How did Soothr gradually become

one of the best Thai restaurants

in New York's East Village?
Images and words by: Xinwei Li
Published: November 24,2022

Outside view of Soothr

Rate: 5/5

This Thai restaurant, located on an intersection in the East Village, was born and survived
in the Covid era of 2020. The most remarkable thing is that it was awarded a Michelin Plate
in May 2021. For a restaurant that opened during the epidemic to achieve this in just one
year shows that Soothr has the potential to be the best Thai restaurant in New York's East
Village. To be honest, these "titles" made me want to try this Thai restaurant. I have
traveled to Thailand before, so I know exactly what the food tastes like and even how it is
presented.

After two or three tastings at Soothr, my love for it has only grown. The taste of the food,
the decor of the restaurant, even the way the food is presented, and the cutlery all make me
feel like I am back in Thailand. I went to Soothr again during the Thanksgiving break, four
or five months after the last time I had their Thai plates. But each time I still sighed
endlessly at how wonderful the food was.

Soothr, properly pronounced "Sood", is the Thai word for "recipe". The story on the
restaurant's website shows that the founders all grew up in different regional cities in
Thailand, each with a unique relationship with Thai food. The vision of the restaurant is
clear from the name: they want to share the taste of their family recipes from their
childhood in Thailand to New York, where people from all over the world. The restaurant
wants to bring a sense of home, warmth, and comfort through the taste of its dishes. As the
name implies, Soothr is the ideal place to enjoy authentic and delicious Thai food.

The green retro bar inside Soothr

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Soothr started out as a small outdoor take-out restaurant
when it opened in the summer of 2020. Now the store has been expanded, but the store is
still small. The space inside the store is deep and narrow. The interior design blends wood
paneling and traditional Thai decorative elements with the industrial charm of New York.
The atmosphere of the whole store is made very warm and inviting by the warm lighting.
And the green tile bar is visually striking, giving guests a retro feeling of going back to their
childhood. The whole store is located on 13th Street in Manhattan, giving it a feeling of
being a place to get together with friends.

At Soothr they do not call the

appetizers, they call them small
bites. I have only ordered the "Had
Yai Chicken", a Southern Thai
fried chicken, at their restaurant
before. The chicken is made with
local Thai herbs and the
restaurant's special sweet and
spicy sauce. The chicken thighs
are salty and well-marinated. The
charred skin is crispy, and you can
feel the meat's delicate yet slightly
chewy texture the moment you
enter. Dipping the chicken leg into
the sweet and spicy sauce next to
"Had Yai Chicken" the plate instantly has a different
texture and taste.
"Si-Krong Pad Ped" is actually Thai spicy pork
ribs. There are about five large ribs in a serving,
with a charred, crispy, and sweet exterior, and the
pork is fatty and lean, even the bones are cooked
softly. Personally, this plate is more of a sweet
taste with a little spice. But for my friend who is
not much of a spicy eater, this plate was about her
limit. This is worth mentioning that you can talk
to the server before you order and ask them to
change the spice level of "Si-Krong Pad ped".

"Tom Yum seafood hot pot" is the most

representative Thai food in my opinion and a dish
that I still miss after my trip back from Thailand.
Soothr’s Tom Yum is the standout among the
entrées.

The main ingredients of Tom Yam are shrimp "Si-Krong Pad Ped" (top)
"Tom Yum seafood hot pot" (bottom)
and mushrooms, and Soothr also adds some
seafood such as squid and fish to enhance the
flavor. The spicy and sour flavors are made with a variety of herbs, lemon, and curry, while
a touch of coconut milk adds layers of flavor to the soup. The soup is not only generous but
also very appetizing. Even the pot of Tom Yum Kung hotpot is similar to the one I had in
Chiang Mai, Thailand. The pot is made of iron and is shaped like tableware that has been
used at home for many years and is somewhat deformed. This in a way gives me a sense of
home.
 "Mango Sticky Rice"

At the end of the meal, there is no doubt that I would like to order a common Thai dessert
known as "Mango Sticky Rice". The right temperature of soft sticky rice topped with thick
coconut milk and fresh mangoes. The sweetness of the mango and coconut milk is
accentuated by the slightly salty taste of the sticky rice. Use a spoon to put sticky rice,
mango, and coconut milk into your mouth at the same time, you will have a feeling of taste
buds blooming!

Earlier I was totally unaware that Thai noodle soup was the specialty of this restaurant, so
it led me to not have a chance to try Soothr's noodles until now. Whether it was the special
dry noodle soup, the rice noodles in beef soup, the creamy rice noodles in spicy soup
thickened with pig's blood, or the egg noodles in between the dry and wet soup, I was eager
to try them all. After all, Soothr was envisioned from the very beginning as a family-style
Thai noodle restaurant. Whether it is the noodles or the plates, everyone raves about the
food Soothr makes.

I Recommend :
 Name: Koong Karee
Price: $23
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: Crab fried rice
Price: $26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Name: Si-Krong Pad Ped
Price: $27
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: Tom Yum seafood hot pot
Price: $25
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: Mango Sticky Rice (seasonal)
Price: $14
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: Thai Iced Tea
Price: $17
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Final Advice:

Share the plates. Because each plate at Soothr I think is a large portion, if you want to try
more dishes, the best way to do so is to share them with your friends or family.
If you go on a holiday or weekend, remember to call (212 844 9789) or make a reservation
online before you go. Save room for mango sticky rice!
 Works Cited

Fan, Jiayang. “The Merry Eclecticism of Thai Street Food at Soothr.” The New Yorker, The New

Yorker, 19 Nov. 2021, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/the-merry-

eclecticism-of-thai-street-food-at-soothr.

“Home Page.” Soothr Thai Noodle Bar, https://soothrnyc.com/.

Sietsema, Robert. “The East Village's Newest Thai Restaurant Has a Tantalizing Mix of

Regional Cooking.” Eater NY, Eater NY, 25 June 2020,

https://ny.eater.com/2020/6/25/21302076/nyc-thai-restaurant-soothr-east-village.

Talukder, Adrita, and Linsey Liao. “Thai Food to Soothr Your Heart and Soul.” Washington

Square News, 25 June 2020, https://nyunews.com/culture/dining/2022/11/07/nyc-

authentic-thai-cuisine-soothr/.

Wells, Pete. “A Far-Ranging Thai Menu That Started with a Slurp.” The New York Times, The

New York Times, 14 Sept. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/14/dining/soothr-

restaurant-review-thai-noodles.html.

“2021 New York New Michelin Plates.” MICHELIN Guide,

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/news-and-views/2021-new-york-michelin-plates.