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BKK New York Brings Bold Thai Street Eats to Midtown
March 11, 2025, 10:24.04 pm ET

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Photos: Heather Wilensky

New Yorkers hungry for a fresh take on Thai street food just got their wish—BKK New York is officially open in Midtown. Located at 238 W 56th Street, the 70-seat restaurant fuses the bold flavors of Bangkok’s street food scene with the energy of the Big Apple, delivering a menu that smashes together Thai homestyle cooking with classic NYC bites.

This new hotspot is helmed by restaurant partners Jeanine and Kate Royce, who previously ran a Thai joint in Harlem. In the kitchen, Bangkok-born Executive Chef Teerawong “Yo” Nanthavatsiri of Pinto Garden fame is cooking up his signature Thai flavors. On the bar side, Tantai “Tan” Khantachavana—formerly of Martiny’s and Mermaid Inn—leads a cocktail program packed with inventive drinks with house-made ingredients.

BKK New York’s menu is a flavor bomb of Thai street classics and local favorites reimagined with a Thai twist. Small plates (“Kub Klab”) include Fresh Rolls with Thai basil and a spicy peanut chili sauce, grilled pork skewers (Moo Ping) with a jaew dipping sauce, and crunchy Curry Puffs. Hearty rice and noodle dishes range from a fiery Shrimp Pad Thai to the Kra Pow Gai Kai Dow (ground chicken, garlic, Thai basil, bird eye chili over rice, topped with a sunny-side-up egg).

But the real showstoppers? The "BKK x NYC" creations, like the Chiang Mai sausage-packed BKK Hot Dog, a Thai-spiced Brisket Sandwich with beef jus, and the soy-marinated Wagyu Burger on a potato bun with pickles and fries. There’s even a satay-inspired take on a New York halal cart classic.

Khantachavana’s cocktail list leans into Thai flavors with fun, complex drinks. Highlights include the Sticky Situation, a clarified milk punch made with black sticky rice-infused whiskey, and the Paradise Pandan, a zero-waste tropical sipper that riffs on a piña colada with coconut sticky rice cream. The Siamhattan (a Thai-inspired Manhattan) and Pushcart Old Fashioned (featuring peanut butter-washed bourbon) round out the inventive list.

The space is designed to transport diners straight to Bangkok, with neon lights, fluted glass panels, and white brick walls. A bold green-tiled bar, burnt orange stools, and a glowing Bangkok street food map set the mood, while cozy booths and vintage Thai décor add a nostalgic touch. There’s even a semi-private dining space for ten guests with vintage Thai posters and tiffin boxes and a Bangkok street map mirror.

BKK New York is now open daily from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays until 11 p.m.). Reservations are available on OpenTable. For more details, visit bkknewyork.com or follow @bkk.newyork on Instagram.


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