Begin an upbeat night in the Golden Triangle with dinner at a longtime favorite, Nicky’s Thai Kitchen.
Dinner Nights at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen Are for Tasty Relaxation
To truly understand Nicky’s Thai Kitchen, don’t start with the menu. Instead, start with the room.
Downtown Pittsburgh has no shortage of places where dinner can feel like a quick stop before you head to something better. That’s not Nicky’s. It’s a narrow, warm space that feels like it’s been designed around the idea of feeding people well — both physically and spiritually. Step in off the street and you’ll immediately feel a delightful sense of motion. Everyone is busy; everyone is moving.
And your role … is simply to enjoy it.
It’s Not Just Eating… It’s an Experience
An important guideline at Nicky’s: Give yourself over to the experience. Don’t rush it, and if something looks good, order it for the table. If you visit for lunch, the restaurant can turn into a pressure cooker — fast-turning tables, a full counter and a busy kitchen. But at dinner, the tempo slows down a bit and the experience deepens. The lights are warmer. The noise settles. This is the best time to visit. It’s the time to grab a few friends, snag a big table and order too much food.
Start with something light — maybe the fresh spring rolls, a perfect rice paper-wrapped bite (filled with fried tofu, lettuce and basil) with just the right amount of crunch. Make sure you order the samosas, served with truly impressive cucumber sauce. A salad to share is always the right choice; go for the mango salad (if you love spice and you’re feeling brave), a bright mix of marinated chicken or tofu, fresh mango, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and carrots. It positively radiates heat from the chili-lime sauce.
Here to Serve Your Needs
By the way, the whole party should be able to order with confidence: Nicky’s is serious about dietary restrictions. Gluten-free? No problem. Allergies? It’s handled. Just let the waitstaff know at the beginning of your meal and you’ll be golden.
From there, you’re going to move into the heart of the menu: curries and stir-fries that come at you layered and loud. The green curry is a keystone dish at Nicky’s, made rich (without being too heavy) from the added coconut milk. There’s basil punching through, and the heat from chilies lingers just long enough to make you notice. If you’re ordering pad thai (a fine choice, considering it’s Nicky’s signature dish), understand that this is not the sweetly sticky meal you might have had elsewhere. Nicky’s pad thai is balanced, savory and rich. Everything here tastes like someone cares.
Sharing is Caring
Nicky’s has a large menu, and it’s worth adding one or two more dishes if you can spare the room. Pad See Ew is a classic for a reason; here, you’ll find one of the best in the city. Make sure to explore chef’s specials such as the Gaprow Lad Kao, a crowd-pleasing rice dish with ground meat (choose chicken, pork or beef) stir-fried in a bright garlicky basil sauce and topped with peppers and fried egg. I surprised myself by ordering the Pad Cha Squid, stir-fried in a red curry sauce — and surprised myself even more by practically licking the plate.
I’m also a big fan of the Tom Yum Noodle Soup, made with chicken and shrimp and rich with a creamy chili lemongrass chicken broth. It’s amazing the next day to find yourself already thinking about tomorrow’s lunch. And don’t sleep on the cocktails, either. Nicky’s has a full bar and an inventive menu, both with alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.
Stay Till the Last Crumb is Gone… You’ll Thank Yourself
There are a number of solid dessert options tempting you to stick around for an extra course — but if the sticky rice mango is available, it’s a must-get. Made with fresh mango atop a bed of slightly sticky, sweet rice, it’s the absolute best way to end your meal.
To really enjoy Nicky’s, come with people. Come hungry. Order family-style and let the table fill with overlapping plates and bowls, with everyone leaning in and negotiating bites with one another. The food at Nicky’s is meant to be shared, and the best meals here feel a little messy, a little loud and completely satisfying.
Finally, after you finish your last bite, feel the warmth settle in your chest and step back out into Downtown Pittsburgh feeling recalibrated. It’s a good reminder that great restaurants don’t need to be precious — and that some of the best dining experiences can happen in rooms that buzz.
903 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.471.8424
Open for Dinner Daily, 5-9:30 pm (Closes at 9 pm Sundays)
Open for Lunch Monday-Saturday, 11:30 am-3 pm
Additional Locations in Allegheny West (856 Western Ave.) and Ohio Township (1026 Mt. Nebo Road)
More Restaurant Options Downtown
Meat & Potatoes, 649 Penn Ave., Steaks, protein-forward starters and classic cocktails in the heart of the Cultural District.
Tako, 214 6th St., Mexican/Japanese fusion offerings (such as the signature grilled-octopus tacos) and plenty of satisfying snacks.
The Eagle, 737 Penn Ave., Spacious local outpost of the mini-chain focused on fried chicken and fruit-forward cocktails.
Story by Emily Catalano
Photos by Laura Petrilla