Lil Chef Mama

Stopped by here with family during our holiday trip and really enjoyed it. Good quality food with authentic taste all around. The interiors are nice and comfortable, making it an easy place to sit back and enjoy a relaxed meal. We loved the appetizers, especially the dim sums, and the curries in the main course were flavorful and well done. Everything tasted fresh. Service was friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Overall, a solid spot for a casual family meal with good food and vibes. Would definitely recommend.

I have been coming here for lunch for years. I always order the same dish - five spice pork belly noodle soup. I know how the dish is supposed to taste and the last time I had it, it did not taste good. They were missing the sour/spicy component in the soup and I was very disappointed. The portions are small and it tasted badly. The only redeeming factor is the restaurant is nice, warm, and inviting. The service is very good and everyone here is so nice. However, the express lunch seemed to make the quality of this place go down hill. I am not sure if I plan to come back.

Reviewing Thai once again! I split a plate with my friend and we were both fairly full afterwards. I forgot what we got but it was delicious! The atmosphere and are very quiet and beautiful. Very rarely do I see such traditional decorations in Thai restaurants and the lighting is just right. Perfect for small groups of 1-4 people, but it could fit more!

The vibe, the food, everything here just feels like something most people would genuinely enjoy. Nothing too over the top, but done really well — comfortable atmosphere, solid flavors, and an easy place to recommend to friends.

Lil Chef Mama is a cozy comfort-food spot in New York City that delivers hearty, home-style flavors in a laid-back setting. The restaurant has a warm, neighborhood feel — simple décor, friendly energy, and a focus on generous portions rather than flashy presentation. It’s the kind of place where you go when you want something filling and satisfying. The menu highlights classic comfort dishes, with fried chicken often being a standout. The chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and well-seasoned. Sides like mac and cheese, rice, or collard greens add to the homestyle experience, creating a meal that feels indulgent and comforting. Service is typically quick and welcoming, making it a convenient stop for both dine-in and takeout. Overall, Lil Chef Mama offers solid comfort food with big flavors, perfect for anyone craving a taste of hearty, no-frills cooking in the city.

Caught up with a friend here for brunch. Weekend midday options are pretty lacking in FiDi, so I was hoping Lil Chef Mama, with its interesting Thai-American fusion brunch offerings, would be a hidden gem. It was....more like a hidden pebble. Not bad, but not exceptional either. My Thai Basil Burger had some interesting herbal/sugary elements to the meat, but the patty more or less fell apart as soon as I picked up the sandwich, making it very difficult to eat. The burger was also quite greasy, which is never pleasant. The spiced fries were crispy and tasty, though I think they could've used even more seasoning. The Thai Omlette was like any other meat and veggie-filled omelette--to my disappointment, there was nothing noticeably Thai (or even Asian) about it. My friend's Honey Pork Fried Rice was decent, with lots of pork slices, but it lacked the flavor bomb characteristic of other traditional Thai fried rices. At least our Thai Iced Teas were creamy and satisfying. Service was friendly, no issues there. The restaurant has a cute plant nursery-esque decor in its entryway that sadly does not continue through the rest of the restaurant. But it's still a nice sit-down spot with warm wood tones.

I really enjoyed my lunch to go from Lil Chef Mama. I’m new to the area and I searched for hot and fresh food and their restaurant came up 1st! I had a seafood/ Lent focused lunch. Their shrimp fried rice was done very well- the rice was fluffy, not oily, the vegetables were crisp and fresh! The pad Thai dish had incredible and balanced flavor. Also very fresh and crunchy vegetables, fresh crushed peanuts, the noodles had the best texture. Shrimp was the star of both dishes, great flavor, and perfectly cooked. Even though I got lunch to go, I was fortunate to speak with staff and their front of house is some of the best staff I’ve met, they answered my questions and had great conversation while i waited for my order. They’re very inviting and professional! The ambiance was lovely and like an oasis of beauty in such a busy area. I look forward bringing my wife for dinner or the family for lunch! It’s a great place to have a team lunch or after work drink or celebrate a win!

Lil Chef Mama catered a climbing event I went to in Gowanus and the food was so tasty that I had to try it again. I went with 3 of my friends. We ordered: Pad Thai (Recommend) Pork Sliders (Recommend) Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp Beef Red Curry (Recommend) Chicken Wings Beef Dumplings Yuzu Soda Orange juice Butterfly Pea Lemonade (Recommend) The atmosphere is beautiful, they made such creative and effective use of the space. The entrance is great for photos and you won’t feel crowded in this space. Vegan options were clearly labeled. Travis and Joe were great and attentive servers, and not overbearing. I saw Lil Chef Mama on my way to the restroom and I had to say hi and she was kind enough to offer us complimentary mango sticky rice because she remembered me from the climbing event. She is an absolute sweetheart and please let her know how much you enjoyed the food when you visit. We will certainly be back for the chefs specials, and some other items we had our eyes on. Definitely a place worth trying. I am confident this place deserves its praise. And if you do happen to order the chefs specials, call to order in advance as they take ~30min to prepare

We found this great restaurant on yelp after walking around NYC. We had the best absolute experience with the food & service. The best part of the experience, we were treated like family even though it's our first eating here. Chef Mama is the best and i highly recommend it.

A very cute Thai restaurant in the Wall Street area with great service and reliably good food! My mom always stays in the area when she visits New York, so this is our go-to when she's in town. The restaurant is pretty big, with a generous amount of seating, and I loved the floral decorations. During my most recent visit, I ordered the Honey Moo slider and a set meal, which I think is a dine-in only special. The slider was so, so good: tender and juicy, with just the right amount of sweetness. Note that it comes with just one slider, so may be difficult to share. The set meal was also beautifully presented: I chose the ginger fish for my entree and mango sticky rice for my dessert. It can feel a bit steep, at ~$40, but everything was fresh and delicious, and I loved the variety. Along with your entree and dessert, you get a bowl of edamame, a small salad, a scallion pancake, soup, and rice. The mango sticky rice came with a generous amount of mango! I also had enough food left over for lunch the next day. Can't wait to be back!

Caught up with a friend here for brunch. Weekend midday options are pretty lacking in FiDi, so I was hoping Lil Chef Mama, with its interesting Thai-American fusion brunch offerings, would be a hidden gem. It was....more like a hidden pebble. Not bad, but not exceptional either. My Thai Basil Burger had some interesting herbal/sugary elements to the meat, but the patty more or less fell apart as soon as I picked up the sandwich, making it very difficult to eat. The burger was also quite greasy, which is never pleasant. The spiced fries were crispy and tasty, though I think they could've used even more seasoning. The Thai Omlette was like any other meat and veggie-filled omelette--to my disappointment, there was nothing noticeably Thai (or even Asian) about it. My friend's Honey Pork Fried Rice was decent, with lots of pork slices, but it lacked the flavor bomb characteristic of other traditional Thai fried rices. At least our Thai Iced Teas were creamy and satisfying. Service was friendly, no issues there. The restaurant has a cute plant nursery-esque decor in its entryway that sadly does not continue through the rest of the restaurant. But it's still a nice sit-down spot with warm wood tones.

One of the nicest decorated Thai spots I've been to in nyc. Very chill and casual ambiance. Came on a weekday night and was seated right away (we just missed their happy hour lol) but they had a nice traditional Thai menu with a variety of interesting cocktails. We got the pad thai, fried calamari & glass noodles with chili. We're big fans of Thai food as we have it quite often & this spot didn't disappoint. Everything was delicious and on point. Servers were attentive and friendly. Prices were fair and comparable to any other Thai spot in the city. I love how they have this location nearby my place because I'll definitely be coming back.

Authentic food. Phenomenal service. A must visit. Glad I found this spectacular hidden gem

lil chef mama is a slightly hidden Thai food gem in Financial District / Seaport area. The ambiance is great for any occasion - dates, dinner with friends, dinner with parents. I recently went in the afternoon and had brunch there. You are able to order from the regular dinner menu during brunch hours. We walked in and were seated right away. Ordered the honey pork friend rice, tom yum soup, house salad, and a red curry. This was a lot of food for 2 people, we had lots of leftovers. The honey pork fried rice is really good, it reminded me of bulgogi. Overall, a solid spot that you can walk into

We tried the lunch special where you get to try 3 different Thai dishes with rice. They were really good & quick.

Love having this Thai spot in FiDi! Have dined in and grabbed take out from Lil Chef Mama and it's always delicious with reliable service. The space is large with an open kitchen and lots of seating. They've got great decor as well. Drunken Noodles with Mock Duck: 4.5/5: Love the mock duck, noodles are fresh and flavorful. Could use some extra spice Basil Fried Rice with Tofu: 4/5: Not bad, could also use some extra spice, so I usually ask for the chili garlic on the side. Thai Iced Tea: 4.5/5: Sweet and creamy, the perfect complement to the meal. Overall, quick and reliable. Will be back!

Side street in Sea Port Area - a sandwich sign caught eyes - over we went half block.. large space, dim-lit, lotsa cute lights.. chefs wafting steam cooking aggressively.. ordered pad thai with chicken and friend got mango with sticky rice (dessert).. thai iced teas were on-pont - and got a my thai cocktail - sweety and smooth $71 was steep bill but the fresh quality yum pad thai had TLC present

Yum! This place was delicious I can't wait to come back!! The roti w curry was really small but yummy. Pannang duck curry was solid. The noodle was really good and so was the fish. The flavor was perfect, just the right blend.

Lil Chef Mama catered a climbing event I went to in Gowanus and the food was so tasty that I had to try it again. I went with 3 of my friends. We ordered: Pad Thai (Recommend) Pork Sliders (Recommend) Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp Beef Red Curry (Recommend) Chicken Wings Beef Dumplings Yuzu Soda Orange juice Butterfly Pea Lemonade (Recommend) The atmosphere is beautiful, they made such creative and effective use of the space. The entrance is great for photos and you won't feel crowded in this space. Vegan options were clearly labeled. Travis and Joe were great and attentive servers, and not overbearing. I saw Lil Chef Mama on my way to the restroom and I had to say hi and she was kind enough to offer us complimentary mango sticky rice because she remembered me from the climbing event. She is an absolute sweetheart and please let her know how much you enjoyed the food when you visit. We will certainly be back for the chefs specials, and some other items we had our eyes on. Definitely a place worth trying. I am confident this place deserves its praise. And if you do happen to order the chefs specials, call to order in advance as they take ~30min to prepare

The best Thai food in New York City! The care, the service and the space are phenomenal. What a gem in FiDi! The owner is there and very much hands on and what a difference it makes!

What a cute hidden treasure in FiDi! walking in, i was impressed by the ambiance & the kind employees. I got the Khao Soi (named differently on the menu) & the flavor was so good, I just wish they put more sauce. My friends enjoyed their pad seew & pad thai. The Thai Iced tea was pretty good too & not too sweet! Pricing is reasonable, would definitely come back!

Mediocre overall if they didn't try to upsell the larb that wasn't even on the menu. Pad Thai was fine - missing tamarind, peanut sauce driven. Chicken was good. Roti was fluffy and expected. Pork Larb was so bad - the dish we wanted (sausage) was not available and we asked if they had larb. They said yes and delivered the larb obviously trying to create on the spot. Chopped flavorless pork. Would appreciate more if they told us they dont do it and not qualify to serve it. It was dry, flavorless, textureless , ruined the whole meal. Service was slow. We expressed the larb was bad and heard nothing back. Would not come back.

I came here with a friend, it was a cute restaurant. The restaurant was pretty slow that night but the service was good and food came out timely . Prices are great for the area. A nice touch was the glass of wine for only $10. The dish I ordered was a take on khao soy. The flavors were all good. I would've preferred the traditional khao soy but the dish was still comforting and familiar.

Hot, fresh, and food reminded us of home- New Orleans. A go to spot in the financial district!!

The service was great. Food was excellent and very tasty. More than what was expected

Cute little restaurant nestled in a small side street. The whole vibe was super authentic Thai and the food did not disappoint. Everything I ordered was super authentic, and service was gentle and hospitable. Also, as a vegetarian they have tons of options, including mock duck, which is absolutely delicious. Would 100% come back to this place and recommend for a date night or lunch with friends.

Food was fresh, tasty and packed with flavor. Had a classic chicken pad Thai and the wings as an appetizer. Service was also solid. Good place for lunch! It will definitely be one of my go to spots when I'm at work.

The staff here is SO friendly. They were so kind and courteous the whole time. The inside of the restaurant is also beautiful. It feels like a garden. I took my food to go, and was pretty satisfied with the taste. I got Pad Thai and it was good. I would come here again and try other dishes. They have a wide variety of meats for the fried rice, which I haven't seen before. I do think the price is comparable to other places but the portion was a bit small. I've gotten Thai takeout before and this container was legitimately smaller than others I've had. OverLl if you're in Fidi I would definitely do a sit down dinner here and enjoy the good food, nice staff, and pretty ambiance for the price.

So glad we found a great Thai place in FiDi. The food was delicious with great service!

Just being honest - I've eaten here 3 times in the past two weeks. The first time I went was for dine in, and I was actually kind of impressed with the interior. It's a big space and a little funky. Definitely an easy place to go with a group of people. All the food we tried was good, but what keeps me coming back.... The Tom Kha soup. It's DELICIOUS. The best I ever had. I get it with chicken and a side of rice. It's perfectly balanced, creamy but not too rich, and just perfect. When I'm not eating it, I'm dreaming about it. Come for the Thai food, but you better not leave without trying the Tom kha soup if you like coconut!

I had been walking all day in the rain due to the bands of Tropical Storm Ophelia hitting NYC. I was in the mood for amazing Asian food that NYC could offer without having to walk to Chinatown in the rain. I saw this hidden gem on my apple maps and the name alone caught my eye, then it said Thai and boom I was on my way walking 0.5 miles (10 mins) from the World Trade Center to this place. The sign is cute and welcoming. Once I walked inside I felt like I was transported to another world. It was so warm and inviting. Lots of plants and bamboo. Each table had this cute little lamp that gave this rich aesthetic feel. I was so wet from the outside that I needed to use the restroom immediately after asking for hot green tea as my beverage of choice. As I was walking towards the bathrooms, I was looking at everyone's plate and the plate that stood out to me the most was the Basil Stir Fry with Jumbo Shrimp and the dumplings, so you know I had to order it. Sooooooooooooooooooooo GOOD!! Boy, I was so impressed. I could only imagine how everything else tasted. The fact that I paid so cheap for Jumbo shrimp in my meal was just astounding. I legit was flabbergasted when I saw my bill. However, the dumpling price was too much to pay for me. I didn't even noticed the price but that was on me. I still can't be mad because it tasted so good. I appreciate the hospitality and the friendly smiles from the hostess to the chefs. Definitely a place to bring friends or even a date. Enjoy people, you will not be disappointed!!

Honestly decent Thai food, but isn't worth going out of the way for. It's not the most conveniently located place if you aren't already in FiDi. Very easy to get a table on a Sunday night. It was weird because by default they only give forks (not chopsticks). Pad Thai ($18) - came with a generous amount of pork. The pork was a bit dry though. The flavor was on point and a decent portion size. It wasn't mind blowing though.

Hidden treasure alert!! HIDDEN TREASURE ALERT!!!!!!! I find myself in the South Street Seaport Area so infrequently, I would have NO idea where to go for a meal! Thanks to a mix of Google Searching and meandering, we discovered Lil Chef Mama. A converted lobby/industrial space on a side street, the interior architecture gives the restaurant a unique vibe (stringed lights and faux plants warm a space filled with archetecerter quirks). Greated immediately with that stereotypical Thai charm, we were seated and watered immediately. We ordered family style cause we were HUNGRY but might have gone too far!! Shared some roti with a delicious curry dipping sauce; flaky and buttery and disappeared quickly. Everything else we ordered was phenomenal, flavorful and flowing over with food (large portions...thank goodness)! The Brunch Sweet Pork fried rice was rich and savory; the Kings Chicken (one of a list of 'specialty' dish that say can take longer to come out) was an omelet with chicken inside. Just the right amount juicy chicken but that umami egg cooked crispy that you want. The pork Soup was a stand-out hit. Not like any Thai soup I've had, it was like a lighter Ramen mixed with a rich Pho or BBH! Stocked with perfectly tender pork, there was plenty to share here. Great service, fast kitchen, left overs taken home! Winner, winner, Thai for Dinner!

Lil Chef Mama is one of my favorite local Thai spots in Fidi. The restaurant has plenty of space to eat in with friends, or dine alone if you prefer. Each time I've visited I've been able to walk in without having a reservation. Favorite dishes include the chicken satay, pad see ew and panang curry. They serve a limited selection of some beers, wines and cocktails. Been a few times and always enjoy the atmosphere.

I came here based on reviews and cravings for Thai food. I was in the fidi area, so that made a difference as well. When you first walk in, you see the decor, which was really nice and thought out to make you feel as if you're dining in Asia. I took many pictures of the indoor space. There's no outdoor dining here. Just know that the restaurant is by a small narrow street and it's dark in the alleyway. I was torn between what I should order as there was so much to choose from. However, I decided on the pork belly noodle soup for the entree and the honey moo slider. Just know there's only one slider, and the prices went up from what is posted on the website, which is listed as $6, but it is currently $8. The five spice pork belly noodle soup is under the Mama's Special category. Both were good, but one wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be. All in all, there are so many Thai spots in the city, so I don't know if I'll be returning.

Great food and service. We were seated quickly. Drinks were perfect. Service was notably good. Spics level perfect.

Such a neighborhood gem that I had the pleasure of trying for the first time tonight, and it did not disappoint! We ordered a selection of dishes that were all incredible: the homemade chicken puff pastry was flaky and flavorful, the honey moo slider was juicy and packed a punch of sweet and savory goodness, and the "In Honor of the King" dish was an absolute standout--truly fit for royalty! The mudsamun curry with beef had the perfect blend of spices, with tender beef that melted in your mouth. Not only was the food exceptional, but the atmosphere was absolutely charming. It's the perfect spot for a casual date night or dinner out with friends. The service was top-notch--attentive without being overbearing--and the prices were more than reasonable for the quality of food and experience. I will definitely be back! Highly recommend!

Cute little Thai place! It's really nicely decorated inside and they have multi-level seating which was fun. Very nice service, and they're not too busy so we didn't feel rushed at all. We had the Pad Kee Mao and the Kang Dang Curry, which were both good!! The Pad Kee Mao noodles were nice and chewy, but the beef was slightly tough. The serving sizes were also really generous and it was a perfect amount to feel full off of. We both wished the spice level was a little more on the dishes, but it was still great. I really want to try other things on the menu!!

Great Thai restaurant in FiDi, I got Thai iced tea, roti, and drunken noodles. Everything was great and the roti was outstanding! Have been back several times.

Tried Lill Chef Mama for the first time last week and had a wonderful experience. I went for lunch with a friend and we both got the lunch special which came with 3 mini entrée portions plus rice. This is such a cool and innovative option. I loved it! All three of my choices were delicious! The service was great and the space was well decorated. I highly recommend others to try it out. I will definitely be back!

4.5 stars! Pleasantly surprised to find this yummy thai spot tucked away on a side street! The restaurant is incredibly spacious and well decorated, and is perfect for both intimate and large groups for dinner. Between the 3 of us, we split the shrimp pad see ew, red curry with chicken, and the "In Honor of the King". Shrimp pad see ew erred a bit on the sweet side, but was still incredibly tasty and well seasoned. The shrimp were sizeable and perfectly cooked! Red curry with chicken was probably my favorite of the night. Even at mild spice, it packed a good (but not overwhelming) amount of heat, and was aromatic and flavorful. They don't skimp on the curry fillings either - this was packed with veggies and chicken. In Honor of the King is like an egg wrapped chicken breast/cutlet. Not my favorite of the night (solely a personal preference thing), but it was really well cooked. Service here is great - our water glasses never went empty, and the wait staff here is incredibly kind. Overall, the meal came out to about $79 after tax and tip, which really wasn't bad at all since we were stuffed! Will definitely be back again.

Went on a Friday night around 9:30 pm. There weren't many people by the time we entered. The food was so delicious! We ordered the honey moo sliders, fried shrimp rolls, and Thai style fried rice with chicken. The honey moo slider was divine, and the shrimp rolls were nice and crunchy. The fried rice was light and flavorful. The decor was so fun and had overall good vibes. Cute string lights hung everywhere, plants filling the space making it feel fresh, and soft pop playing in the background. Would come back again

My friend and I were just looking for a place to eat nearby and happened to find this restaurant. When you walk in, it feels very fancy and is well-decorated which was nice and would be a good place to go for dates or hangouts! We ordered pad thai and it was pretty solid (I asked for extra spicy and they were able to do that, which is great). We also ordered the wrapped shrimp (not pictured and forgot the name) which was really good to share. The waiter was very friendly and the food came out pretty fast as well. I would come back here if I am in the area again!

This restaurant located was formerly called Thai Sliders (which I never ate at) had some tasty options and huge lunch portions.I came here at a lunch meeting last week. The restaurant served lunch, and the portions were huge. I had to take my leftovers to go. Pad Boong Fai Dai - so good, missed this dish. I would eat this every day in Thailand. Curry Puffs - these puffs have a lot of filling. This could even be a small meal for one. Som Tum - this dish was ok. Chiang Mai Noodles - the noodles are bathed in massaman curry with egg and mixed vegetables - amazing and ate the other half for dinner. Pad Thai - my boss loved it and devoured the entire plate, and fell into a food coma returning to the office. What does that say? Hand roll dumpling - vegetarian - my coworker liked it. I've also eaten here in the past, and the chicken ginger and pad prik khing are good options if you want to explore other dishes outside of pad thai, pad cee eiw and pad khee Mao. Finally, the lemon ginger hot drink is worth getting to help digest all that is consumed.

We came in for a post-work nosh with a group of 6. We arrived at 5:30pm, which is opening time, so we didn't have any wait and had the place to ourselves for a while. Their drinks are strong. Great bang for your buck. I had the pork slider and wow wow, it was so flavorful and tender. Would 10/10 recommend. They had these dumplings that are basically rice rolls wrapped around shrimp, which were just OK. I think I would've preferred regular dumplings. Staff were very nice and service was very attentive. I would definitely come back for post-work nosh and drinks again!

Wow! Service was awesome. Food incredible. Interior design pretty. Prices solid. The grilled flavor of the Thai basil was sooo unique & worthy of a happy dance. I literally think this Thai restaurant can have #2 spot now. If you can wow me with a completely subtle flavor than your competition & the presentation is also beautiful, you deserve a higher rank on the list! The spring rolls were great as well. I loved the touch lamps on the tables. Any restaurant that delivers a flower garden photo opp is a winner in my book. So pretty. And, any restaurant that keeps a candle lit in their bathroom values their customer experience. Lol Now, I don't know who came up with the name or if the chef is blasian, but it very much is a standout name. Haha Go, enjoy!!!

Good Thai food!! Got the Pad Sieew and In Honor of the King to share with a friend. I liked the Pad Sieew a bit more, felt the flavors were stronger. The In Honor of the King dish comes with curry rice, which I thought was pretty good. The dishes on the "Special" menu do come out a bit slower (they estimate ~30 min on the menu) so def plan ahead for that if you want to order something from that part of the menu. Service was pretty good as well :)

What a great find...we were in the area and decided to try this spot for an early weekday dinner. The place was practically empty when we arrived on a Wednesday at 5.30. We were quickly seated by our server. The place has a great vibe, and decor is done very nicely. Decided to order a couple of main dishes : curry, rice noddles and fried rice. Everything was super delicious and I have to admit, this was after a long time, I tasted the perfect silky tofu in my curry, the flavors were bold and yet hit the right taste buds. Definitely coming back here when in the area, and this is one of those spots, I'd drive down to city just to eat here :)

My new favorite go-to in the neighborhood. Where should I start? Well the food is delicious. I love the curry, and the wife gets something new every time we go. Then there's the service - which is top notch! And the decor is really pretty. A great place to take your date.

A wonderful addition to the area and great for large groups! My group was seated in the back, which put us away from the smaller parties in the front, which was great for all diners, probably. The fried chive cakes is a must-try, and I also liked their mini dumplings! For main, I got the panang curry with mock duck. So good! Menu says medium, but it was on the milder side for me. The portion size was enormous, and I had a good amount to take home. My dining companions also enjoyed their meals, including one who was trying Thai food for the first time. The restaurant is so spacious! And I always enjoy being able to see the kitchen. I also appreciated that they refilled my hot water pot for the tea I ordered.

Loved this place! Had some fun floral decor and a large space with fun seating arrangements. Our waiter was extremely kind and fast, and the food was AMAZING These portions were huge and insanely spicy (real Thai spice). Loved absolutely everything we got. Don't miss the honey pork sliders -10/10!

If you're in FiDi and looking for decent Thai food that doesn't break the bank, Lil Chef Mama is the place to go! This quaint, instagrammable restaurant was a nice break from eating takeout in our living room and only a 5-10 walk away from our apartment. Especially if you live in the 15 Cliff building, this is literally by your front door so everyone should come here. Their menu has so much and literally every Thai craving you could possibly have. My husband and I ordered: -Thai Iced Tea ($5) - not made from powder, very well balanced -Drunken Noodles aka Pad Kee Mao ($16) - big portion -Spicy Chicken Leg Chiang May Noodles ($16) - very flavorful, big portion Their kitchen is open-style with 2 dedicated chefs to work the woks (that's why the food tastes so good). Also I love how honest they are, when we walked in (it was Christmas day lol) they disclosed to us that the wait for food might be at least 30-40 mins due to the large amount of takeout orders and other seated guests there were. We weren't in a rush and just wanted to get out of the house so we opted to wait. But in reality, our food came within 15-20 mins so we were pleasantly surprised. Will definitely be back for their pad thai, pad see ew and curries. Can't wait to come back!

Serviceable but not elevated Thai food. But very cool decor and nice sake. Not bad for something quick and reliable.

The noodles had great wok hei. The only issue I had was when I was paying, I was not notified there was a 3.5% Credit Card Surcharge added to the bill. I was only shown the Total Amount and the Tax. Unfortunately, i only found out when I got home and saw the receipt.

He's Thai Food in NYC hands down. It's a hidden Gem in FiDi. Highly recommended to anyone looking for good Thai food in NYC.

Lil Chef Mama is in the crevice of a small side street, but once you step inside, the restaurant is welcoming, spacious, and beautifully decorated. The menu is straight forward and contains all the basic dishes that you would expect at a Thai restaurant, plus some specials. I asked our waitress for some recommendations and she suggested the Ba Mee Hang which is one of their special dishes. So different than what I would typically order and I enjoyed every bite! The noodles and shrimp were tossed in a garlic and fish oil sauce, so clean tasting. More of an upscale ambiance than many Thai places in NY. Would return for their tasty, shareable meals!

Nicely decorated space with delicious Thai food. I ordered the Pineapple Fried Rice with sweet sausage ($19), which was very high quality and included all the fried rice ingredients you would want including egg, pineapple, cashews, and some veggies plus raisins, which were a nice addition for a bit more sweetness. They gave a lot of sweet sausage, which was delicious. I have a very strong feeling the pineapple chunks in there were from the can though and although I personally actually find these canned pineapples to be pretty decent, it's certainly not as fresh as it would be otherwise. I also tried the Kang Dang Curry with beef ($23), which was spicy and had a great curry flavor. The bamboo was a nice addition. I got a whole coconut ($8), which offered fresh coconut juice and coconut meat. The prices here were about in line with what you'd expect. The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated with a wooden Thai style. There are fake but aesthetic flowers hanging down from overhead and an open kitchen. There is also a nice little candle kind of light at each table. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The service speed was fast. Overall, Lil Chef Mama earns a very solid 4 stars from me. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for Thai food in FiDi.