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The Best Thai Restaurants in Melbourne for a Flavoursome Feast

Find yourself in sweet, salty, spicy and sour heaven at the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne.

Thai Tide

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

Khao Soi is having a moment here in Melbourne - and there's a reason for it. This Northern Thai curry and noodle dish is an absolute feast for the senses, packed with flavour and super nourishing at the same time. Go for the fried chicken version at Khao, a brand new Thai restaurant in Melbourne CBD. It's super crispy and adds a nice crunch with the noodles and creamy soup. Each Khao Soi comes with side dishes and you are given an ‘eating guide’ as to how you can best enjoy them.

Word to the wise: We insist you leave plenty of room for dessert! The desserts steal the show at Khao; their banoffee brown butter toast is a clear frontrunner for best dessert in Melbourne. The variations of bingsu also shine, with everything from mango sticky rice to salted egg with mixed pearls. 

Have we mentioned the venue is also super cute and that the prices are super reasonable? Run, don't walk. 

335 La Trobe Street, Melbourne

Khaosan Lane

Khaosan Lane

We present your new favourite Moo Kata (Thai BBQ) spot in the city! Welcome to Khaosan Lane, tucked away behind H&M in one of Melbourne's more iconic laneways. Alongside mouthwatering BBQ dishes, they're also bringing a little Esan flavour to your tastebuds. 

One of our favourite new Thai restaurants in Melbourne to savour the authentic flavors of Thai street food and indulge in a refreshing beer tower with friends. Beer not your thing? The cocktails served in cute jars and named after tourist destinations around Thailand sure will be! Thongler tipple, anyone? 

From 8.30pm onwards, live music also kicks in...and it readily transports you to the lively streets of Bangkok. So good! 

350 Bourke Street Shop G25 Melbourne GPO, Melbourne 

Khao Soi

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. Chopsticks at the ready? It's time to dive into their delicious Khao Soi seafood with grilled king prawns, scallops and smoked salmon, their Thai style pumpkin tempura, and caramelised and oh-so-juicy grilled pork ribs. Nom nom! 

Chinatown, 107 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 

Khao Man Gai

Khao Man Gai

Nine different styles of one of Thailand's most beloved comfort foods is being dished up at Khao Man Gai. Head on in for exceptional Thai chicken rice, and also for the first Thai milk tea slushie in Melbourne. Nothing beats a bowl of this flavourful dish. From classic chicken to even tofu rice for vegetarians, the menu here provides a variety of choices to suit everyone's palate. They also do a mean tom yum soup and rich massaman curry. Finish off with their irresistibly sweet and fragrant mango sticky rice; it's the perfect way to cool down from the kick of chilli you added to your dish. 

Shop A&B, 389 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 

Kan Eang (Image Credit: Griffin Simm)

Kan Eang

Two siblings (and second generation hospitality leaders) May and Nat Pongvattanaporn are heading up this gorgeous new Thai restaurant 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.

Kan Eang delivers big time, on an array of unsung Thai dishes and family favourites that you'd be pressed to find elsewhere in Melbourne. 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 

Jinda Thai

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

BKK. Photo credit: Parker Blain

BKK

Opening as part of HER Melbourne, a glamorous multi-level venue in a CBD heritage building, 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. Don't forget to head upstairs to the stylish European-inspired rooftop for a nightcap and a dance afterwards.

Level 3, HER, 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Thai Tide

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. Regional Thai dishes, Australian natural wine and a feel good setting are 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. Next level Thai dining.

171 Bourke Street, Melbourne 

BangPop. Photo Credit: South Wharf Promenade

BangPop 

Fresh, fragrant and fun is the aim of the game at BangPop. Grab your mates and head to this riverside venue for a night of delicious, flavoursome Thai food and cocktails. You’re free to relax and unwind here as the restaurant approaches a low fuss attitude, making it a perfect place for a low key mid-week dinner, or alternatively, indulge in their weekend bottomless brunch for the full BangPop experience!

35 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf

Sook

Sook

Bringing the flavours of authentic Thai street food to Collingwood, Sook Thai is a restaurant and bar that wants their diners to leave happy, satisfied and blissful - the meaning of the word ‘Sook’ in Thai. Open from Monday to Saturday, head in here to choose something from their extensive menu (that also caters to vegetarians and vegans). From fresh green and crispy papaya salads, to rich and hearty massaman beef curry, there will be a dish (and cocktail) suited just to you.

98 Smith Street, Collingwood

Rin Sura

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

The Golden Peanut

The Golden Peanut

The spot Reservoir locals probably don’t want you to know about. The Golden Peanut on Gilbert Road is serving up delicious, authentic Thai food, with a great atmosphere and excellent service to boot. Whether you’re in the mood to grab some quick takeaway to enjoy on the couch, or a night out with mates to enjoy the Feed Me feast, The Golden Peanut will not disappoint.

777 Gilbert Road, Reservoir

Gingerboy

Gingerboy

A vibrant restaurant and bar with funky, disco-style decor, Gingerboy is dishing up elevated Asian-style street eats, best shared with your nearest and dearest. The food here is a love song to Chef Teage Ezard's favourite hawker adventures around South East Asia, with fiery and exuberant street-style flavours distilled into an elegant experience. Thai wise, Hiramasa kingfish sashimi is dressed up in salted cucumber and a tom yum dressing; there's a son in law egg with chilli jam, Thai basil and prik nam pla; a crispy pork belly with nam jim; and a Thai red duck leg curry with confit shallots, hot and sour salad and coconut cream that rates highly. Not content to do SE Asian on a plate, they also do it in a glass as well, with bold flavours packing a refreshing punch on the epic cocktail list. 

27-29 Crossley Street, Melbourne

Dodee Paidang

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. Hence, why it is considered one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne. 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 

When Longrain’s original owners called time earlier this year, despair was heard all over the city – such is the esteem with which this modern Thai institution is held. Luckily for us, prolific chef-restaurateur Scott Pickett swooped in to save the day, taking over Longrain but keeping their most beloved dishes, meaning the betel leaves, eggnet salad, crispy tamarind fish and lamb panang curry live to see another day. Longrain 2.0 will have more surprises in store however, with Pickett to debut a new menu that will incorporate native Australian ingredients in his signature style. So it seems after 15 years in the game, Longrain is still one to watch.

44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 

Chin Chin

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 Melbourne's best Thai restaurants. 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

Soi 38

Soi 38

No, you’re not imagining things – that really is the sound of sizzling pans and the smell of fish sauce coming from deep inside a CBD carpark. By now Soi 38 is the stuff of legend, a pocket-sized Thai eatery that’s made a destination of the Mcilwraith Place car park. Here they sling some of Melbourne’s best boat noodles by day, and turn into a Chang-fuelled Thai barbecue and hotpot joint by night. Soi 38 is one our city’s best cheap eats too, with noodle bowls starting from just $10.

38 Mcilwraith Place, Melbourne

Thai Town

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 

Tom Toon

Tom Toon 

Often listed as one of Melbourne’s best Thai restaurants, 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

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

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

184 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Cookie

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

Nana Thai

Nana Thai

Spicy gem: Expect a queue outside Nana Thai. The wait will reward you with some of the city’s best Thai dishes, with a signature mookata dish that's a must-try. It's a Thai hot-pot that barbecues meat and boils soup simultaneously; pork neck, belly, liver, bacon, prawn and calamari are cooked up, while a clear, salty broth bubbles away, where you put noodles, vegetables, enoki mushroom and egg. The rest of the menu highlights the flavours and dishes of Thailand's north-east, including moo joom, a herb-heavy hotpot, tom yum soup, deep fried pork belly and over a dozen varieties of som tum (papaya salad). Authenticity is key here, which means things get real spicy (you can ask the staff to tone it down if you don't think you can handle it). We think it's worth the pain. 

169 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Colonel Tan's

Colonel Tan's

From the culinary mind behind Cookie, Colonel Tan's is a cheeky mix of Thai meets American diner. It's a surprising blend, but one that seriously works, which you'll figure out once you've demolished a bowl of their signature Bangkok bolognaise. Found within the infamous night spot, Revolver, it's also surprisingly cosy, with warm lighting that softens the eclectic furniture and pineapple-print tablecloths. A strong selection of beers and cocktails round out this uniquely wonderful affair. Best part? It's also very affordable!

Revolver Upstairs, Level 2/229 Chapel Street, Prahran

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. Planning a date night? Stick to our picks for the restaurants and bars we guarantee will have you in the mood for romance.

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