The best new Thai restaurants in Melbourne

A bunch of new top-notch Thai restaurants have just landed in Melbourne. Add these spots to your list for authentic street food, hard-to-find dishes and must-try cheap eats.  

Thong Thai

Another addition to little Thailand has emerged at 18 Bourke Street! Thong Thai is all about the sizzle - wok fried noodles, omelettes cooked on huge pans and crispy rice dishes served by the skillet. Try a few lesser known Thai dishes like pork spine soup, savoury porridge and pad hoi la (stir fried pipis). Longan juice milk tea, wine beer and cockatils round out this delicious little menu.

Teow Teow, Pick Prik and Heng Thai

A huge multi-venue food hall has just landed on Bourke Street, and the queues are a sign that you should add it to your list. Each venue in this lantern-lit space offerS something different. Grab a table at Pick Prik for Isan-style street food like soy marinated crab with fermented fish dressing. Get the gang together around the mookata grill for a Thai-style barbeque hot pot feast at Heng Thai. For authentic boat noodles, chicken wings and and deep fried skewers, make your way to Teow Teow.

Pa Tong Thai

Love a bit of spice? Pa Tong has you more than covered. This hidden CBD gem with its cobalt blue walls and retro interior is one of the best places to find authentic Southern Thai food in Melbourne. The spicy sour yellow curry packed with lotus stems and barramundi will send you all the way to food heaven. The fried chicken is a must-try menu highlight - as is the haaw mohk fish cakes cooked in clay pots.

Thai Baan

The menu at Thai Baan is easy on the wallet, with most items coming in at under $16. Pull up a stool and order warming dishes like pok pok noodles with sliced bbq pork, tofu and meatballs. For something a little lighter, try the refreshing lotus root salad with chilli, lime and tomatoes. Dining with your mates? Don’t go past the sharable tom yum hot pot loaded with tofu, noodles, veggies, meat and seafood. All simmered in a spicy sour broth.

Khao Man Gai

A new family-run Thai chicken rice shop has just opened on one of Melbourne’s most iconic foodie streets. Head to Khao Man Gai on Hardware Lane for an authentic South East Asian street food experience. Choose from eight super aromatic chicken rice dishes – either fried or steamed. Each one is lovingly served with fermented soybean sauce, chilli and broth. Don’t forget to add a Thai milk tea on the side for a sugar kick.

Kan Eang

Flinders Lane's newest kid on the block is Kan Eang – a family-run restaurant offering Thai classics with a modern twist. Swing by for signature lunch dishes like spicy chicken ribs on rice. For after-dark dining, your best bet is to go with the feed-me menu. You'll get a selection of the chef's favourites for under $50. Balling on a budget? Visit on Tuesdays for 2-for-1 cocktails, or Wednesday and Thursday for bottomless beer happy hour!

Rongcha

Word on the street is this Thai dessert spot serves the best burnt butter toast in Melbourne. Wander over to Rongcha at 18 Little Lonsdale Street and carb-load on thick slices of bread loaded with toppings like ube cream, caramel and biscoff crumbs. Or try yao wa rat – fluffy buns filled with pandan, kaya, chilli pork floss and more.

Yummybear

Another new Thai dessert shop you need to visit is Yummy Bear Bakery. Think layered crepe cakes, milk tea flavoured treats and loaded ube toast. Don't leave without trying the Insta-famous pandan teddy bear swiss rolls - which come complete with little chocolate button eyes! So adorable you won't want to eat them. Almost.

Thailand on Bourke

Look for Thailand on Bourke’s cute neon sign on Bourke Street then step inside for a feast like no other. The menu at this family-run restaurant is huge with dishes hailing from all corners of Thailand. Think beef brisket curry, whole fried barramundi with apple and mango salad and bbq pork with honey. Don’t forget to order a side of sticky rice and a round of drinks – they're cheap as chips here with cocktails going for a cool $9 and beers as little as $3.80.

Khaosan Lane

Named after a popular street in Bangkok, Khaosan Lane is the place to go for steaming seafood hot pot. Roll up your sleeves and sizzle your own selection of meats and BBQ favourites. Order jugs of fruity cocktail for the whole table to enjoy. Stretching down a hidden laneway lined with rainbow-coloured string lights, the atmosphere is more South East Asia than it is Melbourne. Live music kicks off at 8.30pm every night too.