Fish Cheeks — Restaurant in New York

Got a table for 2 at 5:30 on Monday night, the place was still kinda packed due to its fame and location. I went here before once (when they just got Michelin recommendation) and remembered it to be fantastic, so I took a friend and wanted to try something I didn’t last time.

The complimentary snack is puffed shrimp chips, with an umami and sweet sauce. The sauce’s flavor is similar to a less salty version of shrimp paste. It literally goes well with anything (I pictured myself eating rice or bun simply with the sauce). The chef really knows how to layer on the flavors and the textures.

The oyster The happy hour deal, 6 oysters for 9 usd. Paired with French fried onion and a spicy Thai sauce. Fish cheeks’s oysters 🦪 were never fishy from my memory, with huge attribution to the sauce: kudos on the spicy and tangy flavors that complemented to the salinity of sea creatures. Onions were just there for texture. Loved the pairing, simple but with complexities.

Steamed fish with Thai herbs Worth the hype and worth the wait if you do walk-ins: but be aware there is a potential risk of fish getting sold out on busy nights (rare but does happen). The steamed fish itself is tender and almost succulent. They did a decent job deboning the fish, as there is no large bones except in the head, collar, and fin area. The fish broth tasted like a twisted version of Tom Yam soup without coconut milk. In the end we are basically taking spoonfuls of the broth and sip them without anything else. There is a mini candle on the bottom of the fish shaped pan to heat the fish: it only burned until the fuel ran out so no worries about overcooking.

Prawn Karee My favorite new dish of this place. This shrimp-egg curry is very light and it is not heavy, contrary to its curry component. The whole dish is very silky, thanks to the soft scrambled eggs. There are three bouncy well-cooked shell-on prawns and we sucked all the heads, because they are so good, to get all the shrimp flavored curry juices out. The scallion intensified the eggyness of the dish, and despite it says it contains chili, this dish is anything but spicy.

Also, secretly, if you happen to have some shrimp puff from the snack, pair the shrimp puff with the curry, you will get magic.

Khua Kling The ONLY dish I will NOT order again. Way way too salty. We were told this dish is spicy, well, it is, but the saltiness overpowered everything: I felt my tongue is submerged under a bed of salt when I tasted it. Other than that, the grounded short ribs came in large and small chunks, and the peppercorns were not choking. I felt it would go well with the rice, if salinities dim down. However, fair warning: I grew up eating pretty spicy stuff, yet this dish gave me a stomachs upset issue even until the next day. I felt bloated and swelled from involuntarily getting a deep dive into the salty ocean.

Every dish went well with the rice. Their rice’s texture is on the chewy and bouncier side of the rice spectrum, almost like sushi rice. I dug it, but someone who like the softer kind (the ones served in Korean style cuisine) probably won’t.

Lastly, the dessert Ice Cream Bo Lan When it was served, we were confused as we didn’t see the green color iconic to pandan. Yet when we tasted it, we did recognize the grassy vanilla. The jackfruit bits were hidden and blended into the ice cream, not really a flavor driver. The ice cream went very well with the sticky rice, giving the bite a chew beside the creamy elasticity of the churned cream. The peanut is crunchy but we didn’t get any mung beans. I am pretty biased towards ice cream so I liked it.

The service was very prompt on serving food and reminding us the timing of happy hours. We sat down for around 2 hours and were not rushed at all (the dishes came out really fast but we had to slow down due to limited stomach capacity). I really like some of the dishes, but poor Daphne suffered a ton from that Khua...

Restaurant Review: Fish Cheeks - Where Every Bite's a Party!

Fish Cheeks, nestled in the vibrant streets of NYC, isn't just another Thai restaurant – it's a flavor fiesta waiting to happen! Step into this culinary haven and prepare for a wild ride of taste sensations that will leave you craving more. And let me tell you, our experience with bartenders Zack and Nam was like having our own personal flavor wizards sprinkling magic on every dish.

First off, let's talk about the captain of this flavor ship, Nicole. She runs the show with the finesse of a seasoned general, ensuring every guest feels like royalty from the moment they step through the door. Her knack for hospitality is unmatched, making Fish Cheeks feel like a home away from home.

Now onto the main event – the food! Picture this: Coconut Crab Curry that's so creamy and dreamy, you'll swear you've been transported to a tropical paradise. And don't even get me started on the Rawaaeng Curry – it's like a flavor explosion in your mouth, with each bite revealing new layers of spice and depth.

But wait, there's more! We also dove into the Khua Kling, a spicy beef dish that packs a punch with every bite. And let's not forget about the Isan Style Grilled Chicken, perfectly charred and bursting with juicy goodness.

Now, for the appetizers – Shrimp in 3 Crab Sauces. Yes, you heard that right – three crab-tastic sauces that take your taste buds on a rollercoaster ride of flavor. Each bite is a surprise, with multiple depths of flavor waiting to be discovered.

And what's a party without drinks? The Spicy Mango Cocktail is a must-try, with its fiery kick and tropical vibes transporting you to a beachside paradise.

But here's the real kicker – since our first visit, we've been back not once, not twice, but thrice! And each time, we've brought along friends eager to join in on the flavor frenzy.

In conclusion, Fish Cheeks isn't just a Thai restaurant – it's the best darn restaurant in all of NYC! With its fun and casual vibe, mouthwatering dishes, and top-notch service, it's no wonder Fish Cheeks has become our go-to spot for a taste of culinary magic in the heart of the city. And with Nicole at the helm, you know you're in for a dining experience like no other. So grab your friends, bring your appetite, and get ready for a party on...

My threshold for Thai places is high and this really surpassed my expectations. Came for New Years Day lunch.

Easy enough to get a reservation and got a lovely corner booth. The vibe of the place overall is super cute. Bright colors, fun staff shirts. The menu is overwhelming only because there were so many things I wanted.

Started with the cuttlefish. I honestly didn't remember the spice level indicated on the menu so I was shook when I tried the dipping sauce. The fish was so tender, a huge portion, and tasty. The dipping sauce packs a punch. So flavorful and a little numbing. Adding the cilantro on top of each bite really completes it. But the spice level is real.

For mains, grabbed the crab curry and the scallops. The former I was a bit worried about as I don't typically love coconut forward dishes. However, looking around it seems that everyone gets this dish and I get why. Lovely seasoning, tons of crab. It's labeled as four chili peppers but I really don't understand that- would at most give it 2 (maybe even 1?). But I don't think that's a bad thing and maybe the coconut just balanced it out very well. The scallop dish was a surprise. One for how many scallops you're given. Two for how tender they are. And three for just the overall taste. I wasn't sure what this specific curry paste would taste like and it was so so lovely. Both dishes came with jasmine rice but we were given the option of switching one to sticky rice, which we did, and I found this to be a lot more manageable for dipping into the sauces.

Also grabbed the pakboong fai dang side dish. I had never had this and wow was it spicy. Once I realized I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such rich combo of spice and the texture was not what I would have expected upon inspection.

The happy hour is essentially all day and is a great deal for drinks.

Service I felt like was mid until we accidentally dropped a glass and then I truly saw how attentive everyone in the restaurant could be.

Overall such a great experience. It was ironically not our first choice but happened to be open for the holiday and now I'm so...