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If you need recommendations about where to find the nicest restaurants or the best places to stay, OnBali.com is the site you need. In this article, I will take you to some of the best Thai restaurants in Bali, where lemongrass, basil, and chili create a blend of rich flavours that make Thai cuisine famous worldwide.
* This is a collaborative post with OnBali.com
The culinary scene in Bali is thriving, and it’s easy to find Indonesian, European, and Asian restaurants on the island. And if you like something spicy and fresh like Thai cuisine, Bali is blessed with some of the best Thai restaurants where you can get authentic Thai cuisine. If you crave green curry or pad thai, wait no more and head to these five restaurants I have curated for your reference.
1. Lemongrass – Kuta
For over 20 years, Lemongrass has become an icon of Thai cuisine in Bali, and I can safely say it’s the pioneer of Thai restaurants in Bali. A family-run business, Lemongrass succeeds in transporting the Thai flavor to Bali through many of its dishes, such as Pad Krapow, a stir-fried dish of minced meat, green bean, and onion with fresh basil and chili, oyster sauce, and fried eggs.
As one of the top-rated Thai restaurants on the island, every meal is prepared from scratch, using the freshest ingredients. While the stir-fried dish is my favorite, it’s hard not to order Pad Thai when the rainy season hits Bali. The variations of curries, from red, green, yellow, Massaman, jungle, and Gaeng Panang, further cemented Lemongrass as the place to go if you crave Thai food. You can enjoy a platter of spring rolls or prawn balls in the air-conditioning, garden, or lounge seating area. I won’t blame you if you want to stay here for hours because of how cozy the place is!
2. Bho Bho Tai – Legian
To find Bho Bho Thai, you need to use your map-reading skills because it’s not located on the main street. But once you walk in, you instantly feel comfortable. Everyone will agree to include Bho Bho Thai as one of the best Thai restaurants in Bali because of how popular this restaurant is among locals and tourists alike.
Whenever I go to Bho Bho Thai, I always order Somtum, the papaya salad, or Yam Woon Sen, a glass noodle salad, as the starter. Both menus are refreshing and have the right sourness for my taste. Other dishes that I highly recommend from the menu are Khao Pad Plakhem, which is fried rice with salted fish served with peanuts, raw chilies, and shallots, and Gaeng Jot Woon Sen, a clear chicken/seafood soup with mushroom, lemongrass, and tomato. What’s special about Bho Bho Thai is the owners sometimes are the ones who cook your orders!
3. Paed Thai – Canggu & Sanur
It’s hard to find authentic in Canggu, thank you. Thankfully, Paed Thai filled that gap exceptionally. Celebrating the essence of Thai cuisine with a menu ranging from the famous dessert Mango Sticky Rice to the rich and flavorful Green Curry, everything Thai food is known for, the sweet, salty, spicy, and sour, and you can get them all at Paed Thai.
My repeat order at Paed Thai is the Pad Thai Goong Wok, the fried flat rice noodles with prawns, bean sprouts, peanuts, fish sauce, and lime. Mariia Ipatova OnBali said, “I love Tod Mun Pla as a starter every time I visit Paed Thai. It’s the best fish cake I’ve ever tasted!” Indeed, the Thai fish cake mixed with Thai red curry paste and served with sweet, sour chili sauce is what you need to awaken your palate. The unique Jackfruit Crème Brulee makes a perfect dessert because you’ll never look back to the original crème brulee once you take a spoonful!
4. Bird’s Nest Thai Kitchen – Ubud & Canggu
The space may be small, but the flavors at Bird’s Nest Kitchen have always been bold and explosive. Located in Ubud, the restaurant delivers Tom Yum soup like nobody’s business. The sour and spicy broth with a hint of sweetness and fresh seafood has become everyone’s favorite, including mine. And if you’re a voracious eater, the portion here will make your stomach happy because I can never finish it on my own!
Saying Bird’s Nest Thai Kitchen is one of the best restaurants in Ubud is warranted, and it’s even featured in Best restaurants in Ubud by OnBali for a reason. While the other classic Thai dishes like Tom Kha Gai or the curries are excellent, the Spicy Salad Fried Pork makes a great entrée. While the mango sticky rice is always perfect as a dessert. And if you need something crunchy, I recommend ordering Fried Pork on the side. Thank me later!
5. Kat’s Kitchen – Jimbaran & Uluwatu
Headed by the Thai chef, it is no wonder Kat’s Kitchen has become the go-to for locals and tourists looking for authentic Thai cuisine. The place is extremely unassuming, but you should never judge the taste. Once you try Kai Thawt Prik Kaeng as a starter, you know the rest of your food will taste even better!
After finishing your starter, go for Kaeng Kiaw-Waan Kai or the green chicken curry with sweet basil, kaffir leaves, and Thai eggplant. Try Laap Kai, spicy minced chicken with mint leaves, red pepper, and tomato, if you want something different. Kat’s Kitchen has special menus for vegetarians, such as Pad Thai with tofu instead of meat and curry with tempeh, carrots, and sweet basil. The place can get jam-packed, so come early to grab a table and enjoy the mango sticky rice in peace after your meal!
Conclusion
Thai cuisine is one of the unsung heroes of the culinary scene in Bali because it rarely gets a spotlight. But these five restaurants on the list deserve the title of the best Thai restaurants in Bali. They serve more than just authentic Thai cuisine; they also show their existence in the saturated restaurant landscape on the island.
If you feel like having a spicy Tom Yum or the tangy papaya salad, go to these restaurants and pamper your taste buds with Thai cuisine’s rich and bold flavours. Here is some advice from me: ordering mango sticky rice is mandatory, no matter which restaurant you go to.
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