Time for a Thai Feast in Sydney
There’s many reasons why Thai food is one of Australia’s favourite things to eat. The mouth-watering balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours… The communal style of eating… And there’s the casual and approachable dining vibe, whether it be street food or more traditional dishes. We’ve already headed to the Southeast Asian restaurants of Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Now it’s all about the best Thai in Sydney.
We’ve picked out the best Thai restaurants in Sydney that offer something truly special. There’s an abundance of eateries out there that serve Thai food, but subdued flavours are sadly more common than we’d like. To ensure you avoid such a scenario, pay a visit to one of our favourite restaurants from below.
Long Chim
With its vibrant space and contemporary way of dining, it’s no wonder why Long Chim is a city favourite when it comes to Thai food in Sydney. The dishes on offer at this CBD restaurant reflect the flavours of modern Bangkok cuisine – delicious, rich and creative.
Long Chim literally means “come and try” and the sharing-style menus allow guests to do just that, so we recommend dining in a group and having a true feast. Keep an eye out for the dessert cocktails and other great alcoholic beverages.
Open Monday to Friday from 12 – 10pm, Saturday from 5 – 10pm. Located at Corner of Pitt Street & Angel Place, CBD, Sydney 2000.
Chon Thai
Chon Thai is a cosy neighbourhood eatery in Balmain that serves some of Sydney’s best Thai food. It’s charming and it’s local, which then makes for a lovely dining ambience and the dishes are notably refined and of a high quality.
The restaurant is particularly well known for its Northern Thai cuisine, so keep an eye out for these specialities on the extensive menu. Teamed with friendly service and you’ve got quite the dining combo, if you ask us.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 6 – 10pm. Located at 300 Darling Street, Balmain, Sydney 2041.
Khao Pla
There’s no doubt Khao Pla serves some of the best Thai in Sydney. With bustling locations both in Chatswood and Macquarie, this award-winning duo of restaurants is all about offering authentic, exciting and high-quality Thai flavours in a unique way.
It’s modern cooking at its best and with head chef Pla Rojratanavichai at the helm, guests can expect a meal that’s truly exciting on the senses and driven by fresh ingredients. Order the likes of nashi pear and crispy soft shell crab salad, Isaan-style beef tartare larb, lime stone paste battered tofu and southern Thai dry curry with shredded beef.
Locations in Chatswood and Macquarie. Check each restaurant for opening hours.
Khluk Street Food
Offering arguably the best Thai in Sydney’s south, Khluk Street Food is a neighbourhood gem in Sans Souci. Cosy, casual and often crowded, this Rocky Point Road restaurant has built a name for itself because of its tantalising Asian street food.
The menu here spans a few cuisines, but the Thai dishes are where Khluk really shines with special attention given to bold stir fry dishes, high quality grilled meats and soulful curries. So, naturally our top recommendations include the Wagyu crying tiger beef in tamarind, the green peppercorn jungle curry, the fragrant pad chilli basil and the BBQ duck red curry with lychee.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 – 9:30pm. Located at 444 Rocky Point Road, Sans Souci, Sydney 2219.
Alphabet St
Alphabet St is a prime example of modern dining in Australia done well. This neighbourhood eatery in Cronulla offers a contemporary dining space, professional yet friendly service and most importantly a fun, high-quality way of eating.
Their exciting menu is best enjoyed by sharing and features everything from dumplings and miang betal leaf parcels to authentic curries and whole fish signature dishes. Furthermore, the cocktails at Alphabet St add yet another notch to the belt of this charming Sydney restaurant.
Open Monday to Thursday from 6 – 10pm, Friday to Sunday from 12 – 3pm and 6 – 10pm. Located at 5/8 Kingsway, Cronulla, Sydney 2230.
Thai Nine
Perhaps the most formal Thai restaurant on our list, Thai Nine has a sophisticated feel which makes it great for a special meal out with loved ones. Alongside the classy decor of its Mosman dining space, this Vista Street establishment also pays close attention to food presentation and clean flavours.
Yet don’t put off by the more formal atmosphere, as family-run Thai Nine is also BYO and has truly charming service.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30 – 10pm.8/3 Vista Street, Mosman, Sydney 2088
Spice I Am
Spice I Am is a stand-out Thai restaurant not just in Sydney, but in wider Australia too. This award-winning spot in Surry Hills is led by the talented head chef Sujet Saenkham and is all about serving traditional dishes powered by seasonal produce from their own farm.
With this in mind, you can expect farm-to-table dining with amazing results and the food’s authenticity is key – think everything from hot and sour prawn curry to roast duck tamarind and a perfectly executed traditional green curry. There’s a huge menu and we promise you’ll be torn about what to order. One of the best BYO restaurants in Sydney, Spice I Am is naturally popular and doesn’t take reservations.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30am – 3:30pm and 5 – 10pm. Located at 90 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills, Sydney 2010.
Thai Riffic
There’s a few Thai Riffic restaurants throughout Sydney now, but we’re particularly fond of the Newtown restaurant. With its low-key and fun feel, this contemporary and colourful eatery on King Street has been a neighbourhood favourite for more than 15 years.
Dine here and you’ve got a great atmosphere, but you’ve also got delicious food. The chefs are unafraid to branch out with bold flavours and their fusion dishes soon became Thai Riffic signatures. Some favourites include the grilled octopus skewers, caramelised five-spice pork belly and crab pad thai.
Open Monday to Sunday from 11am – 10:30pm.224 King Street, Newtown, Sydney 2042
Pron Prohm Thai Restaurant
Established for over three decades, Pron Prohm has been around since 1985 and it’s safe to say it is somewhat of a Thai institution in Sydney. Owner Dilok Thamrak and his family have long been dedicated to serving Australians traditional food from Thailand with both enthusiasm and passion.
As for the food, the menu here is extensive and both set and à la carte menus are available, so it’s a restaurant suitable for various occasions especially thanks to its inviting and laid-back atmosphere. Dishes here are always reliable, tasty and fresh, so consider this a solid dining choice in North Strathfield.
Open Monday from 5:30 – 10pm, Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am – 3pm and 5:30 – 10pm, Sunday from 5:30 – 9pm. Located at 209 Concord Road, North Strathfield, Sydney 2137