Narkara Reviews

An average rating of ★4.8 from 127 user reviews.

beef tartarestuffed chicken wingsfoie grasbanana leafny strip steakcoconut crabroasted sea bassthai sausageminced duckcorn salad

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I recently visited Narkara, a newly opened Thai fine dining restaurant in Manhattan, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The moment I walked in, I was struck by the stunning interior — a sophisticated mix of black and gold tones with woven textures. The atmosphere feels both luxurious and intimate, with every detail thoughtfully designed to create a calm, story-filled space where you immediately want to slow down and enjoy your meal.We started with the Stuffed Chicken Wings, crispy on the outside and filled with soft sticky rice — absolutely delicious! The Thai Coconut Crab Pancakes were another highlight, combining the sweetness of coconut with the rich flavor of crab. The Thai Sausage Platter was hearty and perfectly seasoned, while the Seared Iberico Pork was tender and fragrant, cooked to perfection. The Seared New York Strip Steak surprised me with its balance — smoky, juicy, and elevated by a tangy Thai dipping sauce.For drinks, we tried the Coconut Green Tea and Salted Plum Sour — both refreshing and unique, great palate cleansers. Dessert was the perfect ending: Poached Banana with Coconut Ice Cream, a warm-cold contrast that was simply divine.Narkara beautifully blends authentic Northern Thai flavors with an elegant modern presentation. It’s ideal for a date night, a small gathering, or even a peaceful solo meal. Highly recommend — a new gem in the city!
October 17 · JiaXin YU
I don’t remember when’s the last time I think a restaurant in NYC deserves a 5 stars. This Thai place is impressive. It’s not the typical thai restaurant that you can order Pad Thai pr Pineapple fried rice or satay or green curry. Their dishes seem a bit different like maybe more like fusion, that actually gives you a fresh feel. The two way corn salad, the green papaya salad with noodles, the seabass, the okra, the curry duck, the crab pancake are all good. The roasted half chicken and stuffed wings are average. There’s more dishes I still wanna try so definitely will come back again. The price is on higher end, but they provide an upscale service as well. They noticed I got my napkin dirty and they immediately handed me a new one. They clean the table thoroughly before our cake time, even just spot of stain they’re still able to observe. Such service I think already reach a Michelin level service. Not to mention the vibe, the decoration of the restaurant looks elegant and high end. They have a lounge area for drinks and snacks snd dining area for dinner and even a private area that I see two long tables can be used for bigger private event. Hope they can keep up the quality and continue to have new dishes in the future to give customers sense of freshness
October 12 · Isabella Lui
From the moment I stepped inside, I was impressed by the stunning interior — elegant, stylish, and designed with so much attention to detail. The lighting created the perfect atmosphere, warm and inviting without being too bright or too dim.The food was outstanding — every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented. You can truly taste the quality and care put into each plate.On top of that, the service was excellent. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable.Overall, this restaurant is a perfect combination of beautiful ambiance, delicious food, and top-notch service. I can’t wait to come back again!
August 30 · Kan Chaichana
I had a wonderful dining experience at Nakara Thai Restaurant. The restaurant offers a beautiful mix of authentic Thai flavors with a modern fusion twist. Every dish feels carefully crafted — traditional in essence but presented with creativity and freshness.The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, perfect for both casual meals and special occasions. The staff are attentive, friendly, and happy to recommend dishes if you’re unsure what to try.High recommended!
September 14 · Ophelia P
Narkara NYC is such a gem in the city. The first thing you notice is the stunning interior – chic, modern, and beautifully designed, it gives you that elevated fine dining vibe without feeling pretentious. The atmosphere is elegant yet warm, making it just as perfect for a date night as it is for a special dinner with friends.The food is absolutely authentic Thai with a refined touch. Every dish I tried was full of flavor and balanced just the way it should be – spicy, savory, and aromatic, just like the best Thai food back home. You can really tell the chefs put care into both presentation and taste.Cocktails are another highlight here. Their bar program is creative and well-executed, offering drinks that pair perfectly with the food. I especially appreciated how the flavors were thoughtful and not overly sweet, letting the Thai spices shine through.Service was professional, attentive, and knowledgeable. The staff made great recommendations and ensured everything felt seamless from start to finish.Overall, Narkara combines fine dining sophistication with true Thai authenticity – something that’s hard to find in NYC. Highly recommend for anyone looking to experience Thai cuisine in a beautiful setting with excellent service.
September 02 · Leighton Vignola