Nari

"Japantown isn’t all Japanese restaurants these days; in fact, Thai fine dining destination Nari is attached to the Hotel Kabuki — and is the sister restaurant to Michelin-starred Kin Khao. (Nari earned its own Michelin star in 2023.) Set in a grand, expansive dining room, Nari checks a lot of boxes: It boasts pretty, elegant plating, big flavors (get the squid and pork jowl dish), and lovely cocktails." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"Capacity: Up to 12 (Wine Room), 24-40 (Suda Room) Nari is a lush, sexy greenhouse in restaurant form, and our favorite (and highest-rated) Thai place in the city. So this Japantown spot is the move for events revolving around spice-heavy curries, laab, and beautiful fried fish. They offer two rooms: the semi-private Wine Room with a view of the kitchen, and a more private Suda Room with big windows that overlook the gardens of the Hotel Kabuki, where Nari is located.   " - lani conway

"Your reservation to Nari, a fancy Thai restaurant in Japantown, will be circled in bright red on your calendar for weeks prior. When you finally get in the door, you’ll be rewarded with a runny nose (from all the spice) and bold flavors that you'll still be thinking about days later. The charred mushroom salad with Thai bird chilis builds a lingering heat throughout the meal, and every bit of the pork jowl and squid is a sticky-sweet umami bomb. Add the $125 tasting menu option and the multi-level space packed with more plants than a botanical garden to the mix, and it's the ideal setting for any occasion. Come with a small group and go to town. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"Dinner at Nari always includes fancy Thai dishes that are heavy on spice, and so good you won’t mind your nose running all night. The squid and pork jowl appetizer is an explosion of sticky-sweet umami. Cubes of fried branzino are dotted with chilis that build lingering heat. And pandan and Thai tea-infused cocktails are there for you when you need to cool off. For an all-out splurge, the $125 tasting menu is a non-stop parade of the menu’s greatest hits. The fact that this place looks like a lush, monstera lover's dream is simply an added bonus. Save this spot, located inside the Hotel Kabuki, for special nights when you want to bust out something chic from your closet.   " - julia chen 1, lani conway

"The sense that Nari will deliver a special night starts as soon as you step inside its gorgeous two-story space. Although the restaurant is situated in The Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, it doesn't feel like you’re in a hotel at all. You’re transported to a labyrinth of nooks with sexy curved booths, huge windows, and plants spilling out of every possible surface. The dining room looks like a lush botanical garden had a baby with a Finnish sauna. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth But the stunning space isn’t the only reason this upscale Thai restaurant is a transformative experience. Nari has mastered the art of combining spicy, sweet, and salty flavors and showcasing fiery dishes that imprint themselves permanently on your brain. You’ll never forget the first time you lovingly gazed at the grilled squid and pork jowl—and you’ll never forget your second, third, or tenth time, either. We tell our coworkers, neighborhood baristas, and favorite Muni operators that their impressive seafood and lamb curries, citrusy salads, and nam jim jaew-covered pork chops are why Nari is a “get here yesterday” destination for big-ticket occasions. We reviewed Nari back in 2019, and were, in short, blown away by the food. And, no surprises, we’re still blown away. Everything that lands in front of you hits like a no-skips album. Nari excels at blending seasonal ingredients with bold Thai flavors that dazzle. A heap of cubed and fried branzino dotted with chilis, served with the rest of the fish wrapped neatly around it, would top a theoretical SF Branzino Power Ranking. That grilled squid paired with melt-in-your-mouth pork jowl is a sticky, sweet mind-bender. And the curry puffs—a starter exclusive to the worthwhile $125 chef’s tasting menu—are made up of mesmerizing laminated layers and a duck confit filling that deserves a medal for being so tender. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Reserve Nari for occasions that warrant spending a considerable amount of money on multiple rounds of cocktails and phenomenal food—entrées range from $35 to $68. The splurge is worth it. Whether you’re thinking of spontaneously popping into the upstairs cocktail lounge to get your hands on a bowl of priking gai (you can walk in there and order a la carte), or looking to celebrate over a feast of incredible dishes, just get here. There’s no other Thai restaurant in the city like Nari. Food Rundown Chef’s Pick Menu The $125 chef’s pick menu has a couple of off-menu items, like the duck curry puffs you’ll see in your dreams for months, combined with showstopping dishes from the regular menu like the squid and pork jowl, branzino, and crispy eggplant curry. The nine-ish courses are appropriately portioned out to the number of people you’re with, and are a non-stop hit parade that’ll leave you well-stuffed into the night. Duck Curry Puffs These half moon-shaped puffs are an off-menu addition to the chef’s pick menu. They alone are worth the price of admission. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Squid & Pork Jowl If Serena van der Woodsen was reincarnated as a dish you’d get this squid and pork jowl, the head-turning it girl of the menu. Order this and prepare to be forever changed. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Miang Pla We’d snack on these crispy little cubes daily and never get tired of them. Branzinos are hot ticket items on countless SF restaurant menus, but none of them make an impression like this one. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Nom Tok Moo A saucy, slow-cooked pork chop is covered in zingy nam jim jaew sauce, and finished with a blanket of mint, cilantro, and toasted rice powder. Sticky rice and lettuce to wrap with help to cut through the spice. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Priking Gai This chicken is well-coated in a spicy-sweet curry paste that may make you suddenly very interested in your glass of water. Lean into it—this dish is incredible." - Julia Chen