Thai food. Salty, sweet, sour and fiery. Melbourne is blessed with eateries showcasing virtually every cuisine on our diverse planet – yet few show the complexity of a well-balanced Thai meal.
So it’s hardly any surprise that in a proud foodie mecca like the Victorian capital, there are some serious contenders for the finest Thai chefs and dishes in the country.
So sit back and read on, whilst we guide you through the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne. And if you find a hidden, spicy gem that we don’t know about. Please. Drop us a line in the comments.
Location: DFO South Wharf, 35 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf, VIC 30006 Ph: (03) 9245 9800
Let’s be honest. It’s not often that this Page recommends an eatery on South Wharf. So if we do, it has to be good. And BangPop ticks all the night-out and culinary boxes.
Colourful, lively and with fabulously helpful staff, an evening at BangPop is one to remember. The Menu is the best kind of mash-up of traditional fare and hawker-style Thai food. And we are totally into both.
If you have dietary issues with Pork (and are familiar with a certain English pub snack), give the Cab Moo ($5.90) a go. An airy, crispy Pork Knuckle, doused in Chilli & Lime Sea Salt, it’s fabulous with a cold Beer. In contrast, if you prefer to eat plant-based – or just appreciate stunning flavours – the Yum Khao Tod ($19.90) is divine. A textural dish of crispy Rice with Wood Ear Mushrooms, a riot of Herbs and Spices and a brilliant Nam Jim Gai Dipping Sauce, it puts the Bang in BangPop.
And we could go on.
But suffice to say, this place is going off for a reason. It’s one of the top Thai restaurants in Melbourne.
Location: Basement/353 Little Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Ph: 1300 363 336 See Website For Further Locations
The last time we looked, DoDee Paidang had 4 branches in Melbourne – Little Collins, Swanston, Box Hill & Glen Waverley. in addition to this Victorian presence, the hugely popular chain also has businesses in Sydney. So undoubtedly, it has to appear on our guide to the top Thai Restaurants in Melbourne.
Unlike some of the city’s more glamorous Thai spots, DoDee Paidang’s decor is no-thrills and service is quick and efficient thanks to an App and robot delivery. But what keeps customers coming back time and again is the establishments commitment to authentic Thai fare made with fresh ingredients. Many of the biggest crowd-pleasers are traditional street food and hawker-style dishes, with both the Spring Rolls ($19.90) and Pad Thai Chicken testament to that.
If you want a real treat, get the kitchen’s speciality – Tom Yum Noodles. These DoDee Noodles come in a number of variations and with a useful slide-scale of Chilli heat. If you’re feeling brave, we dare you to try the Spice Level 7 DoDee Super Nova ($20.90) with Fish Balls, Pork, Crispy Wonton, Snake Bean, Chinese Broccoli and more. Personally, we find the DoDee Devil ($20.90) with a more manageable 2 Chilli rating abouyt all that we can handle.
Another winning option is the Whole Fish section of the menu. Bring a crowd and order the Pla Rad Prik ($46.90) – Deep-Fried Whole Barramundi doused in Spicy Tamarind & Fish Sauce. It’s a real show-stopper.
Firstly, let’s discuss whether or not Chin Chin should actually be listed amongst the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne. Why? Well, because the food at this iconic eatery wanders very much into Asian fusion territory, with dishes such as the Butter Chicken Curry clearly not originating in Thailand. However, we still maintain that there is a strong enough Thai influence in the menu to merit the bustling venue’s inclusion in our rundown.
Plus, Chin Chin Melbourne is a culinary phenomenon. Always packed. Always buzzing with life. And continuously serving up delicious plates of food.
Amongst our favourite eats are the addictive Chilli Salt Chicken Wings ($25.50) with Sweet Fish Sauce & Lime. We bet you can’t stop at just one! The Southern Style Yellow Curry of Pork, Pineapple & Snake Bean ($37.50) does that salty/sweet Thai thing brilliantly. And the Braised Wagyu Beef Pad Seuw ($39.50) is rich, luscious and umami-forward.
These days, the restaurant’s acclaim is such that it has spawned a number of offshoots – Chin Chin Sydney and Club Chin Chin over in Geelong. And as if that isn’t enough, GoGo Bar beneath the Chin Chin Melbourne premises is a dim and moody little spot where you can grab a great cocktail.
Already a Melbourne staple for more that a decade, we reckon Chin Chin will be around for a while yet.
We are back on Little Collins Street for next for another bright, colourful, lively joint – the Magic Mountain Saloon.
Split over 3 levels – with a DJ frequently playing vinyl on the middle floor – the food here is modern Thai. That means plenty of imagination sprinkled through the dishes, along with a good splash of Fish Sauce and pinch of Chilli.
Temptations include their wonderful Crispy Sesame Eggplant Bao Bun with Spring Onion & Chilli (3 for $25). The crunch of the Eggplant and pillowy, soft Bao are ace together. Another winner is the Beef Short Ribs, Garlic, Chilli, Makrut Lime Leaf & Pickled Vegetables ($42), where pickles and Lime cut the the richness of the gelatinous meat. And as for the ‘Som Tum’ Green Papaya, Yard Beans, Avocado, Tomato & Peanuts ($21)? Well, we think it’s one of the finest Salads in town.
As well as being one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne, the Magic Mountain Saloon is a top-notch bar. Along with the Beers and Wines, the Magic Signatures Cocktails are both a tad different, and very yummy. We like to kick off our evening with a Chiang Mai Cooler ($25). A bracing combo of Patron Silver Tequila, Hayman’s Sloe Gin, Watermelon, Lime, Hibiscus & Ginger Syrup and Thai Basil.
Have a couple of those, order a pile of dishes and dive on in with a group of good friends. We guarantee you’ll have a good night. Especially if the DJ is playing.
Abbotsford’s Jinda Thai has a great feel. With a clean, airy converted warehouse aesthetic, lots of natural light due to large windows, and hip bare bricks, it looks like the kind of place that should create great food. And thankfully, the kitchen doesn’t let you down.
For example, take the Squish Cake. This is an ‘extra chewy’ take on a classic Fish Cake. With the addition of Squid pieces, a sprinkling of Crushed Peanuts and a Sweet Chilli Sauce, it is fabulous. If you like your Tom Yum Soup to sing with citrusy spice, give the Jinda Thai version a try. Seasoned with Kaffir Lime Leaves, Lemongrass, Galangal & Red Chilli, it is aromatic and tingles on the palate.
The list of knock-out dishes goes on and on. If choosing is too much of a chore, the Sharing Menu does all the hard work for you. And at either $50pp or $70pp, it’s a bargain feed.
Whilst we are talking value for money, you can also BYO Wine for $6 per person. That said, this hospitable eatery has a more than adequate Drinks List. This includes an inspired array of beverages Mixed in house. Our top tipple is the House Gin with Lychee Crush.
Ambience, excellent food and delicious drinks. No wonder this is one of the top Thai restaurants in Melbourne.
Location: Gordon House Apartments, 44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Ph: (03) 9653 1600
Confession time. Eatability first fell for the crunchy, sweet, sour, salty and fiery charms of Longrain in the establishments Sydney days.
Then helmed by Martin Boetz, it was clear to anyone that dined there that it was only a matter of time before Longrain Sydney spawned Longrain Melbourne. And thank goodness Victorians didn’t have to wait too long.
Since 2020, Longrain has been under the skilful hands of Melbourne star chef Scott Pickett. And whilst the ownership may has changed, the food is still true to its authentic Thai origins. For example, the Betel Leaf, Prawn, Green Chilli Nam Jim, Peanuts and Lime ($9) is still one of the best flavour bombs you’ll ever pop in your mouth.
Another stand-out plate is the BBQ Lamb Ribs with Miso Black Pepper & Galangal Relish (4 for $40). However, our hungry hearts still dream about the fantastic Crisp Whole Fish (MP) with Tamarind, Roasted Rice & Lime. Dismembered, cooked to golden perfections, reassembled and dressed in total yumminess – it an absolute showstopper.
Add in a chic warehouse dining spce and suitably cool vibe, plus the hip Longsong Bar upstairs and it’s easy to imagine Longrain feeding happy customers for a decade or more yet.
Of course, you don’t have to head into the CBD to enjoy great Thai fare. Just ask the good people of Doncaster.
This is a good-sized eatery with a comprehensive menu to match. The chances are that most of your favourite dishes will be here, plus a few new friends. So you can kick off with something familiar like the Spring Roll (4pcs $12.9) or dip into something possibly less known like the Chive Cake ($12.9).
Little Bangkok Doncaster is also an excellent choice if you are a plant-based diner as there is a decent range of Vegan cuisine.
However, we are rather attached to the meltingly tender Massaman Lamb Shank ($32.9). The spices marry perfectly with the rich, soft meat. Another stellar plate is the Steamed Barramundi with Chilli & Lime. Yum!
Apart from authentic Thai flavours, the crew also know their way around a cocktail shaker. Our top tipple is the Bitter Cucumber Club ($20) – Gin, Cointreau, Tonic, Cucumber & Syrup. It’s the ideal counter-balance to a fiery Red Curry.
Yes. Bar Spontana is, first and foremost, a one of Melbourne’s many diverse Wine Bars. Here, the Drinks List showcases spontaneous and wild fermentation process – from the Wines and Beers to the seriously interesting Cocktails.
But that’s not what we’re here for at this precise moment. Instead, let’s talk about the the food which is based on a Contemporary Thai Grill.
Whet your appetite with a couple items from the Sticks section of the menu. We love to see indigenous ingredients cooked well and a great example of this is the Kangaroo skewer ($12ea) with Crispy Garlic, Sticky Glaze & a kicking Jeaw. If you feel like something more delicate, then the Baked Scallop ($10ea) with Garlic, Chilli & Coconut is hot, hot and delicious.
Amongst the Large plates, the Gaeng Som Crimson Snapper ($48) is a stunner of a dish. Paired with vibrant Turmeric, Chill and a fantastic Pickled Watermelon, the Fish is soft and yielding. That said, my dining companions would rebel is I didn’t also give a shout out to the fiery Pad Cha Crispy Lamb Ribs ($53). Rich and addictive, they come with a Green Peppercorn Glaze, Young Ginger & more Chilli.
In fact, there’s a note at the foot of the menu warning that the kitchen is big fans of a Chilli. In addition, it points out that Bar Spontana is not the place to come if you crave a Green Curry. Instead, the menu embraces the ferments and preserves that are also evident in the venues Drink selection.
Rather like Chin Chin, Cookie seems to have been part of the Melbourne foodie scene for ages.
The dining heart of Curtin House is quintessential Melbourne – cool warehouse/industrial chic fit out, high ceilings and a feature bar. After work on a Friday, this place is heaving with beautiful people, kicking off their weekend.
Given the convivial vibe of the Cookie Melbourne, it’s no surprise that the menu makes for great sharing. The Sweet Potato & Young Coconut Cigars with Orange & Chilli Sauce ($19) are all light, crunchy pastry and soft, more-ish filling. The Drunken Noodles ($29) with Minced Pork, Tomato, Thai Basil & Chilli slide down easily with a Two Boys Lager from the Mornington Peninsula. If you’re feeling particularly famished, then the Beef Ribs ($43), Lemongrass and Star Anise with their globes of sweet Lychee always hit the spot.
Over at Crown Melbourne, on the Southbank, Ging Thai makes its claim to be one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne with its spin on modern Thai cuisine.
The menu proudly announces that their Thai Fish Cakes AKA Tod Man Pla ($25) are a favourite choice, and they are rightly so. Humming with fragrant spices, their texture has that perfect bounce. Another winner is the Red Duck Curry ($36). At Ging Thai, this is a fruity little number, with Grapes and Pineapple adding sweetness and texture, whilst helping to balance out the richness of the gamey Duck pieces. Mop up all the unctuous sauce with a many-layered chunk of Roti Bread ($10).
The Wine List isn’t huge, but has clearly been chosen to compliment the fiery Thai dishes. As you might expect, the Beer List includes Chang & Singha. We, as ever, open with a Cocktail and find that the Muay Thai Mule ($25) – Lime Leaf Vodka, Lime & Ginger Beer – hits the spot nicely.
A buzzing vibe, friendly staff and great food is the winning combination that makes Thai Town one of the most popular Thai restaurants in Melbourne.
The idea here is to give diners an insight into the atmosphere and flavours of Thai street food at its finest. And given that places like Bangkok and Chiang Mai have some of the most memorable hawker stalls that we’ve ever eaten from, you can bet you’re in for a tasty treat.
The ‘Thai Tapas’ is a great place to start. If you’ve never tried it before, then give the Thai Northern Style Sausage a go ($13.9). It’s a delicious marriage of Pork, Thai Herbs & a kick of Chilli. Another star dish is the Fried Crispy Quail Eggs ($12.90), where dinky little eggs come encased in Wonton Pastry.
From there, the choice of dishes is almost overwhelming. That said, the Jumbo King Prawn Pad Thai ($26.90) never disappoints and the Cashew Nut Stir-Fry with Chicken ($17.90) is always good. We’re also big fans of the Thai Salads. The Green Papaya Salad with Fermented Fish, Pickled Crab & Fermented Rice Noodles ($17.90) is both funky and refreshing at the same time – and totally authentic.
As for drinks, the Wine List is limited, but the Cocktail Menu is packed. Why not go with the flow and order a Damsel in Distress ($12.90)? Made from Thai Spirit, Ginger, Kaffir Lime and Jasmine, it’s a great accompaniment to the spicy food.
Location: Tivoli Arcade, 38 Royal Ln, Melbourne, VIC 3000
For some of us, it was a sad day when Soi 38 moved from a cramped bolt-hole in the a busy multi-storey car park off Mcilwrath Place to more salubrious surroundings. But the good news it that tasty, authentic Thai food still comes first and the communal, canteen-style dining space and vibe survives.
Not only that, but the restaurant is considerably larger and there’s also been an expansion of the menu.
That said, dishes like the much-loved Deep Fried Pork Jowl with it’s fiery House Dipping Sauce remain. As does the Moo Ping which are arguably some of the finest Grilled, Marinated Pork Skewers in town.Yay!
Other winning plates include the mouth-watering Tum Tang Salad. This apparently simple offering of Cucumber, Salted Crab, Fermented Fish Sauce and Hard-Boiled Egg punches way above it’s weight when it comes to taste. And let’s not forget the superb value Thai Hot Pot which is the perfect meal to chase away the winter blues.
And yes. Soi 38 is still a cheap eats companion, making it an affordable lunch or dinner treat. Thai street food has never been more appealing.
For us, the must-try dishes include the peppery, sweet, salty Caramelised Pork Belly and the Thai Crab Fried Rice. That said, if you like a Thai Curry to smack you around the chops, then R.Harn really should be on your list of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne.
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