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." - Paolo Bicchieri

"A San Francisco-based Thai restaurant awarded One MICHELIN Star, owned by Chef Pim Techamuanvivit." - admin

"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