Wayla

"Wayla is an LES spot that has perpetual birthday party energy. It’s dark and dungeon-like, your cocktail will contain at least one piece of fruit or flora, and there’s a beautiful backyard you could put on a postcard and send to someone abroad. The food here—like the crispy fried chunks of branzino, slightly sweet noodles spilling out of a lobster’s head, and noodle-wrapped meatballs—will always make you feel just the right amount of deluxe. Come with a few friends, and dinner will essentially be a party with better catering than at most birthday parties, weddings, and first communions." - bryan kim, hannah albertine, nikko duren, arden shore, will hartman

"In terms of outdoor dining, Wayla outshines nearly every other restaurant in the neighborhood. This Lower East Side spot has a beautiful back garden filled with plants, wicker furniture, and twinkling string lights. The next time you want to make it seem as if you know about cool things, bring a group here and share a bunch of Thai food. Order the crispy fried chunks of branzino, the slightly sweet noodles spilling out of a lobster’s head, and the crunchy noodle-wrapped meatballs." - neha talreja, bryan kim, nikko duren, molly fitzpatrick

"Just because you can’t eat Wayla’s whole fried branzino, wok-fried string beans, or spicy shrimp on the idyllic back patio right now, doesn’t mean you have to wait to enjoy these excellent Thai dishes. Order delivery or takeout from this LES spot online and throw in a $5 lunch box for a neighbor in need." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, bryan kim, arden shore, matt tervooren

"Wayla’s space outshines nearly every other restaurant in the neighborhood. The dark dining room connects to a beautiful back garden filled with plants, wicker furniture, and twinkling string lights. The next time the weather’s nice and you want to appear cool and in-the-know, make a reservation for the backyard, then bring a few friends for some shareable Thai dishes. The food—like the crispy fried chunks of branzino, slightly sweet noodles spilling out of a lobster’s head, and crunchy noodle-wrapped meatballs—will always make you feel just the right amount of deluxe." - bryan kim, kenny yang, carina finn koeppicus, neha talreja, will hartman

"Wayla’s idyllic backyard has one of the most unique setups in the city, with rubber plants, oversized chairs, and outdoor rugs. It’s one of Manhattan's best options for groups, because you’ll want to try everything on the menu. Get the wok-fried shrimp with Southern Thai chili paste, the whole fried branzino, and the saucy, sweet rice noodles accompanied by a whole lobster. The portions are big, but everything's so good that you probably won’t be taking home any leftovers. " - hannah albertine, neha talreja, bryan kim