Brian Nagele
Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks for its large number of beautiful oak trees, but it may come as a surprise that there are also many authentic Thai restaurants spread throughout the city.
Thai food has become increasingly popular as it offers a unique dining experience due to its dishes featuring contrasting sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, and salty flavors.
And whichever Thai food you’re a fan of or eager to try, you can experience it all expertly prepared in Raleigh. I have scoured the city’s lovely streets to find the top spots that serve unique, fun, and tasty dishes.
So without further ado, here’s my list of the best Thai restaurants in Raleigh.
Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
8320 Litchford Rd #142, Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919-954-0377
Visit Website
Lemongrass Thai Restaurant is owned by a family of Thai immigrants who has been serving authentic Thai cuisine to Raleigh since 2003.
They are located off of Litchford road across the street from the Harps Mill Creative School. The inside of their restaurant looks semi-casual, with a mixture of tables, chairs, and benches.
I sat outside on their patio because the nice weather added to the experience. The restaurant offers a lunch special which is available seven days a week.
It comes with a drink, a side appetizer, and an entree for a reasonable price. I highly recommend the Pad See Ew, a delicious chicken rice noodle dish.
Thaiphoon Bistro
301 Glenwood Ave #190, Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: 919-720-4034
Visit Website
In 2008, Thaiphoon Bistro opened its first location and became the first authentic Thai restaurant in Downtown Raleigh.
Their menu only consisted of a few items as the owner offered the best possible dishes taken from every region in Thailand.
I went to the Thaiphoon Bistro location in the Glenwood Center, located on West North Street and Glenwood Ave next to the Gramercy Apartments.
The inside of the restaurant is very lively, with statues, lights, and tables that embrace Thai culture. They offer a weekday lunch special with salad and jasmine rice on the side.
I recommend the Pad Ma Mung roasted cashew and chili curry.
Bangkok Thai Restaurant
13200 Falls of Neuse Rd #131, Raleigh, NC 27614
Phone: 919-554-1561
Visit Website
Bangkok Thai Restaurant is a Thai-owned restaurant that employs only the best Thai chefs, resulting in the most authentic Thai food from the Central region of Thailand.
They are located at the crossroads of Falls of Neuse Road and Wakefield Pines Drive. The restaurant is a very casual and kid family environment.
They pride themselves on being vegetarian-friendly and health-conscious by not using any fish oil or MSG in their dishes. Bangkok Thai Restaurant offers a three-course fixed menu special for two.
My friend and I opted to order this way and thoroughly enjoyed the tofu soup, grilled chicken satay, and Thai spicy basil.
ShabaShabu
3080 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-501-7755
Visit Website
ShabaShabu is a Thai and Japanese infusion restaurant. Shaba is Thai for the Hibiscus flower, and Shabu is a Japanese hot pot cooking type.
The sweet and spicy Thai flavors are married to fresh and nutritious Japanese ingredients. They are located on the corner of Wake Forest Road and Wake Towne Drive next to Trader Joe’s.
ShabaShabu is an upscale restaurant with gorgeous architecture, furniture, and lighting. I would recommend this restaurant for special events like date night.
They do not have any specific specials but offer a generous loyalty program which results in meal discounts. I recommend their pad thai dinner, a delicious gluten-free stir fry dish.
Thai House Cuisine
1408 Hardimont Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-878-3379
Thai House Cuisine has been offering authentic Thai food to the residents and tourists of Raleigh for years.
They are located in the Eastgate Shopping Center on Hardimont Road, close to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The restaurant is casual and very homey with its use of all wooden furniture and decorations.
They offer different appetizer, lunch, and dinner menus based on the type of dish you are looking for (curry, rice, noodle, etc.).
I couldn’t get enough of their specialty dish: pineapple fried jasmine rice, shrimp, curry powder, and cashews. I ordered myself a second dish to take home for dinner the next night!
Thai Villa Restaurant
1319 Buck Jones Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: 919-462-9010
Visit Website
Thai Villa Restaurant has been providing Raleigh with authentic Thai food since 1998. They are located in the South Hill Shopping Mall across Northern Tools and Tuesday Morning stores.
They use family recipes that have been handed down for generations. These recipes have been perfected, perfectly balancing the five contrasting flavors, and offer a special vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu.
They are located in a beautiful brick building, have a casual interior with traditional Asian decorations, and are family-friendly.
My friend and I shared the shrimp bikini appetizer to start our meals, Thai villa noodles, and homemade coconut ice cream for dessert.
Bida Manda
222 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-829-9999
Visit Website
Bida Manda is a restaurant that emphasizes bringing together loved ones through the use of great food.
In addition, Bida Manda offers a transformative journey through Laos’s rich culture and traditions. They are located on South Blount Street, directly across from Moore Square.
Bida Manda decorates its interior with artwork from local Raleigh artists, and its furniture is made from reclaimed wood.
The food quality and overall dining experience make this restaurant an excellent choice for a private dinner.
They offer many tasty dishes, but my personal favorite is their Tom Ka Gai soup with sweet chili salmon.
