Laut - NY 10003

15 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, United States
+1 212-206-8989
$$$ Malaysian restaurant , Asian fusion restaurant , Singaporean restaurant , Thai restaurant
(2170 Reviews)
Price Range $30–50

Laut at 15 E 17th St offers a focused dive into Malaysian and broader Southeast Asian flavors within a modern New York setting. Located near Union Square, it attracts a mix of locals and visitors who come looking for something beyond typical Asian fare—especially fans of Malaysian and Singaporean specialties with occasional Thai influences.

The dining experience here leans toward a comfortable yet refined casual spot. The interior feels lively but not overwhelmingly loud, featuring eye-catching wall art and a stylish ceiling, with a compact bar tucked into one corner that invites a quick cocktail or sake before or after a meal. It's the kind of place that fills up quickly, especially for weekend lunches, so reservations can save a wait.

On the menu, diners will find familiar Southeast Asian dishes alongside some regional specialties. Popular picks include the flaky, Indian-influenced Roti Canai served with rich curry dipping sauce, and hearty bowls like the Curry Laksa Noodle Soup—a fragrant, spiced broth with your choice of protein. The Nasi Lemak here offers a variation on the classic, still satisfying but with its own twist. Those with a sweet tooth can round out their meal with well-executed desserts like Mango Sticky Rice or Young Coconut Pudding. The kitchen also blends in some Thai staples like Green Curry and Papaya Salad, which feel right at home among the menu’s rich, layered flavors.

The staff tends to be warm and attentive, guiding guests through the menu's diverse options without pressure, which enhances the overall easygoing vibe. Drinks are well thought out—signature cocktails crafted by a notable mixologist reflect the restaurant’s city-inspired energy, and a small sake list complements the food nicely. The Thai iced tea comes up often as a crowd-pleaser, perfect for balancing the spicy notes of the dishes.

This spot suits groups looking to share plates, adventurous diners craving authentic and sometimes unexpected Southeast Asian flavors, and anyone who enjoys a lively urban restaurant around Union Square. While prices edge toward the higher side (around $50 per person), the portion quality and complexity of flavors keep many coming back. Visiting early or during off-peak hours might offer a quieter, more relaxed experience, but the buzz of a bustling main course hour speaks to its local popularity.

If you find yourself at Laut near the holidays, pairing a meal here with a stroll through the nearby Union Square Christmas Market creates a nicely rounded evening of food and neighborhood atmosphere. Whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a weekend tasting adventure, Laut delivers a nuanced take on Malaysian and Southeast Asian cuisine that’s firmly rooted in New York’s diverse dining scene.

Highlights
Has fast service
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves halal food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves healthy options
Serves late-night food
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Best for
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
No wheelchair-accessible car park
Parking
Difficult to find a space

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

Tuesday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

Wednesday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

Thursday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

Friday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

Saturday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

Sunday

11:30 AM - 03:00 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:45 PM

2170 Reviews
Maria O’Leary

04 Jan 2026

Our waitress was super friendly and helpful (it says, Sajana, on the check). Food was delicious! We had Curry Puffs, Vegetable dumplings as starters. We enjoyed a lot, especially, Curry Puffs were the best! As an entree, we had Curry Laksa Noodle Soup and Pineapple Rice. I enjoyed the Curry Noodles the best!

Tanvi Desai

17 Dec 2025

Laut Restaurant absolutely delivered! The food was full of rich, authentic Southeast Asian flavors, and everything tasted so fresh. The staff was warm, attentive, and helped us choose the perfect dishes. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting a great spot for a casual night out. Definitely coming back!

Samantha Y

12 Dec 2025

Really solid Malaya spot - overall 8/10. The noodle soup was clean but had great flavor. The nasi lemak was different from a typical but still yum. Roti was flaky and the curry it came with was super flavorful. The Thai iced teas were also solid. Would come back. ~$50/pp a bit pricey tho

Alison Pouw

01 Nov 2025

fantastic. must go here. super great flavor, fast service, your water will always be full and you will leave happy. go around christmas and walk around union square christmas market before or after dinner. you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

Nehal

13 Oct 2025

Made a reservation to ensure our spot, and good thing we did, cause it got packed within 20 minutes of opening during lunch hours on a Sunday. Upon entering, I was so impressed with the interior, gorgeous wall art, beautiful ceiling, and a small bar in the back corner. The menu had so many exciting dishes. They were pricey but that’s expected in the city. We picked a bunch to have a full on family style meal. We ordered the roti canai, roti telur, ilat bakar (fish), duck curry, Singapore crispy soft shell chili crab, baby bok choi, Hainanese roast chicken with rice, Malaysian curry with shrimp and side of bao buns. The dishes started coming out one after another within short intervals. All the dishes were so amazing, huge portions, full of flavors. My favorite were the chili crab, duck, roti canai and the Thai iced tea. All of us were belly full as we throughly enjoyed all the dishes. We even had some leftovers to take home. The service was good. Our server was so friendly. Empty dishes and plates were taken out quickly. We were able to take our sweet time dining in. Overall we had a delightful lunch experience here with our friends and kids.

Michele Guttermuth

29 Sep 2025

Nice spot for Asian food. Was definitely hot on the day we went so was hot in the restaurant but perf place for winter cozy meal (seats close together). Overall service was great and enjoyed a couple dishes for a great price. Loved the bok choy as well as roti. Overall recommend

Arlene James

21 Sep 2025

I was so excited about visiting Laut but was sadly underwhelmed by the food. I had the sampler and a lackluster cocktail. My buddy had a chicken dish and left 1/2 of it on his plate. I did enjoy the coconut rice, and the service was great. Most of the reviews were so favorable that I think I'll go back one more time. I'll update this post once I do.

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