Is Sydney CBD's Thai Scene Finally Getting the Respect It Deserves?

Asking any five people from Sydney where they can get good Thai food will give you not only five different responses but also one discussion. That alone says something about how passionate people in Sydney are about their food choices. In case you are seeking a Thai restaurant in Sydney CBD to grab yourself some noodles after work or a long lunch on a weekend, it will be helpful to know some history behind it all. Here you will learn everything about it and the numbers too.

How Thai Town Put Thai Food in Sydney CBD on the Map

The narrative begins with a grocer. Pontip first opened in the early 1990s in Campbell Street, Haymarket, next to the Capitol Theatre, and the opening of Pontip is considered the beginning of Thai Town. Pontip sells rare ingredients such as Thai basil and green papaya, and restaurants followed in the wake of the customers. In 2013, the City of Sydney put up blue street signs to officially define the area. Sydney’s Thai Town is currently the second Thai Town officially recognized in the world.

Year	Milestone
1976	First Thai restaurant opens in Sydney
1991	Pontip grocery opens on Campbell Street
2007	Chat Thai and At Bangkok open in the precinct
2013	Blue street signs mark the official Thai Town
2023	City of Sydney announces $44 million for Haymarket, with some going to Thai Town

What the Numbers Say About Thai Food in Sydney

Counts differ from source to source. In one source, there are over 700 Thai restaurants in the area, whereas another source indicates there being around 600 of them. Regardless of the numbers, they make up quite a large number for a cuisine that barely existed here fifty years back.

And so does the community supporting it. Around 17.5 per cent of the population in Haymarket come from Thailand, as the most recent census data shows. The Thai Town Business and Thai Community Association, established in 2013 to help represent Thai entrepreneurs, organizes events. Restaurants joining the 2024 Lunar Festival gave a 10 per cent discount on all meals, and the entrance to the festival was free.

How to Spot Genuine Thai Food in Sydney CBD

Look for the Thai Select mark

The Thai Select award is a stamp from the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand. For it to be achieved, a restaurant should have a Thai head chef, 10 seats, 70 per cent of its meals being Thai food, and trading for six months. The award stays for three years, and there are three levels, that is, Signature, Classic, and Casual.

Read the menu before the review score

Concentrated menus are better than menus that take up 12 pages and feature dishes from four different cuisines. See whether the amount of chilli can be varied, and whether there is fresh basil for the stir-fry, not some sickly sweet sauce.

Best Thai Dishes in Sydney to Order First

If you are new to Thai menus, start with these. They show off different techniques in one sitting.

Dish	What it is	What to look for
Pad Thai	Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts and peanuts	Tamarind tang and wok smoke, not a sugary glaze
Duck hot basil	Duck stir-fried with chilli, garlic and basil	Basil added at the end, so it stays fragrant
Beef noodle soup	Rice noodles in a spiced beef broth	A deep but clear broth and tender beef
Chicken satay	Marinated skewers with peanut sauce	Char marks and a warm, not cold, sauce

Charlie Chans Bar & Bottle Shop features Mrs Chan’s Kitchen. It has a street-style Thai menu including Chicken Satay, Pad Thai, Duck Hot Basil, Tender Beef Noodle Soup, and a signature BBQ Pork with Special Sauce. The full list is on the Thai restaurant menu page.

A Thai Dinner That Runs Late

Many CBD kitchens go quiet after the lunch rush. Mrs Chan's Kitchen is listed as open seven days, 11am to midnight, with an outdoor courtyard. That suits a post-work dinner, a late supper or a group night out. If you want a drink with your meal, the cocktail menu is a short walk from the kitchen, and the bottle shop covers takeaway. Larger groups can look at function bookings, and the What's On page lists current events. Charlie Chans Bar & Bottle Shop sits in the Chinatown part of the CBD, which makes it easy to pair with a Thai Town walk.

Final Thoughts

Respect for Sydney’s Thai food can be seen through the little details: a blue street sign, a council grant, and a festival that offers free entry. It is now time for the eaters to act. Go up to the restaurant’s chef and try anything but pad Thai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Thai Town in Sydney?

This lies in Haymarket along Campbell Street around the Capitol Theatre and stretches to George, Pitt and Goulburn Streets. Chinatown is its neighbor.

How many Thai restaurants are there in Sydney?

There is an estimate that places it anywhere from 600 to 700 or more.

What is Thai Select?

Thai Select is an award scheme by the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand for overseas Thai restaurants. The requirements include a Thai head chef and Thai food menu and is available in three categories – Signature, Classic and Casual.

Which Thai dishes are the best in Sydney for a beginner?

Pad Thai, chicken satay, beef noodle soup and basil stir-fry are a good mix of dishes. For first-timers, choose medium spice.

Are there Thai restaurants open late in Sydney CBD?

Yes, there are a few that operate till late. Mrs Chan’s Kitchen is one such establishment with late-night hours seven days a week.