Restaurant in New York City, United States
Michelin-recognised Thai. Book two weeks out.

KRU brings Michelin Plate-recognised modern Thai cooking to Williamsburg at the $$$ price tier, backed by a wine programme ranked No. 1 by Star Wine List in both 2023 and 2024. It is a stronger value proposition than most of Brooklyn's credentialed dining options and a clear step below the $$$$ Manhattan tasting-menu circuit in cost — book two to three weeks out for weekend dinner.
KRU is the right call if you want serious Thai cooking in a room that doesn't ask you to compromise on either ambience or technique. The Williamsburg address at 190 N 14th St puts it squarely in reach for a dinner date, a celebratory meal with a small group, or a food-focused evening where the wine list matters as much as the food. At the $$$ price tier, it sits a full step below the $$$$ omakase and tasting-menu circuit — making it one of the more defensible splurges in Brooklyn's current dining scene. If you care about Thai food done with real precision and want a credentialed room to do it in, this is a strong booking. If you want a casual neighbourhood Thai takeout experience, look elsewhere.
KRU earned a Michelin Plate in 2024 and landed at No. 37 on Esquire's Leading New Restaurants list in 2022 , two credentials that confirm it isn't operating on hype alone. The Star Wine List recognition, ranked No. 1 in both 2023 and 2024, is the detail that separates KRU from most of its Thai peers in New York. A top-ranked wine programme at a modern Thai restaurant is genuinely unusual, and it matters for how you plan your evening: this is a venue where spending time with the wine list alongside the food is part of the value proposition, not an afterthought.
The interior reads contemporary without being cold: exposed brick walls, ductwork, and cement-tiled floors give it a Williamsburg-appropriate industrial warmth. The room is described as sleek and airy, which in practical terms means it works for conversation without the acoustic chaos that plagues louder Brooklyn dining rooms. A Google rating of 4.3 across 242 reviews suggests consistent execution rather than a venue coasting on early press.
The cooking takes traditional Thai foundations and applies a contemporary sensibility without abandoning the flavour logic of the original dishes. Braised beef shank and tripe arrive in a rich broth with pork cracklings, bean sprouts, and Chinese broccoli, calibrated to a balance of sour and spicy. Red curry-rubbed branzino is served over steamed egg and Napa cabbage on a banana leaf with white rice , a dish that shows the kitchen's ability to work within a recognisable Thai frame while adding genuine technique. These aren't fusion approximations; they read as informed interpretations of dishes with real culinary grounding.
Hours are not confirmed in current data, so verify directly before planning a midday visit. That said, the venue's profile , Michelin recognition, a serious wine programme, a $$$ price point, and a format built around composed, technique-driven plates , reads as a dinner-first operation. If KRU does offer lunch, the value case shifts: at a $$$ price tier, a daytime visit typically delivers the same kitchen at a lower ambient energy level and, often, shorter booking windows. For special occasions or when the full wine list is part of the plan, dinner is the format to target. For a more relaxed exploration of the cooking, a lunch slot (if available) would give you more table time and less competition for bookings.
The wine programme's Star Wine List No. 1 ranking in both 2023 and 2024 is an argument for evening dining specifically. Wine-focused meals make more sense at dinner, when you're not working around afternoon commitments and can pace through a longer list. If the wine list is a draw for you , and at this level of recognition, it should be , book dinner and factor it into your budget accordingly.
Booking difficulty is rated moderate. That means you're unlikely to secure a table on the night, but you also don't need to be planning three months out the way you would for Atomix or a tasting-menu room. A two-to-three week lead time for weekend dinner is a reasonable working assumption. Weeknight bookings may be more accessible. Given the Michelin Plate and the consistent press attention since the 2022 Esquire listing, don't leave it to the last minute for weekend evenings or for group bookings. Check the reservation platform the venue uses and set a reminder , tables at this level of recognition tend to move quickly once the weekend approaches.
Quick reference: $$$ price tier, moderate booking difficulty, 190 N 14th St Brooklyn, Michelin Plate 2024, Star Wine List No. 1 (2023 and 2024).
See the comparison section below for how KRU sits against New York's broader fine-dining field. For further exploration across the city, see our full New York City restaurants guide, our full New York City hotels guide, our full New York City bars guide, our full New York City wineries guide, and our full New York City experiences guide. For reference points further afield, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Alinea in Chicago, and The French Laundry in Napa sit at comparable or higher credential levels in their respective cities. Internationally, Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monte Carlo and Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen represent what full-commitment fine dining looks like at the top tier. Closer in spirit, Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg and Providence in Los Angeles offer comparable seriousness of intent in a non-New York context. Emeril's in New Orleans is another data point for regional American fine dining done with conviction.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRU | Thai, Modern Thai | $$$ | Kru is a restaurant in New York City, USA. It was published on Star Wine List on February 17, 2023 and is a White Star.; Husband-and-wife Chefs Ohm Suansilphong and Kiki Supap are behind KRU, which is Thai for "guru." Indeed, you will get a lesson in traditional Thai dishes albeit ones that have been spruced up in a decidedly contemporary way. Sleek and airy, the interior is equally of-the-moment with exposed brick walls and ductwork along with cement tiled floors. First up? Braised beef shank and tripe in a rich, flavorful broth with pork cracklings, bean sprouts, and Chinese broccoli with a nice balance of sour and spicy. Then, red curry-rubbed branzino over steamed egg and Napa cabbage is served on a banana leaf with white rice.; Star Wine List #1 (2024); Michelin Plate (2024); Star Wine List #1 (2023); Esquire Best New Restaurants #37 (2022) | Moderate | — |
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | $$$$ | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Eleven Madison Park | French, Vegan | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Masa | Sushi, Japanese | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Per Se | French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
How KRU stacks up against the competition.
The database confirms braised beef shank and tripe in a sour-spicy broth with pork cracklings as an early-course anchor, and red curry-rubbed branzino served on a banana leaf as a main. Both dishes illustrate the kitchen's approach: traditional Thai technique pushed into contemporary presentation. Go in expecting a structured progression rather than a loose sharing format.
Bar seating details are not confirmed in current data — contact KRU directly at 190 N 14th St, Brooklyn before assuming walk-in bar access. The room is described as sleek and airy with exposed brick and cement tile floors, suggesting a considered dining environment rather than a casual drop-in bar setup.
KRU's interior is described as sleek and contemporary, and with a Michelin Plate and $$$ pricing, the room skews toward polished casual rather than jeans-and-a-t-shirt. Smart casual is a reasonable baseline: think neat trousers or a simple dress. Nothing in the venue record indicates a formal dress code, so you won't need a jacket.
For Thai specifically, KRU sits in a narrow field — few NYC Thai restaurants carry both a Michelin Plate and an Esquire Best New Restaurants credit. If you want a tasting-menu format at a higher price point, Atomix offers similar precision-driven technique through a Korean lens. For a more accessible modern-Asian option at $$$ or below, the broader Williamsburg dining corridor offers several alternatives worth comparing on Pearl.
KRU's format leans structured — the sequenced dishes described in the venue record (beef shank opener, branzino main) read as a composed progression rather than à la carte. At $$$, it sits in a mid-tier fine-dining bracket where the Michelin Plate and Esquire No. 37 ranking in 2022 both suggest the kitchen delivers at that price. If you're comparing tasting-menu value in NYC, KRU is significantly more approachable than Masa or Per Se while offering a cuisine type neither of those covers.
Yes, with caveats on group size. The sleek, considered room and Michelin recognition make it a credible special-occasion booking for two or a small group. It is not a loud, celebratory restaurant — the profile points to focused cooking in a composed environment, which suits an anniversary or serious dinner more than a big birthday party. For larger groups, verify private dining availability directly with the venue.
At $$$, KRU sits in a bracket where the Michelin Plate (2024) and Esquire Best New Restaurants placement (2022) both support the ask. The Star Wine List White Star recognition also signals a wine program worth engaging. Compared to NYC's $$$$ omakase and tasting-menu tier, KRU delivers serious technique at a more accessible price point — and it's doing something few rooms in the city are: modern Thai cooking at this level of intent.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.