NOA Thai Celebrates 1 Year in New Haven, From September In Bangkok Team

NOA, located on Crown Street in the heart of Downtown New Haven, just celebrated its first Birthday and we were recently invited to check it out. NOA is the second restaurant owned by chef and owner Winyu ​“Win” Seetamyae who also owns the wildly popular and favored September In Bangkok, also in New Haven. Although both restaurants are Thai, the “vibe” and dishes are quite different. NOA is a bit more youthful with a vivid nighttime scene. NOA, which happens to mean delicious in Thai certainly lives up to its name based on the dishes we tried.

Win emigrated to the states about 10 years ago and has worked in restaurants from San Francisco to New York in numerous capacities from server to manager to Chef, and truly understands the dynamics of running a successful restaurant.

Dressed in bright red, black and gold, the decor at NOA is vibrant with an atmosphere that is both elegant and casual. An enormous golden Buddha takes center stage at the back of the restaurant and takes you in immediately. Your eyes are then drawn the bright red umbrellas that hang from the ceiling above and then on to the sizeable bar which extends the length of the restaurant. Up front and center a large NOA sign lit up neon red serves as the bar’s focal point. Dim yet bright, the restaurant’s interior is well suited to both a comfortable dining experience as well as a happening night spot that’s open until 2:00 am on weekends. Alternating DJs, assorted theme nights including Ladies’ Night and Brazilian Night also cater to a more youthful crowd and add an international flair.

September’s and NOA’s menus are different with intention. 

Thai cuisine features the perfect balance of flavors – merging sweet, sour, bitter, salty and spicy which gives it it’s tell-tale flavor. Thai cuisine also has strong Chinese and Indian influences which you’ll see in various forms of curry, herbs and spices, particularly basil. There are three types that are commonly used; lemon, sweet, and peppery Holy basil. Thai fare also draws influences from the flavors from surrounding countries including Vietnam, Cambodia and India. And as you dig into your dishes with their complex flavors you’ll taste these influences. NOA’s flavor profile reflects mostly that of Northern Thailand which tend to be a bit milder than those in the south. 

We began with Noa’s sausage, a Northern type of sausage prepared with pork and an assortment of complex, herbal and aromatic herbs. We then ordered the Shrimp Chips because we just had to! For those unfamiliar with this popular appetizer, also known as prawn crackers, this popular snack in South East Asia, isn’t actually a shrimp dish. Although made from a combination of shrimp, tapioca starch and seasonings, these wonderfully puffed (very deep fried!) pastel-colored chips have a salty shrimp taste. They’re a super fun way to start a meal. We also thoroughly enjoyed the refreshing Papaya Salad with its sweet and spicy profile from the accompanying peanut tamarind dressing.

From there we moved on to the Tum Yum Fried Rice, a mix of seafood that included shrimp, squid and New Zealand mussels, flavored with Kefir, lime and Bird’s Eye chili. With a flavor profile that is quite different from Chinese fried rice, this has a several layers of flavors that combine a hint of sweetness to balance out the salty and mildly heated profile that complemented the accompanying seafood. 

Who doesn’t love a good Pad Thai? This ultimate comfort food with its sweet, savory and mildly sour flavors, made with shrimp, rice noodles, tamarind, preserved radish, peanuts, beansprouts and lime didn’t disappoint and was nothing short of delicious. 

NOA Drunken Noodle made with grilled pork, flat rice noodles, NOA’s chili paste, Thai Basil was scrumptious. Tender slices of pork on a bed of vegetables and rice noodles were incredibly flavorsome and tender.

Khao-Sio is made with egg noodles, yellow curry, fresh coconut milk, lemongrass chicken thigh, chili oil and lime was light but decadent and sublime. Yellow curry and coconut milk is a favorite combination of mine – one that I find to be both elevated and comforting. We enjoyed a vegetarian version with tofu, mushrooms and noodles which was equally delicious and satisfying. 

Since I started off by mentioning the bar, I really ought to mention the fabulous cocktail situation at NOA -- a perfect way to end this piece and a perfect way to end your day! We thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend the Spicy Passionfruit Margarita, the Midnight Spell and the Lychee Cucumber Mojito.  

NOA is open daily until 1:00 am. Kitchen closes at 10:00 PM
200 Crown St, New Haven, CT 06510

(475) 238-6290