Hell's Kitchen just got its late night Thai fix back. ViV, the longtime Ninth Avenue mainstay, has quietly swung its doors open again at 717 9th Avenue after roughly five months off the grid, returning with a reworked menu, a late night service model, and a freshly polished room. The relaunch leans into after-theatre crowds, communal tables, and an expanded bar program built for post-show rituals, with a menu that stretches regional Thai street food beyond the usual lunch-and-dinner routine.
As reported by W42ST, the restaurant had been shuttered for about five months while the team carried out a full redesign of the space. In coverage filed by Steve Hill, the outlet documents the refreshed interior, the new late night programming, and frames the reboot as a clear play for Ninth Avenue's evening crowd.
Kitchen Shake-Up
According to VIV, Executive Chef Verasak Sangsiri has led a full overhaul of the menu, spotlighting regional street-food classics and introducing a new weekend brunch format. The restaurant is billing this as a "next era" for the 17-year Ninth Avenue fixture, with shareable plates designed for groups as well as solo diners. Dishes are built to flex from quick daytime orders to more leisurely, communal spreads for late night sessions.
Late Night Khao Tom Feast
Weekend nights are now anchored by a late night Khao Tom Feast, a hot rice porridge service meant to be paired with fiery shared side dishes. Seatings run on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to midnight. As described by OpenTable, the setup is a "customizable, comfort ritual," and ViV rolled it out with a soft opening before hosting a public grand reopening a few days later. The new weekend brunch follows the same spirit, with an interactive, communal approach that encourages sharing across the table.
Cocktail Collab From Bangkok
To match its shift into late hours, ViV has launched a refreshed cocktail program created in collaboration with Bangkok bar Mahaniyom, which earned a spot on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. Mahaniyom's reputation suggests an ingredient-forward, theatrical style of drink-making rather than a simple, food-first pairing list. The partnership is aimed at making the bar as much of a destination as the kitchen.
When To Go
Reservations and updated hours are live across booking pages, with ViV keeping its weekday lunch and dinner slots while adding the new late night weekend window. As shown on OpenTable, hours and availability are being adjusted in real time, and early weekend seatings look primed to fill up quickly. Checking reservation platforms before you head over is probably wise.
For Hell's Kitchen diners, ViV's return brings a late night Thai option just steps from the Theatre District, pairing communal comfort food with a bit of cocktail theater. Menus, hours, and reservation links are posted on VIV as the team settles into its new rhythm, and those prime weekend slots are likely to be in high demand.
