Who says that you have to jump on a plane to get really great Thai food? Here in Singapore there are tons of Thai restaurants that serve up authentic fare so good that you’d think you were dining on the streets of Bangkok. When we’re craving that fine balance of spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter, there are a few places that we go back to time and time again. For sublime som tam, pad Thai, and tom yum goong, these are our picks for the best Thai restaurants in Singapore. (Ranked in no particular order)
1. Aroy Dee
This no-frills spot in Sunshine Plaza serves up street food style eats like Thai fish cakes, papaya salad with salty crab, pad see yu, and garlic pork with rice. However, their specialities are fiery curries like the stir-fried mud crab with Thai curry and the green and red curry with your choice of veggies or meat. The place always draws a crowd at lunchtime, so come early to avoid the lines.
Aroy-Dee Thai Kitchen, 91 Bencoolen Street, Sunshine Plaza #01-12, Singapore 189652. p. +65 6336 8852
2. E-Sarn (Ridgewood)
Residential neighbourhoods often feature more local cuisine as opposed to exotic fare, but in the Ridgewood precinct, E-Sarn eatery offers fantastic dishes cooked by native Thai chefs. Think crispy mini pandan wings, red curry with roast duck, and hor mok pla, a creamy fish custard flavoured with curry paste, kaffir lime leaves, and coconut milk. The prices are pretty decent too, so you can feast away without breaking the bank.
E-Sarn, 5 Ridgewood Close, Unit G2 Ridgewood Condominium, Singapore 276696. p. +65 6466 8078. Open Tues – Fri 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10pm, Sat – Sun 11:30am – 10pm
3. Jim Thompson
A sister business of the famous Thai silk company, Jim Thompson is one of the best Thai restaurants in town. Everything is authentic here from the soft Thai music playing in the background to the wooden spirit house watching over the lily pond and the fragrant dishes that boast the perfect blend of spicy, sweet and sour flavours. It may be a little bit pricier than other Thai places, but Jim Thompson makes up for it with great ambiance and spot-on food.
Jim Thompson, 45 Minden Road, Dempsey Hill, Singapore 248817. p. +65 6475 6088. Open Mon – Sat 12pm to 12am, Sun 12:30pm – 11pm
4. Nakhon Kitchen
Specialising mainly in Thai seafood dishes, this popular chain of Thai restaurants takes pride in using fresh ingredients from Thailand and offering generous portions. Must-tries at Nakhon Kitchen include the vermicelli salad with seafood, deep-fried grouper with sweet and sour sauce, and the stir-fried squid with yellow curry. For something uncommon, try the pineapple curry with mussels, which is a pleasant blend of sweet and savory flavors.
Nakhon Kitchen, Blk 136 Bedok North Ave 3, #01-166, Singapore 460136 (and various locations.). p. +65 6245 5548. Open daily 12pm – 2:45pm, 5:30pm – 9:45pm
5. Nana Thai
Situated in the Golden Mile complex, otherwise known as ‘Little Bangkok’, Nana Thai offers up all the usual Thai dishes at very reasonable prices. Start with a Thai mango salad for a great mix of sweet fruit, salty shrimp, spicy chilies, sour lime juice and crunchy peanuts. The tom yam seafood soup is another good bet for its generous portions of prawn, squid, crabstick and mushrooms swimming in a spicy and sour broth.
Nana Thai, 5001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Complex #01-51/52/66C, Singapore 199588. p. +65 6333 8263. Open daily 11am – 10pm
If you’re looking for Thai food with a fine dining twist, Sabai combines elegance with extraordinary eats. Like the name suggests, the restaurant overlooks Marina Bay, so you can soak up great views as you dig into authentic Thai dishes like the deep-fried stuffed chicken wings, wing bean salad with chicken, prawns, roasted coconut, chilli jam and fresh lime juice, and the Mussaman curry with beef or chicken, shallots and potatoes.
Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay, 70 Collyer Quay, Customs House #01-02, Singapore 049323. p. +65 6535 3718. Open Mon – Fri 11:30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
7. Thanying Restaurant
Thai people are famous for their warm and friendly nature, and the superb service at Thanying Restaurant is no exception. Smiling servers are on hand to meet all your needs and offer recommendations and info about the royal Thai style dishes. The ingredients are always fresh and have never failed to delight us so far. Some of our faves include the steamed crab with minced pork in a crab shell and the deep-fried sea bass topped with crispy garlic and pepper.
Thanying Restaurant, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Amara Hotel #02-00, Singapore 088539. p. +65 6879 2555. Open daily 11am – 3pm, 6:30pm – 11pm
8. Jane Thai
When it comes to easy-going and affordable Thai food in Singapore, Jane Thai is one of our favourites. Their laid-back location on East Coast Road has seating on two floors, as well as dart machines on the second floor, so you can shoot a few rounds of darts with friends while waiting for your cold beers and food to arrive. The menu includes classics like curries, noodles, and spicy salads.
Jane Thai, 41 East Coast Road, Singapore 428761. p. +65 6209 0448. Open daily 11am – 8pm
9. Diandin Leluk Thai Restaurant
The seeds for Diandin Leluk were planted in the 1980s when a Singaporean man and his Thai wife began peddling packed lunches to Thai construction workers. The response was so positive that the couple decided to open a proper restaurant in the Golden Mile Complex. Today they still serve up the same humble, honest fare like Thai mango salad, tom yum soup, pad thai, and green curry with chicken. Even better, they’re open 24 hours most days of the week.
Diandin Leluk Thai Restaurant, 5001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Complex #01-67/68/69, Singapore 199588. p. +65 6396 5515. Open Tues – Sun 24 hours, Mon 9am – 10pm
10. Patara Fine Thai Cuisine
Patara Fine Thai Cuisine manages to pull of classiness without pretension at their inviting space in Tanglin Mall. Silk cushions adorn wooden benches, white tablecloths and wine glasses adorn the tabletops, and the menu boasts both classic Thai favourites and modern takes on traditional dishes. Try the braised coconut soup with seared Hokkaido scallops, the beef brisket curry, and the black olive fried rice with chicken.
Patara Fine Thai Cuisine, 163 Tanglin Rd, Tanglin Mall #03-14, Singapore 247933. p. +65 6737 0818. Open daily 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
11. Gin Khao at One Raffles Place
Gin Khao has a three Thai restaurants in Singapore, but our favourite is the one at Raffles Place for its bright, minimalist interiors and convenient CBD location. The name means ‘eat rice’ in Thai, which fits with the casual vibes and shared family-style plates. The signature dish is the watermelon fried rice, which sounds a bit strange, but is actually all kinds of delicious. It comes with fresh seafood and watermelon balls atop golden fried rice. The stir-fried squid with salted egg is also to die for.
Gin Khao, 1 Raffles Place #04-29, Singapore 048616 (and various locations). p. +65 6532 2387. Open Mon – Fri 11:30am – 3:30pm, 5:30pm – 9pm
12. Beer Thai House
We wouldn’t say that Beer Thai House has the absolute best Thai food in Singapore, but the atmosphere is convivial and you’ll find hearty fare packed full of flavour. Start with a cold Singha beer and then order up tasty eats like the juicy pandan chicken, spicy glass noodles with seafood salad, and minced pork and basil on rice. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are generous.
Beer Thai House, 6001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Tower #01-50/51, Singapore 199589. p. +65 6297 7644. Open daily 11am – 11pm
13. Tamarind Hill
Set in a gorgeous white colonial bungalow in the leafy Labrador Nature Reserve, Tamarind Hill offers up an elegant Thai fine dining experience. The Thai chefs have drawn on their heritage and creative talents to put together a menu of over 100 Thai and Burmese dishes. Pair your prawn cakes, Massaman curry, and red tom yum with river lobster with house-infused gin cocktails or a bottle of fine wine. We should note they have a policy of no kids under 14 years old.
Tamarind Hill, 30 Labrador Villa Road, Singapore 119189. p. +65 6278 6364. Open Mon – Thurs 12pm – 2:30pm, 3pm – 5pm, 6:30pm – 9:45pm, Fri – Sat 12pm – 2:30pm, 3pm – 5pm, 6:30pm – 10:30pm, Sun 7:30am – 11am, 12pm – 2:30pm, 3pm – 5pm, 6:30pm – 9:45pm
14. KinMoo
If you’re in the mood for heaping bowl of noodles or a heart-warming Thai soup on a rainy day, KinMoo is your spot. The star of the menu is the Baa Mee Keow Haeng Moo Dang, which is basically a big bowl of wanton mee done up Thai style with springy egg noodles, pork collar char siew, crispy lard bits, coriander, and Thai garlic. We also love the tom yum goong soup with plump prawns in a tangy broth.
KinMoo, 2 Tan Quee Lan St #01-02, Singapore 188091. p. +65 8795 1188. Open 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm
15. Greyhound Cafe
Coming to us by way of Bangkok, Greyhound Cafe is famous for combining fashion with food and bevvies. Set in a beautiful glasshouse, the Paragon Orchard branch features a cool black and white theme, a graphic wall by a famous Thai illustrator, and tons of hanging plants. The menu is just as innovative and trendy with offerings like the fried chicken wings marinated in fish sauce, duck wonton soup, and the spicy muay thai burger.
Greyhound Cafe, 290 Orchard Road, The Paragon Orchard #01-25/25A, Singapore 238859. p. +65 6738 5535. Open daily 10am – 10pm
16. Sawasdee Thai
Set in the heart of Chinatown, Sawasdee Thai is an easy-going spot serving up affordable Thai food. Grab a seat on one of the plastic chairs and settle in with some cold Singha beers and classics like the prawn balls on skewers, red curry duck, and chicken with cashew nuts. Don’t expect anything too fancy—this is more of a chilled out spot to pop into for some tasty straightforward fare.
Sawasdee Thai, 32/34 Pagoda Street, Singapore 059191. p. +65 6327 1733. Open daily 11am – 11pm
