Bua Thai Ramen & Robata Grill — Restaurant in New York

PLEASE READ FULL HONEST REVIEW AND SEE PHOTOS:

For months prior to our visit, my friend and I were very excited to visit Bua Thai especially because of the restaurant’s high rating reviews and active Instagram page filled with images of their most popular dishes and drinks. However, we were very disappointed by the pressure (that bordered coercion) from the staff to leave a 5-star review, inconsistent presentation, flavor, and preparation of everything we ordered from the menu with the exception of one drink (the berry mojito).

To give a full review of our experience, I’ll begin with our arrival. We made a reservation for 6:45PM but the restaurant didn’t ask for my name or number to confirm, the hostess, who was kind and amicable, sat us once the entire party was present. We were seated in the back area of the restaurant which was still beautifully decorated as the rest of the restaurant so we didn’t mind the seating.

I ordered the Rock Shrimp Lychee because every photo and video I saw of the appetizer looked amazing. I also ordered Pad Kee Mao with chicken and the Piña Colada which is advertised as being served in a beautiful pineapple adorned with an assortment of fruit. My friend ordered the Fried Rice with Crispy Pork entree, the Crispy Tuna appetizer, and the Berry Mojito. Unfortunately, the presentation of our appetizers was extremely disappointing to the point where I did not recognize the Rock Shrimp Lychee because it looked completely different than what is advertised by dozens of posts by different customers @buathairamenrobatagrill on instagram. The chicken and crispy pork in the entrees had no flavor. The flat noodles of my Pad Kee Mao were clearly reheated and contained excess water as they were broken inch sized pieces and to make it worse, there were other noodles (the ramen type) scattered throughout my bowl which makes me wonder how fresh my entree was and how the food may be questionably prepared in the kitchen (I couldn’t finish my meal). My Piña Colada ($26) did not make me want to take a walk on the rain; it didn’t match the photos advertised and the pineapple was not completely carved out and 1/4 of it was froth, so there wasn’t much to drink. In addition to that, the grapes along the rim of the drink were not clean so I had to wipe them down with my glass of water and a napkin.

Despite the disappointing food and drink, my friend loved the Berry Mojito so we decided that maybe this is a place for a small cocktail to start the night. A new waitress came to our table and asked us if we enjoyed the meal and offered “complimentary” desserts. We accepted thinking this was a gesture to rectify our experience; however, it when we asked for the bill after tasting the inedible desserts, the same waitress requested that we write 5-star reviews and post them online for her to take a picture of and show to her manager in exchange for the so-called “complimentary” desserts.

I understand that the waitress is following instructions from her manager; however, this is inappropriate behavior for the service industry. A business should not offer a complimentary item and then after providing the item repeatedly come to the customer’s table to ask them for proof of a 5-star review before giving them the bill to leave. My friend still left a generous tip despite being pressured by the waitress hovering over her to write a review. I refused to leave a 5-star review and explained to the waitress the issues I listed above and that this is honest feedback the business should be aware of.

Anyhow, I do not recommend coming here. The menu is overpriced for the quality, you can see that they have many 5-star reviews within hours of each other (evidence of possible coercion of other customers), and there are many other Thai restaurants like Valla Table or Mali Gramercy that serve consistently delicious Thai cuisine. Don’t be fooled by Instagram and other reviews here on Google, especially the ones without photos. You can see the photos from online vs my photos in...

I found this place during an IG reels binge. When I saw the colorful display of flowers and the dazzling display of food, I made it a point to set aside some time to go.

Decorated with tons of flowers, this place was quite the sight. There were plenty of seats both inside and outside the restaurant. Decadent displays of flower and interesting lights decorated the ceiling. I was simply mesmerized as I walked in.

I ordered a Piña Colada mocktail and an Organic Thai Mojito as my drinks. The mocktail Piña Colada came in a whole pineapple, decorated with pineapple and watermelon slices. The drink was not too sweet and extremely refreshing. The Organic Thai Mojito came in a whole coconut topped with flowers and a tiny Bacardi Rum. How adorable, I thought it was. I was getting a good supply of delicious rum with each sip. With these drinks, I felt like I was on vacation again.

The Sriracha Wings came drizzled with a homemade sweet and spicy sriracha sauce. The wings were fried with light batter, so the crunch came from the chicken skin. Combined with the sauce, it was very delicious and a good alternative to sauce-drenched wings.

The Rock Shrimp Lychee came atop a bed of leafy greens. Deep fried shrimp, lychee, and taro pieces were drizzled in a creamy lychee sauce. The shrimp was chunky and crunchy. The greens and lychee provided a refreshing contrast.

Thai Ramen Basil: The stir-fried ramen noodles were thick and chewy. With a hint of smoke and some spicy kick, the noodles were on fire. Two jumbo shrimps came on top of the noodles. They were already cut down the back so peeling them wasn’t an issue. So very delicious - recommended!

Khao Mun Gai Yang: Fried ginger rice and a whole chicken leg. What can go wrong? After dissecting the fat chicken leg for its meat, I dipped the meat in the sweet chili sauce first. The meat was soft and juicy. After that I mixed the meat with the rice and the sauce - it was heavenly. I took the remainder home and had it the day later, and it was still delicious.

Taro Custard Brulee: I had never tried taro custard before, so this was an adventure. The dessert had a crunchy sugar crust on the top, and the soft, fluffy custard on the bottom. The custard was creamy yet not too overwhelming.

While the location is a bit out of the way for me, I would visit the restaurant again. Great date...

Bua Thai Ramen & Robata Grill on the Upper East Side is a hidden gem that completely exceeded expectations. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is breathtaking—floral installations hang from the ceiling, giving the space a lush, botanical, and vibrant feel that sets the tone for a fun and elevated dining experience.

We started with drinks: the Thai Lychee Iced Tea, Phuket Long Island Iced Tea, and a Piña Colada. While the cocktails are on the pricier side, the presentation justifies the cost. The Piña Colada came in an actual pineapple shell adorned with fresh fruit—definitely not your standard bar glass. The Phuket Long Island was beautifully arranged with decorative peonies and camellias, making it feel almost too pretty to drink (almost!).

For appetizers, we ordered the rock shrimp with lychee—perfectly fried, fresh, and coated with a decadent sweet sauce. The crispy rice with spicy tuna was reminiscent of high-end sushi spots; not my personal favorite, but my father enjoyed it. Just a heads-up: the rice can stick to your teeth, so maybe skip this one if you have dentures. The Sriracha soft shell crab, lightly fried in tempura, was delicate and not greasy—super well-executed.

The standout for me was the Tom Yum Koong hot pot. Served piping hot (as it should be!), it packed bold, tangy flavor. We also had the Bua Fried Rice with shrimp and blue crab—a nice, neutral dish that paired well with the richer, saucier items. The Pad Kee Mao with chicken breast and tofu is a must—those noodles really stand out here. Another winner was the Spicy Lemongrass Salmon, recommended by our waitress, and it didn’t disappoint. Perfectly cooked, flavorful, and moist.

We ended our meal on a sweet note: the Taro Custard Brûlée was my personal favorite—smooth, creamy, and unique. The chilled lychee dessert was light and refreshing, ideal if you're watching your sugar. My mother couldn’t stop raving about the mango sticky rice, served with two generous slices of fresh mango and perfectly cooked coconut sticky rice.

Overall, Bua Thai is more than just dinner—it’s a whole experience. Great service, gorgeous ambiance, and beautifully presented dishes that taste as good as they look....