The Food Lover's Guide To The Best Thai Food In The Metro
We’ve got the low-down on Thai cuisine – from the best restaurants to where you can find authentic ingredients from The Land of Smiles and how to cook ‘em!
If you’re hungry for something packed with bold flavors featuring a mouthwatering balance between sweet, salty, and sour, Thai cuisine will never let you down. The Land of Smiles is home to some of the best noodles, meat, and even vegetarian dishes you’ll ever have. But since we are all stuck at home for the time being, we’re giving you a list of the next best thing.
Here are some of the best Thai restaurants for dine-in and delivery as well as physical and online stores where you can purchase authentic Thai ingredients and cooking classes so you can make your own Thai-inspired feast at home.
Taste of Thailand
Taste of Thailand
Benjarong
Dusit Thani Manila’s premier Thai restaurant, Benjarong, has been around for ages and for good reason: The signature “fusion of traditional Thai flavors enhanced by modern cooking techniques” through Chef Watcharaphon ‘Ja’ Yongbanthom’s expertise never fails to win people over and create loyal customers. In fact, in 2019, Benjarong was recognized as one of the “hottest new global restaurants by CNN Travel.” For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 7238-8888. Check out @dusitthani.manila on Instagram.
Photo Credit: RESERVE A TABLE
Mango Tree
Using local and Thai ingredients, Mango Tree restaurant (as well as their café and bistro) became a crowd favorite by serving up Thai food with an elevated yet still laid back ambiance. Their menu covers the four culinary regions of Thailand. Diners can enjoy favorites like Pomelo Salad with Shrimp, Grilled Chicken in Lemongrass, Spicy and Tangy Thai Spare Ribs with coriander and Thai BBQ sauce, and even a vegan-friendly version of Pad Thai. For orders, visit www.mangotree.com.ph. Check out @mangotreemanila on Instagram.
Photo Credit: RESERVE A TABLE
Crying Tiger Street Kitchen
If you’ve been to Poblacion for late night drinks pre-pandemic, then we’re pretty sure you know Crying Tiger Street Kitchen. It’s a “cheap and cheerful restaurant focused on simple Asian street food” and it feels exactly like a hole in the wall joint along the busy streets of Bangkok. You can savor no-frills Thai (and Malaysian) classics like Pad Krapao, hawker-style Moo Ping (Thai Pork Barbeque), Thai Green Chicken Curry, Pad Thai , and recently they also launched their vegan options like Black Pepper Tofu over Rice, Veggie Mee Goreng Noodles, Som Tam Salad, and Veggie Pad See Ew Noodles. For orders, call (02) 8894-1769 or (0977) 157-9370. Check out @cryingtigerstreetkitchenph on Instagram.
Photo Credit: RESERVE A TABLE
Made in Bangkok
Four foodie friends and seasoned chef/restaurateur Francis Lim recently launched their delivery-only Thai joint called Made in Bangkok and their menu, while short, boasts of complex flavors and new takes on Thai classics. They currently have Thai Crispy Chicken Curry with fragrant coconut rice and shimeji-cucumber-tomato salad, MBKK Wagyu Thai Steak Box with green curry salt and tamarind steak sauce, Tom Yum Puff-Noods with jumbo prawns, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, tofu, and aromatics, and fun drinks like Mango Sticky Rice and Tropic Thunder (with mango, passionfruit, coconut). To order, check out @madeinbkkph on Instagram or visit the website: www.madeinbangkok.ph.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Samyan Thai Street Food
One of the best dining hubs in the metro, The Grid Food Market at Power Plant Mall is home to Samyan, which serves authentic Thai street food created by no other than Chef ThiTid Tassanakajohn of Le Du Restaurant, a modern Thai-inspired restaurant in Thailand which has one Michelin Star and ranked No. 4 in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list. In 2020, Samyan itself won the seal of approval from the Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, and the Royal Thai Government – the ThaiSELECT Casual Award. The Samyan team is currently taking an R&D break and will be reopening on October 15, 2021 with a few new additions to their menu. Check out @samyanph on Instagram. Order through the website: www.thegridfoodmarket.com.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
People's Palace
People’s Palace is another crowd favorite and when people thought they were going away, they panicked. Luckily, they were just popping by temporarily at the Black Bird in Makati City. You can still enjoy your favorites like Prawn, Pomelo and Coconut Salad, Kung/Goong Sarong (crispy fried prawns wrapped in vermicelli noodles), Seafood Pad Thai, Green Chicken Curry, and Red Duck Curry (with a sweet fruity twist of lychees). For their dine-in menu, visit: peoplespalacethai.com/menu. For the delivery/takeaway menu, visit: peoplespalace.com/take-away. Check out @peoplespalacethai on Instagram.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Nav Modern Thai
Earlier this year, fans of this Kapitolyo fave received great news: Nav Modern Thai reopened at SM Megamall! Now loyal customers (and inquisitive foodies) can once again enjoy their favorites for dine-in, take-away, and pick-up – like Chicken Satay with peanut sauce, Khao Phad Chicken (Thai fried chicken), fresh Spring Rolls, Khao Kluk Kapi (shrimp paste fried rice), and their addictive Son-In-Law Eggs (boiled eggs, deep fried, then smothered with an herby tamarind sauce). For table reservations or takeout, check out @nav.thai on Instagram.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Azuthai
Sharing its home with another Pinoy favorite (Milky Way Café), Azuthai is another recipient of the ThaiSELECT Award in our list and has been recommended by the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila since 2016. Headed by Chef Watee from Bangkok, Azuthai is an easy choice when you’re looking for fail-proof Thai specialties, like Pahk Kahna Moo Krop (or fried pork with stir-fried greens), Tod Mun Goong (crispy shrimp cakes with sweet-spicy dipping sauce), Yam Som-O (Thai pomelo salad), Gai Hor Bai Toey (fried chicken wrapped with pandan leaves), Pla Neung Ma Naw (steamed white fish or boneless Apahap with lime, fish sauce, coriander, and chili). Check out @azuthai_makati on Instagram. For orders, visit: heylink.me/azuthai.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Som's Noodle House
This Poblacion (Makati) icon fought long and hard to get their name back and they won. With the help of loyal customers, Som’s Noodle House stands again, now under the rightful tutelage of the founder’s son, Prinya, and his family. With their overwhelming support, patrons can still enjoy authentic Thai dishes made just like they did in Phuket, like Tom Yum, Chicken Pandan, Pad Thai, Red Curry, and Shrimp Paste Rice, then wash it all down with their signature Thai Iced Tea. To order, check out @somsnoodlehouse on Instagram.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Spices
The Peninsula Manila is currently celebrating their 45th anniversary in the country, offering their signature dishes at incredible prices like P450, P197.60, and P1,976. The main dishes from their Asian outlet Spices are offered at an incredible P450 each, like Tom Khai Gai, Chicken Satay, Tom Yum Goong, and Tod Mun Goong. For orders, visit: bit.ly/PenChatFBMNL. Check out @thepeninsulamanila on Facebook and Instagram.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Stock at Home
Since they started, Stock At Home has widened their culinary offers, but there’s nothing like their original specialty: Khao Soi Gai. This earthy and spicy Thai noodle dish uses egg noodles two ways (boiled and fried), pieces of chicken, and a rich and spicy coconut curry broth laced with aromatics and shrimp paste. It also comes with pickled mustard greens (for a touch of bittersweetness), a generous squeeze of lime (to brighten the flavors and take away the umay factor), and Nam Prik Pao (Thai chili paste). For orders, viber (0917) 583-3881. Check out @stockathomeph on Instagram.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Chefs' Nook 2020
This baking supplies store in Mandaluyong also sells popular Thai ingredients (like the elusive Tiparos fish sauce and Nam Prik Pao), Tom Yum sets, and Pad Thai ingredients. For orders ,viber (0927) 437-9227. Check out @chefs.nook220 on Instagram.
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Himpossible Recipes
Chef Him Uy de Baron has successfully made a name for himself as a restaurateur, but when the lockdown started, he brought his skills to the digital realm by offering online cooking classes through Himpossible Recipes and it’s been a hit ever since. He teaches a selection of dishes from various cuisines and let’s hope he teaches Thai dishes again, like he did in May 2021 with his version of Thai-style Crispy Egg Salad and a show-stopping Thai Shrimp Paste (Bagoong) Rice with all the works. Just book your slot and he’ll take care of the rest, including having all the ingredients for the class delivered straight to your doorstep. For inquiries and bookings, check out @himpossible.recipes on Instagram.
Photo Credit: Book a Class
Kah Thai Products
If you’re looking for fresh ingredients to use on your Thai culinary journey at home, you can send a private message to Kah Thai Products on Instagram to order fresh items like freshly harvested Galangal, Holy Basil, Coriander, Kaffir Leaves and Lime, as well as ready-to-eat Thai dishes like Krapow Moo (minced pork cooked with holy basil and string beans), Laap Gai (minced chicken with roasted rice), Pad Kee Mao (drunken noodles chicken), Crying Tiger Sliced Steak with their signature Nahm Jim Jaew Sauce. For orders, check out @kah_thai_products on Instagram.
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Lead photo: @madeinbkkph, @samyanph
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