From Tom Yum to Pad Thai, Singapore boasts some of the best Thai food restaurants outside of Thailand. There are fine dining restaurants run by award-winning chefs, and then there are hawker stalls serving the yummiest Thai delicacies at affordable prices.
If you are looking for good Thai food places in Singapore, here’s a list of the 15 best. Save these on your must-eat list and get ready for some spicy, saucy, lip-smacking Thai treats.
| 1. Ah Loy Thai | |
|---|---|
| Loaction: | 9 Tan QueeLan Street, #01-04, Singapore 188098 |
| Website: | www.ahloythai.com |
Now located at Bugis Street, Singaporeans return time and again to Ah Loy for its authentic Thai dishes and favourite menu items such as butter garlic calamari, pineapple fried rice, and crispy mango chicken.
While the wait time may extend to 30 minutes, you can call ahead, reserve a table and even order your meal in advance.
USP:
- What the Ah Loy Thai menu lacks in quantity (the menu is short and sweet), it more than makes up for in quality. The chefs put their heart and soul into consistently offering customers the best and most flavourful Thai dishes and drinks.
- Ah Loy Thai does not add service tax or GST to its bills. This makes your overall spending at the outlet very reasonable. The price of most mains vary in the range of $5 – $8, and the portions are very generous.
- The restaurant only accepts cash payments, so plan accordingly.
| 2. Nakhon Kitchen | |
|---|---|
| Loaction: | 212, Hougang Street 21, #01-341, Singapore 530212. Also located at Bedok, Sengkang, and Holland Village |
| Website: | www.nakhonkitchen.com |
This Bedok Thai food place is a firm favourite among locals. The menu is varied and affordable, with mains beginning at $6. Keeping these lower prices in mind, do not expect fancy decor and air-conditioned outlets. The seating is simple, and the crowds can be overwhelming but the delicious food makes up for it.
Do not miss out on the green curry, pad thai noodles, and spicy soups, and wash it all down with a cooling glass of traditional Thai iced milk tea.
USP:
- The kitchen takes fast dining to a new level by ensuring that all orders are noted while their customers still wait for a table. By doing so, you receive your meal almost as soon as you are seated.
- Be aware that the food at Nakhon Kitchen can be super spicy. The chefs stick to the brief of authentic Thai and do not shy away from adding spices and chillies. If you need less spicy food, inform your wait staff when you order.
| 3. Sawadee Thai Cuisine (Bugis) | |
|---|---|
| Loaction: | 9 Tan QueeLan St, Singapore 188098 |
| Website: | www.sawadee-cuisine.com |
If you are wondering where to find good Thai food at Bugis Street, look no further than Sawadee Thai Cuisine. Ingredients are flown daily from Thailand to ensure diners enjoy the best Thai food in Singapore. Prices may err on the higher side, but the central location, large dining space, and huge variety of menu options help balance things.
The menu offers items rarely found in other local Thai eateries such as the Mieng Kham Betel Leaf Wrap or the Tom Saap – a sour and spicy beef dish.
USP:
- If you love your durian, do not miss out on the MSW Durian Sticky Rice dessert at Sawadee. It’s served with blue sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and garnished with roasted mung beans.
- All condiments and sauces are made in-house and from scratch at Sawadee, and the quality shines through in every dish.
| 4. A-Roy Thai | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Multiple locations. Can be found at Novena (Velocity) and East Coast Road. |
| Website: | www.aroythai.com.sg |
A-Roy Thai is a family-run business with two outlets in the city. The modest restaurant has a legion of loyal fans and is often considered the best Thai food place in East coast Singapore.
Customers rave about genuine Thai hospitality and authentic menu items on offer. Recommended dishes include Seafood Otah served in a coconut, Claypot Seafood Vermicelli, and Thai Soft Shell Crab.
USP:
- A-Roy Thai has recently started island-wide food delivery, so you can enjoy the best Thai food in the comfort of your home.
- Discounts are offered for self-pick-up of orders.
- Try their tapioca with coconut milk for a refreshing and unusual dessert.
| 5. Bangkok Jam | |
|---|---|
| Loaction: | Multiple locations. Can be found at Great World, Marina Square, and Plaza Singapura |
| Website: | www.bangkokjam,.com.sg |
No more wondering where to eat the best Thai food in Singapore. The Creative Eateries group launched Bangkok Jam as a chain of eateries offering a Thai menu incorporating the best of Western culinary ingredients. You can expect all your Thai favourites with a twist when you visit Bangkok Jam. Gorge on dishes such as Beef Short Ribs, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and handmade Tapioca Balls stuffed with Pork.
USP:
- Bangkok Jam recently introduced its plant-based and vegan-friendly menu. Offering never-before-seen items such as vegan coconut Tom Yum with plant-based squids, stir-fried noodles with plant-based chicken, and even a vegan banana blossom cake.
- The restaurant is also known for its Instagram-friendly, jiggly, Japanese souffle pancakes.
| 6. Krapow Kitchen | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Multiple locations. Outlets at Far East Plaza and Chinatown Point |
| Website: | www.krapowkitchen.com |
Krapow Kitchen has come a long way from its humble beginnings. What started as a simple food stall serving noodles and rice is now an eatery with a Thai menu that locals flock to. The recipes are traditional, the ingredients authentic, and the chefs are all from Thailand, so you know you are in for a treat when you dine at Krapow.
One of the highlights on the restaurant’s menu is Drunkard’s Noodles. Available in pork and seafood versions, make sure you go early or pre-order as the outlet invariably sells out.
USP:
- The eatery is air-conditioned though basic in decor.
- Considering the location (on Orchard Road), the portions and prices are moderate.
- If you are ordering home delivery (available island-wide), keep in mind that a minimum of an hour’s notice is required for food prep.
| 7. Joe’s Kitchen | |
|---|---|
| Location: | #01-182 Block, 125 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150125 |
| Website: | www.joesthaikitchen.com |
It may prove a little arduous to get to Joe’s as the place is not well connected by MRT, but we urge you to make an effort and promise you won’t be disappointed. The Thai menu is full of options and includes signature dishes such as Claypot Crab, Stuffed Chicken Wings, and Prawn Cakes. Visit Joe’s Kitchen when you want a quick but delicious Thai meal without the frills and fuss.
USP:
- Joe’s Kitchen is humble in terms of seating and decor but it does have air conditioning, which is always a boon in hot, muggy Singapore.
- The eatery is always crowded, so it pays to call ahead to reserve your table or pre-order your meal.
- Prices are moderate, but the outlet does add a service charge to the overall bill.
| 8. KohNangkam (Halal) | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 64 JalanKledek, Near Masjid Lane, Singapore 199261 |
| Website: | www.kohnangkam.com |
Hidden among the maze of eateries and indie stores in Kampong Glam is the unassuming facade of KohNangkam. Muslim-owned KohNagkam is often considered one of the best places for halal Thai food in Singapore.
Busy during lunches and packed for dinners and weekends, this family-run business offers Southern Thai dishes such as Thai Yellow Seafood Stew, Hatyai Chicken, and Durian with Sticky Rice.
USP:
- Meals are available in small, medium, and large sizes.
- The restaurant is always packed, so call ahead and reserve a table.
- Since meals are freshly prepared and made from scratch only after the order is placed, you may have to wait a bit. However, you do have the option of pre-ordering to save time.
| 9. Sap Ubon Thai Cuisine | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 5001 Beach Road, #B1, 08 Golden Mile Complex, Singapore 199588 |
| Website: | www.instagram.com/sapubon |
Issan Thai cuisine has more in common with Laos than Thailand. There are fewer curries and more grilled meats featured on the menus of this eastern region in Thailand. You can find all these dishes and more at Sap Ubon Thai Cuisine, located in the ever-popular Golden Mile Complex. Sap Ubon is in the basement of the complex and is everything you would expect for an unfussy local Thai food joint. However, the portions are very generous, and the flavours, are all wonderfully intense.
USP:
- Other must-try items include Fried Chicken Rolls, Fish Maw Noodles, and BBQ Pork Collar Salad.
- Sap Ubon is not halal-certified.
| 10. Un Yang Kor Dai | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 57 South Bridge Road, #01-02, Singapore 058688 |
| Website: | www.facebook.com/uykdsg |
Loosely translated as ‘anything goes,’ Un Yang Kor Dai’s outlet situated at Beach Road is the company’s first franchise in Singapore. Un Yang Kor Dai specializes in Issan cuisine. Visit Un Yang Kor Dai for gems such as the famous Pen Laos Grilled Chicken, Thai Papaya Salad with Salted Egg, and Brown Glutinous Rice.
These are dishes rarely found outside of eastern Thailand, let alone Singapore, and Un Yang Kor Dai does them very well. The restaurant has recently been Michelin-approved and is newly listed with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
USP:
- The restaurant has its original outpost at the KhaoYai National Park in Thailand, so you are assured of authenticity when dining there.
- Do not miss out on their delicious local desserts, such as Tri-Coloured Yam in Coconut and Ruby Red. Both are rarely found in other Thai food places in Singapore and are highly recommended.
| 11. DiandinLeluk Thai Restaurant | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Road, #01-67/68/69, Singapore 199588 |
| Website: | www.diandin.com |
If you are always on the hunt for the best Thai restaurant in Singapore, there’s a spot that you must visit. Make your way through the crowded stalls of Golden Mile Complex, also known as Little Thailand, and get to DiandinLeluk.
The set lunch menus are popular and affordable, and the regular menu items are available in varying sizes. DiandinLeluk is regarded as one of the best places for vegetarian Thai food in Singapore.
USP:
- Open 24×7 from Tuesday to Sunday. Yes, you read that right. The next time you have a midnight craving for Thai, you know where to go.
- Other recommended dishes at DiandinLeluk include the Phat Thai noodles, Chicken Feet Salad, Lobster Fried Rice, and Signature Tung Hoon Crab.
| 12. Taste of Thailand at Sin Ming | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 18 Sin Ming Lane, Stall 12 Canteen, Midview City, Singapore 573960 |
| Website: | www.facebook.com/tasteofthailandsg |
At its new location at Sin Ming, Taste of Thailand is not very accessible by MRT. However, loyal customers are rewarded for their efforts with tasty Thai dishes and fresh seafood cooked in innovative and delicious ways.
Taste of Thailand is known for its Pad Thai Noodles. Unlike other pad thai dishes, this has noodles swimming in a tasty gravy. This twist on a classic can also be found in their Tom Yum soup, which is unusually mild but very flavourful and chock full of seafood.
USP:
- Several dishes at Taste of Thailand can be upgraded with additional fresh seafood. Choose from prawns, crabs, or lobsters to add on to your soup, noodles, or curries (depending on the catch of the day). Prices are as per market rates.
- The eatery has air-conditioned and non-air conditioned seating and opens only in the evenings.
| 13. Thai Tantric | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 400 Orchard Road, #03-44, Orchard Towers, Singapore 238875 |
| Website: | www.facebook.com/ThaiTantricSingapore |
You may have to look a little harder to find Thai Tantric. The restaurant is tucked away on the third floor of Orchard Towers and can come across as a no-care, no-fuss eatery. However, this only adds to the authenticity, and you end up feeling like you have discovered a dining secret only a few know about.
Customers return again and again for the prices (affordable), portions (generous), and food (delicious). Go for their fried pork belly, Chiang Mai Laksa, and green milk tea.
USP:
- You can’t go for a long, quiet meal in Thai Tantric. Instead, expect quick service and speedy lunches and dinners in this local eatery.
- The food at Thai Tantric can be spicy, especially the Tom Yum soup, so be prepared.
- The restaurant is not halal-certified.
| 14. Sabai Fine Thai | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 70 Collyer Quay, #01-02 Customs House, Singapore 049323 |
| Website: | www.sabaifinethai.com.sg |
For a fine-dining experience with a view, you must visit Sabai Fine Thai at Collyer Quay on the Marina Bay waterfront. Chef Samlee was once a cook in the Royal Thai kitchens and brought her expertise to the restaurant with a touch of traditional Thai recipes. Sabai Fine Thai takes Thai dining to a new sophisticated level. Expect crisp white tablecloths, floral accents, and leather chairs that lend an almost corporate look to the dining room. The menu is classy with regular Thai recipes that have been upleveled in appearance and taste.
USP:
- The restaurant offers a range of Thai wines with other French and New World favourites.
- Do not miss the green mango salad with chicken and prawns and the mango sticky rice dessert.
- Sabai Fine Thai is closed on Mondays and is open for lunch and dinner throughout the rest of the week.
| 15. Soi Thai Soi Nice | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Raffles City Shopping Centre, #B1-14/15, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103 |
| Website: | www.soithaisoinice.com.sg |
Soi Thai Soi Nice is one of the premier Thai food spots in Raffles City, Singapore. If you have never had hot pot, Thai-style before, head to the restaurant where Bangkok-born Chef WorawongPhairat runs the kitchen with 19 years of experience behind him.
The restaurant has a vast menu full of local Thai specialities and authentic dishes, adding to the hospitable Thai dining experience.
USP:
- The menu at Soi Thai Soi Nice also includes the little-known Teochew cuisine. These dishes are heavily influenced by the Chinese traders in ancient Thailand and incorporate a blend of Chinese and Thai culinary techniques and recipes.
- The Thai lunch sets are extremely popular with the office-going crowd at Raffles City. Make sure you visit in off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.
FAQs
What sets Thai food apart from other cuisines?
Thai cuisine aims to combine five distinct and different tastes. These include sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy. Every Thai meal or dish will have a delicate balance of all these five taste sensations. Thai food is complex and multi-layered, using several different spices to create a harmonious balance of flavours.
Is Thai food always too spicy?
Traditional Thai food is spicy. In most Thai restaurants in Singapore, you will be asked whether you like your spice levels – mild, moderate, or spicy. Most locals opt for mild to moderate. Thai restaurants are more likely to cater to foreigners who can’t handle any spice, in the touristy areas. Do not be afraid to ask for whatever level you are comfortable with.
I’m a vegetarian – can I find food that I can eat in Thai restaurants?
Thai cuisine is one of the freshest in the world. Many dishes use fresh fruit, spices, and local ingredients. Vegetables are widely used – to eat and to decorate the food as well.
However, if you are a pure vegetarian, do note that many local restaurants use ingredients such as fish sauce, prawn paste, and chicken seasoning cubes freely. Always ask the serving staff or the chef if they can leave these out of the final dish for you.
CONCLUSION
Thai food is all about sharing. Every meal has multiple small plates and bowls to pass around and enjoy communally. The Thai restaurants in Singapore are no different. With the countless Thailand-inspired eateries in the city, you are assured of an endless supply of spicy soups, coconut-y curries, fragrant rice bowls, and fresh salads and fruits. The next time you look for a new place to eat, remember our 15 best restaurants and head out for some nutritious, delicious, and satisfying Thai meals.
Sign up