Spotlight on Ting Thai

Scotland’s funkiest street food mini-chain began life over a decade ago, and now has two dining establishments in Glasgow; one in the city centre, the other in the West End. Offering affordable spicy dishes that transport you to the back lanes of Bangkok, Ting Thai embraces the gastronomic spirit of Southeast Asia.

Ting Thai is on Dish Cult Rewards, which means you can earn points every time you dine here!

From Edinburgh to Glasgow

Ting Thai’s story began in 2012 when a group of friends embarked on a mission to bring authentic Thai street food to Scotland’s capital. Back then it was just a pop-up at the Fringe Festival, before becoming a full-time eatery in the bustling Bristo Square and a second property on Lothian Road. Propped up by this success, the team expanded to West Nile Street and Byres Road in Glasgow, inspired by the bustling street food stalls and markets of Thailand. Transcending mere dining, these venues embrace the lively, communal spirit of Thai culture. 

“Ting” translates to “chilli” and “Caravan” (the stall was originally called Ting Thai Caravan) symbolises the nomadic nature of street food vendors. Ting is also the name of one of the founders, along with Ae Tapparat.

A shared experience

Upon entering each of the Ting Thais here, guests are greeted by an atmosphere that effortlessly merges the rustic charm of a bustling Thai street market with a contemporary minimalist and industrial aesthetic experience. Communal trestle tables encourage interaction among patrons, mirroring the convivial vibe of street food markets where strangers become friends over shared meals. And it’s an ideal place to meet friends; with a relaxed ambience and the ability to eat as little or as much as you desire. Just grab a bowl of nutrient-packed soup, or feast on multiple courses. The choice is yours, and you don’t all have to do the same.

A journey around Thailand

Ting Thai’s menu is a gastronomic journey through the diverse flavours and colourful ingredients of Thailand. Each dish tells a story of traditional recipes, vibrant ingredients and native cooking techniques. From classic green, red and yellow curries to jungle broth, caramelised sticky pork and grilled steak and sides like pickled veg and prawn crackers. 

The kitchen’s dedication to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients ensures an authentic taste experience while promoting sustainability. Pair your meal with a Thai juice, a soft drink, spirits, wine or draught beer. It’s the closest you’ll come to the Southern Hemisphere in the oft-chilly north. And the exotic spices are ideal for warming you up on a cold Weegie day.

A Pad Thai to die for

But let’s talk about Ting Thai’s star dish and the way in which it has risen to fame. Over eight years of operation in Edinburgh, Ting Thai’s Pad Thai was the most popular dish in the city. And of course, you can tuck into the same recipe in the chain’s Glasgow restaurants. So be sure to try the brand’s famous Pad Thai. 

You can opt for chicken, beef, veg or king-size prawns, each served with egg, flat noodles, spring onion, peanuts, nam pla, palm sugar, tamarind, bean sprouts and chilli.

Sun up to sun down

On a budget? Dine between 12 noon and 6pm when you can enjoy the same menu, but at a discount (known as the sun up menu). After 6pm the sun down version takes over until close at 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm on Friday and Saturday. 

Sun up is particularly popular with students in the West End branch (which is right by the uni) and 9 to 5 workers in the city centre one. And where you save on the scran, you can spend on some sassy tropical in-house cocktails (even if it is lunchtime). 

If you’ve visited the original Edinburgh incarnation of the restaurant, you may recall having to wait in a hefty queue, especially during peak times. But in Glasgow, you needn’t have any such inconvenience; reserve a table for yourself and your besties online ahead of time and you won’t have to waste any of your precious eating and drinking time, hanging about outside. So book yourself a slot and see what all the Ting Thai fuss is about.

Don’t forget to sign up to Dish Cult Rewards when you dine at Ting Thai. Then simply use the card you’ve registered to pay for your meal here so you can earn your points!

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