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From aromatic green curry to refreshing mango and papaya salad, the menus of a few restaurants in Mumbai and Delhi expertly capture the magic of Thai food. We round up a list of a few that you should plan for your next lunch date. By Eshita Srinivas
Thailand’s emerald waters and bustling markets draw thousands of travellers to its shores every year. However, the local food is what most write home about. Present-day Thai cuisine is influenced by neighbouring countries, including India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, and Laos, and has emerged as one of the most popular in the world.
Every bite of a typical Thai meal sings with the perfect balance of five flavours: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy. In fact, sign up for a cooking class in Krabi, and you’re likely to find yourself experimenting with the ratio of chillies, soy sauce, and coconut sugar in your curry. The blend of heady spices with fresh ingredients is common as well, giving rise to a signature aroma that many associate with the local food.
A five-hour nap and a passport would put you right in the centre of Thailand’s gastronomical action, which features Michelin-star street vendors offering Phad Thai and swanky restaurants serving up mango sticky rice. That said, if you’re pressed for time, there are several restaurants in Delhi and Mumbai that bring authentic Thai flavours to your plate, complete with spicy soups and tropical desserts. We round up a list of a few that are a must-visit.
10 best restaurants in Delhi and Mumbai for Thai food
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This popular modern bar and grill is known for pairing stunning views with unique, experimental Thai food. The space is expansive with elegant, large windows as well as eco-friendly, making use of bamboo and copper straws. On the menu are classics like tom kha soup, crispy prawns with raw mango, massaman curry, and khao pad krapow. Recommended here are the curries, avocado salad, scallops, prawns, and crab cake. The Thai cocktails here are quite popular, and options feature classic ingredients like Thai red and green syrup, lemongrass, ginger, and mango. End a meal here with a tropical coconut creme brulee or Thai kabocha custard with mango ice cream.
Image: Bo Tai Qutub
Address: 6/4, Kalka Das Marg, Near Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, New Delhi
Contact: +91 98705 87770
Known for its authentic flavours and breathtaking views of the Qutub Minar, Thai High is a popular date-night spot in the city. The menu features dishes like satay kai, prawns in white sauce, silken tofu in black mushroom, som tam, tom kha, phad phak ruam mit, pia pad king, pad pak boong and more, with plenty of options for vegetarians as well. Must-try here are the pad thai, seafood creations, green curry, and chicken mains. For dessert, dig into their date pudding, with cinnamon and cloves. Their bud teas come highly recommended as well.
Image: Thai High
Address: 1091/1, Ambawatta Complex, Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi
Contact: +91 11614 95231
Hues of brown and gold blend with a distinctive aroma of Thai spices at this elegant spot in the city. It’s also been endorsed by the Thai tourism board as one of the best places for authentic flavours. The menu features spring rolls, rice crackers, coconut-milk soups, mango salads, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and other Thai mainstays, inspired by the cuisines from different regions of the country. The most popular options here are pad thai noodles, green curry, pork starters, por pia sod, chor muang, gai kra prow, prawn delicacies, and salads.
Image: Neung Roi
Address: Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, Near IGI Airport, Mahipalpur, New Delhi
Contact: +91 99108 83228
This home kitchen condenses all the flavours of Thailand into takeaway packages. To start things off are appetisers like por pia thod, satays, luay suan, pla sam rod, sala pao and soups like kuay teow reua and tom yum. Popular salads here are the som tam, raw mango salad, and seasonal Thai lychee salad. Besides this, there are a host of stir frys, steamed fish, grilled pork delicacies to savour, not to mention classic curries and noodles. The extensive menu leaves room for plenty of experimentation. Their dessert, mango sticky rice pudding, comes highly recommended.
Image: Boraan Thai
Address: B 102, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Sector 44, Noida
Contact: +91 85958 13947
This pan-Asian restaurant has several delicious Thai delicacies on the menu. Casual dining meets extensive menus and stunning wooden fixtures at this pot, featuring classics like massaman curry, phad thai, khao tang gai yang, and more. Diners rave about the sauteed spinach, burnt garlic rice, and hand-churned jaggery and tender coconut ice cream as well.
Image: @cavexstudiography/Instagram
Address: Sangam Courtyard, Major Somnath Marg, Sector 9, R K Puram, New Delhi
Contact: +91 99586 77731
A popular pan-Asian bistro and tapas bar, Pa Pa Ya offers a fresh take on traditional cuisines. Innovative presentation styles, unique flavours, organic ingredients, and well-portioned serving sizes are what the place is known for. On the menu are options like som tam, phad thai, and rendang curry that are a must try. Their cocktail menu is extensive and pairs well with the food.
Image: Pa Pa Ya
Address: District Centre, Select City Walk, Saket, New Delhi
Contact: +91 88000 02882
This popular restaurant offers a premium Thai dining experience. The interiors feature a unique blend of Thai fretwork and a modern, marble-topped open kitchen. Chefs here are believed to be trained in Thai culinary skills in Bangkok. Popular options here are the scallops, phad thai, phad broccoli, steamed John Dory, raw mango salad, and diced water chestnuts. Desserts include crispy fried banana with tender coconut ice cream, Thai hot chocolate souffle with galangal, and lemongrass ice cream, amongst other creations with Thai flavours. The menu often features seasonal delicacies, so be sure to ask for recommendations.
Image: @beautifoooodie/Instagram
Address: 90, President, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai
Contact: +91 22666 50996
This elegant restaurant serves up Thai and Chinese delicacies. The menu has a host of seafood options as well as curries, stir-fries, soups, salads, and appetisers, with plenty of options for vegetarians. Recommended here is the butterfly pea flower rice, pad thai, satay, pomelo salad, iced tea, and Thai tea panna cotta. The mango and sticky rice with coconut milk is another classic that’s a must-try. They also have an extended Thai-inspired cocktail menu titled Bangkok Night, with options like lemongrass martini and butterfly pea sour.
Image: Nara Thai
Address: Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
Contact: +91 83558 78888
This relaxed space in the city offers authentic Japanese and Thai food. The chef and co-founder Seefah Ketchaiyo came to India from Bangkok in 2011 and is an expert in Thai flavours. The restaurant has minimal, elegant decor and an open terrace that are perfect for sampling delicacies like Thai green curry with prawns, wok-tossed vegetables, and mango sticky rice.
Image: Seefah
Address: Khan House, Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Contact: +91 89288 95952
This spot in the city has authentic Thai delicacies and is quite underrated. Recommended are the tamnak thai, pad thai, green curry, and steamed fish delicacies. Other populae options include the tom yam phak, tam kha poo, som tam, yam sapparod, kiyoo khoob, phad phrik tao hoo, keh phad phrik, noodles, and more. For dessert, go with the Thai rambutan with ice cream, honey noodles, or coconut custard.
Image: Tamnak Thai
Address: 274, Ground Floor, Veer Savarkar Marg, Dadar Shivaji Park, Mumbai
Contact: +91 22244 74949
Feature and hero image: Ercal Ogulcan/Unsplash
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