Hong Kong’s Thai food scene is buzzing. We all seem to adore the hallmark sweet, spicy, and sour flavours of this vibrant Southeast Asian cuisine, from national staples like green curry and pad thai, to the street food of Bangkok, to fiery regional specialities hailing from Isaan in the northeast.
In general, we find Thai food in Hong Kong to veer towards the saccharine, pleasing sweet-toothed local palates. However, we have unearthed a number of authentic Thai restaurants around town that we return to again and again. Have a look at our recommendations below and decide which Thai spot is next up on your hit list!
The best Thai restaurants in Hong Kong
Chachawan
Chachawan has been on our Thai radar for over a decade, winning the Foodie Forks 2024 Best Thai Restaurant award. It’s notable for being Hong Kong’s very first restaurant specialising in Isaan cuisine, which is well known for the pungent, down-to-earth flavours showcased in pounded salads and grilled meat and seafood dishes. The eatery’s Thai husband-and-wife chef duo, Chang and Narisara Somboon, smack the palate with popular plates including dtum poo pla rha (HKD118), a green payaya salad with salted fish and pickled crab, the glorious marinated and grilled chicken thigh known as gai yang (HKD168), and pla phao glua (HKD328), or grilled salt-crusted whole sea bass stuffed with aromatics.
Chachawan, G/F, 206 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 2549 0020, book here
KIN KAO
KIN KAO has proved its popularity with the opening of three locations on Hong Kong Island. The food is authentic, satisfying, and packed with flavour. The bright, no-frills eatery is a good bet for all the Thai classics done right, with wallet-friendly prices to boot. À-la-carte favourites include the crabmeat omelette (HKD98), many varieties of boat noodle soup with sliced beef (HKD98), and khao soi (HKD80), a Chiang Mai coconut curry egg-noodle dish with stewed chicken that’s often difficult to come by in Hong Kong.
KIN KAO, multiple locations across Hong Kong
Ra Cha Moo Yang
Another Thai suggestion in Wan Chai goes to Ra Cha Moo Yang, a literal hole-in-the-wall shopfront with just four tables inside. It’s been open for nearly two decades, serving a consistent customer base who can’t get enough of their grilled-to-order chicken, beef, or pork satay (HKD108), green papaya salad (HKD59), flat rice noodles with chilli, holy basil, and protein of your choice (HKD69/HKD75), and pad krapow (HKD78), that classic Thai stir-fry fragrant with chilli and holy basil served with a fried egg.
Ra Cha Moo Yang, G/F, 87 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2529 6378
Thai Chang House
Kowloon City is often referred to as Hong Kong’s “Little Thailand,” housing an assortment of Thai shops and restaurants. In this lively Kowloon district, Thai Chang House ranks high on our round-up of Thai eateries, despite its unassuming interior. The staff here are always friendly, welcoming, and ready to recommend umami-rich dishes like the Hainanese chicken with oil rice (HKD63), curry soft-shell crab in pumpkin (HKD238), and tom yum kung with seafood (HKD77/HKD134) . Thai Chang’s menu is extremely extensive, so make sure to build in some speed-reading time.
Thai Chang House, G/F, 48 South Wall Road, Kowloon City, 8101 3396, book here
Samsen
A Thai street-food concept by chef Adam Cliff, Samsen debuted in Wan Chai in 2016, expanding to Sheung Wan three years later. All three Bib Gourmand locations offer trendy, vibrant interiors, reasonable prices, and bona fide flavours. Samsen Wan Chai is synonymous with Wagyu beef soup noodles (HKD158) and pork soup noodles (HKD158), whilst at Samsen Sheung Wan, it’s the khao soi (HKD158) with curried chicken and fresh egg noodles that is the draw. Samsen Central is the newest baby, opened in October 2024.
Samsen, multiple locations across Hong Kong
Siam Noodle Co.
In spite of its location at high-rent Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay, Siam Noodle Co. maintains a fair pricing structure. The eatery has zeroed in on boat noodles, showcasing a rich and aromatic slow-cooked broth that’s infused with galangal, star anise, cinnamon, and pig’s blood. We usually opt for the ultimate bowl of boat noodles with sliced Australian Wagyu rib-eye, sliced pork belly, beef balls, and pork balls (HKD148). All the noodle dishes come with plenty of toppings, including pork rinds, bean sprouts, morning glory, crispy garlic, and holy basil.
Siam Noodle Co., Shop 11–13, LG/F, Lee Garden Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, 5237 1983
Soi.29
Soi.29 is only open for dinner from 6PM, but a queue of IG-loving patrons eager to sample chef Key’s authentic Thai cuisine usually starts to form long before that. Decked out like a Thai-style dai pai dong, the most sought-after dishes at Soi.29 include the crabmeat and mango fried rice (HKD118), suitably spicy pad kee mao drunken noodles (HKD98), and roast beef (HKD148), a questionably named dish that delivers a lush portion of chargrilled rib-eye. The standard menu is in Chinese and Thai, so you’ll need to be brave and ask for the English version, if needed. As of January 2025, Soi.29 has opened a second location in Wan Chai that’s just as a happening as the Tsim Sha Tsui original.
Soi.29, G/F, Po Cheong Commercial Building, 29 Prat Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3795 3775
Soi.29, G/F, Cheung Hong Mansion, 1–3 Thomson Road, Wan Chai, 2336 6556
Krua Walaiphan
Krua Walaiphan was opened in 2017 by Thai chef Walaiphan Hanyut (also known as Lek) with the aim of serving up genuine Thai cuisine in a modern and comfortable space, with professional service to match. Seven years on, the chef’s Sai Ying Pun restaurant continues to measure up to its mission. The eatery’s MSG-free dishes are crafted with ingredients flown in fresh daily from Thailand and include standouts like tom yum goong (HKD128), chicken or pork lap (HKD72), and miang pla phao (HKD272), salt-crusted grilled barramundi served with rice noodles, lettuce, and Thai herbs for wrapping.
Chef Walaiphan and co-founder Renee Dancel also run Pak So Asian Kitchen in Sai Ying Pun, which offers a range of Southeast Asian dishes, from Indonesian nasi goreng to Vietnamese pho.
Krua Walaiphan, G/F, Hang Sing Mansion, 64 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2804 1555
Golden Thai BBQ
Another Thai contender with locations both in Kowloon City and San Po Kong, Golden Thai BBQ specialises in Thai-style skewers. The Kowloon City branch is arguably the more legit of the two, having stood the test of time owing to its authenticity and affordability; it seems the more humble the shopfront, the more folks who will flock there. In terms of Golden Thai’s skewers (six skewers is the minimum order), the BBQ chicken wings (HKD17) and BBQ Thai sausage (HKD17) are fan faves. In addition to barbecued items, the restaurant delivers an all-encompassing selection of Thai dishes, including salads, curries, fried rice and noodle plates, soup noodles, and more.
Golden Thai BBQ, Shop C, G/F, Prince Mansion, 386A–B Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon City, 2383 8273
Golden Thai BBQ, Shop F6A, G/F, Wah Hing Industrial Building, 36 Tai Yau Street, San Po Kong, 5111 7465
Thai Pai Dong
Another cool-cat Thai-esque dai pai dong (see Soi.29 above), Thai Pai Dong has quickly garnered a loyal following owing to its Instagrammable interior design and authentic Thai bites crafted by a team led by an ex-chef from Samsen. We’re particularly keen on two of Thai Pai Dong’s Wagyu dishes: the stir-fried spicy flat noodles with Wagyu beef (HK118), otherwise known as pad kee mao or drunken noodles, and Wagyu beef boat noodles (HKD98). The eatery’s oyster omelette (HKD138) also has a big fan base.
Thai Pai Dong, G/F, 24 Man Yuen Street Jordan, 6648 0179
Rangsit Thai Boat Noodles
If you can’t get enough boat noodles, we have a recommendation for you in Wan Chai. As it says on the tin, Rangsit Thai Boat Noodles offers a stylish, contemporary space in which to savour top-notch boat noodles and other Thai delicacies in all their fragrant glory. The must-order, of course, is the Thai-style boat noodles (HKD138), but we also enjoy the stir-fried flat noodles with chicken or pork (HKD108) when we’re craving Thai-style noodles without soup. The green mango and soft-shell crab salad (HKD118) is a lighter, more refreshing dish that we favour.
Rangsit Thai Boat Noodles, Shop 2, G/F, GARDENEast, 222 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 9823 6689, book here
Asura
Expanding to three locations in Hong Kong since its opening in early 2023, Asura is giving the city’s Thai stalwarts a run for their money. The trendy restaurant’s original location in Tsim Sha Tsui is famously staffed by ex-Samsen chefs, assuring quality flavours. Asura’s reasonably priced menu features the usual suspects of grilled pork neck (HKD88), stir-fried morning glory (HKD78), and crabmeat fried rice (HKD138), but it’s the signature Thai dipped noodle (HKD108) that’s the menu winner for us, showcasing a plate of rice noodles, bean sprouts, and veg alongside dipping sauces of red and green curry. The eatery’s Thai-style canelé (HKD48), which comes in coconut and pandan flavours, is a sweet fusion masterpiece.
Asura, multiple locations across Hong Kong
O’Thai
New to the Thai scene in 2025, O’Thai is an al-fresco eatery by Silver Spoon Restaurants nestled along Hung Hom’s harbourfront. The restaurant’s authentic flavours come courtesy of chef Wijannarongk “Amoo” Kunchit, a Chiang Mai native with over three decades of culinary experience. O’Thai’s backbone is the cherished street-food flavours found in the Land of Smiles, showcased in dishes such as Wagyu beef boat noodle soup (HKD158), crabmeat in egg cream curry with toasted baguette (HKD268), spicy tofu basil (HKD138), and many more notable vegetarian options.
O’Thai, Shop G1, G/F, One Harbourfront, 18 Tak Fung Street, Whampoa Garden, Hung Hom, 2123 2177, book here
