Mint Leaf Thai: A Cozy Culinary Gem in Newport Beach After a chilly evening enjoying the boat parade in Newport Harbor, my friend Sarah and I stumbled upon Mint Leaf Thai--and what a find it was! This charming spot served up the perfect meal to warm us up and satisfy our cravings. I started with the Tom Yum Kai soup, a coconut milk-based masterpiece that was equal parts creamy, tangy, and flavorful. It was comfort in a bowl, bursting with fresh ingredients and just the right hint of spice. For the main course, we shared the crab fried rice, which was loaded with tender crab, perfectly cooked rice, and subtle seasonings that elevated every bite. The portions were generous, and the quality of the food far exceeded what I've had at other Thai restaurants, even at much higher price points. The bustling ambiance made the experience even better--it's clear this place is a local favorite, and for good reason. Despite being busy, the staff was incredibly kind, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. If you're looking for authentic Thai flavors, hearty portions, and a cozy spot with great vibes, Mint Leaf Thai is a must-visit. Whether you're a local or just in town for a night, this restaurant delivers a dining experience that's both memorable and delicious. Highly recommend! Pro tip: Order the Tom Yum Kai--it's a bowl of pure happiness especially on a chilly winter evening . #MintLeafThai #ThaiFoodLove #NewportBeachEats #TomYumKai #CrabFriedRice #ComfortFoodGoals #HiddenGemNewportBeach #AuthenticThaiCuisine #FoodiesOfYelp #GenerousPortions #CozyEats #BoatParadeDining #BudgetFriendlyFood #DeliciousAndAffordable #LocalFavorites #WarmUpWithSoup #EatLocalNewportBeach

Food was fresh and delicious. Service prompt and good. Went on a Saturday evening between 5-6pm. The general area where the restaurant was located was crowded so parking was a challenge however, if you don't mind a short walk you can park at the several beach parking lots across Balboa Blvd. A local told me after 6PM you don't have to pay for the parking

Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine is a little restaurant making big impacts. When you first walk into this restaurant, one of the first things you notice is its size. Depending on the orientation of tables, the establishment can fit less than or more than 10 parties at a time, depending on the size of the party. The restaurant was decorated with lots of bright colors and the restaurant had a comforting vibe to it. Although the front of the house was only ran by two people, they were very friendly, quick, and efficient at doing their jobs. It was astounding to see our server take our order by memory and make no mistakes while doing so. I ordered the yellow curry with chicken and a small side of white rice. The yellow curry ($15.95) was one of the best yellow curries that I've tasted so far. The coconut milk yellow curry had a rich flavor and was perfectly spiced. On the menu the dish is labeled as spicy, but I found it to have the perfect kick. The kind that you feel more in your throat than your mouth. There were carrots, potatoes, and chicken in this dish, and I found everything to be perfectly cooked. On the menu it states that the curries do not come with rice. While I understand you can eat curries alone, most Thai places that I have gone to includes a side of rice with their curries. Since rice was not included, I added a small side of white rice for $2.50. For dessert, the table shared the Mangos with Sticky Rice ($11.95) and it was simply delectable. The mangos provided a subtly sweet freshness to the sweet sticky rice. The portion was fairly large and good to share with 3-4 people. My visit at Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine would have been five stars, however people at my table noticed that some of the dishes were not cleaned properly and had to exchange them for a clean dish. With this all being said, Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine has a great array of dishes that are sure to be delicious for everyone.

Excellent food Mediocre service never did get my water Even though there was only two others in the place!

I'm love this place foods delicious and Stuff is nice and friendly. When I come to Newport Beach I'll come To Mintleaf Thai cuisine. Love.

Friendly service, quaint establishment, decent food including decently priced lunch specials. My friend was a little turned off by the appearance of the pink Pad Thai but she still finished it. The best thing our group ordered appeared to be a basil dish, the pad see eww, and the chicken larb. I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken larb which was well-seasoned and served on a bed of fresh herbs and lettuces, including red and butter lettuce.

Wonderful food as I remember from years past. It's the first time I've been here in several years. I had dinner last week with a group of 6, We had Summer Rolls, Chicken Larb, Crying BBQ Pork, chicken satay, Pumpkin Curry with Shrimp, and more. The Fried Fish with Tamarind sauce was a stand out but all were delicious. Also ,we had Mango Sweet Sticky rice at the end as our dessert , the mangos so sweet with sticky rice and coconut milk , I've try this dessert before in other Thai restaurant but this place is the best. The service was quick, efficient and friendly. The atmosphere and decor felt like a great combination of modern and traditional Thai decor. I totally recommend this place to everyone !!!