Of course, Thailand is known as the land of a thousand smiles. Have you ever seen anyone dig into a plate of Pad Thai noodles or a warming bowl of Tom Yum soup and cry? The world would be a content place if every country had instant access to Thai cuisine’s luscious mix of savoury, sweet and spicy flavours. Luckily for Dubai’s foodies, the city is a hotspot of exceptional fine-dining and casual Thai joints where every mouthful will transport you to Bangkok. Aromatic curries and farm-fresh salads are paired with stunning decor that recreates Thailand’s vibrant atmosphere and culture. You’ll never be short of reasons to smile while dining at one of these Thai restaurant in Dubai!
1. The Thai Kitchen, Park Hyatt Dubai
The Creekside Thai Kitchen is a true gem in Dubai’s dining scene. Any restaurant that has a dedicated kitchen for just Thai desserts has our hearts and our vote. Although the live kitchens here are designed to resemble colourful Thai street food stalls, the scrummy food that comes out of these kitchens are works of art that retain the authentic flavour despite the modern plating. The ace up their sleeve? Three native Thai chefs who know every dish from North to South of Thailand like the back of their hand. The impeccably tender hot and sour sea bass is a revelation, and the sweet sticky mango rice combo will see you weep tears of joy.
📍Park Hyatt Dubai Dubai Creek Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2. Sukhothai
Sukhothai is one of Dubai’s oldest and most beloved Thai eateries that truly shines because of its enchanting decor and a menu that goes toe-to-toe in terms of perfection. Bedecked in gold accents, and carved wooden pillars, the restaurant embodies the grandeur of a Thai palace. Their wide-ranging menu covers different regions of Thailand with dishes like the Esarn-style minced chicken salad from the Northeast. South Thailand food’s punchiness is captured in the Geang Massaman curry and more. For dessert, try their take on Tab Tim Krob, a Thai dessert of water chestnuts, jackfruit and palm seeds, considered one of the world’s 50 best desserts.
📍Le Meridien Dubai Hotel, D89, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
3. Benjarong
Benjarong is the five-star Thai hotel chain Dusit Thani’s signature eatery, so you know authenticity ranks high here. And like its global counterparts, Benjarong Dubai’s reputation precedes it and boasts awards to back its spectacular food. Their seabass paired with a luscious green Thai sauce is good enough to tear your eyes away from the sky-high views of the mesmerising Dubai skyline outside. This culinary triumph continues through all parts of the menu with starters making a must-visit Thai restaurant in Dubai.
📍Dusit Thani Dubai, 24th floor – Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4. Khun Chai Thai Restaurant
Jostling for space between Jumeirah 3’s stack of restaurants, clinics and storefronts, Khun Chai Thai Restaurant is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot. And boy, would be a shame to miss this fabulous Thai restaurant in Dubai that flies surprisingly under the radar. The casual eatery has the laidback atmosphere of a cafe but means serious business when it comes to food. Tom Yum Goong soups are served in traditional charcoal steamboats, sweet-and-spicy pineapple fried rice spilling out of the tropical fruit and more. There’s a second branch in Barsha that dishes out the same level of culinary brilliance.
📍Jumeirah St, Jumeirah – Jumeirah 3 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
5. Little Bangkok Thai Restaurant
Little Bangkok breaks the mould of chain restaurants by simply being excellent: excellent service, excellent ambiance, and most importantly, excellent food in sizeable portions. It’s one of the reasons why they’re the first port of call when Dubai residents crave Thai food. Their kangkung (water spinach) dishes are some of the best in the city. Also worthy of your appetite is the ‘Thainamite’ shrimp, as is the Gaeng Hanley (brown curry) and zesty Panang curry if you’re looking to try a Thai curry that’s off the beaten path. Your takeaway (figuratively) should be that Little Bangkok plays in the big leagues of Thai restaurants in Dubai.
📍Multiple outlets across Dubai. Find locations here
6. Pai Thai
Before we get to the food, we’d like to take a minute to describe Pai Thai’s breathtaking views. Nestled inside Madinat Jumeirah, this award-winning restaurant’s outdoor terrace opens out into an enchanting panorama of canals and palm trees that echoes the adventure of Bangkok’s waterways, albeit without the bustling crowds. Inside, the palatial decor of muted wood, lush jungle scenery and traditionally attired staff cinch the illusion of being in Thailand. Now, we’ll get to the food, and that’s no illusion.
Meticulously prepared with fresh, ingredients, everything on the menu from the velvety Tom Kha Gai soup to crispy Pla Rad Prik fish is a symphony of aromatic flavours. There’s a reason why Pai Thai is one of the best date-night spots in Dubai.
📍Jumeirah Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah، King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
7. Sticky Rice
Family-run Sticky Rice might be strewn with ducks (it’s a theme), but a quack it isn’t when it comes to delicious Thai food. This unassuming street-style Thaif food opened by Emirati-Thai mother-son duo Mo Abedin and the late Amena Rakkuson, fondly known as Mama, has floored Dubai’s food lovers since its launch in 2019. Kooky interiors aside, the food too is a playful take on Thai staples with finger-licking Tamarind sticky wings, a special vegan Impossible menu and curries, beef crackling and more. However, dessert takes the cake here, with a coconut ice cream sandwich and the Bua Loy.
📍JVC | Sobha Daffodil | Shop No. 06 Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates