The Best Thai Restaurants in North Adelaide That Made Us Think We Were in Bangkok
Heads up: North Adelaide’s Thai food is just so good that we’re still daydreaming about pad thai and tom yum 24/7.
How do we know? Well, we sacrificed our diets (an easy job, honestly), dropped by the area’s A-tier restaurants, and devoured our way through their Thai-tastic selection of bold flavors!
Our list below details everything we learned and savored. Just don’t blame us if you start drooling!
Krung Thep Thai Adelaide
Address: 147 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 8367 0932
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 5 pm to 9 pm
- Thu – 5 pm to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sun – 5 pm to 9 pm
Kung Trep is so Thai, it probably bleeds green curry, which unironically, is one of their best offerings. Their menu is a whole Thai cookbook on lock, from wok classics to fiery grub in a pot.
On our last food frenzy here, we started with the Thai spring rolls, 3 pieces of minced pork, and herbs that go hard with the curry-topped fishcakes. We then cleaned up their seafood tom yum, a bowl of spicy, tangy, and sour soup.
On the wok side, we picked their bestseller: pad thai. With stir-fried rice noodles, chicken breast, prawns, bean sprouts, and an umami-packed sauce, this dish is a love letter to Thailand.
Tip: Got a sched that’s more packed than a sardine can? Ordering online will save you precious seconds.
Regent Thai
Address: 165 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 8239 0927
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sun – 5 pm to 9 pm
Mouthwatering staples and regional diet-busters are the 2 main reasons why Regent Thai is always jam-packed. Additionally, every bite here is time-honored, and you’ll only be tasting authentic Thai and not some sad imitation.
For the must-try dishes, we recommend finishing the spice and citrus-kissed tom kha chicken in a coconut broth. If this isn’t your jam, the scent-sational pandan fried chicken might be a better pick.
Don’t sleep on the massaman beef curry with potatoes, too. Flavored by curry paste, peanuts, and a rack’s worth of spices, this banger in a bowl is as hearty as it’s flavorful.
Tip: As one of Adelaide’s go-to eateries, this one can get busier than Pattaya’s traffic. Skip the queue by booking via the number above.
Moonsoon
Address: 143 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 7225 5382
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
Moonsoon’s modernized Thai fare landed them a spot on our list. Their skewers, chicken curry, and wok-tossed beef are jazzed with Aussie ingredients and cooking techniques, all without ditching the authentic Thai zing.
Their chili-infused pad thai nails the said style. It has the same prawns, noodles, and peanuts you would get from a Phuket stall, but with a spicy kick from chili jam.
If you’re hungry for something heartier, their sizzling black pepper steak is the option to gobble. This dish is a house favorite that plays nicely with the caramelized fish in a clay pot and roast duck in red curry.
Tip: Popping by around 2 pm to 4 pm is a smart move. This period is less hectic, so the wait times are shorter than usual.
Gin Long Canteen
Address: 42 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 7120 2897
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 5:30 pm to 10 pm
Like Moonsoon, Gin Long Canteen gives Thai dishes a makeover that doesn’t suck the soul out. For example, their yellow curry still pleases with a sweet and spicy flavor profile while sneaking in buttery and briny bits of fried Coorong mullet.
If it were up to us, though, the wok-tossed pepper Wagyu would take the cake as their best plate. Wagyu beef, garlic shoots, and baby king oyster mushrooms give this one strong earthy and savory flavors.
The slow-braised Thai beef cheek is another must-have. With lemongrass, cinnamon, and cardamom in the mix, it’s basically a flavor bomb best washed down with the restaurant’s fresh-pressed juices.
Tip: Check their website for promo codes and snag yourself some savings. Discounts usually fall between 10% and 15%.
Thai by 3 Monkeys
From pprincess_inadl
Address: 33 O’Connell St
Contact Details: 0451 227 892
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 5:30 pm to 9 pm
Website
Since we’re suckers for sleek spots, Thai by 3 Monkeys’ industrial-chic style scores major points. However, it’s still their legit Thai entrees and rice dishes that keep us coming back for seconds.
Whenever we’re here, we always indulge in their choo chee prawn. This mild dish features coconut milk, Thai spices, greens, and prawns that swim in a creamy, aromatic curry.
Pad ke mao and larb gai are the perfect partners for the prawns. The former is a spicy stir-fried flat rice noodle, while the latter is a plate of minced chicken with the right amount of zest.
Tip: A quick call ahead can save you from disappointment, particularly if you have a specialty in mind. Some days, their top dishes aren’t available.
Saigon Gate North Adelaide
From mish_farr
Address: 141 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 7071 9282
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
Yeah, we get it, “Saigon Gate” doesn’t scream Thai cuisine—but trust us, their Thai dishes are straight fire.
Doubters should have a taste of their fish curry with battered filet in a veggie-filled sauce. This dish’s mix of timeless Thai spiciness and creaminess undertones might change your mind.
Then there’s the roast duck smothered in—you guessed it—Thai curry. Fans go wild for this bowl of bold flavors that pair perfectly with their tangy, nutty pad thai.
Tip: Saigon Gate has a view of O’Connell St. that’s great for people-watching. Just make sure to check the forecast before you go al fresco. Adelaide’s weather can be a real pain in the derrière.
Hello Pattaya
From porkasoftheworld
Address: 49 Torrens Rd
Contact Details: (08) 7200 3900
Website
Hello Pattaya brings back rare Thai recipes and cooking styles you’d rarely find in other diners.
To no one’s surprise, though, their pad thai takes the number one spot on the menu. As usual, it has fried rice noodles with chicken, egg, bean curd, aromatics, and a secret home-style sauce that the owners have kept for generations.
The Piyabutr, a street-style noodle dish, is a close second. This one teems with rice vermicelli, braised pork, sweet soy sauce, and like the previous dish, a sauce straight from a great-great-grandmother’s recipe book.
Tip: Ordering online? Aim for that $40 mark to enjoy the free delivery bonus!
PingAn Veggie Time
Address: 5 Third St, Bowden
Contact Details: 0425 628 778
Operating Hours:
- Wed and Fri – 12 pm to 3 pm, 5 pm to 8:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 12 pm to 3 pm
For those who want their Thai fix without the guilt, SA’s First 100% Thai vegan spot PingAn Veggie Time is where you should be.
Their vegan menu is extensive, though, so eliminate picking hassle by going with the platter. It features chef-recommended dishes, like veggie spring rolls, curry puffs with lentils, veggie tofu bites, and mushroom skewers drenched in peanut sauce.
But, if you’re more of a “best picks only” type of customer, you can’t go wrong with the black pepper vegan calamari and Hokkien noodles coated with chili jam.
Tip: For $22, you get a daily special with a surprise assortment of dishes. Hit up the number above to find out what’s on offer.
PunThai
Address: 80A Prospect Rd
Contact Details: (08) 7226 1919
Operating Hours:
- Tue – 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Wed to Thu – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 5:30 pm to 9 pm
When it comes to Northeastern Thai food, PunThai dominates the scene with a lineup of 40-plus dishes that might make you forget you’re not in Isaan.
They’re one of our favorites, so we’d recommend kicking things off with the meaty taro puffs. But if you’re feeling bold, go for their fried Bangkok wings cooked in a spiced-up tamarind sauce.
When it’s time for the heavy hitters, the standout is pad lemongrass with chicken. You can smell this exceptionally fragrant stir-fry meal from a km away, but it’s the sour, savory, and spicy essences that will truly make your jaw drop.
Tip: Walk-ins are okay, but brace yourself for potential queues. Booking online is a no-brainer.
Siam 49 Thai Restaurant
Address: 308 Port Rd, Hindmarsh
Contact Details: (08) 8346 0218
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Fri – 11 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
Siam 49 Thai Restaurant is a laid-back joint for devouring Thai eats, complete with contemporary and bamboo-based decor that’s a cross between fancy and homey.
Last July, we sampled their celebrated mieng kham, and it’s not just hype. The combination of vibrant veggies and toasted coconut was a drool-inducing surprise we’re still thinking about today.
However, their specialty duck dish easily tops the mieng kham. We really enjoyed the gamey duck’s smokiness and sweetness—flavors further enhanced by the savory sauce with hints of cashew nuts.
Tip: Got a crew of at least 4? Go for the banquet, as it has options to please both herbivores and meat lovers.
