Tired of burgers and pizza? Little Basil is serving up some excellent Thai food and service just steps from Baruch College’s campus at 153 E. 26th St. This cozy spot behind the Newman Library has been the go-to for Baruch students looking to kick their lunch game up a notch from halal trucks.
The atmosphere is immaculate with ambient lighting, a casual vibe, and just the right noise level to chat without shouting. While the space is on the smaller side and can get packed during peak lunch hours, the quality and price make the slight squeeze totally worth it.
Their lunch special is the real MVP, priced between $14 to $20 depending on your protein choice.
“I hit this little Thai restaurant every time my mom visits campus since we don’t have a decent Thai spot in our town,” Maria Chen, a junior majoring in marketing, said. “The lunch special is amazing, and the staff is efficient without hovering over you the whole time.”
Melissa Rodriguez, a senior majoring in sociology and graduating in 2025, is hooked on its curry options.
“The massaman curry with duck is so delicious,” she said. She warns that it leans sweet, but for the price and quality, it’s a bag. “The duck skin was perfectly crispy, and the meat was super tender. There was a good amount of duck in there too, which you don’t always get at this price point.”
The drunken noodles and pad Thai get mixed reviews from the Baruch crowd.
“The pad Thai was decent but could use more flavor in the sauce,” Jose August, a sophomore majoring in finance, said. “Not my absolute favorite, but still pretty solid for a quick lunch between classes.”
An interesting quirk: its drunken noodles come with thin rice noodles instead of the traditional wide ones, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
There also seems to be a consensus from the student body that dining in beats takeout.
“Definitely recommend dining in over taking out,” Aiden Park, an accounting major in his final year, advises. “The Thai iced tea hits every time, the food is superb and the service is on point.”
For the budget-conscious student, their most popular items won’t destroy your wallet. Veggie rolls start at $11, while mains like their best-selling Red Curry ($18+) and Pad See-Ew ($17+) are what you’d expect from sit-down places in the city.
Currently, it’s featuring a seasonal special Mango Sticky Rice for $14. This traditional Thai dessert pairs coconut sticky rice with juicy mango and a drizzle of creamy coconut sauce. Perfect for splitting with a friend after your main course.
For vegetarian readers, Little Basil has plenty of vegan and vegetarian options that don’t sacrifice on taste. The establishment is wheelchair accessible and it’s embraced the QR code menu life for easy ordering.
Not everyone’s obsessed with their soup game though. Tyler Johnson, a junior majoring in CIS, found the Tom Yum “pretty okay, not watery like some reviews claimed, but nothing mind-blowing either.”
The bottom line is Little Basil is bringing authentic Thai flavors to the Baruch area with reasonable prices, generous portions, and a cozy vibe that’s perfect for lunch with friends or a lowkey date spot.
The lunch special is the move, the curries are elite, and while it gets packed, the quality makes it worth squeezing in. Just maybe skip the premade iced tea and stick with water or Thai tea instead.
