Previously, I recommended SkyIce as my go-to Thai lunch spot, and I now have another to recommend in Brooklyn: National. I’ve been visiting once a week for the past month. It’s a good lunch spot for dining in and taking out. The restaurant itself has friendly staff, quick service, and warm but modern decor. A lunch special is offered regardless for dine-in and take-out, and consists of a soup or salad plus choice of entree for $10. The portions are so generous that you can share.
To build your lunch special, I would recommend one of the soups: tom ka gai (chicken coconut soup) or tom yum koong (spicy shrimp soup). However, I would stay away from the summer rolls.
The entrees have been consistently delicious. I’ve enjoyed some of the different curries, but I’m also a creature of habit and love a great pad Thai, pad see yue, and pineapple fried rice — which National has in spades. I mentioned that National is generous in their portion sizes, and so I usually make my entrees veggie-only.
With fresh ingredients, a focus on balancing between sauces and the natural flavors of the ingredients, and a great menu, I’ve never had a bad experience here.
National
723 Fulton St
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-522-3510
Photo courtesy of National
A foodie in perpetual wanderlust, Rose makes it a mission to sample the best ugly delicious delights around the world, but also enjoys the occasional dress-code-required fare and is always ready for a spot of afternoon tea. Currently based in the Boston area, she has been writing for GMF since 2013 and called DC, NYC, and Mexico City home. Rose is a graduate of the University of Virginia and New York University, and is on the board of the University of Virginia’s Asian and Asian Pacific American Alumni Network as well as the Thomas Jefferson Partnership Fund, which supports the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. She pays her bills by helping companies communicate with Wall Street as an investor relations professional.