The Best Thai Restaurants in Sydney for Your Noodle Fix

For a proper Thai fix, Sydney delivers well beyond the usual go-to, think Viand in Woolloomooloo, where dinner turns into theatre, Alphabet St in Cronulla pairing modern Thai with sunset views, or Porkfat in Haymarket bringing hatted, Saraburi-style cooking to the CBD’s fringe. Thai food is serious business in Sydney and everyone has a local favourite they swear by, but by sticking to just one restaurant, you’re missing out on an array of flavour sensations. Add Chin Chin’s disco-fuelled group feasts in Surry Hills and Thai Pothong’s generous Newtown banquets, and you’ve got a genuine spread across occasion, price point and suburb, these are the ones our editors keep coming back to. From modern fusion restaurants to old-school institutions, from Newtown to the Sutherland Shire, we’ve sampled our way around town hunting for the best Thai in the city.

Ready to broaden your horizons and try something other than your go-to? Read on.

Best Traditional and Everyday Thai in Sydney

Spice I Am

With a slew of awards to their name, you know the food at Spice I Am is bound to be good. Bringing the flavours of Bangkok to the Surry Hills foodie scene, all the dishes here are bursting with flavour and as their name suggests, they like their dishes with a bit of spice. The restaurant runs its own micro-farm that provides the ingredients for their homemade curry paste and more. A hidden gem! 

Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Locals, budget-friendly, quick bite

Khao Pla

Khao Pla, translating to rice and fish, serves authentic dishes against a backdrop of Notorious B.I.G. and street-culture collage art. The slow-cooked portions are fragrant and melt-in-the-mouth, with desserts that round out the meal nicely. A solid Chatswood pick for something a little different from the usual suburban Thai.

This vibrant restaurant sets itself apart with slow-cooked portions that are all fragrant and melt-in-the-mouth, and the desserts add that touch of sweetness to the end of the meal.

Suburb: Chatswood
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Locals, quick bite

Chat Thai

A Sydney institution, Chat Thai is a much-loved, family-owned eatery that serves up zingy, tasty meals inspired by the streets and markets of Thailand. With multiple locations throughout Sydney, a meal here never disappoints. Smaller and larger plates are on offer, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

Our top picks would be the fresh spring rolls, the Panang curry of beef with kaffir lime and leaves and basil and the grapao gai sup with stir-fried minced chicken, fresh chilli and holy basil.

Suburb: Various locations
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Families, budget-friendly, locals
Need To Know: Multiple Sydney locations, including Manly, Randwick, and Haymarket

Best Modern Thai Restaurants in Sydney

Alphabet St

Set in a pared-back, contemporary space, Alphabet St delivers delicious Thai food in a modern venue. Open for lunch and dinner, patrons can expect minimal decor and food bursting with flavour, presented impeccably and served promptly.

The traditional Thai dishes we all know and love make an appearance on the menu, but so too do Peking Duck Pancakes, Salt-and-Pepper Squid and Betal Leaf-wrapped Prawns and Peanuts. Positioned just off the sand, this is the perfect place to watch the sunset.

Sitchu Tip: Order the Apple Martini, you won’t regret it. 

Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Date night, waterfront, cocktail lovers

Porkfat 

With a chef hat from the Good Food Guide to its name, this traditional Thai eatery is on everyone’s lips when it comes to the best Thai restaurants in Sydney. The incredible menu champions flavours from Saraburi and goes well beyond your standard Thai items. Porkfat‘s larb (pork fat, smoked chilli, roasted rice, sawtooth, mint, cabbage and cucumber), tamarind wings and papaya salad with salted duck egg are just a few standouts. 

Suburb: Haymarket
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Solo dining, quick bite, locals

Best Thai for Group Dining

Chin Chin

With a hat to its name, Chin Chin provides the ultimate destination for lively group dinners. Everything in this trendy Asian fusion palace is intoxicating, and their inventive take on Thai cuisine is the icing on the cake.

The menu is extensive and full of hero dishes, making the decision process a tough one. Save time and money by ordering the ‘Feed Me’ banquet to indulge in all of Chin Chin’s favourites, including the massaman curry of braised brisket, which, in our books, is absolutely essential. In true Chin Chin fashion, it can all be enjoyed with a range of cool cocktails and disco tunes playing on a loop. 

Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Best For: Group dining, cocktail lovers, late night

Thai Pothong

The glass-fronted restaurant filled with traditional Thai décor, Thai Pothong, is one of our go-tos in Newtown. The staff are efficient and friendly; no group is too large to seat and the more you spend the more special ‘Thai Pothong dollars’ you will receive to spend in their eclectic gift shop.

The food is consistently delicious, covering all the traditional crowd favourites and served generously. Expect great customer service, comfortable seating, and constant rice refills to keep the banquet going all night.

Suburb: Newtown
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Group dining, families

Best Thai for a Late-Night Feed

Krung

Haymarket’s Thai Town just got a new late-night addition. Krung is an 85-seat restaurant and bar from the team behind Abb Air Thai Cuisine 1982, and it’s built around one of our favourite dishes – Pad Thai. Four regional versions anchor the menu, from a rich northern Sukhothai with BBQ pork and pork crackling to an eastern Chanthaburi take which celebrates the birthplace of Sen Chan noodles. If you’re looking for more beyond noodles there’s charcoal-grilled chicken, wok-fried favourites, curries and a cocktail list riffing on Thai classics (like betel leaf coladas and lychee and lotus daiquiris).

Sitchu Tip: On weekends the kitchen runs until 4am, making it perfect for a late night pit-stop if you’re out in the city!

Suburb: Haymarket
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Late night, cocktail lovers, group dining
Need To Know: Kitchen runs until 4am on weekends

Best Thai for a Special Occasion

Viand

There’s Thai, then there’s Viand. Named after the archaic English word for “an unlimited assortment of foods,” Viand offers a dining experience akin to a theatrical performance. The mosaic-wrapped kitchen serves as a stage where ingredients come together in a sensory feast with epic music, fabulous drinks and an unmatched atmosphere. 

Award-winning chef Annita Potter, recently named Good Food’s 2023 Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year, curates dishes that celebrate the joy of dining. While the menu is ever-changing, expect dishes like palm sugar peppered shallots with crispy soft-shell crab, braised spatchcock with sweet salted radish, a lemongrass salad with baby squid, Gregory Island tiger prawns, Hokkaido scallops, and southern turmeric curry of market fish.

Suburb: Woolloomooloo
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Special occasion, date night

Frequently Asked Questions about Sydney’s Best Thai

What are the best Thai restaurants in Sydney right now?

Sydney’s standout Thai restaurants span fine dining and casual favourites alike. Viand in Woolloomooloo offers a theatrical, award-winning experience, while Porkfat in Haymarket and Spice I Am in Surry Hills are known for hatted, authentic cooking. For group dinners, Chin Chin in Surry Hills and Thai Pothong in Newtown are reliable go-tos, and Chat Thai’s multiple locations make it an easy everyday option across the city.

Which Sydney suburb has the best Thai food?

Surry Hills has one of the strongest concentrations of quality Thai restaurants in Sydney, home to both Spice I Am and Chin Chin. Newtown is another strong pocket via Thai Pothong, while Haymarket offers Porkfat for those wanting hatted, contemporary Thai near the CBD. Chatswood and Cronulla also have notable options for those on the North Shore or in the Sutherland Shire.

Is there good Thai food outside the Sydney CBD?

Yes. Alphabet St in Cronulla brings modern Thai with sunset views to the Sutherland Shire, and Khao Pla in Chatswood serves authentic, slow-cooked dishes on the North Shore. Chat Thai also operates across Manly, Randwick, and Haymarket, making solid Thai food accessible well beyond the inner city.

What's the best Thai restaurant in Sydney for a special occasion?

Viand in Woolloomooloo is the standout choice for a special occasion, offering a theatrical dining experience from award-winning chef Annita Potter with an ever-changing, produce-led menu. The mosaic-wrapped kitchen and immersive atmosphere make it a genuine event rather than just a meal.

Where can I take a group for Thai food in Sydney?

Chin Chin in Surry Hills is built for group dining, with its shareable “Feed Me” banquet and lively atmosphere. Thai Pothong in Newtown is another strong option, known for generously portioned banquets, efficient service, and enough seating flexibility for larger bookings.

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