If you’re visiting San Francisco and have a craving for Thai food, there are a lot of great restaurants to try in the city.
Fresh ingredients and authentic Thai cuisine make these restaurants stand out. But a great restaurant isn’t just about delicious food; it’s also about great service and a nice atmosphere.
Check out our list of the best Thai restaurants in San Francisco below!
Marnee Thai Restaurant
Multiple locations
With multiple locations around the city, Marnee Thai Restaurant is a local go-to for incredible Thai food.
However, I preferred their location on 9th Avenue because it is right next to Golden Gate Park and almost directly across from the botanical garden.
My favorite dishes were the eggplant curry and Khao Soy noodle soup, which isn’t typically found in other Thai restaurants. Their sticky rice dessert was delicious and a must-try as well.
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine
710 Florida St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: 415-814-2920
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Located in the Mission District, Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine is casual dining with colorful decorations and a festive vibe.
They were voted the “Best Thai Restaurant” in San Francisco by Michelin Bib Gourmand from 2016 to 2019. I loved the pad ka pow and the pad char shrimps.
They have nightly specials and serve regional Northern Thailand dishes and unique foods like market fried grasshoppers. Next time I go for dinner and drinks, I look forward to trying it!
It’s great for groups that want authentic Northern Thai food, good service, and don’t mind a noisier dining experience.
Lers Ros Thai
Multiple locations
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For a more upscale Thai food experience, Lers Ros Thai serves excellent food in a nice environment. The location we went to was on Larkin Street, about 5 blocks away, right around the corner from the Great American Music Hall.
One of my favorites was the crab puff appetizers, and the Tom Yum soup had a surprisingly tangy, sour flavor that was both intriguing and unique in a good way!
All of their locations are open every day for lunch from 11 am to 3 pm and dinner from 5 pm to 10 pm. It can get pretty crowded during weekends, so make sure to reserve a table beforehand!
Basil Thai Restaurant & Bar
1175 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-552-8999
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Located in a former warehouse in SOMA, Basil Thai Restaurant and Bar serves some of the best Thai food in the area.
I decided to check this place out for lunch and loved the charming decor. The short rib curry and stuffed eggplant were delicious, and the prices were decent for the area.
Some of their portions are very big, like the braised oxtails. Their service was friendly and fast, and it’s easy to enjoy your time there.
Ben Thai Cafe
1331 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415-771-2562
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Ben Thai Cafe is in Lower Nob Hill, about 3 blocks from Lafayette Park, and serves home-cooked Thai food with influences from Indonesia and China.
It’s a casual hole-in-the-wall restaurant that doesn’t look like much but has a trendy interior design. My favorite dishes were their pad see ew and Tom Kha soup.
They are more conscious of gluten allergies and celiac and more careful about cross-contamination than other restaurants.
They are open every day from 11:30 am to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 9:30 pm. On Friday and Saturday, they stay open until 10 pm.
House of Thai
901 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415-441-2248
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House of Thai is another restaurant in Lower Nob Hill on the corner of Geary and Larkin. The menu was a little overwhelming at first, with over 100 dishes to choose from, but it all looked great.
Their pad see ew had just enough of that smoky flavor that I love mixed with spices. Like most Thai restaurants, beware of how much spice you ask for, as their spiciness levels are no joke!
This restaurant is a great casual place to go with groups. Unlike other Thai restaurants, they stay open from 11 am to 10 pm.
Blackwood
2150 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-931-9663
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In the Marina District, just a few blocks away from the water, Blackwood is one of the few Thai restaurants that open for breakfast and brunch.
This hip restaurant serves Thai-American fusion for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. We went for lunch and tried their delicious pumpkin fries to start.
I’d highly recommend trying the Asian papaya salad and the pad kee mow here! However, it’s hard to go wrong with the food here.
Their happy hour is from 4:30 pm to 6 pm on Monday thru Friday. It’s a great place to come with groups as they have lots of seating both indoors and outdoors.
Jitlada Thai Cuisine
1826 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415-292-9027
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Jitlada Thai Cuisine is in Japantown at Bush and Sutter in Lower Pacific Heights. It’s a mom-and-pop shop inside a neighborhood and definitely worth the visit.
Their vegetarian pastry puffs were delicious and slightly sweet. The pumpkin curry was also one of my favorite dishes here.
This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is small, but it’s a great casual spot for a quick bite or to grab and go. It doesn’t seem to get too busy, but you can always make a reservation during peak dining hours.
Khan Toke Thai House
5937 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: 415-668-6654
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Located in Central Richmond on the corner of 24th and 23rd, Khan Toke Thai House offers an authentic cultural dining experience.
Before we could go to our table, we had to take off our shoes and sit on cushions. The pineapple fried rice and pad thai were delicious, but the fried banana was my favorite because it was tasty and unique.
Khan Toke Thai House is closed on Mondays, but they are open during the rest of the week from 3 pm to 9 pm. Sometimes they close for holidays, so check their website to ensure they are open.
King of Thai Noodle House
184 O’Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-677-9991
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If you’re looking for a Thai restaurant that stays open late, you should check out King of Thai Noodle House in Union Square.
Though it might be pricier than other restaurants, they serve large portions perfect for larger groups. Their coconut soup and duck noodle soup were great, and my friend really enjoyed the tofu dishes they offered.
They open from 11 am to 11:45 pm on Monday-Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, they stay open until 12:45 am! Definitely worth stopping here for a bite after a late night out.
Thai Idea Vegetarian
710 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415-440-8344
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Just a few blocks away from the Asian Art Museum and City Hall, Thai Idea Vegetarian is a quiet place with great vegetarian options on the corner of Willow and Polk.
My favorite dishes were the golden cauliflower and pumpkin curry. Their service was friendly and quick. We tried the fried banana with ice cream dessert, which was definitely worth ordering again next time.
It’s a great place for a casual lunch during the day and a nice evening date spot or a somewhat more upscale group outing.