I’ve been on the hunt for the best Thai restaurants in Seattle ever since I realized how much Asian food is in this city. Growing up in northern New Jersey, I was lucky if there was a Chinese American restaurant with a menu akin to Panda Express. So when I moved to Seattle, I became fascinated with exploring all the Asian cuisines I was never exposed to growing up.
Thai cuisines vary depending on the region, but in general Thai food is known for balancing sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors. It also features a generous helping of fresh herbs and coconut milk. This results in bold, complex, and often herbaceous dishes.
We’re lucky to have a lot of great Thai restaurants in Seattle. Many feature dishes popular in central and northern Thailand, while some focus on northeastern or southern Thai flavors. If you want to try them all, use this list of the best Thai restaurants in Seattle to find your new favorites.
Here’s a really quick overview of Thai cuisine, but I encourage you to read more from experts:
- Northern region – Known for hefty usage of herbs, soups, and meat, since most of the country’s livestock is raised here
- Isaan region – Known for spicy and sour dishes with a lot of sticky rice, similar to Laotian food
- Central region – Known for globally-influenced dishes that most people around the world are familiar with, such as green curry
- Southern region – Known for very spicy seafood and heavy usage of coconut milk since most of the country’s coconut groves are in this area
A lot of Thai restaurants in America have menus that pull from all of these regions, particularly the central region, but I’ll shout out when any of the Thai restaurants below specialize in a specific area.
14 Best Thai Restaurants in Seattle
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more spots when I discover them!
Secret Savory
website | neighborhood: Ballard | 2213 NW Market St | price range per dish: ~$10 – $20
I think Secret Savory is the best Thai restaurant in Seattle that no one’s talking about, which is a mistake. They’re one of my go-to restaurants in Seattle because they serve excellent food representative of Thai dishes you’d find in all four regions of Thailand. In fact, their menu labels which region each dish is from.
I’ve had a lot of really great Thai food here, but my favorite is the khao soi. This northern Thai dish is a yellow curry soup made with coconut milk and served with fresh-made egg noodles, a chicken drum, sliced shallots, lime, crispy egg noodle, and pickled green mustard. They serve my favorite khao soi in the city because not only is the broth super flavorful, but they serve it with the traditional pickled accoutrements that play into what Thai food is all about: balancing sweet, spicy, sour, and salty. A lot of Khao soi are missing this, which makes it taste mostly like spiced coconut milk.
Secret Savory also makes a great green papaya salad. This dish originated in Isaan and as a result is often served spicy (though you can ask for less spice). I also love how their’s is served with the traditional dried shrimp to add way more complexity.
The last item you should consider getting is their deep fried soft-shell crabs. I haven’t had this yet, but I hear it’s their specialty. It’s the only place I’ve ever seen this on the menu, so give it a try and let me know what you think!
Thaiku
website | neighborhood: Phinney Ridge | 6705 Greenwood Ave N | price range per dish: ~$14 – $17
Thaiku is one of the other best Thai restaurants in Seattle. In fact, it was the first one I fell in love with after having a lot of mediocre Thai food when I first moved to Seattle. My sister insisted this place was awesome and I now know she was right (but don’t tell her I said that).
It’s located inside a converted home in Phinney Ridge. People are packed around tables jigsawed in each room, the air buzzing with conversation. This place has a vibe and I was hooked the moment I stepped inside.
The food stands up to the ambiance. Thaiku focuses on Isaan-style Thai food with dishes from other regions. My two favorite dishes to get here are the khao soi and panang curry with beef. Both are deeply flavorful and have good heat. They also sometimes have a shrimp salad on the menu that is excellent. If you see it, get it!
Buddha Ruska
website | neighborhood: West Seattle | 3520 SW Genesee St | price range per dish: ~$12 – $16
This Thai restaurant, pronounced poot-ta ruck-suw, sits alongside some of the other best West Seattle restaurants. They serve Thai cuisine mostly found in the central Thailand region with dishes chef Onongard grew up eating in Lopburi, Thailand just north of Bangkok.
For example, you’ll find “prawns in a blanket” made with garlic-marinated shrimp wrapped in a spring roll and deep fried. Or “Kra-Thong-Tong”, golden pastry cups filled with curried chicken, shrimp and vegetables.
They’re known for their pad Thai and deep-fried crispy chicken with fried basil. I haven’t had the pad Thai, but the crispy chicken is excellent. My absolute favorite dishes here, though, are the crispy duck in panang curry and fried bananas.
I honestly can’t stop thinking about the fried bananas. Even after driving 30 minutes with them in the car, they were so damn addictive. Make sure to add these to your order.
Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen
website | neighborhood: Ravenna | 2316 NE 65th St | price range per dish: ~$9 – $15
Isarn started as an Eastside-only restaurant in Lynnwood and Kirkland, but they opened a Seattle location in 2021. They offer Thai cuisine from all regions, highlighting on their menu where each dish is from. You’ll find popular Thai dishes like Kor Moo Yang (grilled pork collar) and salted crab curry or rice.
They have a lot of interesting options on the menu, but the absolute must-get here is the mushroom fritters. You’ll get a hefty portion of deep-fried sliced mushrooms that are seriously like crack. Even after we waiting 60 minutes to bring the takeout home and take photos, Dan and I were fighting over them.
Pro tip: Isarn has a dedicated vegan menu, and those mushroom fritters are on it.
Bangrak Market
website | neighborhood: Belltown | 2319 2nd Ave | price range per dish: ~$8 – $16
Bangrak Market is named after the most famous market in Bangkok. It feels like a market when you step inside thanks to the colorful streamers and decor. Owners SangDuen Auesiriwong and Ott Jaicharoensook grew up in Thailand and wanted to share the authentic street food they grew up eating.
You’ll find dishes from all regions of Thailand, but the emphasis is on the central region. There are various pork belly dishes, fried rice, and more.
My favorites Thai dishes here are the khao soi and sweet sticky rice desserts. You can get a rice pudding served in banana leaves or sticky rice with mango that is really yummy and a great way to end the meal.
Kati Vegan Thai
website | neighborhood: South Lake Union | 1190 Thomas St | price range per dish: ~$9 – $14
One of the best restaurants in Seattle for vegans is also one of the best Thai restaurants in Seattle. You’ll find versions of Thai classics that are so yummy, you won’t miss the meat.
One of my favorite dishes here is the angel wings. You can get these deep-fried mushrooms regular or spicy “devil wings” style. They are full of umami and an appetizer the whole table will fight over.
My other favorite dish here is the mango salad. Every time I’ve had it the mango was the perfect level of ripeness and a beautifully balanced dish of sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter. I used to come here all the time after work for this dish because I think this place is one of the best restaurants in South Lake Union.
Mark Thai Food Box
website | neighborhood: University District | 1313 NE 43rd St | price range per dish: ~$11 – $17
Mark Thai Food Box is a hole-in-the-wall just off The Ave near the University of Washington campus. It’s owned by “Uncle Mark” who you’ll often find behind the counter.
What makes this spot so special is that it’s also a convenience store in additional to a casual lunch spot. You can order excellent Thai condiments or boxed TV dinner-like meals to reheat at home.
The must-get here though is the roti. They serve an excellent version of this popular Thai dish that’s like a crispy, slightly oilier naan. Get it stuffed with banana and topped with condensed milk!
Sisi Kay
website | neighborhood: Wallingford | 1612 N 45th St | price range per dish: ~$9 – $16
Sisi Kay is that two-story restaurant on 45th St. in Wallingford that has Thai-style architecture. Their menu has a lot of traditional Thai dishes, but they also switch it up with fun westernized concoctions.
For example, they have a really yummy tom yum pizza that tastes just like the soup, but it’s served on crunchy flat bread. You’ll also find funky linguini dishes marrying Thai and Italian flavors.
If you’re looking for more traditional menu items, get the pad Thai. It’s one of the best I’ve ever had because it’s not too sweet or saucy, plus they don’t skimp on the spice. I also enjoy their crispy garlic chicken with basil.
Sen Noodle Bar
website | neighborhood: Ballard | 2307 NW Market St | price range per dish: ~$12 – $16
A lot of people like Pestle Rock in Ballard, but I prefer their sister shop Sen next door. Meaning “noodle”, it features a focused menu of both noodle soups and dry noodle dishes popular at street food carts in Thailand. You can build your own bowl with all types of proteins, including duck breast that makes an excellent duck noodle soup.
I like to let them do the thinking for me, though, and instead order off their menu. My favorite noodle soup is the guay tiow khaek with cod, shrimp, scallops, wheat noodles, bean sprouts, Asian greens, cilantro, and chili oil in coconut curry broth. It’s spicy, but a bit sour like a sweet and sour soup.
Noodle Hut
website | neighborhood: Edmonds | 8418 Bowdoin Way | price range per dish: ~$8 – $9
Noodle Hut is one of the best restaurants in Edmonds, WA. It’s about 25 minutes north of Seattle and is known for cheap stir-fried noodle dishes. They’re perfectly balanced flavor wise and have a runny egg on them perfect for cutting through the spice.
They also have a revolving specials menu. If it happens to be available, get the salt and pepper fried chicken. It’s spicy and has such an interesting flavor. Kind of like the classic Italian pasta dish called caci e pepe with how much pepper is on it.
May Kitchen + Bar
website | neighborhood: Vashon | 17614 Vashon Hwy SW | price range per dish: ~$12 – $18
May’s is one of the best Vashon Island restaurants and worth the ferry ride from Seattle. You’ll walk by it in downtown Vashon and notice the windows blocked off with silk curtains. This is intentional to help diners feel transported to a cool lounge in Thailand.
The must-get dish here is the pad Thai. They make the stir-fried noodles table side and let you specify how much sweet, spicy, and bitter flavors you want. The bitter comes from banana blossom, which they’ll also let you try. It’s honestly one of the most pungent flavors I’ve ever tasted, but in the dish it adds a depth of flavor that a lot of pad Thais in Seattle are missing. When topped with lime juice, this is one of the best pad Thais in the Seattle area.
Pro tip: This place gets crowded. So make a reservation or schedule your takeout order ahead.
More Seattle Thai restaurants to try
Here are Thai Restaurants in Seattle I heard good things about, but still need to try:
- E-Jay Pak Mor – Chinatown-ID spot I hear is great
- Bua 9 – Colombia City spot whose 2 star I hear is like a 4 star elsewhere
- Guitar’s – Spot in Capitol Hill serving khao mun gai
- Morfire – Thai style hot pot place in Capitol Hill
- Bai Tong – Capitol Hill restaurant that keeps popping up on best of lists
Other Seattle food to seek out
Once you’re finished trying the best Thai food in Seattle, seek out these other cuisines:
- Best Cheap Eats in Seattle
- Best Pasta in Seattle
- Best Burgers in Seattle
- Best Street Tacos in Seattle
- Best Bagels in Seattle
- Best Poke in Seattle
- Best Pizza in Seattle
