NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston)

Thai restaurant · Evanston

NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston)

Thai restaurant · Evanston

1

1622 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

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NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null
NaKorn Urban Thai (Evanston) by null

Highlights

NaKorn Thai serves up inventive dishes and creative cocktails in an eclectic, stylish space, making it a must-visit for food lovers in Evanston.  

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1622 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

nakornkitchen.com
@nakornkitchen

$$ · Menu

Reserve

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1622 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

+1 847 733 8424
nakornkitchen.com
@nakornkitchen

$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 9, 2025

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"Expand your knowledge of Thai food at NaKorn, which eschews common dishes like pad thai and Panang curry in favor of blue crab over rice noodles and Northern Thai herb sausage. The beautifully presented plates are meant to be shared and the friendly staff will guide you through the menu to explain how much to order. Pair your meal with a Bangkok mule featuring housemade kaffir lime-infused vodka. Make a reservation through OpenTable." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff

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Sofia Quintana Baez

Google
Now, this is absolutely delicious Thai food. The flavors were PHENOMENAL. Not a single thing I ate was overpowering. The creativity and presentation was carefully thought out. All of the ambiance and service was super classy and I really enjoyed the live guitar music. All of the front of the house was super knowledgeable of the menu and the specials. Kudos to all of the employees there. It was perfect. A wow experience. If you are a foodie, please try this place out. It's worth EVERY penny. Just fantastic.

Sarah Sauerteig

Google
Celebrated my birthday here with family and was really impressed with the food, service, and overall vibe. Definitely high end Thai fusion with a vegan friendly menu and a large non alc menu. Everything was delicious and it was really enjoyable.

Cathy Bauer

Google
Went here with business associates. Awesome service. Very creative menu and gorgeous plating. Generous portions. Delicious pairings of flavors. Can't wait to back with a new crew of people.

Kali W

Google
This is probably one of the best dinners and desserts I’ve ever had, but it’s not just about the food it’s about the atmosphere and service. Rush, Marc, Djon, Boeing and everyone else were all so kind, welcoming, explained the dishes well, had great recommendations and made you feel at home. You can tell they are passionate about what they do. The bourbon popcorn chicken appetizer was my absolute favorite, so crunchy, flavorful and not filling, the tapioca crackers with the delicious sauce is addicting I couldn’t stop eating it, and the brussel sprouts are very good as well. The duck confit was spectacular, the curry sauce was delicious and the duck was juicy and flavorful. The tofu pad thai which is originally the king prawn was full of flavor, so many great textures and just all around each food complimented each other. Definitely try their mixed drinks, they’re so delicious and refreshing. But this experience wouldn’t have been the same if it weren’t for the amazing service. We will definitely be back. 💕

Harsh Rawal

Google
Delicious Thai food with a creative twist. Drinks were pretty straightforward just like most bars but the staff was attentive. Great flavors to all the apps and entrees.

Rebecca Fyffe

Google
Why hasn’t NaKorn Thai restaurant won awards for the whimsy and beauty of its interior design? It deserves them. Pass through the cerulean curtains into the dining room and you’re greeted by a portrait of Thailand’s King Rama IX rendered in the style of Mao-era propaganda posters. It’s stunning. The bar is made of antique abacuses, yes, the calculating instrument that uses beads on rods to represent decimal places. And abacuses appear elsewhere in the dining room, too. The table bases are the legs and treadles of vintage sewing machines. A flock of bird cages turned into chandeliers lights the dining room. If you’re a design buff, this is a destination restaurant just to take in the decor. Our meal was delicious. The whole fried branzino was so fresh that I ate every part of it, the eyes, the cheeks, the tongue, reducing the head to a pile of splinters. My favorite dish was the turmeric-coconut blue crab curry noodles. Each team member who visited our table shared stories about the origin of each dish and the inspiration behind the decor. Service was extraordinary. NaKorn Thai restaurant 1622 Orrington Avenue in Evanston

Amy Landolt

Google
The food was scrumptious and beautifully plated. The tapioca crackers shimmer! SWEET POTATO CROQUETTES- so good! We ended up getting a second order. If you can, order dishes to share family style so you can try more things. Best of all I appreciate things they do to support our community. I’ll be back soon.

Ankit Chainani

Google
10 on 10 So goad i picked this place for some innovative thai food. Best part is family run and they dont compromise on qualityz Delicious food with some great service Be it cocktails or beers both were fantastic Now coming to food: pop corn chicken, papaya salad For mains: we got coconut curry with chicken Absolutely loved it I domt remember the dessert but it was something like vegan cake and it was so good Ask server about that

Wally W.

Yelp
NaKorn is where colonial Thailand vibes meet modern flair--and it's got a story to match! Picture this: Two incredible women owners not only built the place themselves (yes, including the stunning bar made of abacuses) but also created the Bangkok street scene mural and a hand-drawn map of the city. Now, let's talk service--impeccable. From the friendly host who upgraded our table to the server who answered all of our questions about the restaurant's history, we were in great hands the entire night. But the real star? The food. We started with shrimp in a deliciously tangy Tom Yum broth, then moved on to a chicken curry that was next-level. This isn't your typical Thai food--it's elevated in all the right ways. And dessert? Wow. It's called "A Trip Down Memory Lane" and let me tell you, it's a journey. A frozen croissant topped with coconut ice cream, shredded frozen egg yolk (yes, really), and gold flakes! The host explained it's a twist on a classic Southeast Asian street food, and honestly, I'm still dreaming about it. We were so well taken care of, and the food was so amazing, we're already plotting our return visit--like, now.

matt k.

Yelp
There are a lot of things I can look past when eating out, like the restaurant being too busy forcing me to sit outdoors. Or the fact that our food came out 40 minutes after we ordered it, or that the couple who came after us got their food in less than half the time that we did. But the one thing that I cannot look past, is horrible tasting food at this price point. The tapioca crackers dip was delicious, but it all went downhill from there. We got the angus beef with bah mi noodles, sauteed tiger prawn and thin rice noodles, and the coconut curry braised chicken. The chicken was super dry, and the flavors on everything else was very bland. The staff was friendly, but that wasn't enough to make me feel good about what was easily the worst Thai food I've had in my life. I don't enjoy writing bad reviews, but there's nothing that makes me more sad than paying for food that tastes worse than what I can find at a fast food drive-thru. 10/10 would not recommend.

louis S.

Yelp
Great meals again. Love going out and trying new foods and this place never fails to please. The staff makes you feel welcome, live guitar music tonight too.

Liz B.

Yelp
Creative cocktails, lovely staff, and delicious food. I come here once or twice a month for lunch. It's a charming restaurant and definitely worth a visit. They take care to serve quality food with a thoughtful presentation.

Danelle F.

Yelp
This place is a delicious local treasure. My husband and I have been twice for date night. We took our teens for a birthday dinner yesterday. We typically eat vegan, but eat fish on occasion. The branzino and arctic char are both delicious. The lump crab rice noodle curry dish is amazing. The dessert with cotton candy was mind blowing. Everything is beautifully presented. A good date night place. Beautiful space with great ambiance. They have nice seating outside as well.

Emily H.

Yelp
We had a great experience last night. We told our server it was our first time there. He walked us through the menu. He recommended different appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Popcorn chicken was very good with an interesting sauce that we enjoyed. The tapioca crackers were really unique and unlike anything I'd ever had. Really unique and good. We had the char, chicken, and duck entrees. All were very good. The rice came on the side which was nice. They have a special dessert that only available on Friday and Saturday nights. Very good. Light and refreshing. With mango, mousse, a light meringue and the description doesn't come close to doing it justice. From the minute you walk in the hosts are friendly and welcoming and walking out you're thanked for coming and invited back. Overall superb experience.

Anne Marie H.

Yelp
I went here for the first time for dinner because I was drawn to the vegan options. Although there are only a few, what I ordered was delicious! They had an appetizer special of sweet potato croquettes. The order arrived with 4 small pieces, but since they had the perfect combination of texture and flavor, I felt like I wasn't missing out. For the main entrée, I ordered their tofu and chard curry, which came with a small serving of jasmine rice. Everything tasted amazing! I truly appreciated the flavor and texture combinations. The curry had a tiny bit of spice, which enhanced the dish. The service was also excellent. The staff was professional and courteous. They made us feel welcomed and well taken care of tonight! They kept an eye on filling our water for us, even though the carafe was on our table. Meals were brought out with perfect timing. The atmosphere was trendy and traditional at the same time. The restaurant was warm and cozy and the music was at a comfortable level. Will be back!!!

Rebecca F.

Yelp
Why hasn't NaKorn Thai restaurant won awards for the whimsy and beauty of its interior design? It deserves them. Pass through the cerulean curtains into the dining room and you're greeted by a portrait of Thailand's King Rama IX rendered in the style of Mao-era propaganda posters. It's stunning. The bar is made of antique abacuses, yes, the calculating instrument that uses beads on rods to represent decimal places. And abacuses appear elsewhere in the dining room, too. The table bases are the legs and treadles of vintage sewing machines. A flock of bird cages turned into chandeliers lights the dining room. If you're a design buff, this is a destination restaurant just to take in the decor. Our meal was delicious. The whole fried branzino was so fresh that I ate every part of it, the eyes, the cheeks, the tongue, reducing the head to a pile of splinters. My favorite dish was the turmeric-coconut blue crab curry noodles. Each team member who visited our table shared stories about the origin of each dish and the inspiration behind the decor. Service was extraordinary. NaKorn Thai restaurant 1622 Orrington Avenue in Evanston

Elma L.

Yelp
True gem! I usually don't like Thai, bus this place is special. Everything is always tasty. Waiters are polite and don't interrupt in the middle of conversation. I feel good coming and bringing our guests here. Great restaurant.

Candace D.

Yelp
AMAZING food! Service fantastic! Literally 10 of 10. We had papaya salad, lettuce wraps, chicken curry and braised beef noodles. Everything was beyond expectations!

Steve A.

Yelp
Got to this place at lunch for Asian fusion. It's a tired cuisine concept for sure, but they do it good. NaKorn is one of the many places in Evanston to get this kind of stuff. Mostly it focuses on Thai such as noodles and stuff with coconut. The prices aren't bad for the usually great quality. At lunch things are a bit cheaper. It's the main reason we came at this time. There's also plenty of good vegan and vegetarian choices and lots of spicy stuff or whatever. It's about $12 for a cocktail. There's a good amount of Asian inspired ones. Among these is the Bangkok Mule. This was made with kaffir lime infused vodka. Crisp and refreshing. The food is kind of pricey, which is the only bad thing. It's about $16 for an entree. The vegetarian choices include the Crispy Rice With Iceberg Wedge. A lame name but it was good. This had chili lime dressing, ginger, peanuts, shallots, tofu noodles, and white jelly mushrooms. Had some good just slightly Americanized Thai food. It's pretty authentic to be honest. The lunch is a good time to come and try some of the recently brought back menu, which has plenty of options for meat eaters as well as vegans and vegetarians.

Maya Y.

Yelp
I sat down at this place by myself while I was exploring downtown Evanston. Truth be told, it was recommended to me by a couple of colleagues. I ordered their pad thai w/ tofu and a Thai iced tea - both of which were delectable. I'd go with a friend and try one of their curries next time.

Michelle H.

Yelp
Partner and I were talking about how we're definitely coming back for future date nights here. The food is really good. Ordered northern thai sausage for an app, coconut chicken curry and the duck noodle soup for our entrees. The thai sausage app is really yummy and fun - like a Thai charceuterie coming with one sausage, egg plant relish, sticky rice, an assortment of fresh veggies and fried pork skins. You mix and match the flavors, really fun, & reminds me of how they give you fresh garlic cloves and peppers on the side to eat with your dishes in SE Asia. Coconut curry was great - chicken is tender and flavorful in the curry; it cones with these fried noodle strips on top that add a really nice texture to the dish. My partner's duck noodle soup was amazing too, the broth is *really* well done, the duck leg the soup comes with is so tender and falls apart at the bone, and the dish even comes with a cute vial of chili vinegar that kicks up the flavor a notch when you want a little spicy acid. The ambiance is classy and modern. Really a nice hip place. The waiters & waitresses are all well dressed & charismatic too. Service is really, really good. My only regret is not trying the dessert (they said they had an in house pastry chef!) or fried fish I saw coming out, but hey next time. Perfect date night. We'll be back with the parents next time!

Michelle G.

Yelp
My brother and I love love loved this place. The tapioca crackers which I'd read about in reviews was So Good and I highly recommend you eat it. My brother was hoping I wouldn't like it so he could eat it all but we both loved it. We also really loved the lemongrass panna cotta as dessert. We enjoyed this meal a lot and the food was so fun and yummy. The service was also great and I appreciated how welcoming the staff was. I have recommended this spot to my friends in Evanston and talked about how great this place is. Also, the decor and interior is very cute.

Jae Yun H.

Yelp
Overall a 3/5 experience. The food was delicious although the coconut chicken curry was not very warm (despite it being my favorite flavor wise). The dishes were great in flavor and I also liked the falling for you dessert. We also the got the sodas but they were not on the sweet side and lacked flavor. Quick note on service: the waiter asked us to leave 2 minutes after paying our check, despite the fact that it was 6:10 and we had a 5:30 reservation (we arrived at 5:15). A bit off putting and not the best way to end our meal.

Melissa W.

Yelp
My husband and I had a fabulous meal at NaKorn. The food was flawless. The service was attentive. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the decor and the lively dining room. From the front door until we walked out, we were treated beautifully. We'll be back!

Anne P.

Yelp
We are outside and received Very attentive service. The coconut curry shrimp dish was delicious. It was our first time and I'd definitely return.

Frank T.

Yelp
$.5 stars for this amazing place. The service was spot on 5 stars. got seated right away. the men was explained right off the bat. We ordered cocktails they were amazing. We also had the GF cracker w an incredible peanut sauce. The cracker was tapioca crisps. the sauce was a killer. Wife had the branzino which was nice a crispy. Needed some kind of salsa or something to spice it up a bit. The duck noodle were huge. A quarter - thigh and drum with a nice broth with egg noodles and mushroom and veggies. Really filling. The killer though was the honey and tea GF dessert. We almost licked the bowl it was soooo good. Everybody was friendly like going to a cheers bar.

Miranda H.

Yelp
Everything about this place is amazing! It's no wonder why my students begged to come here. I advise some Northwestern students, and as a celebratory dinner they wanted to come here. Everything from the food to the service was outstanding. First of all, Mark is absolutely phenomenal and offered impeccable service during the duration of our experience. He tended to our table as much as possible and had a fun attitude. He even took steps to tell us interesting facts about the restaurant and it's history. 10/10 on Mark alone! Outside of that, the rest of the staff was wonderful as well. Food was absolutely delicious and quick. Came here as a party of 7 and every single one of us loved what we got! Some got the chicken curry, some got the blue crab meat curry (see pic), and someone got an eggplant stir fry dish. We also got the popcorn chicken and Brussels sprouts appetizers... GET THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS!!!! The atmosphere of this place was so nice as well. Very modern and trendy with personalized easter eggs from the owners (thanks for the trivia, Mark). Very nice decore and would serve as a great date spot. No complaints whatsoever, I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it

Geoff S.

Yelp
The service here is top-notch. From the greeter, to the busser, to our server. Everyone was helpful and attentive, but also knew when to give us some space. The food was really good -- I really liked the sweet potato croquettes; a unique twist on this appetizer. Last night was our first time there, but we'll definitely be back!

Ethan Y.

Yelp
[NaKorn] A traditional / contemporary mixed Thai restaurant in Evanston. There is an amazing article about the owners and the start of the restaurant that I will link below. https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/08/03/nakorn-urban-thai-has-unique-food-and-a-big-heart/ This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Evanston. I should be sponsored / get to try their new items the amount of times I've been here and recommended people to come Who's to say you can't start with dessert. This aesthetic was too good to not use as the first photo. 1. Dessert aesthetic (see slide 4 & 5) 2. Braised Duck with egg noodles 3. Crispy Rice, Iceberg Wedge 4. The Kiss of Venus 5. Rice Pudding 6. Sautéed tiger prawn and thin rice noodle (favorite item) 7. Coconut curry braised chicken Overall, I think this place is super aesthetic, good vibes, good food, and best of all it's relatively cheap. I will have to say from personal opinion that recent times I've been I've been somewhat disappointed in the food such as the Braised duck noodle and the crispy rice iceberg wedge. The desserts were insanely good and well plated. Overall, 10/10. @nakornkitchen please sponsor me and let me taste test your new experiment menu items https://nakornkitchen.com 1622 Orrington Ave Evanston, IL 60201

Edwin K.

Yelp
What went well? Food service ambience all three This is no ordinary Thai restaurant Unique with stunning flavors

Maria B.

Yelp
This place is absolutely amazing. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a smile. We sat at the bar and the bartender was phenomenal! She gave us amazing recommendations. Everything from the drinks, apps, and desserts were out of this world. The ambiance inside is also such a nice factor. Would recommend a MILLION percent to anyone!! You will NOT be disappointed

Shen Y.

Yelp
If the cheerful environment made me happy, the awesome food really made my day. We ordered a fried fish, shrimp noodles and fried tofu. The shrimp noodles instantly recalled my pleasant memories of Phuket island! Definitely I will go there again

Ash T.

Yelp
This place had interesting menu items but ultimately the execution didn't make it past slightly above mediocre. We tried several appetizers, cocktails, wine, and a main dish and everything that arrived in the table was missing that something something. Chicken wraps were way too spicy. In fact almost everything was too spicy. I'm not a spruce wimp, but it just didn' seem like the heat was wielded appropriately here. Coconut curry chicken was very disappointing. I tasted no coconut and the chicken was not Asian style chicken at all. It was three bland chicken breasts that were so dry and unappetizing that even though they were swimming in the curry sauce they had no flavor. Cocktails left something to be desired in spite of their very creative ambition. Also the service got scant at the end when the restaurant got busy.

Barb L.

Yelp
Came back after our last visit and found several new delicacies. Same great service and food!

Breanne P.

Yelp
Best restaurant on the north shore - ambience, service and food are top notch! Our fav spot to bring guests to impress!

Susan F.

Yelp
This is not a typical Thai restaurant. Very creative and interesting flavors. Brought a couple friends recently who had never been here before. They are true Asian food aficionado, and Thai is their favorite. We shared three appetizers and three main courses. They were blown away at each dish. In addition togreat food, the services is excellent! Highly recommend!!!!

Karen C.

Yelp
First time at Nakorn and I felt like I was in Thailand, Nakorn has a wonderful subtle authentic Thai vibe, making the ambiance of the place just lovely. And the food OMG it is the most delicious authentic Thai food, I have had and reminded me so much of eating in Thailand The Angus Beef Bah Mi is out of this world, wonderfully delicious, the beef so tender and flavorsome, it was heaven in a bowl and the butter cake dessert OMG so good. As well as great food, their service is very impressive, they are friendly, welcoming and attentive too. I can't wait to explore more of their menu - they really do know how to do Thai food

Thomas Z.

Yelp
I went to Nakorn with my wife and friends and absolutely loved it! The service was friendly and attentive, and the price point was reasonable as well. I look forward to my next visit!

Jennifer F.

Yelp
What an amazing dining experience! Very welcoming, excellent service, absolutely delicious food, and live music that was enjoyable but not too loud. Highly recommend. Great with food allergies. Menu clearly labeled and waiter knowledgeable.

Genna G.

Yelp
Worth the trip from the city to this lively restaurant with unique and delicious Thai style cuisine. All items are pretty creative and you will not find the typical menu items you may be used to seeing at most standard Thai restaurants. We didn't mind paying the 40$ deposit for a reservation at this bustling, upbeat, feel good little restaurant to ensure a table ( it's a deposit so if you show up you will get your money back), Great service and great food. Prices were fair. Loved the live music too. We shared a bunch of dishes which was definitely the way to go: Braised Short rib- very good Bourbon Popcorn shrimp- overly fried- not my favorite Papaya Salad - delicious Pan Seared Sea Scallops- great but tiny portion Coconut Poached Seafood - loved this !!!! Duck with noodles - great! Desserts were good too - we shared a chocolate cake covered in raspberry and marshmallow topping and a coconut pudding Overall an excellent meal and a great choice when in Evanston and even for those not scared to venture out for an evening away from the city to go to a restaurant in cute downtown Evanston. I definitely recommend this restaurant for the adventurous eater and will return

Kayla B.

Yelp
Just moved to Chicago and have been looking for a Thai inspired restaurant exactly like this one. They served similar food and flair to our favorite restaurant in Portland, OR where we just moved from. Service was great, food and cocktails were amazing. Every dish we ordered was better than the next. We can't wait to go back!

Leaht F.

Yelp
Yes, please! My husband and I looove this place! The owners are so sweet and the food is amazing! The popcorn chicken is delicious, and the atmosphere is super cute. In the summer they have live music in front; can't wait to go back when the weather warms up.

Soowook L.

Yelp
Menu was a little different from a typical thai restaurant but it was very delicious. I had thai food many times in ny and long island but food here was at least or might be better than the ones from NY. Strongly recommend.

Grace R.

Yelp
Lovely restaurant. Impeccable attention to detail. The presentation of everything is top notch. The food is amazing as well. The desserts were above and beyond. Every corner of the dining room beholds something beautiful and either hand-made or curated and imported from Thailand. Every detail has a story that the owners are happy to tell. The sights aren't the only thing to behold here - the food is fantastic as well. Our favorites were the fall-off-the-bone braised pork shank and jumbo lump crab meat with noodles. Also good enough to order a second round - Coriander Crispy Shredded Beef Brisket, yum! Fantastic! We highly recommend and we will be back! The desert was worth dying for!

Yuzhen L.

Yelp
Nice environment Creative dishes A little bit expensive, but worth the price Waiters are nice

Kholby K.

Yelp
I never write reviews, but when you visit a place that hits all of the marks it has to be done. My partner and I came to Evanston for a show last night and wanted to grab dinner beforehand. After narrowing down our choices, we landed on NaKorn. When we walked in we were greeted by super friendly staff and a gorgeous low-light ambiance, complete with a unique attention to detail that I'll let you notice when you come to visit. Drinks: My partner stuck with a gin martini and I had the White Tail. Both were well portioned and delicious! Dinner: We shared four of their bites: the vegetarian scallops (out of this world. I am weary about mushrooms sometimes but they were my favorite of the night), fried tofu (the attention to detail in plating these was amazing, and the dressing delicious), the ginger bourbon popcorn chicken (a last minute add on for us but delicious and balanced the meal out), and the poached tiger prawns (I don't eat shrimp, but my partner raved about them. I ate the broth over some sticky rice and was impressed). Dessert: we had the "you asked for it", a vegan chocolate cake with Turkish cotton candy and a coconut cream sauce. I'm probably forgetting something here, but it was divine. For their pastry chef to work so hard on a vegan dessert was sweet to hear , and they certainly deserve all the praise on this one. We also finished the night with a digestif, which was neat to see on a dessert menu. I wasn't expecting it, but love that addition. Service: Okay, you don't get better service anywhere else. We met Rush, Marc, and one of the owners (I am so sorry that I didn't catch your name!!) We didn't wait long at all for our food, there was plenty of fun conversation with everyone, and we felt taken care of the entire time. My partner and I are former/current service industry folks so we're understanding if something goes wrong, isn't perfect, etc, but genuinely we were blown away by the entire experience from every turn. Living over an hour away, I want to make a special trip out here and take others to experience this level of dining because it was just that amazing. Spots like this deserve recognition far beyond a positive yelp review and I hope they continue to crank out some of the most delicious food and hospitality I've ever experienced. I hope you'll give this spot a chance if you haven't because it won't take long before you're planning your next night out to NaKorn.

Margaret M.

Yelp
Thoroughly enjoyed dinner with spouse here. We lucked out to live music too. Everything about Nakorn is great; it's clean, service is fantastic and the food.... Amazing! We enjoyed sweet potato croquettes (light, airy, just the right touch of sweetness), lettuce wraps, and mains of curried chicken and jumbo blue crab. The cocktails were soooooo good and we also enjoyed the "You Asked for it" dessert. Highly recommend!!!

Hannah Y.

Yelp
Lovely restaurant on the upscale end in downtown Evanston! The atmosphere and decor is very cozy and matched with warm service. Food-wise, everything tasted good -- particularly the braised duck with egg noodles (such an interesting broth! the flavor reminded me of Chinese pork floss) and coconut-curry braised chicken (topped with delicious crispy sweet potato). The curry was delicious, but the chicken was a little dry. The ginger bourbon popcorn chicken was recommended to us as a starter, and while it was tasty, it was less unique and personally I felt that it could be skipped. Similarly, the chocolate cake with housemade marshmallow fluff was good, but the richness of the chocolate didn't seem evenly distributed throughout the cake (which wasn't served warm) and didn't stand out to me as a dessert. Overall, very nice dining experience and I'd revisit -- but definitely pricier for students. Dined: November 11, 2022

Anastasia P.

Yelp
The food was absolutely incredible, and our server, Bojan, was incredibly sweet and attentive.

Crystal C.

Yelp
Good food and service. Total dining experience was pleasant. I went with my husband for lunch and decided to try off the reviews I read.

Ivy Y.

Yelp
I've been recommending the restaurant to friends. We got pad Thai and smoked white fish fried rice! I loved how the pad Thai was not too sweet and had great flavors. The food was high quality, fresh, and definitely will eat there again. Price is so reasonable for the upscale ambience. The manager Mark was so nice too!

Jennifer D.

Yelp
Items are overpriced and are not authentic to taste, but an ok place to take someone for the ambience if you're in the area. Walking in I really enjoyed the warm lighting and aesthetics of the many lamps. We came in on the weekend, and there was also live music if that's something you're looking for. Upon getting seated we were offered sparkling or regular water. Later on they brought out Perrier and of course this is an additional charge. I've been to places where they offer complimentary sparkling water and was disappointed they were not more transparent about prices. - The duck egg noodle was good, as was the vinegar Thai chili dressing, but it wasn't very filling and there was so little sauce for a $22 dish. - The coconut poached seafood was very watered down, bland, and without much substance even on appearance. Again, for a dish that is nearly $30. (I read some reviews praising this dish, and I refuse to believe we had the same meal.) - The coconut braised curry was ok, but could've used more chili and lime for my taste. The plating was also not favorable for such a soupy dish and made it look like there was more than there actually was. - The big fish was underwhelming in size. I appreciated the deboning and the presentation out of all the dishes, but its portion size was ultimately a let down and left us a bit hungry for something that was more than $30. The kale salad included with this dish felt a little out of place. - The popcorn chicken was satisfying and fair. Moving on to service, I sort of touched on the lack of communication when it came to pricing but we also felt a bit uncomfortable as the staff checked on us almost too frequently attempting to take dishes off that we were still working on. When it comes down to pricing I am totally fine with paying more for my food. However in this case the price did not correlate with the proportions nor the taste. I understand that ingredients may be locally sourced, but I've ate at other establishments where they pull it off better. In this case, the presentation was subpar and the flavors were bland, lacking the depth and level of spice, zest, and herbs that make Thai food so unique and flavorful. If the goal is to present a modern take on Thai food in a fine dining setting, perhaps there should be a coursed menu where dishes can be made with more intent. Otherwise, these flavors and portion sizes do not correlate.

Sabrina C.

Yelp
The staff in NaKorn are so nice! They always make sure they have speedy service and good conversation. The food is absolutely delicious. My favorite dish here that I've gotten several times now is their Coconut Curry Braised Chicken. I would highly recommend NaKorn!

Andrew W.

Yelp
Possibly the best food and drinks we have had in Chicago area. There is one other place downtown that might be better but we have tried 75+ places in our four years here and NaKorn was shockingly perfect. Inventive drinks that had creative ingredients. Drinks tasted familiar yet unique. Food was awesome. Great options for my vegan Fiancé in addition to flavorful traditional options. Our bartender/server was very helpful, fast, and talented. The chefs were keeping up with a full restaurant while maintaining perfection.

F G.

Yelp
Nakorn consistently provides excellent service and delicious creative dishes. I truly enjoy every time I dine here with family or friends.

Lani C.

Yelp
Before I dive in, check the website for the most recent menu items. Even if the dishes people post on Yelp are no longer being offered, I have no doubt whatever menu they have running at the time will be phenomenal. Easily at the top of my Evanston picks! This isn't your typical Thai that you may be accustomed to. Every dish is colorful, flavorful, and elevated beyond your corner pad thai and green curry. Service is attentive and accommodating, and presentation is beautiful. - Chicken Lettuce Wraps - just a hint of spicy that mixes well with the acidic flavors, great appetizer to start - Sautéed Tiger Prawn and Thin Rice Noodle - noodles are chewier than typical pad thai, but I personally really enjoyed it. I'm usually not the biggest fan of pad thai because the sauce is almost always too heavy and strong, but this one hit the spot perfectly - Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken - the chicken was just okay for me, but that curry is A+. So creamy with a bit more sweetness than expected, and amazing with the jasmine rice - Violet Lemonade Soda - okay, first of all, beautiful drink- almost didn't want to disturb it! Would have liked a little less tartness, but still very refreshing

Julie L.

Yelp
Just wonderful. Terrific, attentive service and the duck confit was absolutely perfect. Next time I'm in the area I'll go there again, no question.