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.

For a dinner splurge, I highly recommend Nari, a Thai-Californian restaurant inside the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown. Afterwards, wander to the neighboring Japan Center malls to buy kitschy toys and eat soft-serve matcha or sesame taiyaki ice-cream (from a fish-shaped pastry) at Uji Time Dessert. Close out the evening at the Do Re Mi Music Studio, across the street, a karaoke spot with private rooms available by the hour.

This spot by the team behind Kin Khao is one of the most exciting Thai dining experiences in SF. While Kin Khao is more of a relaxed, party vibe, Nari leans toward the more sophisticated side of the spectrum. Located in Japantown's Hotel Kabuki, the large and elegant dining room features greenery, large windows and banquettes with Thai-inspired fabrics.

This posh spot brings Thai flavors and an elevated atmosphere. The industrial design (exposed piping, factory windows) plays off the earthy ceramic dishware and artful presentation like playful banana leaf garnishes. It is the perfect setting for some of San Francisco’s most forward-thinking Thai food.

Copyright from top to bottom: Anson Smart/Nari, Anson Smart/Nari, Kristen Loken/Frances, Molly DeCoudreaux/Frances, ©2019 North America/Michelin, ©Michelin North America 2019/Michelin

From the decor to the bold curries, everything is colorful and informal at this Michelin-starred Thai restaurant. Kin Khao – which translates to 'eat rice' – is the passion project of chef Pim Techamuanvivit, who was born and raised in Bangkok. (Her stated mission: 'To liberate her beloved Thai cuisine from the tyranny of peanut sauce.') All of Techamuanvivit’s produce, meat and seafood is sourced from local Northern California purveyors. The dishes are shareable and generously spiced, from the 'pretty hot wings' glazed with fish sauce, garlic marinade, tamarind, and Sriracha to the dry-fried Duroc pork ribs in a turmeric curry paste. Don’t miss Kin Khao’s modern spin on curries, like the rabbit green curry or the mackerel gaeng som sour curry.

The best Thai restaurant in the Bay Area — and one of the most beautiful. When it reopened its sophisticated dining room, Nari introduced a very generously portioned chef’s choice family-style menu ($115/person) in addition to its stellar a la carte options. Led by restaurateur Pim Techamuanvivit and chef de cuisine Meghan Clark, the menus change weekly with an eye toward whatever produce is in season: You might find mussels cooked in curry with charred stone fruits, cucumbers made up like papaya salad or glutinous rice dumplings flavored with strawberry essence.

Nari is a Thai fine-dining restaurant, where both the name and the menu are inspired by the generations of Thai women who laid the foundations for this bold and remarkable cuisine. Enjoy the finest caviar on scallion roti with salted duck egg, or the tender lamb shank with massaman curry and grilled nectarines (if you can handle the spice.) This menu is drool worthy and with multiple private dining options there’s no excuse to not bring a big group and order everything. Best For: Hip corporate events or a special birthday feast.

Opened in 2019 by the team behind Kin Khao, Nari Thai is one of the newest and most exciting Thai restaurants in SF. While Qin Khao has more of a relaxed, party vibe, the feminine leans toward the more sophisticated side of the spectrum. Located at Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, the large and elegant dining room features banquettes with greenery, large windows, and Thai-inspired fabrics.

Newer on the scene is the second restaurant from chef Pim Techamuanvivit: Nari. Chef Pim's sophomore effort opened in 2019 in the heart of San Francisco's Japantown and has earned a Michelin Star (among numerous other accolades) since that time. Though Nari is slightly sleeker than its sister establishment, it still utilizes all that California has to offer.

A sophisticated spot for contemporary Thai-Californian cuisine, Nari means “women” in Thai and is chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit’s personal tribute to the women who taught her how to cook. Start with the gaeng gradang tod, pork croquettes seasoned with northern curry paste, then sample the crab curry, lamb gaeng ped, caramelized fish sauce cabbage and more.

The transition from spring to summer produce is decidedly a delicious one. One very excellent way to see it is bite-by-bite,course-by-course, at contemporary Thai restaurant Nari, led by chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit, chef de cuisine Meghan Clark, GM Heather Miller, and co. Go with the chef’s pick and get a bit of everything coursed and paced properly.

Japantown restaurant Nari offers contemporary Thai cuisine with Californian influences. The à la carte menu blends traditional recipes with a modern vision, served in a sleek space inside Hotel Kabuki. If you don’t want to pick yourself, opt for the $125 chef’s pick menu and focus your attention on the cocktail and wine lists.

Nari offers a vibrant blend of Thai and Californian cooking in a bright, welcoming setting. Led by chef Pim Techamuanvivit, it’s known for fresh flavors that highlight both local ingredients and Thai influences. Inventive cocktails and a menu that encourages you to explore keep diners coming back.

Located in Japantown, Nari is an elegant Thai restaurant and wine bar. It offers artful and very flavorful dishes that highlight authentic Thai traditions. Try the chili-lime Monterrey squid and pork jowl for a perfect example of the bold flavors and local ingredients that this place features.

Located in the heart of Japantown, Nari is a modern Thai restaurant led by acclaimed chef Pim Techamuanvivit that reimagines traditional Thai cuisine through a California lens. Bold, unapologetic flavors meet refined culinary artistry, making Nari a standout among Bay Area top restaurants.

Nari is a modern Thai restaurant located in Japantown SF. The interior is bright and contemporary, it sets the scene for the incredible dining experience. It’s the perfect place for a fancy date night. Chef Pim Techamuanvivit has created a menu that’s bold and exciting.

Address:1625 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States. At Nari, Chef Pim Techamuanvivit presents an innovative take on Thai cuisine. Located in the Japantown district, Nari brings a dining experience that balances traditional flavors with contemporary techniques.

Nari is a modern Thai restaurant, merging traditional techniques with the seasonal bounty of California. Served family style, our heritage driven cuisine is enhanced with exceptional service, amazing cocktails and an extensive wine list.

There's a place called Nari that just opened in Japantown from chef Pim Techamuanvivit. It’s a brand new space in Hotel Kabuki. The bar upstairs is separate from the restaurant and it's a really cool, well-designed space.

Nari's set dinner menu might include the likes of this gaeng kiew wan nuea, a tender braised bone-in beef short rib in spicy green curry.(@hungryhungryhooker via @nari_sf)

At Nari, a contemporary Thai chef reimagines classic fine dining. This exciting Thai restaurant infuses heritage recipes with modern California cuisine.

1625 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115Phone: 415-868-6274 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Nari Restaurant (@nari_sf)