The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

Baan Phad Thai is a family-run restaurant which specialises in showcasing the cuisine of the Isaan region of North-East Thailand. The dishes are rustic and homely, giving an honest, authentic flavour of South East Asia.

During the week Crazy Wendy’s serves up Thai food but on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s som tum plus singing. This unique restaurant has built up a reputation for its proprietor and namesake’s lively covers of Elvis, Shirley Bassey and more. With dancing, feather boas and sparkles in between the satay, it’s a legendary night out. Wendy is the ultimate prima donna of pad thai.

The food element of The Edinburgh Castle has changed but it’s retained its place in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs. That’s thanks to upstairs restaurant, Bangkok Diners Club. It serves an inventive, modern take on Thai cuisine. Global influences see shrimp floss accompanying papaya salad and haddock tom kha on the menu.

Hong Thai serves a fusion of Hong Kong and Thai cuisine. There’s something uplifting about its perky street food earning it legions of fans. Old-fashioned customer loyalty has made its graduation from Arndale Market stall to proper premises a huge success.

Isaan Thai Cafe is a joyous discovery. It’s a tiny little restaurant with only a few tables but the food is big and bold with super-fresh ingredients making the dishes really stand out.

Krung Theph Thai Kitchen on Bolton Road is known for its authentic cooking prepared by its team of experienced Thai chefs. Food is fresh, delicious and good value with regular offers and meal deals.

My Thai serves dishes inspired by the street food markets of Bangkok, with vibrant, bunting-adorned decor to match.

Small, cramped and slightly damp, Papa Don is about as unassuming as it gets. But if you can see through the condensation on the windows, you’ll notice that most, if not all, the tables are taken, no matter what day of the week it is.

Phetpailin is one of Manchester’s best Thai restaurants if you want classic dishes and all the buzz of Chinatown. Unusually for a city centre restaurant, it’s BYOB so it’s also a bit of a bargain.

Rabbies Thai is an unlikely favourite. But to those in the know, it serves one of the best bowls of pad thai in Manchester. And where can you find this authentic food experience? In a small unit in the heart of Wythenshawe Civic Centre.

Starting out in a no-frills East End caff already called Rosa’s, Khao Kho-born Saiphin dished up authentic Thai flavours with a friendly smile. Her take on relaxed Thai dining now extends nationwide. The Manchester branch has a slightly sterile stylishness but the food has more authenticity than you might expect.

Once a tiny café squeezed in next to some supermarket shelves in Chinatown, Siam Smiles now has (slightly) bigger premises. You’ll still find the same redoubtable chef manning the wok though. Chef May is a bit of a legend on the Manchester food scene. She only took up cooking when the actual chef left and her professional training consisted of watching YouTube Thai cooking videos. Nevertheless, her food tastes like it has been years in the perfecting – and in a way it has. These recipes were passed down from generation to generation – before being sent out into the world via the magic medium of the internet.

The Spinningfields site is the original restaurant of this chain of mid-market Thai street food venues. It was founded by Kim Kaewkraikhot (also behind the Chaophraya empire) and promises a true taste of Bangkok, tuk tuk and all.

Thai Soul Cuisine is Confidential Guides’ top under-the-radar recommendation when it comes to Thai food. Discover why it’s worth heading out of town for your next brisket massaman curry.

Thai Spice on Chorlton’s Beech Road is a small, super-friendly restaurant that’s not just about the pad thai. The chef’s specials add an extra dimension offering fancier options alongside the everyday favourites.

That’s Thai is a teeny hole-in-the-wall cafe next to a garage in Cheetham Hill. While it only has a small number of covers – plastic stools along the wall and some outdoor seating in the summer – it has enough fans and loyal customers to fill them all many times over. This place serves some of the best Thai food you’ll find anywhere in Manchester.

Tom Yam Monton offers a classy suburban take on Thai dining. Think lamb massaman featuring a majestic bone-in shank, and scallops in garlic and black pepper.

Two statuettes making the traditional wai greeting welcome you into Try Thai. A lively spot with bright colours and cocktails, it delivers the punchy flavours of Thailand, smack bang in the centre of Chinatown.