Thai Villa

Thai Villa is the best Thai restaurant near Union Square. The space is impressive and a little bit dreamlike, with a bunch of lamps and candles and a full tree’s worth of gold leaves hanging from the ceiling. And while it’s always nice to stare at shiny gold things, the real reason you come here is for the food. Start your meal with the fried chicken wrapped in pandan leaves, and then get some of the tapioca dumplings filled with minced pork (you’ll probably want several orders). This is an ideal spot for a weeknight meal, and it’s perfect for when you have some in-laws to feed. But it does get busy, so call ahead for a reservation.