May's first U.S. restaurant features many of her original signature recipes, which are served at her restaurants in Thailand. Offers a set daily changing menu for dinner every night of the week, a set menu for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. A la carte menu is also available. Holds cooking classes. Est. 2016 previously at 126 E 28th St and reopened here in 2018. Open Mon-Sun 5:00pm-11:00pm.
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215 E Broadway, New York City, New York, USA, 10002
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 24 Dec 2021 by SxNYC
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70 Reviews
First Review by HarrisonTucker
kaisatravels
Points +418
Nice food, slow service - Edit
We had noodle salad and coconut milk curry, both were tasty but the salad was much more spicy than the curry although the menu indicated otherwise. I generally like pretty spicy food but the salad was almost too hot to eat.
Read moreThe service was friendly but very slow, we had to ask several times for more water and wait a long time for the check. Maybe we just had bad luck, but if you’re in a hurry you might want to consider going somewhere else!
Guest
craigmc
Points +34852
Old school - Edit
A traditional Thai restaurant doing what it should.
Read moreSteamed dumplings to were the best I’ve had In some time., steamed but not soggy.
After my first few mouthfuls of the stir fry you could feel the flavours developing every second. Not spicy but a slow heat with lots of fragrances.
Worth a visit.
Pros: Staff, 100%, Tasty
Guest
Marcia
Points +69
In Bangkok, this was my favorite meal. - Edit
I was extremely pleased to find an all vegan restaurant. So on my recent trip to New York City I was delighted to hear of this outpost.
Read moreIt did not disappoint. A very simple ambience with traditional Thai food. I ate very light with just the green papaya salad and spring rolls. I look forward to returning for dinner after I walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Guest
shalinibothra
Points +13
Amazing thai food. - Edit
The food is incredible! We had there green and red curries and both were incredible! The portion size is good and the food is fresh. Best part is she prepares it herself.
Read moreThe only con is that the place is too far away from city center and is small and okayish in looks so not best for parties or some special occasion. If you care about the ambience that is.
Pros: Quantity, Large portion size, Taste
Cons: Place looks cheap, The decor is bad
Guest
Shizzys
Points +13
Spectacular Meal - Edit
We are meat eaters but visited w our vegan friends. The food was spectacular. And May came out to say hello to the diners and even put on a traditional Thai dance for us! The food is fresh, made with love and so great to also support an Asian female owned business. Bravo!!!!
Read moreGuest
JulieVargo
Points +115
Fresh, delicious, made expertly with love - Edit
Every dish was fresh and delicious. We ordered about eight different items to share and each one was consistently flavorful in its own way. Attentive service.
Read moreGuest
Vegan Longevity
Points +56
Incredible!!! Delicious! Organic!!!!! Brown rice. - Edit
When I stayed in Bangkok one summer, I went all the way to a little restaurant on the river and I tried many dishes there, it was wonderful. Some time later when I came back to New York I was very lucky as they moved their flagship to east 28th street and then to East Broadway. The panang curry is delicious and the portion is very large--during covid I started getting delivery instead of eating in, and quality has never been an issue. The fried rice with mixed vegetables and the panang are my staple food from here, with brown rice. The Haw Mokk Curry is also tasty and healthy, far more concentrated than the panang. While the Haw Mokk portion seems smaller than the Panang, its actually as filling. The vegan sausage spread---is very tasty, but since its not gf I only get it periodically.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-02-26
Pros: taste factor, healthy ingredients, made with love
Cons: since its small, not always open
Guest
villarreallevi
Points +952
One of the best in the city - Edit
This is my favorite Thai food ever, I’ve tried many of the noodle and curry dishes and they have never disappointed. I enjoyed the food so much I bought the May Kaidee cookbook to try my best to emulate some of the dishes at home
Read moreGuest
GF Cookie Monster
Points +872
Delicious - Edit
This is some of the best vegan food in NYC. Authentic Thai. Plenty of gluten-free options. Rice, tofu, noodles, and curries to keep you warm on a cold day.
Read morePros: Spicy and non-spicy options, Gluten-free options, Affordable
Guest
SxNYC
Points +136
No complaints, even from the meateaters at the table! - Edit
Four of us had a lovely dinner at May Kaidee (2 meat eaters, a vegan, and a veggie) and all were so very happy with each and every tasty dish.
Read moreSo much more nuanced and flavorful than standard US Thai restaurants. We shared and all loved the spring rolls, som tam, laab pak, red curry, haw mokk, and pad see u. And, black sticky rice for dessert!
Makes me yearn for a return trip to Chiang Mai.
Pros: Just really really good food.
Cons: No alcohol, but BYOB is ok.
Guest
thefugitivekind
Points +59
An institution and a blessing - Edit
We are so lucky to May Kaidee here in NYC. The minute you walk into the restaurant and the aromas from May’s kitchen hit your nose, you know you’ve arrived in Thai vegan heaven. My favorites are May’s signature Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai, May Keemao, Green Curry, Panang Curry, Green Papaya Salad, and Mango Sticky Rice with Banana. Everything is sublime, exquisite, and delicious. The service is wonderful. May is a gem, just and a wonderful person. I love this place!!!
Read morePros: All vegan, Delicious, Lovely people
Cons: None!, None!, None!
Guest
NickGervasio
Points +36
great thai spot - Edit
atmosphere is quiet and cozy. definitely a spot to check out if you’re vegan and looking to try great thai food
Read morePros: many options, reasonably priced
Cons: not many drink options - only a few teas
Guest
Poundie
Points +15409
Inspiration behind Happy Cow! - Edit
As the founder of the Happy Cow has noted in various interviews that may be found online, May Kaidee--the founder of this restaurant--was a primary influence for starting the Happy Cow website. I have been to her NYC restaurant when it was located in the 20s (and when it also hosted a cooking school) and also when it had a branch in the Vegan Food Court.
Read moreI ordered takeout delivery, and as I have come to expect from May Kaidee, the food is healthy and delicious. Located in the "Two Bridges" part of town, the restaurant itself is a bit away from the main tourist areas--but it is worth the trek, especially for Happy Cow devotees (And there is another great vegan place very nearby--Jajaja).
Guest
rickyhayes
Points +23
Awesome - Edit
I loved it
Read moreGuest
JeffBrackett
Points +142
The absolute best Thai - Edit
I have never been more pleased by a massaman curry.
Read moreThe Tom yum soup is BEYOND delicious!
Pros: Absolutely delicious food, Amazing employees
Guest
KathrinHenon
Points +185
My Thai Fave - Edit
This is the best vegan Thai place in the city with real authentic Thai cook. super friendly. We took a vegan cooking class there and it was so much fun. I would suggest eating in the restaurant as food will taste better and fresh then having it delivered (but right now we understand eating in is not an option). All dishes are super tasty and even love their hot tea selection. PS: their soup is amazing, love all salads.
Read morePros: amazing taste, authentic thai food, friendly
Cons: cold room - but worth the food, interior, none
Guest
MaryRawlins
Points +16
Great group events! - Edit
While working at a vegan restaurant, the owner took us for a private team building dinner at May Kaidee. She leads your group through a full meal in which you help each other to cook each dish at the table. It was light hearted, engaging, informative, inspiring and DELICIOUS! Everyone had the best time and it continues to be one of our most fond memories. We learned a traditional dance and each left with a cookbook of the dishes we made. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Read moreGuest
MichaelS25
Points +13
May Kaidee Open For Delivery and Take Out during COVD-19 - Edit
I am pleased to report that May Kaidee is still open 7 days per week during the COVD-19 crisis. They have expanded their menu too feature more vegan thai items. Most of the items are gluten free and everything is very healthy and flavorful. I recommend the pumpkin hummus and the curries. I look forward to trying more items. Please support local businesses that feature vegan food and are doing everything possible to stay in business during these challenging times.
Read moreThanks
Guest
ThatVeganFella
Points +64
Great to have more options - Edit
Normally i have to be careful about ordering in a Thai restaurant since fish sauce and shrimp paste are commonly used in the cuisine and when asked some people have considered them "vegetarian ingredients". So it's a real treat to be able to go into May Kaidee and order anything on the menu knowing that it's veg*n friendly!
Read moreThe location is a long, relatively narrow basement restaurant. Quiet, cozy and not overdone, it's probably better for small groups of 2-6 people as opposed to larger gatherings.
The server was attentive and courteous, though the food was a little slow getting to the table (i believe they may have been short staffed that night). They had a pre fix menu that would have been cheaper, but with all the options we just had to skip it and go family style. Some of the food had a more mild flavor than what i was use to (probably due to the use of more authentic recipes as opposed to more americanized ones) but everything was really delicious. My boyfriend said the pumpkin soup was one of the best soups he'd ever had, so that's definitely a must try if you stop in.
Pros: Totally vegan (Thai ice tea!), Lost of options
Guest
madeau
Points +330
Good and cute - Edit
I did feel like I was in Thailand, but unlike most of the other reviews I didn’t think the food was super flavorful and authentic. At a vegan restaurant I think just putting chunks of tofu in the curry is an easy way out and I’d expect a bit more... creativity or uniqueness. I also had the glass noodles with veggies, which could have also been just a bit more exciting. It was however all fresh and good and a great price and portion size. The spring rolls were delicious!
Read morePros: all vegan, a lot of gluten-free options , good prices
Cons: not super extraordinary flavors, no alcohol, no ambient for a romantic dinner, but cozy
Guest
nlukas51
Points +243
Authentic! - Edit
Authentic Thai! I visited Mai’s restaurant in Thailand two years ago and the food is just as delicious as it was there!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Great service
Cons: Too far away from PA
Guest
McMallory
Points +2218
Actually Thai - Edit
This is a great spot. The food tastes like Thai food does in Thailand, not like it does at most American Thai places. We ordered off the a la carte menu because I have a peanut allergy and it gave me more control over the dishes; the staff was very accommodating of my allergy, which I appreciated. Go with a group and share so you can try more things, because there’s a lot of good stuff on this menu.
Read moreAlso the Thai iced tea is fantastic. I won’t sleep tonight but it was worth it!
Guest
BlaiseLane
Points +17
Best vegan Thai food I've had! - Edit
Best, most authentic Thai I’ve been had in New York. And I grew up here! Delicious food and super friendly service. Highly recommend and hope this place sticks around for a long time.
Read moreGuest
jow
Points +195
Exceptional food - Edit
Such a delicious meal, clearly fresh and cooked with love. I’m so excited to come back for a cooking lesson too!
Read morePros: Amazing fixed price meals - $20 for 3 course , $30 for 5 courses, Tasty healthy food
Guest
cwl666
Points +1430
Lovely all around - Edit
Delicious 3 course meal for $20. Very friendly staff. Will be returning !
Read moreGuest
ChristianPena
Points +26
Amazing Thai food, the owner was very personable and talked to us for 10 min - Edit
One of the best Thai places I’ve been to
Read morePros: All vegan, Amazing staff , Authentic Thai food
Guest
SoledadNadasriMalan
Points +18
Fantastic! - Edit
Amazing spring rolls! Delicious food, just like in Thailand😄The restaurant is very cute, clean and peaceful. I strongly recommend it!
Read moreGuest
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