The best Thai restaurants in Sydney

What is it? A fiery, family-owned Thai restaurant in Haymarket where chef/owner Narin 'Jack' Kulasai cooks with pork fat (sorry, vegos – this one isn't for you).

Why we love it: From the fresh, vibrant and ridiculously delicious dishes to the fact that it's BYO – and the outstanding service – we love everything about this place. It’s one of Sydney’s best Thai restaurants, and even goddess Nigella Lawson is a big fan.

Time Out tip: The dishes here are seriously hot. Leave the chilli wusses at home.

Address: 33 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000

Expect to pay: $30–$50 for mains, plus drinks

What is it? A massive, pumping, brightly lit Thai house in Newtown that’s been serving some of Sydney’s finest sweet, sour, salty and spicy hits since 1996.

Why we love it: Seating more than 450 guests, Thai Pothong is bloody massive – making it a cracking choice for birthday celebrations, catch-ups with mates, a rendezvous after one too many Martinis at nearby celestial den Bar Planet, or before a boogie at purple-hued disco haunt Pleasure Club. It’s also bloody delicious. And it’s BYO (for wine only), so bring a bottle of your fave vino and come here for your next birthday (heads up: there will be singing).

Time Out tip: Thai Pothong’s banquet options are great value – our pick is the Jasmin Menu, which comes with betel leaves topped with juicy prawns, chicken satay skewers, a fragrant barramundi curry and more. And make a booking – this place gets a longer line than the Enmore Theatre on a Saturday night.

Address: 294 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

Expect to pay: Around $25–$45 for a main, plus drinks

What is it? A beloved pigeonhole restaurant with more than 80 dishes listed on its A3 laminated menus, all which have been keeping flavour fossickers on their toes for decades. Although co-owner and head chef Sujet Saenkham has been in Sydney since 1985, it wasn’t until 2004 that he felt the city was ready for his authentic brand of Thai cooking, taken from the recipes his mother would make on their farm in Ratchaburi, south west of Bangkok. 

Why we love it: Omelette in a sour Thai soup does not sound like it should work, but, goddamn, if it isn’t a delicious revelation. Young, tender cha-om leaves (climbing wattle) are densely packed inside a tangle of golden egg, chopped into bite-sized pieces and submerged in a sour soup with a company of fat prawns. It’s richer than a tom yum, feistier than a tom kha gai and perfectly balanced – you won’t find this on suburban Thai menus.

Time Out tip: For something that’s both rich and so light it might levitate, order the Phuket-style ho mok (number 68). It’s a steamed parcel of condensed curry flavours delivered via a fluffy, savoury fish custard. Forget sharing and get two.

Address: 90 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks around $10, soups $20-$30, most stir-fries and curries $27-$32, plus steamed rice ($5) and a drink

What is it? Found on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Zetland, Mon Thai doesn’t look like much from the outside, but this ten-table joint is home to excellent Thai street food. The dishes are inspired by owner and chef Mon Bongkunkham's childhood growing up in mountainous Chiang Rai and learning to cook from her father. 

‍Why we love it: You can’t go wrong with the standout numbers: khao soi kai (a curry noodle soup); laab (a fiery meat salad); and kaeng om nua (a herbal beef curry soup). Mon even sources special spices direct from Chiang Rai, so rest assured you’re tasting the real deal. 

Time Out tip: Need a dish rec? On our last visit, our personal favourite was the pad kra pao (consisting of minced pork with holy basil, chilli and loads of punchy garlic).

Address: ​​779 Elizabeth Street, Zetland NSW 2017

Expect to pay: $12-$14 for soups, around $26 for popular street foods, salads $18-$32, most mains and curries around $25-$30, plus rice and drinks

What is it? A casual BYO eatery in Darlinghurst with big flavours, generous portions, friendly staff and feel-good prices.

Why we love it: We’re suckers for khao soi – Thai laksa – and this place nails it. The coconut milk broth is fiery, rich and deeply flavoured, filled with chewy egg noodles, tender chicken, sliced red onion, tangy pickled mustard greens, and a handful of crisp fried noodles on top for crunch. Also, the pad kra pao is luscious, savoury and fragrant – and it seriously slaps.

Time Out tip: There’s an Eat Thai in Paddington – don’t get the two mixed up. For one, you’ll end up paying about $10 more per dish. Whether you’re getting takeaway or dining in, come here.

Address: 358 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Expect to pay: $20–$30 for mains, plus drinks

What is it? This ever popular Haymarket eatery has become legendary with chefs and Thai locals alike for its lava hot noodles and soups. It's the original hot spot from Somporn Phosri, who's gone on to expand the chain to Chatswood, Melbourne and Bondi Junction.

Why we love it: The main drawcard here is the signature tom yum noodle, coming in a clean, sweetly porky, hot-and-sour broth hit with generous spoonfuls of fried garlic and topped with crispy wonton strips. Don’t blame us if you get addicted after just one sip.

Time Out tip: Tread carefully if you opt for the ‘Super Nova’ seventh level of spice – this broth is hot hot. We reckon ‘Lava’ or ‘Devil’ (the chain’s third and fourth spice levels, respectively) deliver the perfect amount of intensity. 

Address: ​​9/37 Ultimo Road, Haymarket NSW 2000

What is it? One of Sydney's most talented chefs, Annita Potter (Long Chim) has taken her wealth of knowledge and knack for Thai flavour and opened up Viand, an exhilarating restaurant in Woolloomooloo. Five-course and eight-course degustation menus are available, as well as BYO long lunch bookings.

Why we love it: Roughly translated to "an assortment of dishes" in Thai, Potter has gone to great lengths to ensure the fit-out reflects the vibrant, eclectic and welcoming spirit of Thai cuisine and culture. Each sequence of seasonally expressive dishes is best paired with a drop from the superbly curated wine list: an elevated dining experience to remember.

Time Out tip: Don’t eat meat? Try the eight-course vegan tasting menu.

Address: 41 Crown Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

Expect to pay: $69 for the lunch banquet menu, $79 for the three-course chef’s tasting menu (Thursday only), $109-$179 for assorted five- to eight-course chef’s tasting menus

What is it? Sydneysiders love Chat Thai. With an empire spanning five restaurants – including two in the CBD, Circular Quay, Manly, Neutral Bay and Chatswood – the cheery eatery has gained legions of fans for its authentic and tasty Thai food.

Why we love it: Though the food’s an undeniable hit here, there’s a lot more to appreciate about Chat Thai – from the affordable prices to the fact that service is consistent and swift. We’ll keep coming back for more.

Time Out tip: Everyone loves the crispy pork belly with stir-fried Chinese kale, so make sure you add this one onto your order.

Address: ​​20 Campbell Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Expect to pay: Share-style starters $10-$24, noodles $24, mains and curries $25-$40, specialty seafood plates $59, desserts $12-$18

What is it? Chin Chin may no longer be the new hot thing on the scene, but when you’re after flavour-packed Southeast Asian food and a fun time, this Surry Hills joint is still a strong contender.

Why we love it: It’s the finely tuned combination of style, spice, booze and price that means yacht parties share tables with business lunches and crews of early-adopters. The restaurant is fast-paced and at times frantic, so it’s not the place to go if you’re looking for a low-key spot. Though, the fact that this stalwart still heaves proves that for the right occasion, Chin Chin still slaps. It’s where everyone wants to be eating, so we give humble thanks that at least you can book for lunch.

Time Out tip: Fire up the group chat and make a booking for Chin Chin’s weekend boozy lunch series – a table full of Chin Chin classics and new faves at $89 a head.

Address: ​​69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Expect to pay: Set menus from $77-$115, share-style starters around $25-$35, most curries and mains $35-$47, sides $8-$19, plus drinks

What is it? Boon Café in Haymarket is one-third styled-up city café, one-third restaurant and one-third Thai supermarket. The menu is overwhelmingly long, but thankfully there are lots of pictures, which make it easier to choose.

Why we love it: Exciting eats and well-stocked shelves... this two-in-one venue is a Thai flavour adventure park in the heart of the city. At night, everything looks the same – except it's not. That's because the menu changes from Thai sandwiches to Isaan fare. Boon isn't just a Thai kitchen located inside a grocer – though that setup is a pretty nifty two-fer on its own. This sleek new operation is also, well, a boon for a culinary scene that's not short on Thai options but fatigued by one too many middling massamans. 

Time Out tip: Don't mind getting your hands a little messy? A whole, fried freshwater fish coated in a potent mix of chilli, red onion, ground rice, coriander and green onion will have you reaching for extra serviettes - we'd even bring our own wet wipes next time.

Address: ​​2000/425 Pitt Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Expect to pay: Coffee and morning drinks $5-$12 (try a Thai tea matcha latte), breakfast $10-$26, sandwiches $19-$24, rice and noodles $17-$24, salads $19-$24, grill and fry dishes $12-$20

What is it? This Thai restaurant looks like a European wine bar. Elegant restraint is the design brief here, in the former Onde building opposite the original Darlo Bills, but the bar sends the clearest message about the intentions of this upscale riff on Thai dining. Come for innovative, generous and importantly, delicious food. 

Why we love it: Larb is reimagined with pork mince and nubs of prawn swimming about in a warm, coconut creamy sauce spiked with ginger, lemongrass and galangal. Scoop it up onto prawn crackers and slices of fresh cucumber or pile it into lettuce leaves and marvel at a dish from the tropics making such a convincing case for the comfort food crown.Things get less traditional and a whole lot less Thai as you progress, and that’s the key difference at Moon. A Jack’s Creek beef rib is cooked on low for 72 hours and the blackened bark would impress a Texan pitmaster.

Time Out tip: The portions here are generous but more fool the person who fails to reserve stomach real estate for a quenelle of green apple sorbet on a lychee granita – a dish so fresh, clean and light it makes you feel like you could do it all again. More importantly, you’ll want to. 

Address: ​​346 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Expect to pay: $130 for the degustation, extras $14-$18, plus cocktails or wine

What is it? A bustling industrial-style eatery with loft seating, dishing up traditional Thai crowd-pleasers (plus takeaway)

Why we love it: The menu here is easy to penetrate: start with crisp hunks of pork belly with greens, or super hot-and-sour prawn soup. Move on to some soft, glutenous dumplings filled with fine shreds of garlic chives, or some grilled Isaan-style sausage, packed with chilli and served with peanuts, raw ginger and dried chillies.

Time Out tip: There’s also a Home Thai in Bondi Junction if that’s closer to you – check it out at 87 Oxford Street

Address: ​​Shop 1 2/299 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Expect to pay: Noodles $17-$20, starters $6-$21, grilled meats $8-$30 ($38.50 for the mixed grill combo plate), mains and salads around $20-$26, most seafood around the $40 mark, curries and soups $19-$27, plus dessert and a drink

What is it? Caysorn specialises in southern Thai cuisine – a part of the world known for its heat. Kanom jeen – a vermicelli-like noodle traditionally made with pounded fermented rice – is offered in several versions. 

Why we love it: Caysorn is, simply, a lot of fun. There's a self-serve station stocked with beansprouts, pickles, chopped snake beans and Thai basil. The house special is kanom jeen tai pla, the noodles sauced with a dark, complex salted fish curry that fairly seethes with chilli. It's seriously effin' hot, but there's more chilli on offer at the salad bar for the true masochists.

Time Out tip: You might want to follow your meal with a little toast and kaya – sweet coconut and egg jam – the perfect salve for a deep chilli burn.

Address: ​​Prince Centre Building, 101, Level 1/8 Quay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Expect to pay: Assorted set menus from $45-$80, starters $11-$30, most kanom jeen around $16.90, curries, rice dishes and noodles $20-$30, plus drinks and dessert

What is it? Yok Yor is one of Thainatown’s greatest additions, where you can get a very authentic som tom replete with fermented, salted crab. In fact, there’s a whole som tum menu to choose from, some with salted egg, and there’s the regular chilli, dried shrimp and peanut action to boot.

Why we love it: Among the selection of snacky-type things at Yok Yor, there's not merely salt-and-pepper squid, but a whole S-and-P menu covering tofu, squid, prawns and soft-shell crab. Among the more interesting smaller things are the tod mun, the traditional fish cakes leavened with a healthy addition of minced pork.

Time Out tip: They fry a good chicken, here too, though keep it to yourself - it’s no good for sharing, and you really want to get in there with your fingers.

Address: ​​Shop G06/323 Castlereagh Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Expect to pay: $2.50 for a moo ping skewer (or $12.80 for 4), $11-$19 for share-style snacks, most mains around $16-$23, plus dessert and drinks

What is it? An energetic Hall Street staple with the cool factor – one foot in the door and you can instantly smell fragrant Thai basil and hear the sounds of woks clanging. 

Why we love it: They do seriously big serves (one serve will satisfy two) of grilled meats, super rich curries and wok-fried favourites. You'll also find a whole page of the menu devoted to duck (try the boneless roasted 'Lucky' duck) and lamb (the massaman uses whole lamb shanks) alongside plenty of vego dishes.

Time Out tip: Round up all your friends! This restaurant is ideal for a fun group night out. 

Address: 95 Hall Street, Bondi Beach NSW 2026

Expect to pay: Though you can select items from the a la carte menu, the banquet menu is excellent value at $35-$40 a head