251 Best Restaurants in Thailand

Established by the son of a local fisherman in 2007, this restaurant offers delectable seafood dishes like deep-fried snapper in a masala fusion sauce, and New Zealand mussels served with creamy garlic sauce. People can eat in a longtail boat, steps from the lapping sea, or in the bamboo and rattan hut.

This roadside shack has a sign in Thai that says "Southern food is supposed to be spicy"---so you can be assured that there is no toning the spice down here. There are also tamer Thai dishes for the faint of heart, but this is where to try authentically fiery po taek (clear seafood soup), a turmeric-and-chili-heavy dry curry called kua kling, and the homemade chili dips.

Phuket’s first Michelin-starred restaurant has a buzzy open kitchen that sends out unusual Thai ingredients presented in very un-Thai ways, like a cured squid pastrami. Chefs are chatty, service is flawless, and the culinary experience is unlike any other on the island. Arrive before sunset to enjoy a welcome drink in the sitting rooms downstairs before taking in the uninterrupted view of the sea through the kitchen windows.

There is a young generation of chefs in Phuket looking at ways to give the food they grew up with a modern spin, and Mond Kunghae is one of those who is leading the way. In a renovated shophouse around the corner from where he went to school, the chef—who also has a loyal following from a turn he did on a popular TV cooking show—sends out dishes like squid ink gaeng som (sour curry) that capture authentic southern flavors in innovative ways. Sit at the bar to take in the action.

Pick your fresh seafood live or order lon (coconut seafood dip) and hor mok (curried seafood steamed in banana leaves) from the extensive menu at this restaurant nestled under a wooden canopy. You can sit right on the water's edge, but larger parties might prefer booking the upstairs terrace. Keep in mind that there is no air-conditioning here.

One of the most creative restaurants on Samui fuses culinary sophistication with a welcoming, casual atmosphere in keeping with its surroundings. Chefs perform alchemy from the venue's open-counter kitchen, providing dishes such as linguine with prawns, clams, mussels, and chilies in a white wine and tomato sauce; and king prawns with garlic, chili, and lemon.

Founder Lee Ayu Chuepa studied the art of roasting and brewing coffee in Italy, then brought his know-how back to his home village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, where he grows organic coffee. The vibe is casual, with a few seats to hang out and enjoy your beverage. There is a B500 minimum charge for credit cards.

Inspired by mid-20th century Thai cookbooks, Australian chef David Thompson revives traditional tastes and rare dishes at the Michelin-starred Aksorn, on the top floor of Central: The Original store in Bang Rak. During the cooler months, request a table on the outdoor terrace.

Paolo Vitaletti, a five-star chef whose dad toiled in a storied Roman meat market, runs this cozy space for which reservations are highly advisable. The Italian menu is mostly devoted to Rome specialties, including spit-cooked porchetta (pork roast stuffed with fennel pollen, garlic, and rosemary).

Close to Lumphini Park on Withayu Road, Baan takes recipes that have been handed down through generations and kicks them up a notch by using top-line ingredients and fine-dining presentations. Signature dishes include braised beef Massaman curry, spicy five-spiced egg stew, and dry-aged beef ka-phrao (stir-fry with holy basil and chili).

Mere feet from lapping waves, this perennial favorite serves the freshest seafood at reasonable prices. The purple baby-octopus soup and the sour curry with local turmeric and fish are two great options.

A charming courtyard garden leads to the cozy dining room of this predominantly Indian restaurant, where you'll be welcomed as if you were at a friend's home. The menu focuses on Indian selections with a few Thai and Western options, and everything is delicious.

Lampang native Achareeya Chapin studied baking and pastry at the Culinary Institute of America and worked at a highly acclaimed restaurant in Napa Valley before returning home to set up shop here, on a sleepy little river evoking the feeling of times gone by. Achareeya has since gone on to open Wildthyme in Bangkok, but her sister Fon keeps the shop running, offering a selection of Thai and Western dishes, all prepared to perfection. Leave room for dessert.

Belying Pattaya's slightly unsophisticated reputation, this romantic fine dining haven tucked away in a residential district between Pattaya and Jomtien oozes Gallic class. The food helps to elevate proceedings with choice offerings including premium steaks and showstoppers such as Japanese scallops with red corn in coconut sauce.

From the outside, this restaurant looks like a standard, wooden Thai beach restaurant, but the creative cooking elevates it from the ordinary. Sizzling "hot pan" dishes of seafood in coconut cream, stir-fried morning glory, and sweet-and-sour shrimp are delicious. Specials, such as duck curry served in a hollowed-out pineapple, change daily and augment the already extensive menu.

This century-old log trader's home built in Shan-style was transformed into a warm redwood-lined restaurant that serves very good Thai cuisine and well-executed Western dishes, including tenderloin and T-bone steaks. Some tables are arranged under the trees of a leafy garden for a nice view of the Yuam River.

Every meal tells a story at this northern Thai restaurant, where recipes passed down by silk-trading Thai-Chinese families of the Baan Tuek compound are actively used. If you visit in April, start the Thai New Year with good luck by eating laap kua, a zesty minced pork dish topped with chili flakes and many herbs.

Guests are invited to make themselves comfortable on plump, plush armchairs and sofas and even on large cushions scattered over the polished teak floor at this colorful restaurant, decorated like the home of your kooky bohemian cousin. The cuisine is eclectic, with plenty of Thai offerings as well as mixed Western fare like fish-and-chips. Nothing is too spicy, and everything, including rich curries, refreshing salads, and vegetable-packed summer rolls, is served in pretty ceramic bowls and plates.

The cuisine is eclectic Thai, with ingredients sourced from Ginger's own farm on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, at this vibrant Thai bistro decorated with vintage furniture, large patterned cushions, and hanging plants. Nothing is too-too spicy, and everything—including rich curries, refreshing salads, and vegetable-packed summer rolls—is served in pretty ceramic bowls and plates.

Trendy locals have been loving this iconic restaurant that serves creative Thai and pan-Asian fare since it opened in 2004. The walls are adorned with tropical motif wallpaper, the plush furniture is finished with dark velvets, and traditional Chinese pottery in bold colors sits on display. The banquette seating is topped with colorful throw pillows that you can purchase in the shop. The Thai food is excellent and nicely presented, but expect to pay more than in simpler Thai restaurants. 

Bangkok has hundreds of Japanese restaurants, but only Isao has a line out the door almost every night, thanks to the most creative maki rolls west of California. The owner studied under the chef at the revered Green Tea in Chicago, and the repeat clientele attests to the widespread enthusiasm for his culinary flights of fancy in sleek modern surrounds.

Located on the edge of a farm built on what was once an open-air tin quarry, Jampa is a farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on using every part of every ingredient in delicious creative ways. Look for grilled fruits, vegetables, and meats with homemade chutneys and sambals, all locally sourced. You can even take a jar of their own pesto home with you.

The walls of this unique restaurant--café in the heart of the architecturally quaint Old Town are lined with vintage black-and-white images of Phuket, which pretty much reflect the kind of food served here—old-school Thai-Chinese fare. Signature dishes are inspired by family recipes, and include bak kut teh (a pungent pork-bone broth), mee sua pad (noodles with seafood and spices), and the crispy noodle and egg salad. Ice teas like Butterfly Pea Flower and lime are especially good for cooling your insides on a hot day, while a variety of smoothies and good coffee strained in a cloth bag are also worth a try.

For a delicious snack, buy some of the creamy homemade pepper cookies or crunchy caramel peanuts to take with you.

A longtime local favorite for Thai-style seafood, Koti has a no-nonsense decor and a packed dining room that attests to the flavor of dishes like hor mok talay (steamed seafood curry). The large menu includes such crowd-pleasers as fried fish with garlic and pepper.

At this cozy casual restaurant, two chefs churn out their personal spins on southern Thai dishes. The atmosphere and the offerings are youthful and fun, with craft beers and Massaman curry simmered with a splash of wine—but most importantly, it’s deliciously true to the flavor of the south.

Atop the Mandarin Oriental, this legendary French restaurant has been the city's most respected French dining room since it opened its doors in 1958, with impressive views of the Chao Phraya and remarkable food. Chef Alain Roux creates dishes that taste classically of the old country yet with a haute personal touch—tasting menus are of good value compared to à la carte, with the three-course lunch priced at B2,950 and the evening menu gastronomique of seven courses for B7,500. The restaurant has been awarded a star in Michelin Thailand.