The Best Thai Restaurants in Melbourne for a Flavoursome Feast

If there’s one cuisine we’re always down for, it’s Thai. Known for its punchy and complex, yet fresh nature, dishes from this tropical country balance sweet, salty, spicy and sour flavours like no other.

In Melbourne, we’re spoilt for choice, with both well-loved local haunts and bustling modern eateries pumping out beloved classics and regional specialties.

Grab a crew and order widely and adventurously when you taste-test the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne. You won’t be disappointed!

Khao

Khao Soi is Melbourne's latest food obsession, and Khao in the CBD delivers it brilliantly. Their fried chicken Khao Soi pairs crispy chicken with creamy curry soup and noodles, served with side dishes and an ‘eating guide.’ Save room for dessert—the banoffee brown butter toast is divine, and the mango sticky rice bingsu is a must-try. With its delightful atmosphere and reasonable prices, Khao is a Thai dining gem you shouldn’t miss.

335 La Trobe Street, Melbourne

Khaosan Lane

Introducing your new favourite Moo Kata (Thai BBQ) spot: Khaosan Lane, hidden behind H&M in one of Melbourne's iconic laneways. Enjoy mouthwatering BBQ dishes with a touch of Esan flavour. It's the perfect spot to savour authentic Thai street food and share a refreshing beer tower with friends. If beer isn't your thing, try their charming cocktails named after Thai tourist spots—Thongler tipple, anyone?

The best part? From 8:30pm, live music sets the mood, transporting you to the lively streets of Bangkok. 

350 Bourke Street Shop G25 Melbourne GPO, Melbourne 

Khao Soi

Sydney’s famous Thai-Japanese fusion restaurant has landed in Melbourne - and it's a must for a mid-week catch up dinner with friends or even for your next casual date night. Khao Soi specialises in what it says on the tin - Khao Soi, also known as Thai curry laksa or Chiang Mai noodle soup - with a little kick of Japanese fusion thrown in for good measure. They also offer various curry and rice dishes, Northern Thai specialties and vegetarian options too.

Chinatown, 107 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 

The Salted Egg

Salted Egg, located in Quincy Hotel in the CBD, invites diners on a sensory journey, with a menu dominated by traditional Thai cuisine with a twist. It excels in offering a unique blend of classic and innovative dishes, like aromatic king fish, a smoked duck betel leaf with jeaw, lemongrass, mint and coriander, and the tantalising Thai basil chicken. The menu is a testament to South East Asian culinary traditions, with a range of dishes designed to surprise and delight.

Quincy Hotel, 509 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Khao Man Gai

Khao Man Gai serves nine styles of Thailand’s beloved chicken rice, plus Melbourne’s first Thai milk tea slushie. From classic chicken to vegetarian tofu rice, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the fragrant mango sticky rice—a sweet, cooling finish to your meal.

Shop A&B, 389 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 

Thai Tide

If you haven't paired Thai with a snappy little Pet Nat, you've really been missing out, and Thai Tide is here to show you why. Think regional Thai dishes, Australian natural wine and a feel-good setting. All the keys you need for a good time, and they've got the formula down to a fine art. Food wise, comforting Thai stir fries from Central Bangkok, grilled dishes, oysters, Thai salad, crispy pork belly and simmering curries with distinct flavour from different regions of Thailand fill the menu, alongside a cracking list of wild, cloudy and ultra-drinkable natural wines to be poured alongside. 

171 Bourke Street, Melbourne 

Soi 38

Soi 38 has leveled up! After making a name for itself in a tiny CBD carpark, this legendary Thai eatery has moved into bigger digs on Bourke Street, offering more opportunities to sit down and savour some of Melbourne’s best Thai at a perfect price point. With a spacious new home, it’s still got its street-food vibe, with bright colours, a noodle cart, and even a Thai tuk-tuk.

The original boat noodles are still on the menu, alongside new wok dishes like pad krapow with dry-aged beef, Chang-fuelled Thai barbecue, and hotpot. Expect cocktails, Thai pancakes, lots of chilli, and an evolving menu.

235 Bourke Street, Melbourne (enter via Royal Lane)

Thai Town

Night market and street-food inspired Thai Town is our go to spot for a tasty feed in QV Melbourne. Showcasing the authentic flavours of Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, the menu is as striking as the ambiance. There are over 98 items to choose from - and there's a dessert counter at the entrance that also functions as a mini grocery - salted egg cake, anyone? 

Shop 25 Artemis Lane, QV Melbourne 

Kan Eang

Two siblings (and second generation hospitality leaders) May and Nat Pongvattanaporn are heading up Kan Eang, tucked away on Flinders Lane. Go for the fresh interiors and colourful cocktails and stay for the menu featuring family recipes and contemporary twists on street food classics. The signature fried lucky fish is a must, as are the fried spicy chicken ribs that put Colonel Sanders to shame, and the beef shank curry with avocado (sounds odd, but the avocado adds a smooth and soothing contrast to the curry). 

306 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 

Dodee Paidang

This buzzing basement eatery is always packed with hungry students, CBD workers and Thai expatriates seeking a taste of home. Dodee’s menu ranges wide and far, from Northern-style grilled meats and tangy som tum to all the classic noodles and stir fries you love. Their bestseller by far, however, is their signature tom yum noodle soup – a street food favourite in Thailand, it’s a sweet, savoury and spicy flavour explosion, and you can customise the type of noodle, toppings and heat level to your liking.

353 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Longrain 

Longrain, led by acclaimed chef Scott Pickett, remains one of the city's most beloved Thai dining destinations. The restaurant's dynamic atmosphere forms an inviting backdrop to a truly memorable experience. Longrain shines with its standout dishes, such as the betel leaves with prawn and ginger, the refreshing eggnet salad, crispy tamarind fish, and the aromatic lamb Panang curry. Signature dishes like the slow-cooked lemongrass and tamarind beef short rib is another crowd-pleaser, celebrated for its classic punchy flavour with contemporary twists. 

44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Chin Chin 

Famed for their long queues, party vibes and explosively delicious modern cuisine, Chin Chin is a stalwart of Melbourne’s dining scene, and is considered one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne. After almost 10 years, enthusiasm for their food is as strong as ever (their signature jungle curry even appeared on this year’s MasterChef). Come early and come with a crowd – all the better for sharing their vibrant salads, stir fries, curries and noodle dishes. The bar’s house cocktails pack a punch too, laced with Asian flavours and ingredients that’ll take you straight to a tropical holiday.

125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Nana Thai

Spicy gem alert! Expect a queue outside Nana Thai, but the wait is absolutely worth it. Their signature mookata dish is a must-try—this Thai hot-pot barbecues meat while boiling soup simultaneously. Enjoy pork neck, belly, liver, bacon, prawn, and calamari cooked to perfection, alongside a bubbling clear, salty broth with noodles, vegetables, enoki mushroom, and egg.

The menu also features dishes from Thailand's northeast, like moo joom, tom yum soup, deep-fried pork belly, and over a dozen varieties of som tum (papaya salad). Authenticity is key, so expect real spice—ask the staff to tone it down if needed. We think the heat is all part of the fun. 

169 Bourke Street, Melbourne

BKK

BKK serves Bangkok street food and tropical cocktails in a quintessentially Melbourne setting. With everything from spicy ocean trout salad to barbecue skewers, charred meats and Thai curries on the menu, we recommend sharing multiple dishes and sampling them amongst friends. Wines are picked to match the flavour profiles of the food, so you can rest assured you're washing down your dish with an appropriate drop. 

Level 3, HER, 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Cookie 

This perpetually buzzing Thai restaurant-slash-cocktail bar is one of Melbourne’s favourite places to get the party started (before heading upstairs to the rooftop bar). Order widely and freely because everything here is a winner, from the fiery drunken noodles and addictive crispy pork belly curry to the top-notch seafood dishes – just don’t forget to nab a side of roti to dip in everything. Their house cocktails will take you straight to the tropics, with concoctions like passionfruit vanilla sours and a gorgeous fig jam gin number.

First Floor, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Rin Sura 

Modern Thai food in the heart of Brunswick - Rin Sura is a must for lovers of big, bold flavours and dishes that pack a punch. Trying out the fairly priced chef’s tasting menu for $60 allows you to sample a variety of options off the hefty menu, and takes the guess work out of it for you. Sit back, relax and wait to be served up plates of grilled tiger prawns with tom yum dressing, or twice cooked chicken ribs with caramelised sriracha and shallot.

206 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Charlong 

Charlong is one of the most exciting new Thai restaurants in Melbourne, found on Carlisle Street, St Kilda. It is the latest creation from Alex Kaew, former head chef of Longsong and Rice Paper Scissors. Inspired by her childhood in Chanthaburi, Kaew’s menu brings traditional and regional Thai flavours with a Western twist, like king prawn dumplings in a tom yum bisque.

Other highlights include Massaman lamb shank, slow-braised for 12 hours, and crowd-pleasers like green curry and pad see ew. The relaxed, homey atmosphere is enhanced by a striking mural from Melbourne artist ERA1DOG.

2/124 Carlisle Street, St Kilda

3 Sisters Eatery

For authentic, homestyle Thai cooking, 3 Sisters Eatery is a must-visit. Every dish bursts with flavour, from housemade fish cakes and garlic chive dumplings to twice-cooked pork belly and prawns in tofu and fennel green curry. With friendly service and vibrant dishes, it's the perfect spot for a casual mid-week dinner date in Melbourne.

Unit 1/41 Lygon Street, Brunswick East 

TaiThai

Hidden in the heart of North Melbourne's bustling Ezistreat, TaiThai is where Taiwan meets Thailand on the plate. A trailblazer in fusing these two beloved Asian cuisines, it delivers a unique dining experience you need to get around. 

From their signature Tai Thai Pad Krapraw, bursting with the fragrant heat of Thai basil and chilli, to the crispy stinky tofu paired with their homemade pickles, each dish tells a story of bold flavours and authenticity. The braised delights, like the Tainan duck rice and stewed pork belly, capture the comforting essence of traditional Taiwanese flavours, while the Tai Thai fried chicken, with its aromatic peppercorn crunch, adds a modern twist.

Ezistreat, 275 Macaulay Road, North Melbourne

Vivid Cafe & Lounge 

Vivid Cafe & Lounge stands out as one of the most impressive yet surprisingly under-the-radar Thai restaurants. in Melbourne With its attentive and welcoming staff, paired with an inviting ambiance and plush, sofa-like seating, the restaurant creates a perfect setting for a memorable dining experience. The menu features authentic Thai flavours, showcasing dishes such as the aromatic red curry, succulent coconut prawns, vibrant som tam, pineapple fried rice, and the exceptional crying tiger.

Unit 114/616 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

Jinda Thai

Everyone knows that if you’re looking for authentic Thai cuisine, Jinda is the place to go. Here, they certainly don’t hold back on the heat, and you’ll find regional specialties like crispy catfish and pickled crab not commonly seen elsewhere. Make sure to book ahead so you don’t have to wait in line for their spicy papaya salads and stir fries, smoky grilled meats and warming soups and curries.

1 Ferguson Street, Abbotsford

Tom Toon 

Often listed as one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne, low-key Tom Toon isn’t to be overlooked. A charming spot dressed up with warm wood panelling and artisan pots, this cosy eatery serves up an array of aromatic dishes that always manage to master the perfect balance of flavours. The waiters are friendly and will happily accommodate your personal spice tolerance, and with the food so fresh and reasonably priced, it'd be hard not to make this your go-to spot  for when you're craving Thai. 

241 Victoria Street, Abbotsford

Luxsmith Restaurant + Bar 

Leafy and lovely Seddon has a fantastic local in Luxsmith Restaurant + Bar (also a wine shop). It's a culinary destination for those who love Thai and Vietnamese inspired Modern Asian cuisine. The menu is packed with rich, colourful and flavourful dishes, served in a relaxed, cosy and light-filled dining room, with a side of warm hospitality. 

Enjoy spicy duck spring rolls, kingfish sashimi, pad thai and beef brisket massaman curry with your best gal pals - you won't regret it! 

5 Gamon Street, Seddon

Tom Phat

One of Sydney Road's pioneering food destinations, Tom Phat is a beloved neighbourhood restaurant in Brunswick. It's been serving up addictive South East Asian eats and endlessly sippable cocktails since 2004. The inspired, quirky interiors are matched by a relaxed, cosy ambience and paired with friendly staff who'll help you start the night with a round of fun drinks, before you begin sharing your way through a menu filled with punchy flavours.

Word to the wise: the twice cooked chilli caramel pork belly with Asian slaw is to die for. 

184 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Loved our pick of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne? Continue eating your way around the world at the best Japanese, Greek, Italian and French restaurants in town.