Sydney’s endearing love of Thai food is obvious. Reportedly, there are more than 700 Thai restaurants in Sydney, making this diverse and vibrant cuisine one of the city’s most popular.
To help you dial in the very best, I’ve put together a round-up of my favourite Thai restaurants in Sydney. This includes all four distinct styles exported by Thailand: Northern Thai, Southern Thai, Issan Thai, and Central Thai.
Note that this list is not ranked.
Jump To
- The Best Thai Restaurants In Sydney
- 1. Manly Thai Gourmet, Manly
- 2. Chat Thai, Haymarket
- 3. Caysorn, Haymarket
- 4. Boon Cafe at Jarern Chai, Haymarket
- 5. Long Chim, Sydney CBD
- 6. Dodee Paidang, Haymarket
- 7. Spice I Am, Surry Hills
- 8. Khao Pla, Chatswood
- 9. Chin Chin, Surry Hills
- 10. Thai Pothong, Newtown
- 11. Newtown Thai, Newtown
- 12. Joe’s Table, Darlinghurst
- 13. Yok Yor Thai Food Factory, Haymarket
- How Boss Hunting Chose Sydney’s Best Thai Restaurants
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Best Thai Restaurants In Sydney
1. Manly Thai Gourmet, Manly
I’ve found Manly Thai Gourmet to be one of the most consistent restaurants in Sydney. That’s not only for Thai food either. It’s one of my favourites, with all the standards done very well. And at such a reasonable price too.
To make the most of it, try and book a table out on the terrace overlooking Manly Beach.
2. Chat Thai, Haymarket
The cult-like following that sits behind this chain is fierce and loyal, worshipping the unrivalled consistency that the late, great Amy Chanta built when she first opened Chat Thai in Darlinghurst way back in 1989.
Chat Thai’s menu has all the standards you’d want from a Thai restaurant, but the scope is wide enough to pop in a lot of regionality as well. It’s not all focused on Central Thailand.
3. Caysorn, Haymarket
Located in the Prince Center Building in Haymarket, the decades-old Caysorn Thai is a rarity in Sydney. This is because the focus is on Southern Thai food, renowned for its relentless heat.
This Haymarket kitchen steps up to the challenge of moving away from more approachable dishes like pad Thai and pad see ew in favour of fragrant, punchy Thai curries that use fresh seafood.
4. Boon Cafe at Jarern Chai, Haymarket
Boon Cafe is another Haymarket institution that may very well be the single best fusion Thai restaurant in Sydney. The flavours of Northern Thai cuisine dominate the dinner menu. Many locals come here because there’s also a Thai grocer attached to the cafe.
5. Long Chim, Sydney CBD
David Thompson has returned to Sydney and brought his famed Long Chim brand with him. It was an instant hit.
While a lot of authentic Thai restaurants existed well before Thompson opened up on Angel Place, Long Chim proved upscale regional Thai was commercially viable for the city.
6. Dodee Paidang, Haymarket
Dodee Paidang is another popular Thai restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. An eternal favourite amongst Thai connoisseurs, this Haymarket staple gets by mainly thanks to the signature tom yum noodle soup with pork and a generous heap of fried garlic with crispy wonton strips.
7. Spice I Am, Surry Hills
Big menu, big flavours, small prices. As you can tell by the name, the kitchen favours punchy dishes packed with punishing heat, but there’s also a great range seeing as the menu features no less than around 82 different regional options.
8. Khao Pla, Chatswood
There are plenty of Thai restaurants in Sydney that highlight Issan Thai food on the menu. The regional Thai cuisine is usually pungent and sour with a lot of fish sauce used to make up flavour.
Khao Pla is one of the better kitchens doing Issan Thai, offering signature standouts like the Issan steak tartare with chilli flakes and lime juice and kingfish sashimi served with prawn floss and red chilli mayo.
9. Chin Chin, Surry Hills
Chin Chin Sydney has been a magnet for all types of diners looking for up-scale fusion Thai ever since Lucas Group expanded from Melbourne.
I’ve run into some consistency issues. Sometimes I’ve left disappointed, but, more often than not, dishes like the signature Chin Chin fried rice and pad see ew with wagyu beef hit the spot.
10. Thai Pothong, Newtown
The barramundi curry dish at Thai Pothong is one of the first things you should order at this long-standing Newtown institution. The sweet and sour dish is one of the many reasons why Thai Pothong will always stand out amongst the plethora of Thai restaurants in Newtown, which used to be even more numerous than they are now.
11. Newtown Thai, Newtown
Newtown Thai is on this list for one reason: value. This is the best balance between price and quality you’ll find in Sydney, with the business almost single-handedly kept afloat by hungry and poor USYD students looking to save their easy-earned cash.
12. Joe’s Table, Darlinghurst
Mango sticky rice is the best dessert in Thailand, with very few exceptions. And while it always seems so simple to make, you’d be surprised by just how many restaurants mess the whole process up. Every layer of the dessert needs to be perfect, from the sticky rice to the fresh mango. Joe’s Table excels when it comes to this staple. Of course, the savoury dishes are excellent as well.
13. Yok Yor Thai Food Factory, Haymarket
When you look at the name of Yok Yor Thai Food Factory, it’s hard to imagine that the kitchen at this Haymarket restaurant really does flow like a factory. The staff even wear hard hats, which of course is part of the gimmick but also echoes just how studious the kitchen is when building these dishes with uncompromising precision.
Only Spice I Am and Caysorn can come close to the level of relentless heat that pours from the Yok Yor kitchen. But don’t be put off, there are plenty of dishes that are just as approachable as your standard pad Thai and pad see ew.
How Boss Hunting Chose Sydney’s Best Thai Restaurants
There is not a single soul in Sydney that hasn’t passed by a Thai restaurant. They’re everywhere. And for good reason. Given the Boss Hunting office is located in Sydney, the team have been able to eat through some of Sydney’s best Thai restaurants more than a few times.
With a mixture of first-hand experience and secondary research (that is, browsing endless Google reviews and looking at expert reviews), I think we have nailed it when it comes to a tightly curated list of Thai restaurants worth your time.
If we wouldn’t suggest it to any of our mates, it’s not on this list. That’s our main metric, and then there’s taste, price point, service, atmosphere and variety. We favour Thai restaurants that don’t dumb themselves down for the general public. We want punchy flavours and regionality.
For more information on how we put these lists together please read our editorial policy.
Did you find this guide helpful? Check out some of our other Sydney dining guides.
- Best Chinese Restaurants In Sydney
- Best Asian Fusion Restaurants In Sydney
- Best Japanese Restaurants In Sydney
- Best Ramen In Sydney
- Best Yum Cha Restaurants In Sydney
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best Thai food in Sydney?
You can find some of the best Thai food in Sydney at institutions like Caysorn, Manly Thai Gourmet, Spice I Am, Long Chim and Yok Yor Thai Food Factory.
Where can I find cheap Thai food in Sydney?
If you’re dining on a budget then Newtown Thai is a great option for cheap Thai food.
How many Thai restaurants are there in Sydney?
There are reportedly more than 700 Thai restaurants across Sydney.
