From ornate eateries to pocket-friendly cafes, Manchester is home to plenty of places to get your Thai food fix.
When you want to tuck into dishes that pack a punch, you can’t go wrong with Thai food. Creamy curries, bouncy noodles and spicy stir-fries, the list goes on. Throw in service with a smile, and you’ve got yourself a meal that’s guaranteed to please. Here’s our pick of the best Thai restaurants in Manchester.
Hong Thai
After a devastating fire caused its Arndale Market stall to close in 2023, Hong Thai have since found a new forever home on Oldham Road. Step inside and you’ll find a warm and welcoming atmosphere and a packed menu of authentic Thai and Hong Kong dishes.
Expect hearty portions of all your favourites, from creamy massaman to an epic pad Thai. Our pick? Try the tom yum fried rice – laced with tender chicken and prawn and flavoured with tangy hot and sour sauce, it channels the vibe of Bangkok-style street food.
Where? Hong Thai, 140 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BG.
Find out more: instagram.com/hongthaimcr
Try Thai
Sitting pretty in the heart of China Town, Try Thai is a popular Thai restaurant that’s been feeding hungry bellies for two decades now. Decorated in traditional style, you’ll find dark woods and soft lighting, setting the tone for a relaxed dining experience.
But it’s all about the food. A sprawling menu offers something for everyone, serving up curries, noodles and stir-fry dishes in abundance. The mango crispy seabass is one of their signature dishes, combining fresh seafood with exotic fruits for a perfectly balanced finish.
Where? Try Thai, 52-54 Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4FH.
Find out more: trythai.com
Phetpailin
Phetpailin is another popular China Town restaurant, with an added bonus – you can take your own booze and there’s no corkage fee. Unassuming from the outside, this traditional-style eatery is a real hidden gem, where you’ll be rewarded with hearty, authentic Thai dishes.
Your wallet will thank you too, with most dishes on the extensive menu coming in at under a tenner. There’s a noteworthy pad kra pao and a perfectly balanced tom yum, but the star of the show has to be the tilapia in red curry sauce – served with lime leaves, it’s a flavour sensation.
Where? Phetpailin, First Floor, 46 George Street, Manchester, M1 4HF.
Find out more: instagram.com/phetpailinthairestaurant
My Thai
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There are two My Thai venues in Manchester, and both serve up that same brand of reliable, tasty Thai food in vibrant surroundings. With bunting hanging from the ceiling, plastic tablecloths and colourful chairs, it’s the perfect setting for a chilled, social dinner.
As for the food, you can tuck into all the classics – delicate steamed dumplings, sticky tamarind duck and hot-yet-creamy panang curry. Feeling experimental? Try out the Foodie Menu, where delicacies like papaya salad with salted crab and fermented fish await.
Where? My Thai, 11 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6WH & G19 & Smithfield Buildings, 42 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LA.
Find out more: mythairestaurant.co.uk
Siam Smiles
Another hero on the Manchester Thai food scene, Siam Smiles used to be hidden away in the back of a Chinese restaurant, but now takes centre stage in its very own home on Deansgate Mews. Inside, you’ll find exposed brickwork, hanging lights and cafe-style seating, perfect for a laidback meal.
A wonderfully authentic menu takes you from fish cakes to spicy papaya salad, alongside exotic delights like kuai tiew tom yam moo – a hot and sour soup loaded with rice noodles, minced pork and fish balls. It pays to experiment here, so be prepared to step outside your comfort zone.
Where? Siam Smiles, Deansgate Mews, Unit G, Upper Level, Great Northern 253, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN.
Find out more: siamsmiles.cafe
Thai Kitchen No 6.
Proving that the best Thai restaurants are often the least pretentious, Thai Kitchen No 6 has been keeping Manchester folk very happy since 2019. A stripped-back decor keeps the focus firmly on the food, which is all wonderfully authentic and bursting with flavour.
The laminated menus offer plenty to choose from. Kick things off with succulent prawn wontons and deep-fried Thai sausage, before moving onto the likes of red duck Thai curry and the more unusual stir-fried squid with salted eggs. There are no bad decisions to be made.
Where? Thai Kitchen No 6, Chapel Walks, Manchester, M2 1HN.
Find out more: thaikitchenno6.co.uk
Phanthong
Over in Altrincham, Phanthong is a Thai restaurant housed in a former Manchester pub. Step inside and you’ll find light and airy interiors, a laidback atmosphere and attentive staff who are more than happy to talk you through the menu.
There’s plenty to choose from, including a fine selection of seafood – we enjoyed the fresh scallops and chilli oil to start, followed by steamed seabass fillets with soy and ginger. Prices here are higher than average, but come on a Sunday and you can dine Thai-style, tucking into a huge feast for just £24.95.
Where? 15 Regent Road, Altrincham, WA14 1RY.
Find out more: phanthong.co.uk
Rosa’s Thai
With venues up and down the country, Rosa’s is a crowd-pleasing Thai restaurant serving tasty dishes in laidback yet welcoming surroundings. Situated in the Grade II-listed courthouse building on Deansgate, you’ll find stripped-back interiors, with pastel hues and white-washed walls.
The vast menu showcases inventive Thai-inspired cuisine, taking you from shareable snacks like fried chicken and crispy prawn doughnuts, to comforting plates guaranteed to make you smile. The chicken rice is a prime example – steamed Hainanese-style chicken thigh on garlic fried rice with a fragrant broth on the side.
Where? Rosa’s Thai, The Old Courthouse, 184 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB.
Find out more: rosasthai.com
Ek’s Kitchen
If you’re looking for ultra-authentic Thai food served in homely surroundings, look no further than Ek’s Kitchen. Located in Didsbury, the family-run business is widely considered to be one of the best Thai joints in Manchester – and it’s easy to see why.
The giant menu is packed with dishes just waiting to be tried, like the delicious gai tod had yai – southern-style fried chicken thigh, served with sweet chilli sauce and topped with crispy onions – and creamy tom kha soup. Can’t find what you want? Let the team know and they’ll rustle it up for you!
Where? Ek’s Kitchen, 177 School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M19 1GN.
Find out more: ekskitchen.co.uk
