Fish Cheeks Brooklyn — Restaurant in New York

Fish cheeks in Williamsburg is probably my top Thai restaurant in NYC. It reimagines authentic traditional Thai flavors you can't find anywhere else and pushes the boundaries of Asian cuisine. The Chefs and kitchen team has really put together something special here. The space was very inviting, from the decor to the layout of the restaurant. The service was fantastic and really attentive.

We came for a Friday night dinner. We had a reservation in advance. Glad we did because this place is BUSY! There were a few groups waiting outside, when we got there. But there is good reason for why so many customers.

We were all hungry and ordered plenty. We started off with drinks, this restaurant has a REALLY good program for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Our appz came shortly: the marinated carb (very spicy, we like SPICE), Zabb Wings, corn salad, mussel gorlae (MUST have). The entrees were shared portions. We had the Mama Tom Yum, Duck curry, Grilled Mackerel (one of the tastiest dish I had this year, but you have to like this type of fish to enjoy this dish), Tofu Pad Prik Khing, Beef Kaprow and Veg Fried Rice (We put in a second order because this dish was so freaking good, very well balanced with all the flavors. Most of all you can taste the burning of the wok, proper fried rice. extra points for this).

I can't wait to come back to try all the other dishes we couldn't try tonight.

Thank you Fish Cheeks team for...

Williamsburg is not short on Thai restaurants. Zaab Zaab, just steps away, landed on the New York Times’ Best Restaurants list last year and appears again on the freshly released 2025 edition. It’s stiff competition. But Fish Cheeks holds its own and then some.

The room is bright and casual in a departure from the standard Williamsburg hipster design. I liked it, except for the fake plants. Luckily, the food makes you forget fast.

The Pla RaTini is, without question, the most interesting cocktail I’ve had all year. Gin, dry vermouth, fermented fish brine, and somtum dressing. It’s funky, saline, and strangely elegant. Our server warned us it’s often sent back. A shame. It’s bold and utterly delicious.

The Crispy Rice Salad with Pork crackles with heat and texture, but the standout was the Crab Fried Rice. Rich, smoky, and deeply satisfying, it called to mind Uncle Boons at its best. The Beef Krapow was another hit. Aromatic, fiery, and deeply savory, with just the right amount of char and basil punch. We added the Pakboong Fai Dang, morning glory with garlic and bird’s eye chili, which brought welcome bite and brightness.

Portions are properly sized for sharing. Flavors are layered and assured. In a neighborhood packed with excellent Thai food, Fish Cheeks doesn’t just keep up. It makes a strong case for...

We dined here on 5/27/25. The service was excellent. The decor was very nice but the place is very noisy and at our little table for two, my wife and I could barely hear each other speak. The seating is not very comfortable. My wife's entree, crab fried rice, was much better than we expected, except that it could have used more vegetables and less rice. I'm very glad I started with oysters and I'm very glad my entree came with a side of rice because though it is listed as a fan favorite, I was very disappointed with my coconut curry crab. It also would have been improved if more vegetables were added. It was just a bowl with lots of curry broth and a little bit of crab. Fortunately. My wife did not feel she should finish her entire order. Otherwise, I would have walked out feeling very hungry. The rice in this restaurant is prepared very well, but the prices on the menu seem much too high when the meal you are served is basically little more than a whole...