Thai Diner

"While most of the Thai restaurants on this list are friendly to walk-ins, Thai Diner has sustained a reputation as a hot reservation. It’s for good reason. The space hums with playfulness and warmth, in dishes like its khao soi, tom yum bisque, and crab fried rice (a vestige from the team’s previous restaurant Uncle Boons.) Leave room for desserts like the banana rum pudding or one of its monster cakes with eyes. The brunch menu features Thai-style porridge, Thai tea babka French toast, and one of our favorite egg sandwiches in town with boy choy and Thai basil." - Robert Sietsema, Eater Staff

"In collaboration with Uncle Boons and Uncle Boons Sister, Thai Diner has delivery and takeout service between noon and 9pm every day. If you’re wondering whether Thai Tea Babka French Toast will travel well, there’s only one way to find out. You can place your delivery and pick-up order online, and find out more information on their website here." - hannah albertine

"The inside of Thai Diner place sparkles like a disco ball, with golden Nolita light hitting its bamboo-woven walls and bakery case of cakes and pastries. Big booths come equipped with coat hangers, bar stools are fastened to the floor, and servers bust through swinging doors holding diner concoctions we thought were only possible with the help of psychedelics at a sleepover in Bushwick. Most importantly, every section on Thai Diner’s menu has undeniable “f*ck yeah″ energy, from brunch through dinner. Order the disco fries smothered with massaman curry, the cabbage rolls stuffed with turkey and jasmine rice, and the sai oua breakfast roti whose blend of textures would win Project Runway. We loved our meals at Uncle Boons over the years, but we can’t help but think of Thai Diner (from the same owners) as the restaurant Uncle Boons always aspired to be." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah

"“When I find myself below 14th street without a dinner plan, Thai Diner is one of the very first places that comes up in my mental restaurant rolodex. This place is right for almost every situation and scenario, especially those that call for something fun—crinkle-cut fries and peanut sundae and frozen beer kind of fun. But there’s also absolutely incredible food and a wine list for Wine People.”" - brennan carley

"Thai Diner's breakfast menu, served Monday through Friday between 8:30-11am, makes being late to your first meeting worth it. Familiar brunch favorites like the egg sandwich with herby sai oua sausage on roti are still available on weekday mornings, but there are a few breakfast-exclusive items that justify an early wake-up call—like vegan coconut pancakes, served with pandan and guava custards so cheerfully pigmented they look like fingerpaints. Our favorite is the luscious omelette stuffed with soft, silky crabmeat and swimming in tom yum sauce, ideally washed down with a thai iced coffee or not-too-sweet, not-too-tart tropical fruit punch smoothie." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah