Glin Thai Bistro — Restaurant in New York

This is an upscale, elevated, Thai dining experience. If you are looking for basic Thai dishes, this is NOT the place for you!! My friend and I decided to check out Glin Thai Bistro at 7pm on a Monday. Reservations were easy to make with Resy, though we probably could have walked in without an issue. The inside is very aesthetic and gram worthy!

The menu on their website is not accurate. My favorite dish is curry, but every curry on their menu has some expensive item in it to justify the price over $20. I also asked the staff what dish was most similar to massamun curry and was recommended khao soi without mentioning the dish by name. If she had just point blank told me she was recommending khao soi, I would have gone with something else, as khao soi's curry base is more like red curry than massamun curry. I was looking at other reviews and they may rotate their menu, which is why they were showing dishes on the iPad without prices and explaining them verbally. It would be helpful to have inserts or a fully updated online menu to get a clearer idea of what is being ordered. This was my biggest issue with the restaurant and something I think should be updated on their end.

We ordered soft shell crab ($12), prawn fried rice ($26), khao soi ($26), thai pastry cups ($12), and pumpkin custard ($15). My friend ordered several drinks and commented that they tasted great but were watered down. If you are a fan of soft shell crab, definitely get the appetizer! I thought it had no flavor and absolutely needed the sauce, but my friend enjoyed it. The prawn fried rice and the khao soi were both delicious. Both had excellent flavors and everything was cooked well. The chicken was moist and slid perfectly off the drumsticks. The desserts we had were also not on the menu and were explained using the picture strategy. The pastry cups (katong tong) were not sweet at all, despite me asking the waitress that I loved sweet things. They tasted like eating a nutty health bar. Both of us did not like the taste and could not even finish one puff. The egg custard was tasty inside the pumpkin custard, but it was nothing special.

Service was very accommodating. We had many check backs and the water always got refilled. The staff also took much care to explain all the dishes. I was just bothered by the recommendations that were suggested as they were not aligned to what I had asked for. It may have been a communication issue, which is why having the rotating dishes with descriptions could be helpful. The entrees were very good, so if your palate is for elevated Thai food, definitely...

I’ll summarize to begin for those who don’t want to read paragraphs of a food review; The atmosphere was amazing, the service was phenomenal, and the food was great.

Despite being a little cramped, the moody lighting, floral accents and overall presentation of the place more than made up for the lack of space. Not to mention, everything was clean and not sticky in the slightest (a pet peeve of mine). The music left a bit to be desired in a sense that it didn’t quite match the vibe of the rest of the place, but I can’t complain too much since they played nothing but bangers (plus, it was a Friday night).

The service was also a huge highlight, the servers are friendly, attentive, and have surprisingly sharp ears. Our water, which we picked from a selection of tap, still, or seltzer, was never empty. And they were always happy, and quick to answer any questions.

Now onto food, which would be the longest part of this review. Everything was wonderfully prepared, portioned well, and steaming upon being served. I went with 3 other people, all of which are actually pretty picky eaters, and there was virtually nothing they, or I, didn’t love. We did go all out, appetizers, main course, and dessert, so the food portion of this review is fairly comprehensive. To start, we got the Thai Dumplings, Chicken Satay, and Thai Chicken wings. At the risk of ranting, I’ll just say all plates were essentially licked clean. For our main courses, we got 2 Crying Tigers, Pad Thai Noodles, and the Crab Fried Rice. Now I wouldn’t comment on food I didn’t try, which is great because I 100% stole a bite of everyone’s food. The Crab Fried Rice was soft, fresh and flavorful, my personal least favorite of the dishes was the Pad Thai noodles but that’s not to say it also wasn’t wonderfully prepared— just not my thing— and the Crying Tigers were delicious (my only complaint would be the sear was a little weak, but the flavor made it hard to be mad at it, and they came with a delicious spicy dipping sauce). For dessert, we got 2 Mango Sticky Rices. The rice was fresh, wasn’t too sweet, and the ratio of rice to mango was perfect. Speaking of sweet, we did get 3 Thai Iced Teas and I am happy to report they were also delicious, again, not too sweet (which is something I’m pretty picky about when it comes to Thai Tea).

I was surprisingly delighted with the great time I had at this restaurant considering the saturation of subpar Thai restaurants. But rest assured, this is not one of them. I would 100% come again, and will be recommending this restaurant to any stranger who so much...

I had the pleasure of dining at Glin, and it was an experience that really impressed me. From the calm, modern atmosphere to the carefully crafted flavors, this Thai restaurant offers a refined yet approachable take on traditional Thai cuisine. The service was friendly and knowledgeable, and the food arrived beautifully plated and full of character.

Appetizer: Yum Som O (Pomelo Salad)

The Yum Som O was fresh, light, and perfectly balanced. The pomelo itself was juicy and slightly sweet, complemented by a tangy and mildly spicy dressing that brought everything to life. Crispy shallots added just the right amount of texture, while herbs like mint and cilantro made the dish aromatic and refreshing. Even though it didn’t include shrimp or coconut flakes — which are often used in other versions — this one held its own with its simplicity and clean flavors. A great start to the meal.

Mains:

Khao Soi The Khao Soi was rich, comforting, and full of depth. The curry broth was creamy with well-developed spices — not too spicy, but bold enough to feel authentic. The combination of soft egg noodles in the broth and crispy noodles on top gave a great contrast in texture. Pickled mustard greens, red onions, and lime on the side helped cut through the richness, making each bite layered and satisfying. A classic dish done exceptionally well.

Crab Fried Rice This was another highlight. The rice was fluffy, fragrant, and not at all oily — clearly cooked with care. The chunks of real crab meat were sweet and generous, and they blended naturally with the subtle seasoning. There was no need to overpower the dish because the ingredients spoke for themselves. Served with fresh cucumber and lime, it was clean, elegant, and deeply satisfying.

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Overall Impression: Glin nails the balance between traditional Thai flavors and modern presentation. Each dish felt thoughtful and well-executed, without being fussy or overcomplicated. If you’re looking for Thai food that respects its roots while offering a refined dining experience, Glin is absolutely worth a visit. I’ll definitely be back...