Hanuman Thai Eatery on Newport

Food and customer service while dining were fantastic. The restaurant is not very big, so expect to wait a while during peak hours. Reservations were not available when my group wanted to dine, and the phone was not answered when we called. But if you have the time to wait, the food is worth it. Hopefully they look to expand to a larger space in the future.

Had a lot of high hopes for this one because their aesthetic is so different from your local Thai restaurants. Their food here seems much more elevated and definitely a good takeout spot if you're in the area. Overall, great food and experience from aesthetic to service. They recommend sharing the dishes as they are family-style portions! The host is extremely friendly and easy on the eyes, too. He was welcoming! When you provide your number, they will text you a link which actually tells you how much longer you've waited and how many parties are in front of you. Food: 4/5 only because some of the food didn't hit as hard but they were still good. Pork Larb - Shrimp chips were GREAT! Wish they provided more because there was more Larb than chips but I didn't mind eating the Larb by itself. This is very fragrant with potentially fish sauce so be careful if you don't like fish sauce. I loved this dish! Recommend as a starter. Khao Soi - loved the addition of crispy noodles, and when soaked with the curry broth it comes with, it got better. I didn't like this one as much because the other dishes outshined it. The thigh was juicy and the egg noodles stayed al dente! The lime definitely rounded out the flavor. Massaman Curry with Hangar Steak - I wish the steak was cut across the grain because eating the steak was tough. Great flavor on the curry (was on the sweeter side). I enjoyed the peanuts in it and the potatoes. The potatoes were in the raw side which can turn some people off. I didn't mind it but my bestie disliked it. Think of potato salad toughness. The roti that came with it was really good! I want more of that instead of rice ;) Panang Curry with Fried Chicken Thigh - the best one of all the dishes! I loved the savoryness of the curry and the crispy thigh went well with it. I would say I like this better than your curry with chicken cutlet from Japanese curry houses. Definitely a must have compared to the Massaman Curry! Pad See Ew - a staple for every Thai restaurant and this spot did it so well! It did go on a sweeter side but I didn't mind it. I thought it was perfectly seasoned and a great share among friends. Thai Tea Creme Brulee - sooo good! Great way to end a great experience. Creamy and subtle Thai tea flavor. Definitely the best Thai food I've had ever. Will be coming back time and time again if I'm in the area.

Such a busy restaurant but worth the wait. You must come hungry. All of the dishes was presented beautifully. Such top quality food. Amazing drinks and incredible services. The ambiance is on point. This place doesn’t disappoint. You will thank me later.

First time here and man the food is good. We got three different dishes. Two noodle dishes (pad thai and a curry dish). Both were amazing!

Felt right at home, super chill atmosphere. The food was fire! 💯. Definitely recommend the curry experience with another dish.

Karina B

I always look forward to coming here and it never disappoints. It is worth the wait. The Panang curry is soo good. This location needs to start serving cocktails like the other location!!!!

Aarti Patil

Decor:Simple and clean Service: Staff was very friendly. They served water multiple times and checked on us constantly. Also, we placed ourselves on Yelp waitlist when we started from our house, so our wait wasn’t long. Food: Loved papaya salad. It was fresh with perfect spice, sour and sweetness. Khao Soi was delicious. Food presentation was excellent. Thai tea crème brûlée had perfect amount of sweetness. Loved it. Will definitely come back again.

VKB

This is one of my favorite spots for Thai food in OC! It’s a bit more expensive than most Thai restaurants I go to in the area but I definitely think it’s worth it. We started with the Thai Sausages which were delicious, light, a little sweet, and great to start our meal with. My friend recommended this spot to me for their Khao Soi and it did NOT disappoint. The curry/broth is rich and flavorful, and the chicken meat falls right off the bone. The portion is pretty big too for me so I usually don’t finish the whole thing, but I’m not complaining because I get to take home the rest for lunch tomorrow. My partner had the Thai Boat Noodles too which were delicious as well, very hearty and similar to ones I had during my exchange program in Thailand. We had one of the last Mango Sticky Rice dishes to finish and it was so delicious! The mangoes were soft, sweet, and juicy, while the sticky rice was warm and sweet as well. The coconut milk and toasted coconut flakes were great to add as well. The service here is pretty good, all the employees are friendly. It’s a small restaurant so it’s an intimate, well decorated space that is perfect for date night. The restaurant itself is small but I’ve seen them accommodate for large groups (6-8 people). Our server was especially friendly and helpful, I unfortunately didn’t get her name, but she was a short, younger Asian woman with medium, black hair who raved about the mango sticky rice. The wait times can get pretty long, but we came after 8pm on a Saturday night and were seated within 15-20 minutes. If there’s any place you go to in OC for Thai food, this is the one!

Udonner

Looking for Pad See Ew w/good, chewy noodles & that hint of char? Maybe some extra crispy chicken wings elevated w/a delicious dipping sauce? Or a dish you won’t find at most Thai places…one that the menu states as a “must try”: a refreshing ceviche consisting of amazing yellowtail, pineapple, grape tomatoes & red onions? Lucky for us, we get it all @Hanuman! And because this location has larger dining areas for both indoor & outdoor under the soft glow of string lights, we were able to get seated inside right away on a Friday night @6:15pm.

Shelly Shi

2nd update : Sat down outside. The food and service both are great. Highly recommend drunken noodles. Original : Did a quick takeout. The drunken noodles came out fast and were really tasty.

Cochetrigo

Ordered the Drunken Noodles at medium heat. It was spicy for someone who likes spicy food. Also Green Curry which was amazing. All dishes had shrimp which tasted fresh and was not overcooked. The beer was excellent too and the appetizer. We sat outside under the patio heater as there was a 15 minute wait for indoor seating. We would return.

Maryam

Wow! My friend and I shared the green papaya salad and the ceviche as we were looking for something refreshingly cold. They were both exceptionally delicious! The milk tea was also tasty and helped offset the spiciness of the salad. They have a sign that they are not vegan or vegetarian friendly due to sauces containing fish.

Katia Jurado

The service was very good, they recommended the wings and lamb and they were excellent. It is the first time I have tried Thai food, and I would return, the flavor of the soup was a little strong for me, but the other dishes were very good.

g s

Hanuman Thai Eatery on Newport is spectacular! Min and Allison made make us feel right at home absolutely amazing customer service! The Panang Curry is hands down the best in Orange County by far! Rich, flavorful, and unforgettable. Can’t recommend this place enough! 10/10 I will definitely be back!

Josiah Fernandez

Food and customer service while dining were fantastic. The restaurant is not very big, so expect to wait a while during peak hours. Reservations were not available when my group wanted to dine, and the phone was not answered when we called. But if you have the time to wait, the food is worth it. Hopefully they look to expand to a larger space in the future.

Karl Marquez

Had a lot of high hopes for this one because their aesthetic is so different from your local Thai restaurants. Their food here seems much more elevated and definitely a good takeout spot if you're in the area. Overall, great food and experience from aesthetic to service. They recommend sharing the dishes as they are family-style portions! The host is extremely friendly and easy on the eyes, too. He was welcoming! When you provide your number, they will text you a link which actually tells you how much longer you've waited and how many parties are in front of you. Food: 4/5 only because some of the food didn't hit as hard but they were still good. Pork Larb - Shrimp chips were GREAT! Wish they provided more because there was more Larb than chips but I didn't mind eating the Larb by itself. This is very fragrant with potentially fish sauce so be careful if you don't like fish sauce. I loved this dish! Recommend as a starter. Khao Soi - loved the addition of crispy noodles, and when soaked with the curry broth it comes with, it got better. I didn't like this one as much because the other dishes outshined it. The thigh was juicy and the egg noodles stayed al dente! The lime definitely rounded out the flavor. Massaman Curry with Hangar Steak - I wish the steak was cut across the grain because eating the steak was tough. Great flavor on the curry (was on the sweeter side). I enjoyed the peanuts in it and the potatoes. The potatoes were in the raw side which can turn some people off. I didn't mind it but my bestie disliked it. Think of potato salad toughness. The roti that came with it was really good! I want more of that instead of rice ;) Panang Curry with Fried Chicken Thigh - the best one of all the dishes! I loved the savoryness of the curry and the crispy thigh went well with it. I would say I like this better than your curry with chicken cutlet from Japanese curry houses. Definitely a must have compared to the Massaman Curry! Pad See Ew - a staple for every Thai restaurant and this spot did it so well! It did go on a sweeter side but I didn't mind it. I thought it was perfectly seasoned and a great share among friends. Thai Tea Creme Brulee - sooo good! Great way to end a great experience. Creamy and subtle Thai tea flavor. Definitely the best Thai food I've had ever. Will be coming back time and time again if I'm in the area.

R Galang

Such a busy restaurant but worth the wait. You must come hungry. All of the dishes was presented beautifully. Such top quality food. Amazing drinks and incredible services. The ambiance is on point. This place doesn’t disappoint. You will thank me later.

jerry Z

First time here and man the food is good. We got three different dishes. Two noodle dishes (pad thai and a curry dish). Both were amazing!

Hanuman Thai Eatery in Newport Beach is a standout among local Thai restaurants, offering a delightful dining experience with less wait time compared to its other branch. Popular with locals, this spot impresses with its food quality and attention to detail, while its modern decor seamlessly incorporates Thai cultural elements. The restaurant’s theme, inspired by the Monkey King from Hindu mythology, might seem unrelated to Thai cuisine, but it symbolizes the strength evident in their flavorful dishes and beautiful presentation. We ordered a variety of favorites, starting with the fried chicken wings paired with sticky rice and green papaya salad. The chicken wings were perfectly crispy and juicy, and the green papaya salad had a tasty balance of freshness with a mild spicy kick. The green curry, served with grilled chicken breast, was creamy and flavorful, though the chicken was slightly overcooked; the rich curry sauce with rice more than made up for this minor issue. The Pad Thai with prawn was also enjoyable, though I would have preferred a touch more sweetness and tanginess to enhance the dish. Overall, the food was excellent, and we will definitely return when we’re in the area. The service was outstanding, rounding out a highly satisfying dining experience.

Authentic Thai flavors. The lad na was well balanced, and service was friendly. A solid choice for Thai food lovers in the area.

regis kwong

Hanuman Thai Eatery in Newport Beach is a standout among local Thai restaurants, offering a delightful dining experience with less wait time compared to its other branch. Popular with locals, this spot impresses with its food quality and attention to detail, while its modern decor seamlessly incorporates Thai cultural elements. The restaurant’s theme, inspired by the Monkey King from Hindu mythology, might seem unrelated to Thai cuisine, but it symbolizes the strength evident in their flavorful dishes and beautiful presentation. We ordered a variety of favorites, starting with the fried chicken wings paired with sticky rice and green papaya salad. The chicken wings were perfectly crispy and juicy, and the green papaya salad had a tasty balance of freshness with a mild spicy kick. The green curry, served with grilled chicken breast, was creamy and flavorful, though the chicken was slightly overcooked; the rich curry sauce with rice more than made up for this minor issue. The Pad Thai with prawn was also enjoyable, though I would have preferred a touch more sweetness and tanginess to enhance the dish. Overall, the food was excellent, and we will definitely return when we’re in the area. The service was outstanding, rounding out a highly satisfying dining experience.

NiCHA KONALO

Authentic Thai flavors. The lad na was well balanced, and service was friendly. A solid choice for Thai food lovers in the area.

Drew Suthipongchai

Love the food but wish they would have more varieties. Servers are really nice.

C H

Great menu fabulous food just how i like it! Only problem was with the salted eggs. I had no idea the were brined and i popped a whole one in my mouth and was hit with a salt bomb! I had to spit it out. Thats the only problem I had. It is a casual place no booths. Relaxed atmosphere. Sweet waitresses. Good service.

We came for the high review but kinda disappointed. The good things: the sauce of the lamb is good, the food presentation is good, the mango sticky rice that's not on the menu is good. But, the lamb isn't fully cooked inside, still very pink. The spicy Basil dish with rice is way too salty and tastes nothing special. The amount of food doesn't match the price. The waitress simply served the food and never checked on us afterwards. If you just want to show people the food outlook this is the place but it would be better if they pay more attention to the taste.

Visited this Thai restaurant after seeing all the high reviews and hype. My friends and I went for an early dinner, and the place was starting to fill up quickly—but luckily, we didn’t have to wait for a table. The ambiance was nice with decent seating capacity, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. With high expectations, we ordered the Lamb-a-Singh, Khao Soi, Drunken Noodles, and Spicy Basil. The Lamb-a-Singh was nicely plated and the sauce was tasty, but the lamb itself was chewy and lacked the flavor we had hoped for. The Khao Soi bowl looked good but was overly creamy, and the flavor fell flat compared to other Thai spots we’ve tried. The Drunken Noodles were probably the highlight—good portion and satisfying for the price. As for the Spicy Basil, we mistakenly thought it was a fried rice dish (our bad for not reading the menu closely), but it was actually minced chicken served with a side of rice. The chicken was way too salty and definitely not worth the price—I wouldn’t recommend it. For dessert, we ordered the classic Mango Sticky Rice. The presentation was nice, and the mango itself was delicious—sweet and ripe, which ended the meal on a better note. Overall, this place didn’t live up to the hype. For the high reviews and premium prices, we were left disappointed and felt it didn’t meet expectations.

Amaldev Devadas

Visited this Thai restaurant after seeing all the high reviews and hype. My friends and I went for an early dinner, and the place was starting to fill up quickly—but luckily, we didn’t have to wait for a table. The ambiance was nice with decent seating capacity, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. With high expectations, we ordered the Lamb-a-Singh, Khao Soi, Drunken Noodles, and Spicy Basil. The Lamb-a-Singh was nicely plated and the sauce was tasty, but the lamb itself was chewy and lacked the flavor we had hoped for. The Khao Soi bowl looked good but was overly creamy, and the flavor fell flat compared to other Thai spots we’ve tried. The Drunken Noodles were probably the highlight—good portion and satisfying for the price. As for the Spicy Basil, we mistakenly thought it was a fried rice dish (our bad for not reading the menu closely), but it was actually minced chicken served with a side of rice. The chicken was way too salty and definitely not worth the price—I wouldn’t recommend it. For dessert, we ordered the classic Mango Sticky Rice. The presentation was nice, and the mango itself was delicious—sweet and ripe, which ended the meal on a better note. Overall, this place didn’t live up to the hype. For the high reviews and premium prices, we were left disappointed and felt it didn’t meet expectations.

H B

We came for the high review but kinda disappointed. The good things: the sauce of the lamb is good, the food presentation is good, the mango sticky rice that's not on the menu is good. But, the lamb isn't fully cooked inside, still very pink. The spicy Basil dish with rice is way too salty and tastes nothing special. The amount of food doesn't match the price. The waitress simply served the food and never checked on us afterwards. If you just want to show people the food outlook this is the place but it would be better if they pay more attention to the taste.

I’m honestly quite surprised by how underwhelming my experience was, especially given the high ratings. We ordered the Gai Todd Hat Yai, Massaman curry, and Pad Kee Mao, but unfortunately, none of them lived up to expectations. They were edible at best. The steak in the curry was extremely tough and was not medium rare, and while the curry had a nice texture, it was overly sweet for my taste (though that could come down to personal preference). The Pad Kee Mao was overly salty, yet still lacked depth of flavor, and the meat in that dish was also very chewy. The one standout was the roti, they were so good and easily the highlight of the meal. Overall, I left very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend this place based on my experience.

Nicole Ta

I’m honestly quite surprised by how underwhelming my experience was, especially given the high ratings. We ordered the Gai Todd Hat Yai, Massaman curry, and Pad Kee Mao, but unfortunately, none of them lived up to expectations. They were edible at best. The steak in the curry was extremely tough and was not medium rare, and while the curry had a nice texture, it was overly sweet for my taste (though that could come down to personal preference). The Pad Kee Mao was overly salty, yet still lacked depth of flavor, and the meat in that dish was also very chewy. The one standout was the roti, they were so good and easily the highlight of the meal. Overall, I left very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend this place based on my experience.