Little Grenjai — Restaurant in New York

EDIT: i saw the owner responded, it wont let me reply to that. but yes, i did bring this issue up in person. ""It's harsh to see you writing that the fish sauce should be illegal for vegetarian people." when did i say that? i said it should be illegal for businesses to lie about their ingredients. such a weird response ? its laughable. i stand by the 1-star review and the horrible experience i had. if you cared so much about your reviews, you would provide a better experience, not gaslight me in your response.

tldr; dont go here if you're veg. horrible addition to the neighborhood. tofu puffs are disgusting and a waste of space. server lied to us about what was vegetarian and not then tried to convince us to get other dishes. would not return.

You should know before you walk in the things that seem vegetarian are not actually vegetarian. All the noodles except Drunken Noodles have a fish sauce base and we were told it couldn't be made without it. So we got 2 out of the total 3 vegetarian things on the menu: brussel sprouts and drunken noodles with tofu puffs. However, they tried convincing us to get the cabbage instead of the brussels (was later wondering if this was bc the brussels or noodles were also based in fish sauce and they didn't share that) and literally brought us that instead even after we very much declined and then said they accidentally wrote it down (?) Huh? But eventually got our order right. Their tofu puffs, respectfully, are a waste of space. Felt like I was biting into air, had no flavor at all. The drunken noodles by themselves were good and the brussel sprouts were decent but after having delicious b-sprouts at another spot the night before this was an embarrassment for this place. Also, if you like your drunken noodles spicy, this isn't the spot for you. It had no spice, they just added peppers on the side. I would not return unless they upgraded their menu to be more vegetarian and vegan friendly and had better service but glad I tried this new spot by my apt so I can at least confirm it was a bad idea! It's always crowded for dinner but it was pretty empty for lunch which made sense after trying it.

UPDATE- after reading Alex L.'s review below where they state they were told the Brussel sprouts were also based in fish sauce ... I'm in shock. BEYOND unprofessional and (quite frankly should be illegal?) of their staff to lie to us when we made it extremely clear we are vegetarian and wouldn't eat anything based in fish sauce. I guess that's why they asked if it was an allergy (we said no) so if it's not allergy I guess...

I sat down in little grenjai for a solo dinner on a Sunday night, uncontent with the meager offerings of a fridge in need of restocking. As dusk settled upon Brooklyn for the night I hopped on my bike, unnamed at the moment but I'm thinking something like blue thunder because it's electric but nothing is solidified at the moment.

Little grenjai has a classic American diner feel with its checkerboard floors and countertop seating but its menu is Thai all the way, chili icons punctuate many of the dishes, a warning light for the faint of taste. After being sat next to the wall of attractive t shirts for sale I chose a minced pork dish with rice , and the chili icon did not lead me astray. The food was delicious and opened my nasal passages all the way. Woah. Drink that water. This is really flavorful. God, I need this water so bad. The rice is really well cooked, super helps balance out how badly I need this water right now. Oh thank god, they left the bottle. Do I have a stray napkin in my pocket because my nose is on fire right now. Is that embarrasing? It's fine nobody's looking at you. I'm almost done with this food, and this giant bottle of water for that matter. And its done.

Satisfaction served with a tingling smile. I knew that there was no ice cream in the freezer so I ordered the cocoanut ice cream on the menu with nuts and salt, a unique combo that was part curiosity part medicinal and found the flavor to be better than it's texture. The shaved toasted cocoanut was sweet but meager and the ice cream was a little frozen over. It's purpose fufilled my need, though. Meal complete, bill paid, I grabbed my coat and wandered back to my bike and back into the night , the dusk a distant memory wiped hazy from a delicious, spicy plate of meat and rice. Little Grenjai was a wonderful experience, give yourself some time to sit and enjoy it's offerings when you're in the...

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)

We recently visited Little Grenjai, a modern Thai kitchen nestled in the heart of Bed-Stuy, after hearing a steady buzz of praise from locals. The space itself is beautifully designed—intimate, warm, and stylish without feeling forced. We were seated at the counter, where we enjoyed watching the chefs meticulously prepare each dish, which added a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes layer to the experience.

We began with the drunken noodles, which arrived glossy and fragrant, packed with baby peppercorns and Thai chilies. While the flavors were bold and the heat unapologetic (as it should be), it may be a bit overpowering for diners with a lower spice tolerance. The Chinese broccoli with garlic was another visually appealing plate, but again, very spicy—so much so that it competed rather than complemented the rest of our meal.

The highlight of the evening was hands down the braised short rib—expertly cooked, incredibly tender, and rich in flavor. It was the kind of dish you remember. To temper the heat from the earlier courses, we opted for a Thai iced tea, which was well-balanced and refreshing.

Our total bill came to around $110 after tax and tip. While the portions were satisfying and the ingredients clearly fresh and well-sourced, the price point felt a little steep for the overall experience. We’d also recommend noting spice preferences when ordering, as it significantly impacted the balance of the meal.

We’d give Little Grenjai a 3 out of 5 stars. There’s a lot of promise here—the short rib alone makes the visit worthwhile—but we’d return with a different game plan next time, trying a few other menu items and dialing the spice down...