Brian Nagele
Seattle is a hot spot for Thai food—and I’m not just talking about the spices used in the delicious cuisine.
There are many established and up-and-coming Thai fine dining and hole-in-the-wall options for you to enjoy when visiting the Emerald City.
You’re going to work up an appetite visiting Seattle landmarks such as the Space Needle, T-Mobile Park for a baseball game, or exploring the breathtaking natural beauty of surrounding State and National Parks.
Check out the list below to know where the best Thai restaurants in Seattle are for great-tasting Pad Thai, spicy coconut curry, and unique sweet treats.
Pop Pop Thai Street Food
13242 Aurora Ave N #104, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: 206-695-2858
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Pop Pop Thai Street Food is located in the Haller Lake neighborhood, a hot spot for young professionals who enjoy unique dining experiences.
This street food eatery provides delicious tastes of Thailand with the convenience of being in an area packed with shopping and entertainment.
You have to start with their pork spring rolls. The deep-fried rolls are filled with vegetables, bean thread noodles, and pork served with a great-tasting plum sauce.
Then, if you’re still hungry and want a heavier entree, they have various curry and noodle options for you to enjoy.
I recommend saving room for dessert. Pop Pop offers refreshingly-sweet ice cream in green tea, mango, and coconut flavors.
Buddha Ruksa
3520 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA 98126
Phone: 206-937-7676
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Buddha Ruska immediately gives off vibes of a laid-back class. You’ll feel both relaxed and fancy the second you walk in, a feeling that perfectly mirrors the hip West Seattle neighborhood.
The Thai restaurant opened in 2003 and has solidified itself as a culinary landmark due to its commitment to quality service and authentic flavor.
I recommend trying the sweet and sour stir fry. This dish features your choice of protein served with cucumber, tomato, pineapple, onion, and bell pepper in a delicious sweet and sour sauce.
Buddha Ruska boasts a unique Thai-centered cocktail menu. The oolong-tini, a combo of oolong tea and vodka, is especially delightful.
Pestle Rock
2305 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: 206-466-6671
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Pestle Rock stands out from the typical Thai restaurant by serving cuisine from Thailand’s northeastern Isan Province.
Isan dishes are known for their spice and strong flavors, and this authentic smell hits you as soon as you walk inside the restaurant.
You can’t come to an Isan Thai restaurant and not choose a menu featuring multiple chili peppers to signify you’re in for a spicy treat.
I recommend going with the Nam Tok. This wild boar dish is marinated and grilled with chili pepper, lime juice, red onion, and toasted rice powder.
There’s also a wide variety of rice types and vegetables to choose from for sides.
Sen Noodle Bar
2307 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: 206-735-7668
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The outside of Sen Noodle Bar has a slight hole-in-the-wall look, but the interior is nothing short of beautiful.
Small hanging lights on the ceiling look like stars, and the restaurant’s warm tones invite hungry people in for what is sure to be a delicious meal that hits the spot.
And that first bite assures you Sen Noodle Bar is more than a pretty face. The Boat Noodle Soup is a must-try.
Thin rice noodles, carrots, spinach, basil, and bean sprouts combined with your choice of pork or tofu has the perfect hint of spice. Follow your meal up with a homemade popsicle in red bean, taro, coconut, or green bean flavors.
Araya’s Place
Multiple locations
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Araya’s Place has multiple locations across Seattle, near landmarks such as the University of Washington and Kid’s Quest Children’s Museum.
The original Araya’s Place has been a Seattle staple since 1987. Tofu and plant-based protein are the focus of this restaurant, which features a vegan menu.
I recommend the perfectly sweet and spicy pineapple curry. This dish is made with soft and crispy tofu, pineapple, bell peppers, and tomatoes cooked in red curry.
Araya’s serves a variety of unique Thai beverages. I suggest balancing your spicy meal with a refreshing Thai Lime Iced Tea.
Bangrak Market
2319 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-735-7352
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Bangrak Market doesn’t look much different than the other restaurants and shops on its street from the outside but step inside, and you’re met with a colorful display that makes you wonder if you stepped into this market’s Bangkok namesake.
You have to go for a street food staple here. I recommend ordering the Moo Ping. These marinated pork skewers are perfectly spiced and coated in a tamarind sauce.
You can’t go wrong pairing your skewers with Bangrak’s Tom Kha. This hot and sour coconut soup is an excellent complement to skewers.
Finish your meal with a Kanom Krok coconut rice cake to complete the Bangrak experience.
MAY KITCHEN + BAR
17614 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070
Phone: 206-408-7196
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You have to hop a ferry to Vashon Island to eat at May Kitchen and Bar. The authenticity of this restaurant makes the trip more than worth it.
They had Buddhist monks bless the restaurant when it opened in 2012, and silk curtains cover the window so guests can focus on the experience within and forget the world outside.
I recommend trying the northeastern Thai-style larb. This dish features chicken or pork served with a tangy roasted chili lime dressing, mint, red onions, cabbage, green beans, and toasted rice powder.
The Bar section of May Kitchen offers an extensive selection of high-quality hand-crafted cocktails.
Mark Thai Food Box
1313 NE 43rd St, Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-432-5902
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Mark Thai Food Box is everything a university hole-in-the-wall restaurant should be. It’s affordable, delicious, and fast.
While you can order and eat in the restaurant, Mark Thai Food Box is more than just a name.
The restaurant specializes in grab-and-go boxes that hungry visitors can take and enjoy at home – perfect for college students living in dorms.
Make sure to try their Khao Mun Gai. This dish features poached chicken over ginger rice with a garlic dipping sauce and winter melon soup for the side. I recommend going with their sweet Pink Milk Tea to drink.
Bahn Thai Restaurant
409 Roy St, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-283-0444
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Bahn Thai Restaurant has been bringing a taste of Thailand to the Emerald City since 1984, making it one of the oldest and best Thai restaurants in Seattle.
The interior has the classic feel of an established restaurant, but you can tell they continuously put in the work to keep things comfortable for visitors.
There are plenty of great options on the menu, but you can’t pass up the chance to order off the “Special Menu.”
I suggest going with their pumpkin curry, which features sweet Asian pumpkin, red curry, basil, and red bell peppers alongside your choice of chicken or tofu.
Bahn Thai is only a ten-minute walk from the Space Needle if you want to take in the famous Seattle attraction after your meal.
Bai Tong Thai Street Cafe
1121 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-787-8448
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A former Thai Airways flight attendant started the original Seattle Bai Tong in 1989. The Thai Street Cafe is an expansion of that established brand that continues to provide high-quality Thai street food to Seattle residents and visitors.
I recommend starting with their fried tofu with plum sauce and ground peanuts. After that, move on to some cashew nut chicken.
This dish features chicken and cashews served with chili paste, onions, carrots, bell peppers, and celery.
You can’t go wrong with mango sticky rice for dessert. Fresh mango and sweet sticky rice topped with condensed coconut milk is a great way to wrap up your Thai food experience.
Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen
2316 NE 65th St Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: 206-913-2993
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Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen has a legitimately soulful vibe. Much like the Revenna neighborhood it resides in, the restaurant exudes casual comfort with a touch of class.
It’s a great spot for those who enjoy great food served in a place full of wood, warm tones, and a relaxed feel.
You have to try the Lemongrass Red Snapper if you’re not dining alone or don’t mind taking home plenty of leftovers!
This whole fish fillet is fried with lemongrass and comes with sides of thin rice noodles and lettuce served with a spicy soy bean sauce.
Isarn has a nice drink selection, featuring local brews and Thailand imports.
Kin Dee
2301 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-453-5514
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Kin Dee is a gorgeous corner spot featuring high ceilings and large windows that create a modern and comforting vibe you’re sure to enjoy while eating the restaurant’s great-tasting food.
I recommend starting with Kin Dee’s spicy calamari served with a sweet and sour sauce before moving on to their Crispy Kapow.
This dish comes with tofu, duck, or pork served with Thai chili, basil, sweet bell peppers, garlic sauce, and a side of jasmine rice.
Finish your meal on a sweet note with lady fingers served with Thai tea-flavored custard.
Noodle Boat Thai Cuisine
700 NW Gilman Blvd # E104b, Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: 425-391-8096
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Noodle Boat Thai Cuisine is located just outside the hustle and bustle of Seattle in Issaquah.
This laid-back suburb is situated in the middle of a multitude of parks and recreational activities, making this Thai restaurant the perfect stop for hungry adventure seekers.
There are plenty of great options on the menu, but I recommend going with the Noodle Boat – and not just because it’s the restaurant’s namesake!
The rice sticks noodle soup features bean sprouts, spinach, cilantro, and a special herb soup sauce that will hit all the right spots before you head out for an afternoon of exploring the surrounding wilderness.
Noodle Hut
8418 Bowdoin Way, Edmonds, WA 98026
Phone: 425-423-7718
Noodle Hut is an amazing hole-in-the-wall just north of Seattle in Edmonds. Hut is a great way to describe this eatery since it’s so small there’s nowhere inside to eat.
But don’t worry, getting your food to go just means you can easily take it home or go to a nearby green space for a delicious picnic!
Noodles unsurprisingly make up the core of the menu. The delicious fried noodle dishes, including a great Pad Thai with bean sprout, egg, and roasted peanuts.
You also can’t go wrong with their Old Fashion Tom Yum. This noodle soup features seasoned ground pork, scallions, fish balls, bean sprouts, ground peanuts, lime juice, and sweet chili paste.
Racha Noodles & Thai Cuisine Redmond
8900 161st Avenue Northeast STE 105, Redmond, WA 98052
Phone: 425-497-8383
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Just a short drive outside of Seattle in Redmond is Racha Noodles and Thai Cuisine. It’s the perfect spot to get away from the city for a while.
This place is located about 20 feet from a hospital ER entrance, just in case you get too adventurous with your Thai spice, which you can easily do here thanks to Racha’s outstanding selection of curry dishes.
You don’t have to get them spicy, of course, but sometimes you just feel like cranking the spice to five to enjoy some eat.
I recommend testing your taste buds with their Royal Duck Curry, which pairs duck with cherry tomatoes smothered in a Thai basil and curry sauce.
Then, cool down with a wonderfully-simple dessert of bananas in coconut milk to complete your meal.
