Spice things up with a dinner at one of our top 10 Thai restaurants in Melbourne.
Earthy fish sauce, refreshing lime and lemongrass, peppery galangal, soothing coconut milk, chillies to shock your taste buds into submission, and on, and on, and on… Thai food operates on a culinary wavelength that’ll leave you speechless.
Having survived the threat of colonisation, Thailand’s food is deeply rooted in its own culture and history. It doesn’t apologise for its eclecticism, offering bold, sometimes challenging flavours that you either hate or love.
Melbourne is no stranger to this world-famous fare, with many spots to choose from where you can push your gourmet boundaries, whether you’re increasing your spice tolerance or experiencing your first mind-expanding taste of offal.
We’ve rounded up the 10 best restaurants in Melbourne for Thai food for you to kick off or ascend to new heights in your foodie journey – read on to discover more.
And don’t forget that our dining experts at Westpac Concierge are on hand to help you with bookings at any of these restaurants, and beyond, with exclusive benefits, and anything else you might want, taken care of. If you’re a Westpac cardholder, you might already be eligible for our insider advice.
Discover the top Thai restaurants in Melbourne
Soi 38
Best for: street food staples
Named after arguably the most famous street food destination in Thailand, Soi 38 is introducing Melby to Thai staples such as zesty papaya salad and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink hotpot, all washed down with Thailand’s very own Singha beer. This is authentic Thai fare, which means you can expect dishes such as grilled or crunchy intestines on the menu – give them a go, you might be surprised at how much you like them.
📍 38 Mcilwraith Place, Melbourne, VIC 3000
BKK
Best for: a vivacious late-night bite
The open kitchen at BKK will transport you to one of Bangkok’s world-famous night markets with clamouring woks, roaring fires, and jovial staff producing delicious BBQ dishes right in front of you. We recommend giving the seasonal banquet menus a shot for a sweeping taste of what the spot has to offer. It’s open until late too, which means you can incorporate a stop here into an all-night foodie tour of the city.
📍 Level 3/270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Khaosan Lane
Best for: live entertainment
Adopting the name of Bangkok’s infamous backpackers’ road, Khaosan Lane brings infectious, youthful energy as you dine on larb moo (pork mince salad), som tum Thai (papaya salad), and jumbo blood cockles. You can ask for your preferred heat level here, although we’d steer clear of playing safe and go for extra spicy. If you need a mood lift, make your reservation from 8.30pm, so you can feast alongside live music.
📍 350 Bourke Street, Shop G25 Melbourne GPO, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Cookie
Best for: skyline-view sundowners
Lofty ceilings, murals by local artists, and Juliette balconies that spill over ontocoveted views of the Melbourne skyline – Cookie is the place to be for a night out in the city. You’ll have plenty of authentic dishes to choose from, but if there’s anything you need to leave room for, it’s the drinks menu, with more than 100 beers, upwards of 70 pages of wine, and remarkable handcrafted cocktails to knock back – best to make sure you’re not the designated driver for this one.
📍 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Son In Law
Best for: TikTok-worthy nosh
‘Cute’ doesn’t even begin to describe the darling creations at Son In Law, which serves up cartoon-shaped fare featuring characters from the likes of Sanrio and Doraemon. Thai milk tea, young coconut, and Nutella and banana-flavoured bao give a sweet twist to the filled dumpling, while chicken satay, softshell crab, and even vegan duck make up the savoury options. Located in Melbourne Central, this is the perfect stop in between your shopping.
📍 Ella Precinct, opposite to Ajisen Ramen, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Gingerboy
Best for: dazzling your date
Gingerboy has been going strong since 2006 with its mouthwatering selection of South-East Asian dishes with strong Thai influences. The Thai red duck leg curry stands out as a firm favourite, which you can pair with a refreshing Thai Moon cocktail – resplendent with coriander, lime, and red chillies. The gorgeous interiors, artistic plating, and attentive service make this a go-to spot for a memorable date night, so add it to your roster for your next match.
📍 27-29 Crossley Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
DoDee Paidang Little Collins
Best for: quick and easy tucker
DoDee Paidang’s extensive yet authentic Thai menu will put all your fast-food go-tos to shame, with flavourful dishes to sate every palate. The massaman curry will give you homesickness for a place you may never have lived, and the stir-fried morning glory will hit the perfect spot for the health conscious. Make sure to leave room for dessert too, with Thai staples including mango and sticky rice, pa tong go with pandan custard, and coconut milk ice cream on the menu.
📍 Basement/353 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Thai Tide Restaurant
Best for: multiregional Thai cuisine
Comforting Thai staples paired with Aussie organic wines makes for a delectable dining experience at Thai Tide Restaurant, situated in a cosy West End bolthole. You’ll have a multiregional Thai experience here, with northern jungle curry, southern wood-fired squid, and central drunken noodles to take you on a taste excursion of The Land of Smiles. And if you’re not too keen on wine, it also offers superb cocktails inspired by famous Thai dishes such as pad thai, tom yum, and mango sticky rice.
📍 171 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Thai Baan
Best for: value for money
Whether you’re sensitive to spice or not, Thai Baan has something for everyone on its eclectic menu, which you can enjoy in an intimate, street-style restaurant with a colourful flag-adorned ceiling. Those who can’t get enough of a steaming bowl of noodles will love the generous and lauded pad thai or pad se ew (flat rice noodles), both reasonably priced at less than $15 (AUD). The spot will often have live music performances from local acts too, adding even more reasons to stay for longer and order more.
📍 51 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Longrain
Best for: an alternative dining scene
Located in a 1900s converted horse stable, Longrain serves up gorgeous, Instagram-worthy dishes that blend modern and traditional Thai elements. From Wagyu beef shin curry to crispy whole fish flavoured with tangy tamarind, this is theplace to go if you want something a little more sophisticated while maintaining that convivial Thai vibe, as you’ll get to dine at communal, banquet-style tables. Make sure to prebook your seat though, as tables here fill up fast.
📍 44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Planning a bucket-list food excursion of Thailand in the new year? Our travel and dining experts at Westpac Concierge can help make it happen with exclusive benefits, preferential pricing, and more – you’d be remiss to not take advantage of. You may even be eligible for the service already. And if you’re looking for more dining recommendations in Melbourne, and beyond, we’ve also curated a foodie’s guide to fine dining in Melbourne and a selection of the best Indian restaurants across Australia.
