The Best Thai Restaurants in Bali—Where to Get That Tom Yum Kick!

Think of yourself taking a spoonful of the Tom Kha Gai rich broth while surrounded by the lush jungles and the sound of chirping birds. Or if you crave something heavier, Dining Corner’s signature dish of Thai beef steak, Crying Tiger, served with Thai chili dipping and fresh cucumber, will make your tummy happy.

Source: @diningcorner_restaurant

We appreciate Dining Corner’s non-Thai options if you’re seeking something other than Pad Thai or Tom Yum. Indonesian favorites like Soto Ayam taste as rich as the Thai food they have, or if you want to take the safe route by ordering Salmon Blueberry, you absolutely can! But first, take delight in the golden hour over the Ubud Valley while sipping the Pinot Noir before deciding what to have for dinner.

Reading the IG bio, you should only come to Warung Siam if you can handle the heat. Whether the grilled pork salad Moo Nam Took or Hor Mok Talay, Thai steamed curry sea, the spiciness is noticeable from the first spoonful or bite. If you’re comfortable with anything spicy, Warung Siam will instantly become your fave.

Source: @warungsiam

All the paste at Warung Siam used in their curries, whether it’s Gang Panang or Gang Massaman, they make everything from scratch. While not much can be said about the wooden chairs, the murals of elephants, and the red-painted door, don’t let the façade fool you. If you are searching for where to eat Thai food in Bali while wandering around Ubud, stop at Warung Siam if you can handle the heat!

The 555 Thai (read as Hahaha Thai) focuses on traditional and homemade Thai food, and it’s easy to see why it is one of the best restaurants in Canggu. Open your meal with Po Pia Pot or spring rolls and Yum Nua or spicy grilled beef salad, then have Khai Jiao or Thai style omelet or the classic Khao Pad. End your meal with the irresistible mango sticky rice.

Source: @hahahathai.bali

While 555 Thai prides itself on being an authentic Thai restaurant in Bali, we suggest you don’t skip checking out the bar menu. Wat Chalong infused citrus and anise liqueur if you need something alcoholic and fresh. If you can’t get enough mango, sip the King Mango with fresh mango and coconut whipped cream while enjoying the outdoor seating at 555 Thai.

Everyone needs to visit Paed Thai Canggu if they have doubts about finding the best Thai restaurant in Bali. Pomelo Seafood Salad, the pink pomelo with squid and prawn, and Thod Man Goong with prawn cake with some tam salad will make you drool. If you need something warm, the hot and sour pork rib soup known as Tom Saap will make you sweat in no time.

Source: @paedthai

Other restaurants may claim to be the most authentic Thai restaurants in Bali, but Paed Thai takes it up a notch with the interior. The wood panels, the leather sofa, and the indoor tree work together to create a comfy ambiance. However, using premium and carefully selected ingredients, plus the attention to the plating, sealed Pead Thai Canggu as a premium Thai restaurant in Canggu.

There’s no need to beat the crowd to sit at Bangkok Hustle. The Green Papaya Salad has enough zest to kickstart your Thai food voyage in Bali, while Bangkok Hustle Pad Thai makes a great follow-up. Moreover, you can ask the staff to make the Pad Thai a vegan-friendly dish! If you crave a deep-fried dish, the B.F.C or Bangkok Fried Chicken delivers the crunch with extra heat!

Source: @bangkokhustlebali

The Bangkok Hustle neon lights give nods to shops and restaurants you find on Khao San Road in Bangkok. No matter which tables you pick, inside with the fan to cool down from Bali’s intense humidity or on the terrace facing the busy Berawa Street, you can always count on Bangkok Hustle whenever you face the dilemma of where to eat Thai food in Bali.

Having one bite of the Golden Bags with prawn and pork mince with snake bean and Thai spices inside, or Goong Ma Praw with fried prawns and shredded coconut, you’ll find the answers to why Lemongrass is considered one of the best restaurants in Bali. Lemongrass pioneered the Thai food movement two decades ago in Bali, and the family-run restaurant is still going strong!

Source: @lemongrass_bali

Once your dinner is done, go to the lounge and order the Gin Basil Spritz or Caprioska to wash the heat off your palate. But even if you enjoy the aromatic Namman Hoi in the air-conditioning area or share the Curry Puffs with your family and friends in the open-air garden, the cozy ambiance puts Lemongrass as one of the top Thai restaurants in Bali.

Batik Restaurant & Bar is all about artsy and tasty. The focus on Indonesian heritage takes the artsy side. At the same time, the Thai Clam Soup with zesty lemongrass, ginger, and lime or the stir-fried Thai Chicken Holy Basil with minced chicken and paprika cements the tasty side of this restaurant in Seminyak.

Source: @batik_restaurant_bar

Focusing on Indonesian and Southeast Asian cuisine, especially Vietnamese and Thai, Batik is a one-stop place if you can’t decide what food to have in Bali. The classic interiors are full of batik patterns to showcase Indonesian identity. It’s not only about the taste of Thai Green Curry or Ayam Betutu, but the bar also has killer drink menus. It doesn’t matter if you’re a classic cocktail guy who likes Bloody Mary or prefers to sip a Dirty Martini as aperitif drinks, we say don’t miss the bar menu at Batik.

Warung Asia Thai Food lets you enjoy Thai Beef Salad or Pineapple Fried Rice without breaking the bank. Warung Asia Thai Food has become a go-to for tourists and locals looking for where to eat Thai food in Bali in the Legian area. While Indonesian staples like Mi Ayam and Sate Ayam are listed on the menu, it’s the Thai cuisine that has made people come back here since the place opened in 2002.

Source: @warungasiabali

While Warung Asia Thai Food brings an affordable version of  Pad Thai and Tom Yum Goong without losing its authenticity, the building is a character on its own. The bamboo structure with a semi-open seating area makes perfect sense because you can enjoy the variety of spicy curry and let the Bali breeze cool you down.

Kat’s Kitchen brings the tanginess of Thai flavors to Ulu. The home-like setting makes the Kang Matsaman Kai or the chicken curry taste much better. But if you need more heat on your plate, we suggest ordering the Kaeng Kiaw or the green curry and asking the waitress to increase the spicy level. Just make sure you know what you’re getting into!

Source: @katskitchenbali

Stepping into Kat’s Kitchen feels like you’re visiting a friend’s living room, with the exception of the intense aroma of lemongrass, basil, and tamarind. Having a bite of spring rolls or deep-fried chicken wings is impossible without scanning rows of framed photos on the wall. The warm feelings in your belly and your heart are why we consider Kat’s Kitchen one of the top Thai restaurants in Bali.

Pok Pok Ulu reopened last year with the same gusto: simple, down-to-earth, yet packs authentic Thai flavors. When you order Green Papaya Salad, you get the right tang from the Thai dressing and the crunch of the papaya. The Thai basil hints at spice and peppery notes, and combined with fresh kwetiau noodles, chicken, and shrimp, the Drunken Noodle makes a perfect dish to refuel.

Source: www.tripadvisor.com

You rarely see empty tables at Pok Pok Ulu. Though the place only occupies one space and has fewer than ten tables, the semi-open seating area is always packed with foreigners slurping their Pad Thai or Pok Pok Chicken Noodles. Finish your meals by gulping down the fresh Iced Ginger Lemongrass Tea, or have Mango Sticky Rice if you fancy some sweet stuff.

Paed Thai Sanur shares the same DNA as the Canggu branch, giving you enough spice and heat to kickstart your meals. Tom Yum Hot Spot will make you sweat with the perfect combo of lemongrass and seafood. At the same time, the wok-fried Pad Thai Goong brings enough crunch and spiciness with the chili-peanut without leaving the tanginess from the prawn

Source: Owner’s photos in Google

The sleek and minimalist look of the place antidotes the complex flavors of their homemade curry paste. If you still can’t get enough of the Tom Yum, why not try the cocktail version? The Paed Thai Tom Yum blends vodka, galangal tea, and red chili, creating a fiery drink but still quintessentially Thai. Paed Thai Sanur deserves to be crowned as one of the best Thai restaurants in Bali because who else can make a Mango Sticky Rice taste punchy as a cocktail?

Heating the sleepy town of Sanur with bold flavors, Ulu Thai Sanur dares you to try the Tom Yum Goong or Gaeng Keow Wan Gai. While you can handle the tangy from the lemongrass or the aromatic from the curry, Thai-level spicy at Ulu Thai is another story. If you cannot handle the spice and are looking for something mild, the Pad Gaprao Gai with crispy sunny-side-up egg should be safe for your belly.

Source: @uluthaibali

While Ulu Thai has a Western menu, such as burgers and beef steak, ditch those because the restaurant doesn’t play with the authenticity of the Thai flavors. When the live music starts, hit the dance floor to shake off the heat from the Gaeng Massaman or the Gai Pad Namprik. If you need a reminder that you haven’t been transported to Bangkok, just look at the row of surfboards attached to the walls as decorations and the thatched roofs as reminders.

Thai Pantry not only served the view of Lembongan Beach with the turquoise water but also delivered the taste. While you take a spoonful of the Khao Soi’s broth made of coconut cream with rice noodles and chicken, take in the view of the boats heading to mainland Bali. If you need a stronger kick, Jungle Curry of Clams without coconut milk should make you sweat enough with the spiciness.

Source: @thaipantrybali

Don’t miss the Dim Sum Saturday if you’re visiting Thai Pantry on the weekend. Enjoy the dim sum with the ocean breeze, and head to the bar made of a repurposed vintage van for your next stop. Have Tom Yum Siam or Tropical Thailand while you wait for the sunset since the Happy Hour starts at 3.30 PM, and you’ll have yourself a Thai-themed sundowner in Nusa Lembongan.

Fat Chow may not be the best Thai restaurant in Bali, but it brings Southeast Asia’s distinct flavors to the forefront. One bite of the Thai Roast Pork belly, the fiery pepper, and Asian spices will hit the back of your throat. If you need something milder, Chicken Cashew should save you a continuous trip to the restroom, while Thai Longan Curry gives a mild heat, perfect to tread the spicy level at Fat Chow.

Source: @fatchowbali

Nestled in the narrow Poppies Lane 2, Fat Chow earns its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Kuta because you have authentic Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Malaysian cuisine under one roof. Book ahead to secure a table, think of having the smokiest Fat Chow’s fried rice surrounded by vintage aesthetics with a black & white television set and exposed red bricks, and sip the Beijing Monsoon or Shanghai Mocktail to help you tamper the heat.

Thanks to Mery’s experience grinding pastes in Thai kitchens, the Pad Thai at Bho Bho Thai still packs enough tang and sweetness even without added MSG. The Green Mango Salad makes a perfect starter before you dig deep into the rich broth of the Tom Yum and the Thai curries. If you need your daily fried rice intake, take a mouthful of Khao Pad Kun Chiang with sweet sausages or the salted fish in Khao Pad Plakhem.

Source: @bhobhothai

Bho Bho Thai may not have the white linen or uniformed wait staff, but if you look for authentic Thai taste without breaking the bank, look nowhere else. Brush up your map-reading skills to navigate Bho Bho Thai. Once you step inside, expect nothing but the fragrant smell of lemongrass, chilies, shrimp paste, and galangal being crushed to perfection by Mery.