“Where should we brunch?” is the never ending plight of the New York City millennial.
You want a spot that’s trendy yet cozy with delicious food that won’t totally shatter your budget. It must be loud enough so that neighboring tables can’t ease drop on your “what am I doing with my life?” conversations. But quiet enough that said conversations can be had without resorting to smiles and nods when you can’t imagine yelling “WHAT?” one more time. Good lighting and #instagrammable dishes are a plus. (If you didn’t post it on social media, did you even go?!)
I recently went to a spot that checks all the boxes: Thai Diner.
This Nolita spot opened in 2020, replacing the beloved Michelin-rated Uncle Boon’s, which fell causality to the pandemic. Thai Diner’s menu features an exciting selection of elevated Thai food. You can nosh on classic Thai fare such as crab fried rice, Khao Soi (a curry soup that is popular in Northern Thailand… which I’m OBSESSED with), and Laarb. Or try something you won’t find on the streets of Bangkok. Like stuffed cabbage and Thai disco fries smothered in Massaman curry. Thai Diner also has a fun retro Asian diner feel with plenty of outdoor seating that’s perfect for brunching on a beautiful day.
Thai Diner gets a lot of hype on social media and getting a reservation isn’t easy. Does it live up to expectation? Let’s dive in!
After heavy debate aided by Google, Instagram, and our waiter, Kate and I settled on 3 dishes to share.
First up is the Yum Kai Hua Pli, which is a dish that consists of spicy rotisserie chicken and banana blossom salad with cashews, shallot, lemongrass, and a roasted chili dressing.
You can get it as a platter or as a sandwich– we opted for the sandwich. One bite had me saying, “OH MY GOSHHHHH!” All the ingredients meshed together to create flavors my palate has never experienced. There was a tickle of acidity from the lemongrass, a lovely crunch from the cashew, and a pop of sweet from something hidden in the mix. Everything was amplified by a sophisticated heat that slowly engulfed my mouth with a warm hug, rather than a karate chop.
Cost: $15
Next up we got the Thai Diner Egg Sandwich. It had egg, cheese, herbal sausage, and Thai basil snuggly wrapped up in roti with a chili jam on the side.
The eggs were perfectly fluffy and the sausage added that element of grease that’s so pivotal to a breakfast sandwich. Everything was held together in a warm and soft roti. Dip that baby in the chili jam, and you’ve got one hell of a breakfast sandwich!
Cost: $13
Finally, we shared the Thai Tea Babka French Toast. This dish consisted of babka French toast with Thai tea butter and a salty condensed milk.
The French toast itself was perfectly average. But flavors got wild after slathering on the Thai tea butter and drenching it all in the condensed milk. It had a heavenly blend of salt and sweet with a slight crunch and surprising warmness of vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom that came from the butter. A true treat that is nothing short from genius.
Cost: $15
Thai Diner Exceeded Expectations.
The food was absurdly delicious and the ambiance was simple, comfy, and casual. The prices were reasonable for NYC. Although I must admit it pains me to shell out more than $3 for Thai food after spending a month in Thailand- a true Frugal Foodie haven.
Add Thai Diner to your “must try” foodie list! But make a reservation… you’ll need it 🙂
Check out my video on the experience below:
