11 Great Thai Restaurants in Philadelphia

Walking into Chabaa Thai Bistro is like stepping inside a work of art. The Manayunk BYOB embodies the vibrancy of its namesake flower, the hibiscus or “chabaa” in Thai, with walls hung with gorgeous traditional artwork and a dining room saturated in beautiful colors and greenery. Is there a dreamier place to indulge in the equally bright flavors of traditional Thai hot pots, noodles and fried rice?

Chatayee Venus Kaputhong serves as both chef and teacher at her Midtown Village restaurant. Alongside contemporary curries and dishes, eagle-eyed guests find classic recipes (denoted by a small symbol) on the dinner menu, including Boom Bai Kai, a curry recipe nearly lost to history before being reintroduced in the 17th century. The education continues as diners admire eye-catching Thai art: Beautiful hand-carved sculptures and gold-flecked paintings adorn the dining room. Pro tip: Chatayee is located just steps away from the Forrest Theatre and Avenue of the Arts, making it a perfect pre- or post-show stop.

Circles has been a solid choice for noodle dishes like pad see ew and more since 2008. The no-frills South Philly takeout spot has expanded to include two trendy full-service BYOBs — one in Northern Liberties and the other in New Jersey. Whether you’re planning for a night in at home or your hotel or dinner out, grab your favorite off-dry white or medium red wine (both pair perfectly with the bold Thai flavors) and enjoy.

One of the first Thai restaurants in Center City, Erawan has been plating up delicious traditional Thai and Laotian fare since 2007. From the beginning, the OG in Thai cuisine has bucked trends and flashy gimmicks to instead focus on perfecting the classics — which makes the restaurant a great primer for those new to the cuisine. Even the least adventurous eaters feel at home in the restaurant’s simple dining room tasting flavorful curries, stir-fry and noodle dishes. Our suggestion: Start with the massaman curry and let your taste buds lead you from there.

A newer addition to the city’s restaurant community, Grandma’s Philly entered the scene with fresh energy and a new approach. Grandma’s calls itself the first Thai tapas restaurant in Philadelphia, serving tasty shareables in a fun and modern space. Donrutai “Chef Locket” Jainon’s menu features both familiar favorites and less-widespread northern Thai dishes. The most exciting menu items also happen to be the ones with the most heart: recipes passed down from her grandmother such as the glass noodle soup and meatballs smothered in a sweet-savory sauce.

Simplicity is key at House of Thai Cuisine. With limited seating, this no-nonsense takeout spot in Northeast Philly is ready and waiting to deliver (literally) a feast of Thai comfort food to you. The sweet and savory honey duck is a favorite, as are other house specialties like the namesake House of Thai Delight (a fried chicken dish with cashew nuts, produce and a tasty shrimp paste sauce), steamed Thai dumplings stuffed with ground chicken, and yellow curry fried rice.

East meets West at JJ Thai Cuisine. The Rittenhouse Square BYOB’s impressive menu marries French technique with the bold flavors of Thailand. Starters like grilled lamb lollipops coated in a Thai barbecue sauce and curried chicken puffs set the scene for showstopping entrees of massaman short ribs, steak au poivre and more. The understated elegance of the restaurant contrasts perfectly with the stunningly plated dishes, making JJ Thai a special-occasion-worthy dining destination.

What started out as chef-owner Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon’s search for a catering kitchen quickly morphed into a nationally acclaimed sensation, winning Suntaranon the coveted 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Fishtown’s Kalaya showcases the authentic southern Thai recipes the chef learned from her mother, for whom the restaurant is named. A seat in the restaurant’s stunning dining room is a tough reservation to get nowadays, but with delectable and hard-to-find dishes like the blue-tinged shaw muang dumplings or the spicy goong phao (a dish consisting of whole prawns), the effort is well worth it.

Ratchada, the older sibling of Grandma’s Philly (see above), is chef Donrutai Jainon’s first gift to the city’s Thai scene. The vibes are a little more mature here, and the menu has a sharper focus on tradition. Classic Thai dishes share menu space with exemplars of Laotian cuisine. The duck dishes — roasted duck curry and the Ratchada duck — are favorites on the Thai side. On the Laotian side, look out for the larb, a Laotian minced meat dish with bold and citrusy flavors, and the sticky rice, a great accompaniment to many of the entrees.

It’s a family affair over at Vientiane Cafe and Bistro. The restaurants have humble beginnings in West Philadelphia, where chef Daovy Phanthavong began selling curries and noodles to her neighbors from her front yard. Eventually, Phanthavong set up shop in a Baltimore Avenue storefront, supplying the community with authentic Thai and Laotian cuisine with the help of her daughter, Sunny. Kensington’s Vientiane Bistro came later, when Sunny decided to open a restaurant of her own. More upscale than the cafe, Vientiane Bistro stays close to its roots, pairing friendly service with traditional dishes (even borrowing menu items from its West Philly predecessor).

It’s a difficult feat to execute stylish elegance without veering into the realm of stuffy, but Xiandu does so perfectly. The elevated dining room plays host to a jet-setting menu. In addition to Thai flavors, menu items incorporate Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese influences, taking guests on a grand tour of Asia. Familiar Thai favorites, like pad thai and tom yum soup, are dressed up and plated beautifully to match the overall vibe of the restaurant. Get your reservation in for your next celebratory evening out.