Where to go for great Thai food in Edinburgh

A 17th-century townhouse may not be the first setting you’d think of for a Thai restaurant, but it’s in this gorgeous period property that you’ll find Stockbridge’s foremost Thai eatery. The cosy and romantic restaurant is known for offering authentic Thai cuisine with a focus on fresh ingredients and traditional flavours. It is named after its owner, Nok, who has brought her expertise and passion for Thai cooking since 2016. Since then, Nok’s has expanded to a second venue beside the castle. There are set menus for both lunch and dinner, as well as an a la carte selection. You can expect curries, noodles, soups, salads, dumplings and fish cakes.

Situated on Castle Street, Chaophraya is a stylish Thai restaurant. It has a beautiful and extensive rooftop terrace offering some of the best panoramic views in the city and the option of alfresco, semi alfresco covered, or indoor, tables. The restaurant offers a blend of traditional and contemporary Thai cuisine and strives to provide a luxurious dining experience with exotic upmarket cocktails.

Bring a group and order a set banquet meal to sample as many of Chaophraya’s dishes as possible. It’s all elaborately presented, making it well suited to a special meal. Book a table for a birthday, anniversary or celebration and be sure to document each plate with your smartphone. There’s also live music on Friday and Saturday nights, adding to the sense of occasion.

Situated in the city center on Teviot Place, Ting Thai Caravan offers a casual dining experience with communal seating and an open kitchen concept. It’s quite the landmark, with its quirky fluorescent screens depicting a poodle on a colourful background. Another notable aspect of Ting Thai Caravan is its reasonable prices, making it an appealing choice for those looking for authentic Thai food without breaking the bank. Due to its popularity, the restaurant can get quite busy during peak times, so be prepared to queue, particularly during the Fringe. The menu offers a range of classic and lesser-known dishes and caters to vegetarian and vegan diners with several plant-based options available.

A funky urban, industrial design punctuates the space at Saboteur, sister restaurant to the aforementioned Ting Thai Caravan. Found at the heart of Edinburgh’s tourist trail and student village, it’s an every popular spot that helps to cope with the demand of its longtime popular sibling. In addition to its selection of Asian street food (think bao buns, spring rolls, lollipop fish rolls and gyoza), Saboteur rocks a menu of cocktails with an Asian twist, like the house Margarita with Tequila Blanco, Thai orange, fresh lime, chilli and coconut. Or stop by earlier in the day for your caffeine fix; we love their Vietnamese-style coffee prepared using sweetened condensed milk.

This family-owned restaurant has been in business a little over two decades now, making it one of the city’s longest serving Thai establishments. Meals are cooked with a combination of high quality locally sourced ingredients and those imported directly from Thailand, bringing added authenticity to the taste experience. The huge menu includes healthy salads, charcoal grilled meats, fresh seafood, curries, stir fries, a banquet selection and more, while lunchtime diners can take advantage of a money-saving set menu. You’ll find Dusit recommended in the esteemed in Pete Irvine’s book, Scotland the Best.

This little New Town haunt is home of all things Pan Asian and that includes lots of Thai dishes. It’s modern and minimal interiors have an airy feel, with stripped wooden furniture, tea lights and the ever-present Buddha statue in the corner. Try some of the Thai style sirloin skewers, with coriander, kaffir lime and lemongrass; some ka pow (Thai spicy stir fry with basil and your choice of chicken, prawns, pork, veggies, monkfish or mock chicken); a green curry; or a lettuce wrap with crispy noodles. Then complete your meal with some coconut ice cream with flakes of tender coconut.