Nai brother LiC

For around $26, we got a large bowl of sauerkraut fish and two bowls of rice, which were brought to us by a little robot. The bowl was large enough for two people, so the price was very good for the portion. They also have a whole menu for bubble tea, so you can enjoy some with your meal. I got one in case the food was too spicy, but it wasn’t really spicy even at the highest level, especially compared to other similar restaurants in the city. Overall we had a cheap and enjoyable meal that I would be down to return to for casual eats.

Despite often passing by and noticing a consistent crowd of noticeably Asian customers, I never felt compelled to dine in. However, a friend's strong recommendation finally led me there, and I am so glad it did; it has since become my go to spot for both dining in and takeout. Upon walking in, you first encounter a somewhat odd bubble tea and grab and go station. However, once you enter the seating area, you discover a spacious, light filled dining space. Its high ceiling and large windows create a very expansive feel. Despite my personal aversion to direct sun, I found its bright atmosphere quite charming. Regarding the food, I have tried several soups: the Signature Sauerkraut, which I liked; the Green Pepper Sauerkraut, which was less memorable; the Sunshine Tomato, which I found too tomato-ey; and the Chili Boil, which offers a great mala kick. While some soups were not standouts, they were all perfectly fine, a matter of personal preference rather than complaint. All of them worked well with fish, though for the Chili Boil, I sometimes add beef along with a side of bean noodles. I have not yet tried the Cold Dishes, which are next on my list. Given the spiciness of many dishes, their bubble station made perfect sense as a cooling dessert. The servers and waiters have consistently been great. Like many authentic Asian restaurants, they avoid the "fake smile" approach, being direct yet efficient in their work. I appreciated their work ethic and professional, no nonsense attitude. The serving robot going around was also a cool touch (see video). A large size, in my experience, could comfortably feed two men or three women, though naturally, portion needs vary. I am always surprised at how affordable the total comes out to. I have not been to the bathroom as I am scared to see it, especially with the spicy foods and bubble tea that are offered here. I will absolutely come back, highly recommend this place, and wish it maintains its success.

Chili boil snakehead fish + added bok choy, enoki mushroom. The server could not understand English very well. Thankfully I visited with a Chinese friend who asked questions and ordered for me. The food was okay (the taste was actually good, but there wasn’t a lot of fish inside), but I had some stomach issues while eating half of the food. I usually enjoy and tolerate spicy food pretty well, so it’s probably not because it was too spicy. After reading some of the other reviews, I’m thinking there could be some other issues with the food.

Food 10/10 Probably one of the few restaurants that I frequent often and have ordered from multiple times, so definitely a rare and hidden gem. Every time, we order the classic sauerkraut fish, and can I just say that both small and large sizes are massive and will fill you right up. I always add in the glass noodles for that extra chew, and some beef slices to round out the fish. The bowl literally has every ingredient you need for a balanced meal, and even though it can be spicy, I fully view this as a healthy and balanced meal that is reminiscent of home. Atmosphere 9/10 Plenty of seating inside, and the coolest part is they have these robots that will bring the bowls out to you. There’s a lot of natural sunlight, and the tables aren’t situated too close to each other. Service 9/10 Good service, efficient, and I like the way their menu is set up.

I’ve been to a similar fish soup place in flushing before and was excited to try nai brother as it was closer to home. The food was addicting and savory. The lamb stew is a must! The meat was so tender and really soaked up the broth. The fish soup also had a nice spicy soury flavor to it and was what I was expecting.

Love the comfort food at Nai Brother LIC. The fish sauerkraut soup is tasty and spicy. This location has nice high ceiling. And the food is delivered using a robot. Great food and service.

My go-to place for spicy fish soup. Have been coming here for 10+ times alrdy. Taste amazing, great portion, and reasonable price

I don't know what kind of food it is or what part of Asia it is, but it's the worst thing I've ever tried! It has no flavor and what's worse thing you can't even ask, When I asked the waiter what's in it? or what you make with, all he says is, "Sorry no English." I don't know if this is normal or if the food supposed to look like this.

Kind, friendly, and helpful staff with delicious food. The naige Chinese sauerkraut fish was delicious and not too spicy. You can also adjust the spice level if you want it more or less spicy. Such great food! The Thai Iced was also great.

I have to admit, I was nervous about trying this place. The words "sauerkraut" and "fish" are not typically placed together on a menu, but here we are. Feeling as though I couldn't call myself a foodie without being adventurous, I didn't shy away when my friends suggested going here for lunch. It wasn't something I'd pick for myself but I'm glad I tried it! The most important thing, to me, was knowing that the sauerkraut server isn't like the sort that's served on top of hotdogs. It was pretty much just cabbage as far as I could taste. It wasn't overly sour at all. My friend and I ordered the green pepper soup with basa fish, which comes with a side of rice. It had a pleasant spice to it, the kind that hits your mouth and lips but doesn't linger too long and tingles more than burns. The fish was nice and tender with good flavor. There's also chunks of tofu and I think tofu skin included. These were a bit beyond my capacity for the day, but my friend enjoyed them. The regular sized bowl we shared was perfect to split between two people. The large was huge and provided a nice bit of leftovers for our other friend. He ordered the original soup, which had more sour flavor. The menu includes a variety of hot and cold appetizers, and many add-ons for the soups. The staff can help answer any questions that you may have, so I encourage you to give this place a try. And as a bonus: you food comes to you table on a robot!

Super awesome spot for the sour fish soup! I've been here several times and the taste is always consistent. Service is fast. I ordered extra noodles on the side and they made sure to bring the noodles in a bowl of broth to not dilute out the taste or lower the temperature of the broth. They've gotten progressively busier every time I come, which shows that people are catching on how good they are! A large bowl is good to share for 2 people. The price is reasonable.

Ate here today after work as a substitute paraprofessional at P.S. 234 Q for lunch and dinner. I had definitely ordered and ate the small basa fish chili boil that it had tasted really spicy and delicious. I managed to eat it with 2 bowls of rice and kept drinking ice cold water to alleviate the spice. The service there was also attentive, pleasant and quick. I couldn't agree more about it. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :)

Food 10/10 Probably one of the few restaurants that I frequent often and have ordered from multiple times, so definitely a rare and hidden gem. Every time, we order the classic sauerkraut fish, and can I just say that both small and large sizes are massive and will fill you right up. I always add in the glass noodles for that extra chew, and some beef slices to round out the fish. The bowl literally has every ingredient you need for a balanced meal, and even though it can be spicy, I fully view this as a healthy and balanced meal that is reminiscent of home. Atmosphere 9/10 Plenty of seating inside, and the coolest part is they have these robots that will bring the bowls out to you. There's a lot of natural sunlight, and the tables aren't situated too close to each other. Service 9/10 Good service, efficient, and I like the way their menu is set up.

Really delicious sauerkraut fish! A unique cornerstone of Chinese food. I recommend the tomato broth if you don't like spicy; the tomato really shines through in its savory, umami, but acidic flavor, and it cuts really nicely through the fish.

I think I just found my new favorite spot in LIC... So happy I don't have to go all the way to Flushing to get Nai Brother!! I came Friday around dinner time and was seated immediately, but it did start getting busy as we were eating. You choose a soup type, a protein + the size, and any additional toppings you want. We went with the Signature Sauerkraut with the Basa fish and the Chili Boil with Basa fish, both small sizes for $14.50. Each one comes with a bowl of rice. Wow it was delicious. The fish is so tender and the broth is so flavorful that the toppings soak it up so well. The sauerkraut was definitely my favorite because it had a good combination of spicy and sour, but the chili boil has that classic szechuan spice. Even though we got 2 small sizes to share, we still had so much leftover to take home. I highly recommend getting 2 flavors and sharing! This food is amazing and the price point for how much food you get makes it even better. If you have a bigger group, the large size is truly massive and you would probably still have leftovers. I'm already excited to go again!!

Sauerkraut fish is one of my favorite Sichuan dishes, and Nai Brother is my go-to spot in the neighborhood whenever I'm craving it but don't want to make the trek to Flushing. Prices are incredibly reasonable for the quantity and quality - a large size portion for 2-3 people starts at $25.95 (w/o any additional premium toppings). I always order the Signature Sauerkraut, which is very flavorful and a good balance between sour and spicy (though as a spice lover, it would be nice to have the option to make it spicier lol). It's generally pretty easy to walk in and get a table, but the waits may be longer on weekend nights. We came on a Friday night without a reservation and had to wait 30 minutes to be seated.

Authentic, efficient, and cheap - Nai Brothers serves mouth numbingly soup dishes with a wide variety of customizations. Even though we came on the weekend, we were seated quite quickly even though they quoted a 30+ minute wait. We obviously ordered the sauerkraut fish (one of my favorites), bamboo shoots, and taiwanese sausage. The flavor profile was intricate and deep - we even added extra beef, duck blood, and tripe. The only gripe that I have is that I wish it was more sour, since I prefer the sour side more-so then spicy. We couldn't finish everything and they packed it up for us neatly, which created a second meal the next day.

Amazing Chinese restaurant with good food and services. Highly Recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Food is okay, still warm and not hot enough. Doesn't taste the freshness.. love the interior decor and the window view. However, professional service is lacking. Suggestion is to arrange the small tables far from each other for the privacy. Initially I requested for window seating but received a cold response "NO" from the waitress... her explanation is that it s busy time and it s reserved for big party; but then the next couple guests came after us was able to sit there.. maybe bcz they re Chinese. . It s just unfair treatment. Should be first come first serve. "Fish for you" in Flushing has better delish dishes. I won't return.

I tried this restaurant in person and for take out. Each time the food was amazing! I'm craving it right now as I am typing this. The first time I ate their small signature sauerkraut with fish. Their soups was AWESOME! The soup is loaded with flavor and to me it's quite heavy (I love it with the rice). I ordered a small and had to share it with my fiance. We both were full after sharing the food. Their portion is big. We usually eat a lot but I can't believe a small got us full. The next 2 times I ordered the small signature sauerkraut with sliced beef the beef was tender and delicious. I think this will be my go to favorite. The service was good and they refill my glass whenever I finished my water. One other thing that stood out is that they had a robot that takes the food out to the designated table. This restaurant has plenty of seatings and is nice and clean. They also serve bubble tea.

service is good, cleanliness is good, and sauerkraut fish is very good. been here 3 times over the course of a year since their opening and im impressed the taste has seemed to only gotten better. got the green pepper sauerkraut this time but the sunshine tomato is also a fond favorite. more expensive than you can get in flushing but the huge bowls more than make up for it. dont usually review chains but im happy this location exists.

This is a great spot if you're looking for a casual dining spot in LIC that accepts walk-ins. We were seated immediately on a Wednesday evening for dinner. The menu has a good amount of options in terms of protein and soup bases. My boyfriend and I ordered two small dishes to split: The Signature Sauerkraut Fish and the Addicting Mala Beef. Each soup comes with a rice and the default "free topping" options, which are all veggies or tofu. I think it's fun when the robot-waiter comes around (these are big bowls of soup, so honestly it's safer to have the robot carry them through the restaurant), and the server unloads the bowls onto the table. Seriously, these dishes were SO delicious and really hit the spot. Between 2 of us, the two small bowls were a decent amount, and we even had leftovers. I recommend ordering two different flavors of the soup, as it helped to have one that was more on the sour side with the sauerkraut flavor and another that was more spicy. Highly recommend and you'll see me there again very soon!!

I've gone to Nai Brother a couple of times and tried various broths - their saukerkraut bases, sunsine tomato, chili boil, and heavenly mushrooms. Out of all of them, I enjoyed heavenly mushrooms the most since it's simple and hearty. The food comes out via a cute robot, which a waiter helps serve to us. Personally I think that the portion size is enough to feel mostly full but if you tend to eat a good amount I'd recommend adding more toppings to a small portion. For fun, one time I did order their large portion and finished most of it on my own.

Nai Brother has some delicious and affordable sauerkraut fish! A perfect meal for two, the Signature fish bowl has a hearty yet refreshing flavor, and also comes with a bowl of rice. Great on a day when the weather is cold or rainy, and the restaurant does not get too busy so I did not need to make a reservation in advance.

Nai brothers has and will continue to be a staple for the duration of my stay in Long Island City. Delicious punchy flavors at a reasonable price.

I love this place whenever I am craving fish! Great ratio of broth to fish and the taste always hits. Tomato is a great option if you're not feeling spicy. I also highly recommend adding noodles and spam! They have fun service robots to deliver the food which is always exciting. The place itself is very modern and of typical new modern Asian restaurants. Overall, great option for food when you are in LIC!

Ordered the signature big pot for 2 people, with bean noodles and seafood mushrooms! Was super filling and delicious. We came for dinner on a Sunday, and it was crowded but there was no wait. We also got the grass fish, I liked it, but it's not the typical sauerkraut fish -- it tasted like a mix between lamb and fish (without the lamby flavor though). Will come back for sure!

I've only ordered for takeout, but walked by here quite a few times. The place itself is pretty big, so you're bound to get a table. Also noticed robot servers and thought that was cool LOL. The items are packaged pretty well if you're considering ordering for take-out. The process of ordering is simple -- choice of soup, protein, size and any additional topping. They're known for their sauerkraut fish, so naturally I would opt for fish. Ball is in your court though and they have a vast selection of protein. I've tried the signature sauerkraut, green pepper sauerkraut and sunshine tomato as the soup base. Their signature sauerkraut and green pepper aren't drastically different from each other -- an equal combo of sour and spicy. The sunshine tomato, on the other hand, is sweeter and better for those who enjoy tomato (I don't LOL). The fish braised in this broth is tender and absorbs the flavors really well. Personally I think a small is pretty filling between 1-2 people, but you can always order a large (25$) or the add-ons. If you're looking for a comforting meal, this is your spot. I think it's well worth it for its value and even if you have leftovers, they still taste great the next day.

Such a good spot for sour broth fish! It's so worth it! The large one has a lot of food. Two large ones are probably enough for 4-6 people. They have robots running around to deliver the food as well, which is so unique. Food came out very quickly! Food is delicious and well-priced! Do expect a bit of a wait on the weekends!

*4.5/5 We were already plotting future visits mid-way thru our first -- if that's an indication for anything! Spot: Convenient to Queens Plaza / Queensboro Plaza, Nai Brother is a newer addition to the rapidly developing LIC food scene. The restaurant on a Wednesday night was vibrant w conversation (loud), bedecked with little robot carts that drive around your food (yay tech). Service: Friendly & the robots save the waitstaff a lot of manual labor. Food: We opted for THE most basic option of Signature Sauerkraut base with basa fish, large portion for two people and no additions. Came with a bowl of white rice for each person. This came out to ~$27 pre-tip/tax which is lovely bc I left quite full! The base was deliciously sour and peppery, the loveliest flavor profile, and the white fish chunks were tender. Also in the mix were some dry tofu skins, fried tofu cubes, normal tofu, seaweed knots, potato slices, and plenty of Napa cabbage.

Popular recent addition to LIC. I ordered a signature sauerkraut soup with fish for pickup. It was well-packaged, and easy to assemble at home. As others have mentioned, the food is pretty spicy (I got "least amount"), but not worse than, say, the mild level at Xi'an. The soup had a really good and unique mustardy flavor, as well as lots of fish.

Nai Brother is known for their fish but I am not a big fish person so i got their beef in the less spicy saurkraut soup. It had a very good broth with the classic mala taste without the more painful spice. The tomato soup is just not for me but everyone else loved it. I also enjoyed their tofu skin with spicy sauce so good. Keep in mind that the large size is HUGEEEEE and can feed like 3 people maybe 4 if u get enough sides and rice and toppings. Service was pretty quick since we came on a less busy day, and we liked seeing the cute robot that helps with serving. Definitely a more casual restaurant, but also very comfortable!

Came to dine in after doing take out. The quality is still great and the staff is nice. There is a robot server to carry the food but the staff places it and takes your order. They originally put down the wrong dish on my plate(not sure if I misspoke or if there was an error on their end) and they gave me pudding! The place is clean and in an accessible part of LIC. It definitely will satisfy a craving for a warming soup

Nai brother is undoubtedly one of my favorite comfort food spot in New York City. I don't usually frequent the same spot too many times but Nai Brother? I can probably eat it once a week and still crave it right after leaving Most of my friends love the Green pepper sauerkraut best. It is the least spicy out of the three sauerkraut broths on the menu so if it's your first time, you can probably start there. I personally really like the golden sauerkraut too. If you're not looking for something too heavy on the palette, I highly recommend their healthy mushroom broth too. They've recently added new menu items such as spicy duck and lamb, looking forward to trying those next time I'm back.

I always smell the Sichuan peppercorns when I walk by here so when I finally tried this place, I liked this place so much I came here two days in a row. The first time here, we shared a large green pepper sauerkraut with snakehead fish. It was really good, they had tofu puff topping. And ordered tofu skin as a side dish since I saw a review that said it was a must-get. Even though the menu made it seem like the tofu skin is spicy but it's not really. It was very tasty but not something I need every time. The second I was here, I got the small size and it seems like the toppings were different. I didn't get the tofu puffs but I had potatoes instead. I think I liked the large sizing topping better. I just like how I can get a small size here so that if in a group setting, everyone can get what they want. The service is fine. They wont keep checking on you to see what you need but they will refill your water if they didn't give you a water carafe. I saw almost all the tables had a water carafe so you would be refilling your own water. There's always someone around but I had to flag them down both times to get the check. Well, you don't get a check here, everything is in an iPad so you scan your card and tap how much you want to tip right in front of them as they're watching. There's a robot there that will bring the food from the kitchen but the servers are the ones that will set it in your table. I read a review that said to-go has smaller portion but I have not tried that yet. I tried the soup of the signature sauerkraut with pork and I liked the green pepper sauerkraut a bit more. Not exactly a fair comparison since I like fish more and I like less spicy. Green pepper sauerkraut is still spicy but I think it's manageable for me. I'm just happy there's a place like this. I would want to try the tomato one next time since I read that was good. I would want to try basa fish too since I got snakehead fish due based on employee recommendation. I came here on a sat night and a Sunday night, there were no wait both times.

Great food. Loved the cucumber salad appetizer. Thai Ice Tea was also best I've had yet.

Guys guys guys. I eat here once a week, if I didn't hold myself back I would eat here 3x a week. FYI - I do not get the sauerkraut stew I get the chili boil (the red one) and get less peppercorns. I do basa fish and add beef tripe. I share this with my boyf and it hits the spot and the pre-tip total is about $24. With an extra rice it's about $26. I'm not kidding pls go here and try this combination. It is heaven. It is crack. Surely there must be some sort of crack added. It's ok I will embrace it wholeheartedly. I LOVE YOU NAI BROS!! thank you for coming into my neighborhood and life

Alright I rarely return to update my reviews, but I've been back here like 5 times, so I definitely like it. Some recommendations: 1. Eat in. I think the portions are a lot more generous when you eat in store. 2. Come for lunch. It's never busy during lunch and the menu is identical. 3. Get the tofu skin side dish. Great portion size and great light flavor to balance the remainder of the meal.

Didn't try the signature broths since some of us couldn't eat spicy food but we did have the tomato one which was very good. It's almost like hot pot but with only fish and everything is already cooked for you. We thought the food was great, they give you a lot of it and prices were reasonable.

If you're looking for authentic Chinese sauerkraut fish, Nai brother will not disappoint! I stopped by on a weeknight and was seated promptly. I ordered the small signature - it already comes with a few other toppings (Napa cabbage, tofu, potatoes) and added enoki mushrooms. The small is large enough for 2 people. The flavor was fantastic - the perfect balance between savory and sour, with the perfect amount of spiciness.

Authentic spot in LIC. Big portions. Great value. Delicious! Service was good and the place was clean and spacious.

Food: Great spot if you're craving some Chinese food in the area. Very reasonably priced (around $28 for a large, which is plenty for 2). I always order the Duck Blood & Beef Tripe with some Beef slices add-on. It's essentially a quick, easy Mala hotpot plate. My buddy says the sauerkraut fish dish he always order is delicious too. Service: Service is great. They got a little robot server that helps bring out the hot plates. Ambiance: Big restaurant right by Court Square. Clean. Would definitely come back.

Such a great addition to the LIC community. This place has great food for a great price. I'm personally a huge fan of this dish so I was thrilled that they opened in the neighborhood. We ordered the sunshine tomato and signature sauerkraut base. Added beef to the tomato and fish to the signature. Honestly, fish is the way to go. Super fluffy and soaks up all the flavor of the soup. You can also order add ons if you want more variety. Service here is fast and no frills. Sometimes hard to catch, but as long as you get someone, they do everything quickly. A cute robot comes to help serve you food. Wait times here can be on the longer side if you come during dinner time. I don't think a reservation is necessarily needed though. Make sure not to wear white while you're here! The soup will definitely splash.

We visited on a weekday night and were able to get seated immediately. We ordered the Signature Sauerkraut and it was so yummy! The portions are huge -- I shared a small bowl with one other person and we were both so full by the end. Overall, I definitely recommend; I will be coming back very soon!

Came with a group of four and were immediately sat down. Got the green pepper and signature flavors and both were so flavorful and rich with spices. We chose two meats for of the soup base flavors. Definitely recommend doing two meats if sharing with two people, and maybe even adding a 2-3 more toppings. Both the broths were delicious, but would say if you are sensitive to spice to go with the green pepper one.

A fantastic lunch with friends! The restaurant is small, but has plenty of seating. Service is quick as well. We shared two large bowls for 4 people and had extra leftover. My favorite broth is the sauerkraut special. Can't go wrong with the beef or cuttlefish fish! Each soup comes with rice to enjoy.

We had a wonderful dining experience at Nai Brother's in January! The seafood combo was absolutely delicious, and the lovely company made it a truly special evening.

Food is amazing not too spicy at first but it build up recommend the Basa fish really soft and tasty. Lemon green tea accompanied well with the food. Service not half bad restaurant really clean and comfortable to sit for long food meal and eat with family.

The portion of the food is huge and the food itself is quite good! These drinks we ordered are nice but the yogurt drink is too sweet for me even I ordered 30% sugar. The waitress is friendly and efficient. I am bit concerned about the clean level of the restaurant since I saw a cockroach on the wall during my lunch time. There weren't lots of people at that time the music is a bit too loud for me but not disturbing.

My favorite spot for sauerkraut fish in the city! Affordable and so delicious--the broth is rich and flavorful, and the fish is tender and perfectly cooked. I could eat endless bowls of rice with this. Highly recommend for a comforting, satisfying meal! And the Soy bean milk is must have.

Got a large pot and it was enough for 3 people (comes with two rice bowls). I tried the signature broth at first and it was super spicy and numbing so if you can't handle spice well get the broth with one pepper (both are super delicious). It comes with a lot of add ons already but I also added thick noodles and it was great. Service is good and there's a friendly robot that brings the food to you. Highly recommend.

Great to try, and if you know and love this hero dish you are bound to really enjoy it. The green pepper is best for those new to the dish. Great flavor although slightly overpowering, even for those accustomed to Sichuan peppercorn. Service was fine. Overall the space felt that it needed a deep clean and better general upkeep. It was tidy, but most surfaces were dusty or a bit dirty, and worn.

My usual spot for lunch in LIC after climbing nearby. Very fast service and consistent quality of food. It's a simple concept of picking a soup flavor and adding a protein, then they do the rest; rice is included too, make sure to pour the broth over the rice to finish your meal! Typically during the day time it's typically not very busy so you can always get a seat, but it does get busy in the evenings on weekends.

Service good . Fish in sour seasoning is delicious. Environment is nice. But might need to wait for a bit longer during the weekend.

Came here for an impromptu dinner on a Friday night without a reservation, which resulted in a 1.5 hr wait to get our party of 3 seated. We ordered a signature sauerkraut (招牌老壇酸菜) and a duck blood & beef tripe (江湖毛血旺) to share and everything was so perfectly cooked and flavorful. If you are afraid of spicy food, then perhaps shy away from ordering duck blood & beef tripe as it can get quite spicy! In fact, I craved it so much I ordered takeout after 2 days from them - tried the sunshine tomato and added duck blood as well as seaweed knots to add some texture. The broth was so rich and I absolutely LOVE it!!! If you happen to be close to Nai Brother, will personally recommend stopping by to give it a try!

***Delicious Food, Good Service, Spacious*** The food tasted very delicious and fresh. The menu was easy to understand and we were able to order quickly. Service was good; although several times I had trouble getting the waiters' attentions. I would definitely come back here again. I especially liked that the food was delivered on a cat machine; very cute.

Love Nai Bros. Big fan of the green peppercorn fish, signature fish, and mushroom based broths. Large size is good for 2 people to get full on. Good appetizers love the tofu