New York City’s Thai food landscape is unparalleled in America: In that jam-packed scene is Fish Cheeks, a Nolita restaurant focused on excellent Thai seafood since 2016, served in a vibrantly poppy space with no pad Thai in sight. The restaurant became so popular that co-owners, brothers, and chefs Ohm and Chat Suansilphong, along with Jenn Saesue and Pranwalai Kittirattanawiwat, expanded with a Williamsburg location in spring 2025.
The Nam Gin martini is a savory cocktail thanks to the garlic-chile brine and gin base. I particularly enjoyed the lychee drink I had that was creamy with black sesame and egg whites.
The space is vibrant with fish head-shaped faucets in the bathrooms and fish lamps hanging over the bar. It’s great for families and catch-up friend dates.
For those who don’t want to trek out to the physical restaurants, there’s a to-go outpost of Fish Cheeks: Little Cheeks offers DoorDash pickups and deliveries with many of its favorite dishes, including that crab curry.