There is an abundance of Thai restaurants, takeaways, and bars in Houston, forever changing and growing. So if you’re trying to find the best one, then you’re in the right place with our guide to the 7 best places to have Thai food in Houston in 2022.
The main flavor combinations should be sweet, spicy, sour, salty, and savory when it comes to Thai food. But which places offer the perfect mix.
So if you’re out on the town tonight in search of excellent Thai cuisine, then follow our guide to get you to the right spot.
Best Places to Get Thai Food in Houston
During our search for the best Thai food in Houston, we have researched all kinds of restaurants, from romantic destinations to family-friendly venues.
We have looked at the best places for meat-eaters and vegans alike, along with any locations that cater to specific dietary needs such as gluten intolerance.
We have checked out the prices too so that something will suit everyone’s pockets.
And with that, let’s dive straight in and see the restaurants we thought were the best picks in Houston for Thai food.
1. Thai Gourmet
| Address: | 6324 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77057 |
| Website: | https://www.thaigourmethouston.com/ |
| Food: | Crispy rice, cheese spring rolls, Thai salad, vegetarian |
| Our Recommendation: | Crying Tiger/Suea Rong Hai |
Thai Gourmet is a cozy, authentic Thai restaurant serving traditional recipes using exotic spices. Although Thai food is traditionally spicy, this restaurant is good because you can order every dish to the heat of your liking. Beware, though, if you order something “Thai Hot,” it will be HOT, and you are expected to pay for a new dish if you can’t handle the heat. Be warned.
They offer a great range of dishes, including beef, chicken, duck, and seafood. The “Crying Tiger,” which is a grilled rib-eye steak, served with a Thai dipping sauce, was beautifully cooked, and the flavors were great. The Basil Scallops and the Triple Spicy Fish were also excellent and packed with herby and spicy flavors.
They have a good selection when it comes to vegetarian dishes too, the Red Curry Veggies and Tofu, in particular, were excellent.
If you’re dining with a large party, they also offer most of their dishes as “Party Trays”; these vary in price and can serve between ten and fifty people. These do require ordering 48 hours in advance.
Some dishes can be ordered from the luncheon menu at a lower price; this is offered from 11 am till 2:15 pm.
There is no children’s menu, but some lighter dishes are available. All menu items can be requested with a low spice heat, making them suitable for little ones.
2. Thai Bistro
| Address: | 3241 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77027 |
| Website: | https://www.txthaibistro.com/ |
| Food: | Tom Yum, curry, noodle, fried rice, vegetarian |
| Our Recommendation: | Yellow Curry Vermicelli & Gems of the Sea |
Thai Bistro is a relaxing restaurant with two different restaurants in Houston, not only serving Thai specialties but also offering a Vietnamese twist to their menu as well.
The restaurant is small, intimate, and cozy, and you feel right at home from the moment you enter; this is helped by the fantastic welcome you receive from the friendly and helpful staff.
They have a large variety on their menu, and there is something for everyone. The Yellow Curry Vermicelli was lovely, spicy, with a great coconut flavor, and they cooked the noodles perfectly. The pineapple fried rice was also delicious.
The soup selection is small but lovely; if you’re looking for a lighter bite, the Crystal Noodle Soup is worth a try.
They have a superb choice for vegan and vegetarian dishes, and most entrees’ can have the meat replaced with tofu on request.
Most of the main dishes here come up around $14.95 to $17.95, with some of the specials and seafood being a little more expensive, but if you are dining on a budget, then we recommend visiting Monday – Thursday between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm or Friday – Sunday between 11 am and 4 pm. During these hours, they have a lunchtime special where you will find a selection of the main menu dishes a tad cheaper.
3. Street Food Thai Market
| Address: | 1010 W Cavalcade St D, Houston, TX 77009 |
| Website: | https://streetfoodthaimarket.com/ |
| Food: | Esearn sausage, chicken wings, grilled meatballs, pad Thai, Som Tum |
| Our Recommendation: | Pad Cha Khee Mao Seafood and Panang Curry |
Street Food Thai Market is unique in that, not only does it allow you to get a taste of traditional Thai cuisine, following classic recipes. But it also has a built-in grocery store, which will enable you to buy all the ingredients needed to make those dishes yourself at home.
The family has been running restaurants for the last 30 years, so their experience and knowledge of the food they serve is extraordinary.
All their ingredients are purchased daily from the local farmers’ market, which is why everything you eat tastes so fresh and organic.
Their menu may not be quite as extensive as some Thai restaurants we are used to, but this doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to choose from.
The dishes we’ve recommended were beautifully presented, served piping hot, and packed with delicious flavors and spices. You could see the love that had gone into every element of each dish.
There are plenty of choices when it comes to vegetarian and vegan; with each dish having the option of selecting tofu as a protein, there is also a separate vegetable menu.
When it came to price, it was pretty average, and you will be looking at around $11.95 for the main course, if you opt for the soft shell crab as a meat choice, though, it will be a couple of dollars more.
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4. Vieng Thai
| Address: | 6929 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055 |
| Website: | https://viengthai.com/ |
| Food: | Clams, Massaman, steak, fried rice |
| Our Recommendation: | Plaa Sa-lid Tod |
Vieng Thai is a top-rated destination, especially for those with Thai heritage. It has a very homely and authentic feel inside. Despite it being inside a discreet shopping mall and not a noticeable restaurant, this does not affect their bustling custom.
Their menu is unique in that it does not aim itself towards American expectations. So if you’re looking for a no-nonsense, totally traditional Thai dining experience, this place is a must.
All the meals are cooked in a real home-style way, making each dish feel like it’s been prepared especially for you personally. The flavors stand out, and every meal is special in its own way. Our recommendation was exquisite, with punchy flavors and just the right amount of spice. Don’t forget, a lot of this is spicy food, so if not keen on the heat, speak to your server about a milder dish.
The menu is once again relatively a bit smaller than your usual Houston Thai eatery. Still, every one of the dishes jumps off the menu, making you want to give it a try. You can see why it is popular with those who genuinely understand traditional Thai cuisine.
They have a vegetarian menu available with plenty of choices, including the “Hot Basil Fried Rice” and the “Spicy Eggplant.”
The price is at the lower end of our chosen restaurants, which is excellent considering the authenticity you experience. The main course menu options range from $6.99 to $12.99.
5. Thai Pepper Restaurant
| Address: | 2049 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098 |
| Website: | http://thaipepperhouston.com/ |
| Food: | Salad, noodles, fried rice, curry, duck |
| Our Recommendation: | Hot and Sour Soup and Lime Seafood Salad |
Founded in 1983, Thai Pepper Restaurant, situated in a quaint little bungalow close to River Oaks, has been serving traditional Thai spiced dishes to Houston for almost four decades.
They offer what they call a “Pepper Label System,” meaning that you have a guide to which dishes contain more or less spice. Each dish promises to please all the senses, satisfying the taste buds, nose, and eyes.
The service was very friendly, and all the staff were warm, helpful, and smiling upon arrival.
The Lime Seafood Salad we sampled was amazing; although it was one of the higher-priced dishes on the menu, you could see where your money was being spent, including the array of seafood on the plate, the way it was all presented was eye-pleasing and vibrant.
The prices of the rest of the menu were average to high. There is a section on the menu that is all Duck dishes. These are more expensive, around $20.50 – $21.50, but the other main menu items average between $12.95 and $17.95. But it is 100% money well spent.
6. Nua Thai Restaurant
| Address: | 3620 N.Main St. AT I-45, Houston Heights 77009 |
| Website: | https://www.nuathairestaurant.com/ |
| Food: | Steamed or fried dumplings, Tilapia, chicken wings, jerky, noodles |
| Our Recommendation: | Som Tum Tad, Curry Fried Rice |
“NUA” in Thai actually translates to “Delicious,” and it goes without saying that that is most definitely what you can expect when you order anything from Nua Thai Restaurant.
They pride themselves on serving only top-quality ingredients, with a dedication and passion for service and tradition.
The dishes here are all very classically presented, making the experience feel sophisticated. All the dishes are clean and vibrant, making them pleasant on the eye. On top of the presentation, though, are the flavors. Everything we had tasted amazing and left us wanting to try more.
We tried the chicken and the pineapple fried rice, and they were both fantastic; also, the hot seafood stir fry was packed full of flavor with a good heat to it if you like spicy food. The Miso Salmon was also a fantastic dish.
There are plenty of choices for vegetarians and vegans, as you can pick any dish from the menu and opt to have tofu instead of one of the meaty options.
Once again, Prices are average to high, and you can get a lovely main course for as low as $12.95 or as high as $19.95.
They also have a children’s menu here, which we didn’t see many of when visiting Thai restaurants in Houston, although it is minimal, consisting of chicken fried rice or chicken nuggets, both prices at $6.95 each.
7. Asia Market Thai Lao Food
| Address: | 3620 N.Main St. AT I-45, Houston Heights 77009 |
| Website: | http://www.asiamarketthailaofoods.com/ |
| Food: | Steamed or fried dumplings, Tilapia, chicken wings, jerky, noodles |
| Our Recommendation: | Som Tum Tad, Curry Fried Rice |
Asia Market Thai Lao Food is a relaxed, half market, half restaurant kind of establishment. So perhaps not your go for fine dining, but most definitely the place to go to visit flavor town!
It has been in operation since 1987, with three owners in total, starting out only as a convenience store. The current owner opted to transform the store in 2015, making it possible to order meals, carry out meals, and dine-in.
The chefs here have been serving Thai and Lao food all their lives, and their experience shows in the food you receive. It is a very family-orientated kitchen, which gives this place a really homely vibe when eating here.
They use only fresh, good-quality ingredients, including some of the best (and hottest) spices on the market. Most of them are imported directly from Thailand due to a lack of availability in the US. The Papaya Salad was just one of the dishes that really showed this off.
Amongst other dishes, the “Curry Fried Rice,” the “Tiger Cry,” and the “Shrimp Pad Thai” were all fabulous, the flavors we tasted were out of this world, everything was entirely unique to the restaurant.
They have a great choice of vegetarian options; alongside the “veggies” list on the menu, you’re also able to choose tofu in replacement of meat, so the possibilities are vast.
Regarding the prices here, they rank low in our guide, with most of their dishes being around $10; we thought this was amazing for the food quality we received.
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Summary
We hope that our guide has helped you narrow down your choices and helped you pick the best restaurant in Houston.
If you have found this helpful, make sure you keep up to date with our ever-growing list of guides, including 8 Best Indian Restaurants in Houston, Texas, and 10 Top Fish and Seafood Markets in Houston, TX.
And so for now, Lā k̀xn!