By Alexis Berry and Erin Kain By Alexis Berry and Erin Kain | February 7, 2024 | Food & Drink, Guides,
From curry and fried rice to noodles, stir fry and more, these are the best Thai restaurants in San Francisco you need to try.
4 Embarcadero Center; 415-788-6742 / Website
Housed in the Embarcadero Center, Osha Thai has enjoyed more than 25 years as one of San Francisco’s favorite Thai food destinations. Nosh on award-winning cuisine with an extensive menu, offering everything from authentic street-style fare to reimagined modern dishes. Sit back and sip on a steaming bowl of Tom Yum or enjoy featured favorites, from pineapple fried rice to Thai basil panang red curry. We recommend the Angry Prawns; a sizzling plate of sauteed river prawns topped with curry paste and kaffir lime leaf over a bed of fried eggplant.
1175 Folsom St.; 415-552-8999 / Website
This ever-popular Thai eatery boasts an impressive menu of bar snacks, roti tacos and flavorful entrees. Enjoy a refreshing Thai tea with an order of Paupia crispy vegetable rolls and Kao Pode Tod spiced corn fritters, or take it a step further with hearty kitchen specials like the Mussaman Nuer with stewed wagyu beef in peanut-tamarind curry. Top it off with a sweet plate of mango sticky rice.
1826 Buchanan St.; 415-292-9027 / Website
Jitlada Thai Cuisine boasts a bevy of especially spicy southern Thai specialties. A tried and true favorite? The spicy green curry with coconut milk, bamboo, bell pepper, eggplants, basil and green beans. The special menu also includes Rad-Na flat rice noodles with vegetables and choice of protein, crab meat fried rice, the must-try spicy wings, barbecue pork and more.
2150 Chestnut St.; 415-931-9663 / Website
This dynamic hot spot infuses classic Thai cuisine with contemporary American twists, serving innovative dishes bursting with new, unexpected flavor profiles. Purists can nosh on classic Thai staples like the chicken pad thai and crispy tiger prawns, while adventurous diners will love the Blackhawk Belly featuring 48-hour slow cooked Kurobuta pork in five spices, turmeric, curry rice, grilled Chinese broccoli with fermented bean sauce.
1331 Polk St.; 415-771-2562 / Website
A Nob Hill staple since 2015, Ben Thai Cafe boasts a solid selection of Thai favorites alongside specialty dishes that can’t be found anywhere else. Cheeky menu items include the ominous Murder Wings—spicy fried chicken wings sauteed with fresh peppercorn, krachai, herbs and spices and topped with fried basil—while chef specialties feature creative Thai fusion, such as succulent Chinese-influenced pork palo and American-inspired oxtail soup.
314 Sutter St.; 415-693-0303 / Website
Boasting both indoor and outdoor dining spaces, this modern Asian lounge serves up elevated pan-Asian delights, including Thai cuisine favorites pad thai and pineapple curry fried rice. Be sure to stop by for happy hour to nosh on light bites like oysters, tamarind hoisin glazed ribs, steamed pork buns and more.
901 Larkin St.; 415-441-2248 / Website
This casual family-run chain specializes in super cheap Thai staples prepared according to ancient recipes and with a focus on how premium quality flavors and textures react to each other. The pad ma-keur made with Japanese eggplants, basil, chile and bell pepper in a soybean paste served with rice is every herbivore’s dream. Craving dessert? Try the roti, a crispy Thai pancake topped with condensed milk and sugar.
1625 Post St.; 415-868-6274 / Website
A sophisticated spot for contemporary Thai-Californian cuisine, Nari means “women” in Thai and is chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit’s personal tribute to the women who taught her how to cook. Start with the gaeng gradang tod, pork croquettes seasoned with northern curry paste, then sample the crab curry, lamb gaeng ped, caramelized fish sauce cabbage and more.
710 Polk St.; 415-440-8344 / Website
Calling all veggie lovers: Thai Idea Vegetarian boasts an all-vegetarian menu composed of modern, produce-focused interpretations of Thai classics. Try the deep-fried panko enoki mushrooms dipped in sweet and sour sauce, or feast on the chef’s suggestions of pumpkin curry, volcanic beef, Bangkok duck and more—all of which feature animal protein substitutes to reimagine Asian classics. Keep in mind, this restaurant is closed every Wednesday.
Multiple locations / Website
Boasting three San Francisco locations, this upscale Thai eatery’s menu is anything but basic—in fact, it consists of over 100 fresh and authentic dishes sure to delight. The daily chef’s specials promise plenty of adventurous eats, with past offerings including pig liver with wilted greens and red onion; garlic frog served with red chile sauce; and an eggplant stir-fry with generous chunks of alligator and eel.
710 Florida St.; 415-814-2920 / Website
At Farmhouse Kitchen, cheekily-named classic eats and harder-to-find street foods abound. One such exciting item is the Volcano Cup, a very spicy noodle stir fry made with in-house God-mother sauce served with braised short ribs, bell peppers and peppercorns. Also be sure to try the popular pad Thai and pad see you, as well as the blue jasmine rice, crispy roti and pumpkin fries.
2348 Polk St.; 415-346-1818 / Website
This relaxing dining experience in the Russian Hill district features a wide variety of flavorful Thai dishes alongside authentic Thai decor, instantly transporting diners across the world to Southeast Asia. Stop by for a bite or two—we recommend the Thai curry puffs, papaya salad and pla rad prik deep-fried snapper topped with mushrooms, onion, ginger and tamarind sauce.
1600 Folsom St.; 415-861-6224 / Website
A family-run resto for over 30 years, Manora’s Thai Cuisine is known for its bountiful portions and vegetarian-friendly menu. Start with an order of the Tong-Tong fried dumplings with shrimp, chicken and vegetable with a cucumber dipping sauce. For the main, kai yad sai Thai-style omelets are stuffed with a decadent mixture of crab, shrimp and chicken sprinkled with flavorful Thai herbs.
Want even more Asian food delights? Try one of our favorite pho restaurants in San Francisco, or just go for a delicious fish taco.
Photography by: BY EMY/UNSPLASH
