Hanuman Thai Eatery on Newport

Visited this Thai restaurant after seeing all the high reviews and hype. My friends and I went for an early dinner, and the place was starting to fill up quickly—but luckily, we didn’t have to wait for a table. The ambiance was nice with decent seating capacity, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. With high expectations, we ordered the Lamb-a-Singh, Khao Soi, Drunken Noodles, and Spicy Basil. The Lamb-a-Singh was nicely plated and the sauce was tasty, but the lamb itself was chewy and lacked the flavor we had hoped for. The Khao Soi bowl looked good but was overly creamy, and the flavor fell flat compared to other Thai spots we’ve tried. The Drunken Noodles were probably the highlight—good portion and satisfying for the price. As for the Spicy Basil, we mistakenly thought it was a fried rice dish (our bad for not reading the menu closely), but it was actually minced chicken served with a side of rice. The chicken was way too salty and definitely not worth the price—I wouldn’t recommend it. For dessert, we ordered the classic Mango Sticky Rice. The presentation was nice, and the mango itself was delicious—sweet and ripe, which ended the meal on a better note. Overall, this place didn’t live up to the hype. For the high reviews and premium prices, we were left disappointed and felt it didn’t meet expectations.

We came for the high review but kinda disappointed. The good things: the sauce of the lamb is good, the food presentation is good, the mango sticky rice that's not on the menu is good. But, the lamb isn't fully cooked inside, still very pink. The spicy Basil dish with rice is way too salty and tastes nothing special. The amount of food doesn't match the price. The waitress simply served the food and never checked on us afterwards. If you just want to show people the food outlook this is the place but it would be better if they pay more attention to the taste.

I’m honestly quite surprised by how underwhelming my experience was, especially given the high ratings. We ordered the Gai Todd Hat Yai, Massaman curry, and Pad Kee Mao, but unfortunately, none of them lived up to expectations. They were edible at best. The steak in the curry was extremely tough and was not medium rare, and while the curry had a nice texture, it was overly sweet for my taste (though that could come down to personal preference). The Pad Kee Mao was overly salty, yet still lacked depth of flavor, and the meat in that dish was also very chewy. The one standout was the roti, they were so good and easily the highlight of the meal. Overall, I left very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend this place based on my experience.

This is one of my favorite spots for Thai food in OC! It’s a bit more expensive than most Thai restaurants I go to in the area but I definitely think it’s worth it. We started with the Thai Sausages which were delicious, light, a little sweet, and great to start our meal with. My friend recommended this spot to me for their Khao Soi and it did NOT disappoint. The curry/broth is rich and flavorful, and the chicken meat falls right off the bone. The portion is pretty big too for me so I usually don’t finish the whole thing, but I’m not complaining because I get to take home the rest for lunch tomorrow. My partner had the Thai Boat Noodles too which were delicious as well, very hearty and similar to ones I had during my exchange program in Thailand. We had one of the last Mango Sticky Rice dishes to finish and it was so delicious! The mangoes were soft, sweet, and juicy, while the sticky rice was warm and sweet as well. The coconut milk and toasted coconut flakes were great to add as well. The service here is pretty good, all the employees are friendly. It’s a small restaurant so it’s an intimate, well decorated space that is perfect for date night. The restaurant itself is small but I’ve seen them accommodate for large groups (6-8 people). Our server was especially friendly and helpful, I unfortunately didn’t get her name, but she was a short, younger Asian woman with medium, black hair who raved about the mango sticky rice. The wait times can get pretty long, but we came after 8pm on a Saturday night and were seated within 15-20 minutes. If there’s any place you go to in OC for Thai food, this is the one!

Looking for Pad See Ew w/good, chewy noodles & that hint of char? Maybe some extra crispy chicken wings elevated w/a delicious dipping sauce? Or a dish you won’t find at most Thai places…one that the menu states as a “must try”: a refreshing ceviche consisting of amazing yellowtail, pineapple, grape tomatoes & red onions? Lucky for us, we get it all @Hanuman! And because this location has larger dining areas for both indoor & outdoor under the soft glow of string lights, we were able to get seated inside right away on a Friday night @6:15pm.

Hanuman Thai Eatery in Newport Beach is a standout among local Thai restaurants, offering a delightful dining experience with less wait time compared to its other branch. Popular with locals, this spot impresses with its food quality and attention to detail, while its modern decor seamlessly incorporates Thai cultural elements. The restaurant’s theme, inspired by the Monkey King from Hindu mythology, might seem unrelated to Thai cuisine, but it symbolizes the strength evident in their flavorful dishes and beautiful presentation. We ordered a variety of favorites, starting with the fried chicken wings paired with sticky rice and green papaya salad. The chicken wings were perfectly crispy and juicy, and the green papaya salad had a tasty balance of freshness with a mild spicy kick. The green curry, served with grilled chicken breast, was creamy and flavorful, though the chicken was slightly overcooked; the rich curry sauce with rice more than made up for this minor issue. The Pad Thai with prawn was also enjoyable, though I would have preferred a touch more sweetness and tanginess to enhance the dish. Overall, the food was excellent, and we will definitely return when we’re in the area. The service was outstanding, rounding out a highly satisfying dining experience.

Decor:Simple and clean Service: Staff was very friendly. They served water multiple times and checked on us constantly. Also, we placed ourselves on Yelp waitlist when we started from our house, so our wait wasn’t long. Food: Loved papaya salad. It was fresh with perfect spice, sour and sweetness. Khao Soi was delicious. Food presentation was excellent. Thai tea crème brûlée had perfect amount of sweetness. Loved it. Will definitely come back again.

Authentic Thai flavors. The lad na was well balanced, and service was friendly. A solid choice for Thai food lovers in the area.