I usually don’t step foot in Brooklyn but when you’re here, might as well try what is heavily recommended, and that came in the form of Ugly Baby! We were instantly welcomed and you’re treated to a cozy little place that is so colorful! It instantly cheered up my cold wet self since it was raining outside. The waiters were so patient with explaining the levels of spice, and so so sooo attentive with everything! The food was amazing, we had the Panang Nuer (Beef shank and cumin red curry) and the Gai Nor Mai Dong (Chicken thigh, pickled bamboo shoot, red curry) this was their fabulous winter menu! Endless amount of refillable rice, since I had a lot of them, was a must for all the meat we got in the Panang Nuer! Gluten free is also marked clearly on the menu with an asterisk. Highly recommend coming here! A short walk from the train station!Dietary restrictions: Gluten free clearly marked!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yiyi Zhang
I know. I was warned. But some of the dishes were way too spicy. And I ordered a dish that wasn't marked spicy but turned out to be quite spicy.The flavors were quite good but eventually my face couldn't handle it anymore so I wasn't able to finish my meal because of the pain.The service is attentive and fun. They checked with us several times about the spice and advised I don't drink water because it makes the spice worse.The whole restaurant is very cramped and claustrophobic. Other than the colorful flatware and tabletops, it also felt pretty sparsely decorated. It feels like it's having a little identity crisis between being just casual / homey and more vibrant / artsy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Berk İlhan
Ugly Baby Thai Restaurant delivers an exceptional dining experience that tantalizes the taste buds and engages the senses in a harmonious blend of culinary craftsmanship and ambient aesthetics. On a recent visit, three dishes stood out for their masterful execution and balance: the Fried Turmeric Sea Bream, Cumin Beef Shank Panang Nuer, and Fried Rice.Each dish showcased a remarkable harmony of flavors, textures, and spiciness, carefully calibrated to a medium level of spice that was enough to entice without overwhelming. The Fried Turmeric Sea Bream was a revelation, its crispy exterior giving way to succulent flesh, elevated by the earthy warmth of turmeric. The Cumin Beef Shank Panang Nuer offered a robust cumin flavor that married beautifully with the rich, coconut-based Panang curry, while the Fried Rice provided a comforting base that tied all the flavors together with its simplicity and versatility.Beyond the culinary delights, Ugly Baby’s ambiance adds significantly to its charm. The vivid colors and minimal pop interior design create a visually appealing space that is both inviting and stylish. Coupled with the energizing beats of EDM music, the restaurant crafts a vibrant atmosphere that complements its dynamic menu.Ugly Baby Thai Restaurant is a testament to the beauty of balance in both its cuisine and its setting. It’s a place where every element, from the spice levels in its dishes to the decor and music, is thoughtfully curated to provide an enriching dining experience. Whether you’re a connoisseur of Thai cuisine or seeking an introduction to its rich flavors and traditions, Ugly Baby promises an unforgettable journey.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Khine Din
Love everything about this place. Never fails to satisfy my craving for spicy meals!
Lauren L
An easy 5/5 stars. I'm obsessed with all things hyper spicy, and this place is now my holy land. The spice is on point, and the food is absolutely spectacular. Things are a little on the pricey side, but everything is so good I don't even care. Our waiter did a great job explaining dishes and spice levels to us, and I'm happy we took his advice on everything. We had the curried pork leg and pig's ear jelly, the quail and jungle curry, and the sea bream. Everything was perfect. I'd consider the portions to be on the generous side. Shout out to the restaurant for having a ridiculously extensive beer and wine list, btw.Words of advice:-We got in there at 5 p.m. on a Saturday, and all tables were taken by 5:15 p.m. Don't think you can just walk in without a wait. Also, there's a time limit per table once you sit down (I can't remember what it is)-The food is going to take a little while to come out. Just be patient, it's worth super it.-Listen to your server, they know what's best for you.-If you get the quail and jungle curry, watch out for the little bones.I cannot wait to go back. This place has almost totally ruined other Thai food restaurants for me. It's a really, really incredible place. Only regret is not taking photos of the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mani Khosrovani
Terrible and rude hostess which is very unfortunate because the food is
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Abe Jellinek
Fantastic place with fantastic gluten-free options.Things to know:- A lot of the time if you pick a more “interesting” dish, the waiters will almost argue with you - they’ll tell you that it’s too spicy, too confusing, too out of the ordinary, etc. If they say it’s too spicy, yeah, they probably mean it. I have a high spice tolerance and the food here is *seriously* spicy. But in all the other cases - if you like trying new things, order whatever you want. Treat it as a good-to-know, but this is the sort of place where you should try new things!- Drink menu skews expensive unless you want beer, and the food really doesn’t need anything but water (a lot of water). IMO, steer clear.- Gluten-free options are marked on the menu. Almost the entire menu is GF. Just awesome. This is not the sort of Thai restaurant where the only GF options are the basic curries.Dietary restrictions: Great gluten-free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A_NYC_traveler
Great food, polite and attentive servers, reminds me of Thailand. Love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lloyd Smith
Food is delicious and spicy. Great wine/beer menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaitlin Chiu
Had my first out of body experience here with the spice levels. Service is amazing but tight seating!
da babys were so ugly good job and the ugly babys were
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
ThisSummer W
The food waited quite a long time. Food tastes average, Fried fish is delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Jake T.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience dining here! The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. When we arrived around 9PM on a Saturday, many of the popular dishes were sold out however our waiter did a fantastic job at describing the other dishes that were available. Our waters were consistently refilled and the wait for our dishes to come out was not too long. The ambiance was a little questioning as hard rock music was blaring throughout the restaurant, which took away a little from the overall experience. Overall, the food, customer service, and experience was wonderful!
Nicole S.
I recently visited Ugly Baby with a friend and had quite the experience. This was a Thai food experience like no other - it definitely left an impression! The quality of food and attention to detail was superb. We were very pleased with the taste of the food - the flavours were amazing, the presentation was beautiful, and we could tell there was quite a lot of preparation that went into the dishes. The service was great and they were very attentive throughout our experience. They ensured they recommended certain dishes based on our comfort with spice and the ordering process was a nice conversation with our server. However, I will say that it was a spicy experience! Although there are dishes with different spice levels, this is definitely something to note. The restaurant was very cute, but at times it was a sensory overload that wasn't super cohesive - loud rock music, many vibrant colours, really yummy aromas, and super amazing spicy tastes. The only thing that was a little bit disappointing was that they sold out of about 6-7 dishes by the time we got there (about 9pm) which we were really excited to try - my recommendation would be to go earlier, although you may have to wait a little bit longer. Overall, I would go back and definitely recommend.
Mrmarginofsafety
Cuisine excellent, service excellent. Most items spicy hot except the fish no changes allowed. Craft beer menu extensive and excellent. Bar and table seating max 6. It's loud enough to not hear two seats away they crank the music.
I usually don’t step foot in Brooklyn but when you’re here, might as well try what is heavily recommended, and that came in the form of Ugly Baby! We were instantly welcomed and you’re treated to a cozy little place that is so colorful! It instantly cheered up my cold wet self since it was raining outside. The waiters were so patient with explaining the levels of spice, and so so sooo attentive with everything! The food was amazing, we had the Panang Nuer (Beef shank and cumin red curry) and the Gai Nor Mai Dong (Chicken thigh, pickled bamboo shoot, red curry) this was their fabulous winter menu! Endless amount of refillable rice, since I had a lot of them, was a must for all the meat we got in the Panang Nuer! Gluten free is also marked clearly on the menu with an asterisk. Highly recommend coming here! A short walk from the train station!Dietary restrictions: Gluten free clearly marked!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I know. I was warned. But some of the dishes were way too spicy. And I ordered a dish that wasn't marked spicy but turned out to be quite spicy.The flavors were quite good but eventually my face couldn't handle it anymore so I wasn't able to finish my meal because of the pain.The service is attentive and fun. They checked with us several times about the spice and advised I don't drink water because it makes the spice worse.The whole restaurant is very cramped and claustrophobic. Other than the colorful flatware and tabletops, it also felt pretty sparsely decorated. It feels like it's having a little identity crisis between being just casual / homey and more vibrant / artsy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Ugly Baby Thai Restaurant delivers an exceptional dining experience that tantalizes the taste buds and engages the senses in a harmonious blend of culinary craftsmanship and ambient aesthetics. On a recent visit, three dishes stood out for their masterful execution and balance: the Fried Turmeric Sea Bream, Cumin Beef Shank Panang Nuer, and Fried Rice.Each dish showcased a remarkable harmony of flavors, textures, and spiciness, carefully calibrated to a medium level of spice that was enough to entice without overwhelming. The Fried Turmeric Sea Bream was a revelation, its crispy exterior giving way to succulent flesh, elevated by the earthy warmth of turmeric. The Cumin Beef Shank Panang Nuer offered a robust cumin flavor that married beautifully with the rich, coconut-based Panang curry, while the Fried Rice provided a comforting base that tied all the flavors together with its simplicity and versatility.Beyond the culinary delights, Ugly Baby’s ambiance adds significantly to its charm. The vivid colors and minimal pop interior design create a visually appealing space that is both inviting and stylish. Coupled with the energizing beats of EDM music, the restaurant crafts a vibrant atmosphere that complements its dynamic menu.Ugly Baby Thai Restaurant is a testament to the beauty of balance in both its cuisine and its setting. It’s a place where every element, from the spice levels in its dishes to the decor and music, is thoughtfully curated to provide an enriching dining experience. Whether you’re a connoisseur of Thai cuisine or seeking an introduction to its rich flavors and traditions, Ugly Baby promises an unforgettable journey.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love everything about this place. Never fails to satisfy my craving for spicy meals!
An easy 5/5 stars. I'm obsessed with all things hyper spicy, and this place is now my holy land. The spice is on point, and the food is absolutely spectacular. Things are a little on the pricey side, but everything is so good I don't even care. Our waiter did a great job explaining dishes and spice levels to us, and I'm happy we took his advice on everything. We had the curried pork leg and pig's ear jelly, the quail and jungle curry, and the sea bream. Everything was perfect. I'd consider the portions to be on the generous side. Shout out to the restaurant for having a ridiculously extensive beer and wine list, btw.Words of advice:-We got in there at 5 p.m. on a Saturday, and all tables were taken by 5:15 p.m. Don't think you can just walk in without a wait. Also, there's a time limit per table once you sit down (I can't remember what it is)-The food is going to take a little while to come out. Just be patient, it's worth super it.-Listen to your server, they know what's best for you.-If you get the quail and jungle curry, watch out for the little bones.I cannot wait to go back. This place has almost totally ruined other Thai food restaurants for me. It's a really, really incredible place. Only regret is not taking photos of the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terrible and rude hostess which is very unfortunate because the food is
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Fantastic place with fantastic gluten-free options.Things to know:- A lot of the time if you pick a more “interesting” dish, the waiters will almost argue with you - they’ll tell you that it’s too spicy, too confusing, too out of the ordinary, etc. If they say it’s too spicy, yeah, they probably mean it. I have a high spice tolerance and the food here is *seriously* spicy. But in all the other cases - if you like trying new things, order whatever you want. Treat it as a good-to-know, but this is the sort of place where you should try new things!- Drink menu skews expensive unless you want beer, and the food really doesn’t need anything but water (a lot of water). IMO, steer clear.- Gluten-free options are marked on the menu. Almost the entire menu is GF. Just awesome. This is not the sort of Thai restaurant where the only GF options are the basic curries.Dietary restrictions: Great gluten-free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, polite and attentive servers, reminds me of Thailand. Love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is delicious and spicy. Great wine/beer menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had my first out of body experience here with the spice levels. Service is amazing but tight seating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
da babys were so ugly good job and the ugly babys were
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The food waited quite a long time. Food tastes average, Fried fish is delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience dining here! The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. When we arrived around 9PM on a Saturday, many of the popular dishes were sold out however our waiter did a fantastic job at describing the other dishes that were available. Our waters were consistently refilled and the wait for our dishes to come out was not too long. The ambiance was a little questioning as hard rock music was blaring throughout the restaurant, which took away a little from the overall experience. Overall, the food, customer service, and experience was wonderful!
I recently visited Ugly Baby with a friend and had quite the experience. This was a Thai food experience like no other - it definitely left an impression! The quality of food and attention to detail was superb. We were very pleased with the taste of the food - the flavours were amazing, the presentation was beautiful, and we could tell there was quite a lot of preparation that went into the dishes. The service was great and they were very attentive throughout our experience. They ensured they recommended certain dishes based on our comfort with spice and the ordering process was a nice conversation with our server. However, I will say that it was a spicy experience! Although there are dishes with different spice levels, this is definitely something to note. The restaurant was very cute, but at times it was a sensory overload that wasn't super cohesive - loud rock music, many vibrant colours, really yummy aromas, and super amazing spicy tastes. The only thing that was a little bit disappointing was that they sold out of about 6-7 dishes by the time we got there (about 9pm) which we were really excited to try - my recommendation would be to go earlier, although you may have to wait a little bit longer. Overall, I would go back and definitely recommend.
Cuisine excellent, service excellent. Most items spicy hot except the fish no changes allowed. Craft beer menu extensive and excellent. Bar and table seating max 6. It's loud enough to not hear two seats away they crank the music.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Panang Curry