Goodbye, Ugly Baby: NYC's Iconic Thai Restaurant Closes

<img src="https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/189/903/003895b50b40b2c55c6b66d3a794101909-Ugly-Baby.rhorizontal.w1100.jpg" alt="Ugly Baby Restaurant">

After seven years of serving up atomic Thai food, Ugly Baby in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, is closing its doors on December 22, 2024. The restaurant, known for its exceptionally spicy dishes and its influence on the NYC Thai food scene, is shutting down because chef Sirichai Sreparplarn needs a well-deserved break to work on a cookbook.

The Legacy of Ugly Baby

Opened in 2017, Ugly Baby quickly became a Brooklyn favorite, even earning a spot on New York Magazine's best Thai restaurants list. Its unique, intensely flavorful dishes, inspired by Northern Thai cuisine, helped elevate the city's Thai food scene beyond the typical fare, inspiring a wave of new, high-quality Thai restaurants across NYC.

Chef Sreparplarn's journey began in Bangkok, continuing with roles at various NYC Thai restaurants. His impact is undeniable. Publications like Bon Appétit and The New York Times lauded the restaurant's food. Ugly Baby, along with other similar establishments, played a key role in introducing a wider audience to the diverse and exciting world of authentic Thai cuisine.

A Packed House Until the Very End

Despite the many new Thai restaurants that have opened since, Ugly Baby remained extremely popular until its closing. In 2022, it stopped taking reservations to accommodate the large crowds. Even last year, it was still reported as one of the city's hardest-to-get-into restaurants. News of its closure has prompted a final surge of diners eager to enjoy its signature dishes before it's gone for good.

The closing of Ugly Baby marks the end of an era, but its legacy—the elevation of NYC's Thai food scene and the introduction of a new generation to intensely delicious food—will live on.