Authentic Thai seafood w/ bold flavors, known for expertly fried whole fish & vibrant spice. Must-try for adventurous eaters!
This Thai restaurant, inspired by Amy Tan's essay, is celebrated for its expertly prepared whole fish dishes, particularly the whole fluke marinated in turmeric, garlic, and salt, then fried to a crispy, golden perfection. It's a standout in NYC's culinary scene, offering a taste of authentic Thai flavors with a focus on fresh, vibrant seafood and spice.
This Thai restaurant specializes in seafood-forward dishes with bold, authentic flavors, often highlighting a significant level of spice. Standout dishes frequently mentioned include the whole fried fish (like fluke), crab fried rice, coconut crab curry, Zaab wings, and various seafood preparations. While many praise the intense flavors and unique preparations, a few find the spice level intense or certain dishes lacking complexity compared to expectations.
"Highly recommended dishes include the whole fried fluke, crab fried rice, Zaab wings, spicy pork belly, steamed fish, and the coconut crab curry. The chili jam served with shrimp chips is also a standout. Happy hour oysters are also a popular suggestion."
Overwhelmingly positive, with strong recommendations for its authentic Thai cuisine, especially seafood dishes and spicy options. Some minor criticisms include overpriced cocktails and occasional service inconsistencies.
Important Note
Some users find the cocktails overpriced and forgettable. Reservations are often recommended, as it can be difficult to get a table, especially during peak hours or weekends. One user experienced a very rushed meal.
"This commenter mentions Fish Cheeks as another great Thai restaurant option in NYC."
Positive"The original poster lists Fish Cheeks as an example of a restaurant they have loved on past NYC trips, indicating their taste preferences."
Positive"This user loves Fish Cheeks and highlights the salad with cabbage leaves and the crispy rice/pork as favorites."
Positive"Fish Cheeks is listed as a frequently visited Thai spot."
Positive"This user recommends Fish Cheeks."
Positive"The user recommended Fish Cheeks, stating it's one of their favorites in the city and that reservations are available."
Positive"This commenter recommends Fish Cheeks as a Thai food alternative."
Positive"This commenter suggests Fish Cheeks as an alternative if the user is looking for Thai food."
Positive"This user recommended Fish Cheeks as one of several options for lunch."
Neutral"Fish Cheeks is recommended if venturing towards Williamsburg."
Neutral"Fish Cheeks is mentioned as a top choice for Thai food, alongside Soothr."
Positive"The commenter recommended the garlic martini at Fish Cheeks for those seeking a garlicky experience."
Positive"Fish Cheeks was suggested as an option, with a warning that it can be spicy."
Positive"Fish Cheeks is very good, and offers a relatively reasonably priced tasting menu option."
Positive"Fish Cheeks is very good, and offers a relatively reasonably priced tasting menu option."
Positive"Fish Cheeks is noted as a great Thai restaurant, though not quite Michelin level."
Positive"This commenter found Fish Cheeks to be overrated, although they agreed with some of the original poster's other ratings."
Negative"The author gave the Crab Curry a 7/10, noting that while everything else was delicious, they were let down by the curry, which they felt was missing something and was thin/watery."
Negative"This user simply stated that Fish Cheeks in NoHo is "So good"."
Positive"This user added that the steamed fish at Fish Cheeks is also noteworthy."
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