We’ve all got our local Melbourne Thai restaurant that we swear by and practically have on speed dial—or at least saved in our favourites on our food delivery app of choice. No matter your preference, if you're looking for the best Thai restaurant Melbourne has to offer, you're in luck.
Melbourne's Best Thai At A Glance:
- Jump To The Best Thai Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
- Jump To The Best Cheap Thai Restaurants In Melbourne
- Jump To The Best Fancy Thai Restaurants In Melbourne
- Jump To Melbourne's Best Spots For Regional Thai Dishes
- Jump To The Best Thai Restaurants In Melbourne's Suburbs
A quick search for ‘what is the best Thai restaurant in Melbourne,’ easily yields a plethora of results which is understandably overwhelming. So, we’ve done our darndest to round up the pick of the bunch for you.
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Here’s where to find the best Thai Melbourne has to offer in 2025:
The Best Thai Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
The CBD is the spot to be for Melbourne's best thai restaurants. You've got the inimitable Soi38 which has just moved to its digs, which really sets the bar, and a stack of other fun options that are sure to take you back to that dreamy holiday.
Soi38
38 Royal Lane, Melbourne CBD
Pa Tong Thai
127 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Pa Tong Thai Restaurant | Supplied
It's a simple shop—two levels of dining with checkered floors, blue walls and roughly around 40 seats, but it's the food here that provides Pa Tong with the immense clout it's earned since opening earlier this year. Delving into more speciality coastal Thai dishes you'll find chicken rice and liver served with soup while more contemporary creations like the Melbourne fried chicken still fly from the pass. FYI, the Southern yellow Thai curry with fish, among other curries is hot, hot, hot.
Kan Eang
306 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Kan Eang | Supplied
While relatively new to the scene, the Kan Eang boasts a lineage rich in Thai cuisine, thanks to the familial roots of the sibling duo at its helm. May and Nat Pongvattanaporn, raised in the embrace of their parents' cherished Thai restaurants, have ingeniously crafted a dining haven that exudes down tempo atmosphere with dishes that showcase the vibrance of Thai cuisine and its regions from the sun-kissed coastal realms to the majestic mountain ranges. Their signature dishes are spicy fried chicken wings (don't miss these) and a pad thai topped with whole flame-grilled king prawns, yes please.
Ging Thai
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
If you're chasing a decent Thai feed on Southbank, this is the spot for you. Just off the Crown Riverwalk, there's a lot to like about Ging Thai. The menu is a harmonious fusion of Thai classics and innovative dishes that artfully intertwine with traditional flavours. From kingfish ceviche and gai yang salad to half-roast duck, yellow vegetable curry, pad see ew, and pork eggplant, the offerings are diverse. The bar complements the experience with handcrafted cocktails, including Thai-inspired concoctions such as Spicy Tom and Sticky Rai, alongside Thai beers. Hot tip, the feed me is wallet-friendly (starting at $72 per person), get around it.
The Best Cheap Thai Restaurants In Melbourne
We are here for cheap Thai restaurants and the best part is in a lot of instances spots are cheap because you're dining on smaller dishes, not sacrificing on quality. These are some of our favourite spots for a wallet-friendly Thai feast in Melbourne.
Nana Thai Style Hotpot & BBQ
169 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
It may look unassuming but Nana Thai is one of the most authentic Thai restaurants Melbourne has to offer. There's always a line, but like all iconic spots, it moves quickly, they're keen to get bums on seats. The menu is filled with street food-style goodness, be prepared this isn't for a novice eater and we’d be remiss to not mention the spice factor. These guys do spice the Thai way, which means sweat and tears, just the way it was intended. Try the stir-fried Thai basil with crispy pork, served with rice, it's an absolute banger, so make sure to put it on your ‘Thai Restaurants To Try’ list. Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "This is a good apres-pub spot, you can tuck into some hearty regional Thai without breaking the bank and all that spice is sure to help you return to factory settings."
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Vivid Cafe Lounge
114/616 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
Image: Vivid Cafe Lounge | Supplied
The suburb’s go-to cafe, Vivid Cafe Lounge has recently decided to keep its doors open into the night, serving up dinner and drinks till late. The menu has done a complete 360, initially offering Melbourne cafe classics to now pumping out Thai spicy seafood dishes, curries and noodles, so it has obviously earned its spot in our best Thai restaurants in Melbourne round-up. Our top picks are the soft-shell crab, satay chicken with roti and the showstopper—pineapple fried rice served in a pineapple shell. "This one's for when the hunger pangs and the bank balance don't agree: you can do an all-you-can-eat for $29 for 90 minutes, that's a lot of noodles," Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says.
Dodee Paidang
Various Locations
Image: Dodee Paidang | Supplied
Dodee Paidang first made their presence known in Sydney, but after they set up shop on Little Collins Street, there was no stopping them, and we’re pretty happy about it. The focus is on street food, showcasing bold and inventive flavours from around Thailand. There are countless noodle soups to choose from, including variations on the classic tom yum, or you can try some of the Keaw Tod (deep-fried quail eggs) you see customers scoffing down around you. Check out their range of Thai breakfasts too for a change from your usual late-night takeaway routine. Order from a QR code if you're feeling lazy and while it's up on screen order the soft shell crab, you'll thank us later.
The Best Fancy Thai Restaurants In Melbourne
So you're feeling a little flush this week and it's time to upgrade your dinner hey? Well, good thing we've tucked into some of the best Thai fine dining Melbourne has to offer. While not always traditional these flavours and that little bit of extra cheffing go a long way.
Jinda Thai Restaurant
1 Ferguson Street, Abbotsford
We've just said some of these restaurants aren't traditional but Jinda is, in the best way and we're considering it pretty upmarket. It's a thing. Perched on Ferguson Street in Abbotsford, Jinda Thai has been famous for its incredible service, venue and cuisine since it opened its doors in 2013. Everything is fresh and flavoursome, plus the serving sizes are generous and everything’s affordable—as the best Thai Melbourne options should be. And yes, before you ask, it is worth the wait but thankfully you can make rezzies these days. Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "Load up on soft shell crab, their whole fried baramundai, authentic pad see ew and any of the pork dishes. Make your life easy and make a reservation as well, there's not much in that neck of the woods in Abbotsford to enjoy while you wait."
BKK
Level 3/270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: BKK | Supplied
Situated on level three of HER, BKK is the in-house diner centred around their self-described style of 'elevated Thai BBQ'. Headed up by chef Sungeun Mo, it may be new but BKK has developed as one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne's CBD. The CBD local features a fiery menu that pairs up with an intimate moody interior inspired by the night markets of Thailand. Cooked over a five-metre-long charcoal grill and oven, steaming dishes of barbecued pork skewers, Chang Mai sausage and a flame-grilled T-Bone steak with a Nam Jim Jaew (Thai dipping sauce) swing around the sleek restaurant. Our tip? Snag a high stool (there are about 30) to get front-row viewing of the flames and woks, then head down to the music room after for some cocktails and bangin' tunes on vinyl.
Thai Tide
171 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
If you’re after a delicious meal that also gives cred to your ‘Gram, then look no further than Thai Tide. This Thai restaurant in the Melbourne CBD makes beautiful food—in terms of both taste and looks. The pink neon lighting and indoor plants make it ideal for cocktail hour, and so does their wine menu. They’ve got a truly staggering list of wines, from orange to sparkling and everything in between. The guys have a seasonal menu with extra special bits, but some staples like their tearamisu is an absolute must.
Longrain
40/44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Longrain | Supplied
One of the longest-running and best Thai restaurants in Melbourne, Longrain, in the CBD is home to some seriously good modern Thai food. The rustic-chic restaurant is perfect for special occasions—or, if you’re like us, make it a fancy Wednesday night feed. With round, communal tables, there’s every reason to bring the crew together and relish in shared plates. Go for the banquet menu if you’ve got cash to spend and you’re after a bit of everything.
Melbourne's Best Spots For Regional Thai Dishes
So you fancy yourself an advanced Thai eater hey? You've probably spent a bit of time in the Land Of Smiles and are looking for something in particular. Well, look no further, we've got a stack of cracking regional Thai options from north to south, here we go.
Khao Soi
107 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Originally hailing from Sydney this slurpable soup shop specialises in expertly crafted curry noodle soup. Reminiscent of those in Chiang Mai, the khao soi is as authentic as it gets in the CBD, and in Melbourne for that matter. Head chef Joshua Bond offers up a few options that deviate from the original recipe, offering toppings like seafood with a king prawn plonked on top, or wagyu beef. Start off with some entrees like the gyoza, chicken wings, deep fried tofu, chicken satay and then some real Thai goodness like larb, and sai aua, and then get ready to slurp up some noodles. Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "If there's a line out front, don't stress, there's stacks of seating. My favourite part about eating at Khao Soi is eavesedropping on everyone else's adventures to Thailand and their memories of their first khao soi. It's a spot."
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Issan Thai Street Food
16 Paisley Street, Footscray
Another place where the spice level is up to you, Issan Thai is one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne (or at least the westside). Located right near Footscray Station, this hidden gem has all the fixings that make Melbourne Thai food as authentic as you can find in Bangkok from the fermented pork and crispy rice salad to the classic Thai milk tea. For an authentic experience, tuck into their huge selection of street foods. The best part is the portion sizes are generous so you know you're getting bang for your buck.
The Best Thai Restaurants In Melbourne's Suburbs
King & I Thai Restaurant
613 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills
Generous portion sizes, authentic recipes, and over 20 years old. King & I is a local legend around Surrey Hills, and there’s no question as to why. They’ve got an esteemed rep, and their duck wraps are to die for, aka duck, cucumber and carrot strips encased in roti bread and dipped in their own special sauce.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Try their Prawn Makarm—deep-fried prawns, covered in tamarind, shallot & cashews.
- If you’re getting takeout, pop the order in early as people are often lining up to get the goods.
- The classic sticky rice dessert is a rite of passage.
Pad Cha
319 High Street, Preston
Contemporary and fresh food awaits you at Pad Cha, and they’ve got a massive variety to keep the whole gang fed.
There are plenty of veggie options, like the fried tofu with steamed greens and peanut sauce, and most mains can have a meat option omitted. The Thai beef salad is also one to look out for, as is the Pad See Ew.
INSIDER INTEL:
- This one will probably require a booking, it’s one of the more popular Thai restaurants you’ll find on the north side.
- Get the beef massaman curry, no further encouragement is needed.
- You’ll be tempted to order the whole menu, so round up the crew and share dishes.
Paradise Road
171 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley
If you ever find yourself searching for an authentic Thai feed in Melbourne’s southeast, hit up Paradise Road. You’ll find them located just off Glen Waverley’s bustling Kingsway strip.
One of their most popular dishes is their pineapple fried rice, which is served with egg, cashew nuts, vegetables and, best of all, it’s plated up in a pineapple boat. And yes, it’s as enjoyable to eat as it is to look at. You can choose to add prawns or chicken, or simply keep it vegetarian.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Make sure to make a reservation, it’s preferred over walk-ins.
- Go for the ‘feel the Thainess’ degustation menu for a hefty five-course meal for $47 pp.
- Try everything with the all-you-can-eat menu, from 49.90 pp on weekdays.
Mango Tree
315 Stephensons Road, Mount Waverley
Over in the sleepy suburb of Mount Waverley, you'll find Mango Tree Thai offering up simple and delicious Thai without any of that inner-city glam.
As you'd expect, the Pad Thai is a winner, but don't skip the Pad Makeua for something a little different from your usual order, and try the wok-fried eggplant with minced chicken or pork, chilli and Thai basil to round it all out. The whole fried barramundi with sweet, spicy sauce is a winner too. Can’t go wrong with the best Thai Melbourne’s southeast burbs can boast.
INSIDER INTEL:
- The whole fried barramundi is a winner, it’s sweet and simultaneously spicy.
- The papaya salad is a crowd-favourite, so give it a go.
- Cap off the night with coconut ice cream topped with seasonal fruits.
Pimm Thai
170 Bellair Street, Kensington
Located in quiet Kensington, this cosy little cafe is the west’s go-to institution for some of the best Thai Melbourne has on this side of the CBD. Highlights on the menu include the duck red curry, salt and pepper soft shell crab, and their famous curry puffs which deserve a chef’s kiss.
The entire menu is available online for pickup and delivery, but Pimm Thai is one of the cosiest and most romantic spots around, with cushion-filled booths against both walls—we’d recommend making the trip for this one.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Simple, yet a classic, the fried rice is reminiscent of those in Thailand.
- It may be unpretentious but the authentic, flavour-packed food always delivers.
- Pair the Massaman beef curry with coconut rice, it takes the curry to another level.
Colonel Tan's
Level 2/229 Chapel Street, Prahran
Fun fact, when Revolver isn’t Revolver, it’s actually Colonel Tan’s—one of Melbourne’s best Thai restaurants. Open from 5 pm Tuesday through to Saturday, this dance space is home to an eclectic collection of mismatched furniture and kitsch tables, plus it rocks an extensive and affordable Thai menu. It’s run by Karen Batson (Cookie and The Toff in Town), so you already know the food will be exceptional. You can't leave without trying the Massaman sweet potato curry and the pork and prawn dumplings, but our pick is the popcorn chicken. Somebody stop us.
Tom Phat
184 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Okay, chances are you've heard of this one. Tom Phat has a big reputation in Melbourne for its punchy flavours and vibrant dishes—and rightly so. You could pretty much close your eyes and hope for the best when it comes to the menu (it's all good), but our tip is the BKK fried chicken with red curry spice, Nam Jaew and roasted rice. Or go vegan and grab the Chow Mein. Must orders? The hoisin pork baos, well we’re speechless, do yourself a favour and get a couple rounds of them.
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