(212) 971-8530

462 Ninth Ave
New York, NY 10018 40.7543 -73.9956

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Neighborhoods: Garment District, Midtown

Hours:

Mon-Sun 11:30am-11pm

Price:

$

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Cuisine:

Thai

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Aura Thai

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Pint-sized Asian fusion cafe stocks its menu with favorites from Thailand, China and Korea.

Editor's Tips

Delivery:
Ask for delivery and enjoy Aura Thai in the comfort of your home.
ambiance
50.0% positive
  1. “They sent me to a Pakistani restaurant, but I didn't like the atmosphere.”
  2. “We were sat right next to a big party- not romantic at all.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “It's the perfect place to eat a casual wonderful healthy meal then get a cupcake for dessert next door at Michael London's :).”
  2. “They also have a fried banana dessert that is really good.”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “Before a night out, grab a beer or glass of wine here because the food here is almost amazing.”
  2. “The waitress at the bar was very nasty to me because she mistakenly took an order for thai ice tea from me when I asked for thai lemonade in a to-go cup.”
food quality
98.28000068664551% positive
  1. “Great thai food at a modest price”
  2. “The food at this restaurant is excellent however the service leaves much to be desired.”
  3. “The food was great when I had expected to be eating deli food or cheap fast food from somewhere else.”
  4. “The food is sooo good.”
  5. “Thai food is my favorite, and their panang curry is definitely one of the best I've ever tried.”
  6. “The food is fresh, tasty, not expensive and the staff is very nice and helpful.”
  7. “It's the perfect place to eat a casual wonderful healthy meal then get a cupcake for dessert next door at Michael London's :).”
  8. “always order my food 20-30 mins ahead of time because it's so busy.”
  9. “and the dumplings, and he LOVES the lemongrass chicken.”
  10. “enjoyed my jap chae (the beef is so tender!)”
  11. “Before a night out, grab a beer or glass of wine here because the food here is almost amazing.”
  12. “The food is fab, the place is cute, and the service is wonderful.”
  13. “Good food, terrible service”
  14. “The meat quality is pretty good, too -- sometimes it can be questionable at Asian take-out joints.”
  15. “My fave dishes are the Panang Curry with brown rice and Pad Cashew.”
  16. “Really fast delivery; tasty stuff”
  17. “The food's that good.”
  18. “Def will go back with my in-laws to try their famous duck dishes.”
  19. “Almost all the dishes are fantastic and unlike other modestly priced restaurants the quality is consistent.”
  20. “get the beef salad and a side of jasmine rice 'cause the sirloin is, hands down, the best I've had.”
  21. “Their prix fixe holiday menu was a bargain, but other dishes on the regular menu are equally impressive.”
  22. “delicious thai foods.”
  23. “Dining options aroundMSG/Penn station arent the greatest, but Aura is a cute place with really good food.”
  24. “The curry was so rich and tasty.”
  25. “can't ask for a better, more authentic place.”
  26. “I've tried nearly everything on the menu and I think the only thing I didn't care for much was the crispy egg noodle dish.”
  27. “Best Thai food in NYC!”
  28. “The beef salad and the curries are particularly good.”
  29. “Spice levels are refreshingly strong, and it's a good sign that if you want to go hotter than normal, they use fresh chilis and don't just shake on more flakes.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Their prix fixe holiday menu was a bargain, but other dishes on the regular menu are equally impressive.”
  2. “I've tried nearly everything on the menu and I think the only thing I didn't care for much was the crispy egg noodle dish.”
  3. “Dining options aroundMSG/Penn station arent the greatest, but Aura is a cute place with really good food.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Dining options aroundMSG/Penn station arent the greatest, but Aura is a cute place with really good food.”
  2. “When you're thousands of miles away from home, it's nice to have a place that offers gourmet meals at decent prices.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “Def will go back with my in-laws to try their famous duck dishes.”
service
68.17999839782715% positive
  1. “The food is fresh, tasty, not expensive and the staff is very nice and helpful.”
  2. “The waitress at the bar was very nasty to me because she mistakenly took an order for thai ice tea from me when I asked for thai lemonade in a to-go cup.”
  3. “Lets forget about Burgers and Cupcakes for a moment and concentrate on the friendly Thai Neighbor that is Aura Thai.”
  4. “Good food, terrible service”
  5. “don't know about other people's experiences, but when I went there after watching some soccer with friends today, we left the Aura full and satisfied.”
  6. “The service isn't the best, but it's not that bad either.”
  7. “Awesome service.”
  8. “Fantastic quality price ratio for Thai, pleasant staff”
  9. “Unfortunately today I experienced the worst level of service I ever have in my life at any restaurant.”
  10. “The food is fab, the place is cute, and the service is wonderful.”
  11. “The food at this restaurant is excellent however the service leaves much to be desired.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is fresh, tasty, not expensive and the staff is very nice and helpful.”
  2. “When you're thousands of miles away from home, it's nice to have a place that offers gourmet meals at decent prices.”
  3. “The food was great when I had expected to be eating deli food or cheap fast food from somewhere else.”
  4. “Fantastic quality price ratio for Thai, pleasant staff”
  5. “An excellent lunch spot -- the prices are very reasonable and the portions are large.”
  6. “Great thai food at a modest price”
  7. “One more thing: Good prices!”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “always order my food 20-30 mins ahead of time because it's so busy.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/26/09

Great thai food at a modest price

by rtorrino8811 at Citysearch

I love this place. I used to work nearby and I would go at least once a week. I've tried nearly everything on the menu and I think the only thing I didn't care for much was the crispy egg noodle dish. Everything else is awesome. Try the steamed fish. I would almost always do take-out because the place is mobbed at lunch time. (good sign, right?)

  • Pros: Delicious food, friendly staff, quick prep
  • Cons: Lunch time crowd is insane due to popularity
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/17/08

delicious thai foods...

by ThereSea at Citysearch

I've been here twice, and both times I had ordered the panang curry . Thai food is my favorite, and their panang curry is definitely one of the best I've ever tried. They have a large menu selection here, and prices were fair. Staff is very nice and helpful.

Great Thai food for the price. I'd definitely recommend this place to friends.

3 Star Rating: Average

04/28/08

Average!

by Michelle323 at Citysearch

I received a gift certificate for this restaurant, so we decided to check it out. We were seated on the lower level, up against the stairs. It was crowded, the tables are very close together, and it was quite noisy. We were sat right next to a big party- not romantic at all. The food and drinks were okay, a bit over priced, but what isn't in New York??! The customer service was great and much appreciated, but the environment was a let-down.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/27/08

Fantastic quality price ratio for Thai, pleasant staff

by samatoid at Citysearch

I work in the area and order from Aura about twice a week. I often get the chicken with cashew nuts (not a lunch special, but irresistible), pad see ew, or one of the currys, but I have tried most of the menu. Almost all the dishes are fantastic and unlike other modestly priced restaurants the quality is consistent. The staff is industrious and pleasant although given the small size of the restaurant and the volume of business they often have to be brisk. I am no one special, but they know my name and always take time to say hello.

Tip: I order before I go the restaurant and bring my food back to the office.

  • Pros: Excellent thai food for a modest price, pleasant staff, clean and active ambience
  • Cons: small space, very busy at lunch time
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/20/08

Really fast delivery; tasty stuff

by ilikemonkeys at Citysearch

This neighborhood is really up and coming (on its way there; not there yet). There's not a ton of folks walking by, so Aura is sort of a hidden treasure, but it's great for the Penn Station and Javits Center crowds. My husband and I actually live down the street, and this is one of our favorite spots for lunch. The broths are a little bland, but I love the Pad See Ew (sp?) and the dumplings, and he LOVES the lemongrass chicken. We actually ordered delivery for the first time tonight, and it was unbelievably fast. Definitely one of the best thai places around. They have a sister restaurant on 39 and 9 that's got good lunch specials too.

  • Pros: Fast delivery, tasty sauces
  • Cons: bland broth, so-so service

The Details on Aura Thai

Place Categories:

  • really good thai food
  • mediocre pad thai
  • love place
  • wonderful service
  • decent prices
  • great everything
  • particularly good curry
  • famous duck dishes
  • favorite lunch time spots
  • excellent lunch spot
  • best bud
  • worst level
  • friendly thai neighbor
  • loves lemongrass chicken
  • crispy egg noodle dish
  • not like atmosphere
  • awesome grilled eggplant
  • nice condo
  • best sirloin
  • really good fried banana dessert
  • equally impressive other dishes
  • big fan
  • helpful staff
  • enjoyed jap
  • full aura