Thai cuisine is in demand among Phoenicians, as evidenced by the number of Thai restaurants peppering our city and how busy we desert-dwellers keep them.
The flavor ensembles hit every note. Sweet coconut milk meets salty soy, spicy chili, and sour tamarind, resulting in the most balanced of bites, whether you choose a classic Massaman Curry or a popular street food like Pad Krapow Gai, aka Thai Basil Chicken. Here are 15 of the best Thai restaurants showcasing tasty options for both cautious and adventurous palates.
Chanpen Thai Cuisine
Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you. Chanpen is one of South Phoenix’s best-kept secrets. Alan Ramonaitis never planned on running a restaurant, but when his mother, a Thai native from Prachin Buri, bought the place in 2012, everything changed. In fact, 14 years later the restaurant has become a neighborhood favorite, as has Ramonaitis’s easygoing character as head chef.
Standout dishes include the Pad Kra Pao Gai, saucy chicken loaded with basil and topped with a fried egg, the Tod Mun Pla, curry fish cakes accompanied by a vibrant cucumber-sweet chili sauce, and the Pad Prik King, a perfectly al dente green bean stir-fry brightened with fragrant kaffir lime leaves that hit the senses when it lands on the table. 2727 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix; and 2700 W. Baseline Rd., Tempe, chanpenthaiphoenix.com
Thai Rama – Phoenix
Thai Rama Phoenix has been serving the Melrose neighborhood since 1985. Current owner Oh Makulsawatudom took over in 2017, but under one condition from the previous owner: she wouldn’t change the ultra-savory Garlic Chicken…