Chai Home Kitchen
Thai Cuisine/Saki Bar
124 North 6th Street, Williamsburg Brooklyn 11211
PHONE: (718) 599-5889, (718) 599-5969
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: Beer and Wine
AVERAGE ENTREE: $7.50
MAP: Click Here (Bedford stop on L train)
MENU: Click Here
From New York Magazine
"A collaboration between a Japanese architect and his French-trained Thai-chef wife, Chai is a stylish, soft-spoken David to Williamsburg's entrenched Thai Goliaths, Planet Thailand and SEA. The field might be crowded, but there's always room for keenly seasoned grilled-beef and roast-duck salads, served on artisanal Thai pottery. Sweet Chinese sausage, Thai pork chops, and vegetarian duck add to Chai's Pan-Asian appeal."
From NY Daily News
"Travel the Asian continent in this stylish, modern space of dark woods, mirrors and a tiny pond at the front. Thai dishes like kao pad lychee (fried rice with lychee nuts, shrimp, egg and scallions, $7) mix with those from Japan, China and Vietnam (spicy pork chops, $8) on the surprisingly extensive menu."
Comments
You can't judge a resaurant from just one visit. Many of you have been to Chai only once and who knows, the server that gave you bad service might have been on their first day at work, or the main chef might have been out ill that day. There are many reasons why someone might have a bad experience at ANY restaurant at any given day. Personally I have never been to any restaurant that has been on their game 24/7. With that aside, I have been eating AND cooking Thai food for almost 15 years so I know Thai food better then most. I know the ingredients and I have been to Thailand. I must say after eating numerous times at Cheers, Amarin, Tai Tai, Sea, Planet thai, and many others (as I am a Thai food freak), and Hand Down, Chai is not only The BEST but also the Most authentic. I have to say, Most of you hipsters have horrible taste and have no idea what you are talking about.
Posted by: Rsereny | May 5, 2008 06:33 PM
Its one of my favorite restaurants. Best padthai, amazing shrimps, cheap and nice wine, great salads, lovely atmosphere!!!, my husband loves fried ice cream, I love the chocolate desert. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ale | March 21, 2008 04:56 PM
We realy realy love this place. Food here is the best in this area. We'll be back.
Posted by: Mike | February 29, 2008 05:54 AM
Not so good.
Amarin and Thai Cafe on Manhattan Avenue blow this place away.
Posted by: roger | July 31, 2007 06:07 AM
This is the best Thai food I have had so far in all of Williamsburg/Greenpoint. The food and presentation were amazing and the service was quite possibly the friendliest and most effecient I've experienced in my entire life. Whatever could have accounted for the past reviews complaining about the service must have been fixed to put it mildly. The whole dining experience was so perfect it was almost surreal.
Posted by: kevin | July 27, 2007 04:55 PM
The of run of the mill food is acceptable, but no big deal.
But here is the reason I WILL NEVER GO BACK:
I stopped in with a female friend on a relaxing sunny Sunday afternoon. All was well until a completely drunk idiot lurched up and planted himself at the counter. He was creepy and hostile, and immediately began harrassing anyone within earshot.
In any other restuarant or bar a slurring weaving drunk like this would've been refused service immediately, and sent on his way.
The staff at Chai, however, let him ruin everyone's day.
Refusing to stop bothering everyone, he continued forcing his company and slurry opinions on one and all, yammering about $80 bottles of wine, South Beach, how Americans suck, waving around an expensive camera, and vaguely threatening anyone who wouldn't pay attention.
Sadly, this type of moneyed Eurotrash asshole is becoming more and more common here.
Still, rather than refusing him service and kicking him out (or putting in a call to the local precinct), the visible staff of six allowed this solitary drunk to harass the handful of other patrons. At one point the staff sat around a corner (out of his view), eating and chatting among themselves, pretending he wasn't there. The rest of us had no such luxury.
I finally went over the the staff and told them to give me the check so we could cut our meal short and get the hell out of there. And that they might want to kick the drunken jerk out. Or if it was beyond the capabilities of the staff (which included three large men), they might want to call a cop before things escalated.
I will never set food in that place again. If Chai can't find staff smart enough to 86 a hostile drunk, then they shouldn't have a liquor license.
I can't believe I actually paid for that meal.
Avoid this place at all cost.
Posted by: williamsburglocal | June 18, 2007 11:19 PM
The of run of the mill American-Thai food is acceptable, but no big deal.
But here is the reason I WILL NEVER GO BACK:
I stopped in with a female friend on a relaxing sunny Sunday afternoon. All was well until a completely drunk idiot lurched up and planted himself at the counter. He was creepy and hostile, and immediately began harrassing anyone within earshot.
In any other restuarant or bar a slurring weaving drunk like this would've been refused service immediately, and sent on his way.
The staff at Chai, however, let him ruin everyone's day
Refusing to stop bothering everyone, he continued forcing his company and slurry opinions on one and all, yammering about $80 bottles of wine, South Beach, how Americans suck, waving around an expensive camera, and vaguely threatening anyone who wouldn't pay attention.
Sadly, this type of moneyed Eurotrash asshole is becoming more and more common here.
Still, rather than refusing him service and kicking him out (or putting in a call to the local precinct), the visible staff of six allowed this solitary drunk to harass the handful of other patrons. At one point the staffl sat around a corner (out of his view), eating and chatting among themselves, pretending he wasn't there. The rest of us had no such luxury.
I finally went over the the staff and told them to give me the check so we could cut our meal short and get the hell out of there. And that they might want to kick the drunken jerk out. Or if it was beyond the capabilities of the staff (which included three large men), they might want to call a cop before things escalated.
I will never set food in that place again. If Chai can't find staff smart enough to 86 a hostile drunk, then they shouldn't have a liquor license.
I can't believe I actually paid for that meal.
Avoid this place at all cost.
Posted by: williamsburg local | June 18, 2007 02:31 PM
the vegetarian duck with chili and basil is very good, and a great value.
the lunch ive had there so far was atrocious though.
Posted by: local | September 25, 2006 12:09 AM
This place is the best thai food and friendly service we love to go there
Posted by: Bobby | August 7, 2006 06:30 PM
My husband and I went to this little place for the first time this past Saturday. The food and service were FABULOUS!! Great prices especially on the brunch menu. I was born on North 6th and I am so thrilled to see a great restaurant like Chai. Keep a Thai iced coffee ready for us!! We'll be back.
Posted by: Alicia | July 28, 2006 02:54 AM
definitely the best thai in the 'burg, topping even planet thai. nice atmosphere, great food. plum sake. their little pool overflowed on one of the nights i was there, but it's a great little pool nonetheless.
Posted by: H. | July 11, 2006 08:23 PM
The waitresses used to be major snobs but there's been a recent overhaul and the new girls are sweet as hell. And cute.
Posted by: Doo | June 29, 2006 12:04 AM
we had a great time at chai last night.
delicious chilli tiger prawns, jasmine rice, chicken dumplings, papaya salad and calamari.
the waiter was friendly and understated and the atmosphere was nice and chilled.
the price was reasonable - everyone had a starter, main and a drink for $20 each.
Posted by: zoe | June 13, 2006 09:16 PM
DON"T GO HERE! The food is fine, but it's the worst service I've ever had. The waiter was rude, and after the 3rd mistake, was too embarrassed to return to the table. No appology was ever made for forgetting 3 different orders and we were overcharged on a bill which took 12 minutes to get there. Don't waste your time in such s wonderful area where there are so many great places to go.
Posted by: Sarenne | May 14, 2006 02:48 PM
Best mock duck preparation I've tasted in Thai food. Avoid the "Miami" crowd at sea and cross the street to Chai - you likely won't be disappointed.
Posted by: curtyv | April 20, 2006 05:30 PM
inesse*
iva melons*
Posted by: Adgraaf | March 8, 2006 07:53 AM
chai is awesome! great atmosphere and delicious food. instead of going to the trendy loud sea, try this quaint place just a block away. yum yum!!!
Posted by: kelli | February 14, 2006 01:10 AM
John please go again, you must have missed something. I love this place food, service and style.
Posted by: Michaelangelo | October 28, 2005 06:17 PM
Chai is great! very relaxed atmosphere and fun decor. The chicken kapow was fantastic.
Posted by: lindsey | October 19, 2005 06:36 PM
YUMMY! Not your typical Thai fare and we loved it. A highly eclectic and delicious menu. We especially recemmond the Indo Chicken with peanut sauce and the chicken peanut dumplings....
Posted by: greenpointgourmet | August 29, 2005 01:46 AM
Best Thai in Williamsblorg.
Posted by: Doo | August 28, 2005 10:51 PM
A good place to go if you're in the mood for Thai, but don't want to be completely stuffed, Sea-style. The dishes are lighter and less greasy than most Thai food. I'd recommend giving it a try.
Posted by: nj | March 24, 2005 07:10 PM
Decent but unspecail. Pretty/cool decore, but the noodles leave something to be desired.
Posted by: John Fewell | March 13, 2005 09:46 PM