30 editor picks across United States.
30 thai restaurants worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked. All cuisines in United States.
Earl Ninsom's regional Thai tasting counter in Portland, hidden behind sister restaurant Phuket Cafe with 33 seats and two seatings a night.
TipReservations open monthly on Resy. The five-course menu rotates by Thai region and changes every six weeks.
Lotus of Siam on Sahara is Saipin Chutima's original Northern Thai room, reopened May 2026 at its Commercial Center home five years after a roof collapse.
OrderThe khao soi: coconut curry, egg noodles, crispy noodle nest on top. Saipin Chutima's signature plate.
TipThe original Sahara room reopened May 8 2026 with a limited dinner menu Wed to Sun; the Flamingo branch covers the full menu.
Kalaya in Philadelphia is Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2022 Southern Thai room in Fishtown, on Palmer Street since the move.
OrderThe khua kling dry-fried pork with rice; the massaman curry; Nok's mother's coconut soup.
TipBook a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
Lotus of Siam Flamingo in Las Vegas is the Chutima family's larger second branch, the full Northern Thai menu plus the city's deepest Riesling list.
OrderKhao soi and crispy duck on drunken noodles; Saipin Chutima's signature pair.
TipReservations essential; sommelier Bank Atcharawan curates a Riesling and Gewurztraminer pairing for the spice.
Earl Ninsom, Sam Smith and Eric Nelson's Northern Thai room in Portland reopened the OG Pok Pok building in January 2026 with khao soi and grilled chicken.
OrderKhao soi with extra crispy egg noodles on top
TipWalk-ins always welcome. The late-night karaoke lounge runs Friday and Saturday after the kitchen closes.
Earl Ninsom's Bangkok-Chinatown room in Portland's Montavilla neighbourhood, Portland Monthly's 2023 Restaurant of the Year for Thai-Chinese hawker cooking.
OrderCrispy fried oysters with chili jam
TipWalk-ins only. Arrive by 17:30 on weekends or expect a 60-minute wait at the door.
The Earl Ninsom, Eric Nelson and Matt Vicedomini collaboration on N Williams in Portland, where Thai marinade meets Texas-style smoked beef brisket.
OrderWhite curry with burnt brisket ends over jasmine rice
TipThe cocktail list is the Eric Nelson programme that earned the room a James Beard semifinalist nod. Order the tamarind whisky sour.
Nick Bognar marries Thai family cooking with serious sushi at this Botanical Heights room, the one that made him a James Beard Best Chef Midwest finalist.
TipIf dinner is booked out, the hand-roll bar and cocktail counter take the overflow. Reserve on Resy ahead.
Wat Mongkolratanaram on Palm River Road runs a Sunday Thai market every week from 9am until 1pm, with food cooked by temple volunteers under live-oak trees.
OrderPad thai from the noodle line, guay tiew beef noodle soup, and mango sticky rice from the dessert tables.
TipCash only; arrive before 11am to beat the noodle lines; religious services follow at 1pm in the temple proper.
Wat Mongkolratanaram on Palm River Road runs a Sunday Thai market every week from 9am to 1pm, with food cooked by temple volunteers under live-oak trees.
OrderPad thai from the noodle line plus mango sticky rice from the dessert tables.
TipCash only; arrive before 11am; religious services in the temple follow at 1pm.
Takoi on Michigan Avenue in Corktown serves modern Thai cooking in Detroit since March 2016. Order the crispy rice salad and the whole-fried fish with herbs.
OrderCrispy rice salad and the whole-fried fish with herbs.
TipDinner only, Tuesday through Saturday from 16:00. Reservations open three weeks out.
Takoi on Michigan Avenue in Corktown serves modern Thai cooking in a neon-lit room since March 2016. Led by chef Brad Greenhill. Tasting menu $60-90.
OrderCrispy rice salad, whole-fried fish and the cocktail menu.
TipDinner only, Tuesday through Saturday from 16:00. Reservations open three weeks out.
Pusadee's Garden in Upper Lawrenceville plates traditional Thai in a courtyard garden in Pittsburgh. A family-run room with a James Beard semifinalist nod.
OrderWhatever the kitchen runs whole-fried, and a curry built around the daily market vegetables.
TipReservations open one day at a time, thirty days ahead at 07:00 on Resy. The garden patio is the seat to get.
Pusadee's Garden on Butler Street in Upper Lawrenceville plates fine Thai in a courtyard garden in Pittsburgh. A family-run room with a James Beard nod.
OrderA whole-fried fish and a curry built on the daily market vegetables.
TipReservations open one day ahead at 07:00 on Resy. The garden patio is the seat.
Earl Ninsom and Alan Akwai's Southern Thai chicken shop in NE Portland, with rice-flour-battered free-range chicken and sweet-spicy chili sauce.
OrderThe three-piece fried chicken plate with curry roti
TipTwo outposts (Killingsworth, Belmont) and a stall at Eem Pod. Killingsworth is the original room.
Boda on Congress Street, since 2010 from Bob Wongsaichua and Dan Sriprasert, is Portland's Thai street food room with grilled meats, curries and noodles.
OrderGrilled chicken with sticky rice and nam jim jaew dipping sauce.
TipDaily 16:00-22:00. Reservations via their site; walk-ins at the bar.
Kin Thai on 20th Street in midtown Sacramento is the city's only Michelin Recommended Thai room, sisters Napis and Napak's family Thai street kitchen.
OrderKhao Mok Gai Tod (Thai chicken biryani) and Kua Kling (Southern spicy pork)
TipClosed every second Tuesday of the month. Walk-ins at lunch are fine; book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Thai Buddhist temple opens Sunday mornings for a home-cooked market. Pay with $1 tokens at the gate. Pad see ew, curry and mango sticky rice. Sundays only.
Justin Pichetrungsi's Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, runs his family's 1981 strip-mall Thai room as a James Beard 2023 Best Chef West winner.
OrderOn Tuesday, the Thai-taco menu. On other nights, the kao soi.
TipJustin Pichetrungsi's Thai Taco Tuesday menu sells out by 19:00; arrive at 17:00 sharp to get on the list.
Jo's Modern Thai on MacArthur in Oakland's Dimond runs a Bib Gourmand kitchen. Thai-American family recipes layered with farmers market produce.
Kalaya in Philadelphia is Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2022 Southern Thai room in Fishtown, on Palmer Street.
OrderKhua kling dry-fried pork; massaman curry; the coconut soup that runs from her mother's recipe.
TipBook a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
Noodlehead on South Highland Avenue in Shadyside serves cash-only Thai street noodles in Pittsburgh. A big Burrito room built around bowls and bold spice.
OrderA bowl of street noodles and a Thai iced tea.
TipCash only and no reservations. Quick, loud and good value; expect a wait.
Nong Poonsukwattana's Thai chicken-and-rice counter in southeast Portland, started as a 2009 food cart and now the canonical khao man gai in town.
OrderKhao man gai with the house ginger-soy sauce
TipTwo locations: SE Ankeny is the original cart-turned-shop. SW 13th Ave is the downtown counter.
The Belmont outpost of Earl Ninsom's Southern Thai chicken concept in Portland, with rice-flour fried chicken, khao soi and walk-in counter seating.
OrderKhao soi with the half chicken
TipCounter ordering, table service. Open daily 11:30-21:00. No reservations.
Boda on Congress Street opened 2010 from Bob Wongsaichua and Dan Sriprasert, with Thai street food: grilled meats, curries and noodles in the Arts District.
OrderGrilled chicken with sticky rice and nam jim jaew, plus a bowl of khao soi.
TipDaily 16:00-22:00; bookings via their site for the dining room, walk-up only at the bar.
Holy Basil brought its Bangkok street-food kitchen west to Santa Monica Boulevard in late 2025, crab fried rice and pad kee mao with natural wine and sake.
OrderBangkok crab fried rice and pad kee mao moo krob
TipOwners Deau Arpapornnopparat and Joy Yuon plan seven-day service and brunch in 2026; until then dinner books out.
The Dara in Fells Point is chef Jeff Wannapithipat's Thai room, drawing crowds for khao soi and Hatyai-style fried chicken on South Wolfe Street.
OrderThe khao soi and the Hatyai fried chicken.
TipMuch of the menu is gluten-free; ask the kitchen to flag the dishes that are not.
Bodhi on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a 21-plus women-owned Thai cocktail bar and bistro. Family recipes, creative drinks, late kitchen on weekends.
OrderGreen curry, the pad see ew, a Bodhi cocktail.
TipClosed Tuesday. The cocktail program is the angle here Walk-ins usually OK.
Jitlada in East Hollywood, Los Angeles has been LA's southern Thai room since the 1980s. Owner Jazz Singsanong runs the dining room front of house.
OrderCrispy morning glory salad and the kua kling fried curry, ordered Thai-hot.
TipAsk for the green Southern Thai menu, not the laminated one.
Lung Yai Thai Tapas in Little Havana is the no-reservation Thai street-food counter at 1731 SW 8th Street, a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick since 2022.
OrderCrying tiger beef with sticky rice and the green papaya salad turned up two notches.
TipArrive at 5pm or after 9pm to skip the queue. Cash and card both work.
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