The good:1. The owner seemed like a really nice guy.2. This is the first restaurant chair I have been seated in quite some time that was actually fairly comfortable.3. The food was served hot.The fair enough:You order your food by spicy heat level. No spice, level 1, level 2, level 3...up to level 5. Normally no matter where it is, I would choose level 2. At this restaurant level 2 was so hot that it was almost inedible. I tried a level 1 and it was about right.The bad:The food was un/under seasoned. There was no salt/pepper condiments at the table. Basically it was like little more than eating steamed vegetables in a spicy hot soup. Had I been paying the bill, we would have gotten up and gone elsewhere. To me, the available flavors were not worth the money. I have eaten Americanized Thai, Authentic Thai, and multiple Thai Fusion dishes...and this was most disappointing!
I really loved Naviya's when I lived in the area. The staff were almost always polite and understanding, but the chef gets the most stars for their flair with food. They work tirelessly and humbly behind the scenes to give you your pennies worth and to make you feel loved. The owner and his wife also seem friendly. I bless Jesus for the times I spent here or got take out.
Found that the dishes are seriously underspiced (for flavor and savor). Chicken dishes at $18-$20 have a laughably small amount of chicken, which was also not flavorful or delicate. The dishes just didn't shine with traditional Thai flavors -- was more like a Chinese takeout impression. Will keep looking for good Thai over on western side of metro area.
Tasty Thai-style fried rice.
Food is always fresh, staff is friendly, and food allergies are accommodated. The papaya salad is a must try. Pictured here is the pad kee mow, drunken noodles, laced to my taste with their delicious chili oil. I will warn you - this oil packs a punch! Easily my favorite Thai spot in the area.
I cannot express enough how amazing the food is here. My partner and I were visiting from out of town and tried Naviya's based on the reviews. We were blown away by the preparations. This is a family owned and run restaurant. We were served by a very friendly son-in-law of the owner who explained that all the recipes were authentic family recipes. I often hesitate ordering fish in a "non-seafood" restaurant but we ordered a dish that included cod. The cod was prepared perfectly along with the accompanying veggies. We also ordered a curry dish that was not served with a soup-like consistency as in most Thai restaurants. It was a thicker curry which intensified the flavors. I would have given 10 stars if allowed. We will absolutely return every time when traveling to MSP.
I cannot express enough how amazing the food is here. My partner and I were visiting from out of town and tried Naviya's based on the reviews. We were blown away by the preparations. This is a family owned and run restaurant. We were served by a very friendly son-in-law of the owner who explained that all the recipes were authentic family recipes. I often hesitate ordering fish in a "non-seafood" restaurant but we ordered a dish that included cod. The cod was prepared perfectly along with the accompanying veggies. We also ordered a curry dish that was not served with a soup-like consistency as in most Thai restaurants. It was a thicker curry which intensified the flavors. I would have given 10 stars if allowed. We will absolutely return every time when traveling to MSP.
My personal favorite is #40….red curry with so many fresh veggies and I always add shrimp. Just a touch spicey! I have been dining in and taking out from Naviyas for 10 years and can always 100% count on the tastiest freshest ingredients every time! This is a gem of a family owned business.
Great food and vegan options! They are also aren't afraid of adding some real spice to their dishes, which is a rarity in Minnesota!
Love the food here and the service is top-notch. I recommend the chicken/shrimp rolls and Basil chicken hot plate. We end up going here about once per week. By far the best Thai food in the Twin Cities and the ambiance is great as well. Very clean and fresh!