We know you’re in Queenstown for the adrenaline rush – after all, who can say no to bungee jumping, jet boating, and skydiving? But you know what else will have your heart pumping? Perfectly spiced Thai food!

Whether you’re a New Zealander just hopping from town to town or a traveler looking for a big meal after a day out, this list is all you need. We’ve tried and tested (tasted, actually) each of these stops so we’re sure you’re in good hands.

1. Thai Cuisine Queenstown

Thai Cuisine is the perfect spot for those who love a chill experience with great food. Located just stones away from the Wakatipu Lakefront, dining on their outdoor terrace is a draw on its own.

The flavours are authentically Thai, and the portions are just right for what we paid for. Their pad Thai is amazing for a classic, but there are also more unique options like the sizzling ginger blue cod for something different.

Because of its atmosphere, the entire place does feel super relaxing. In fact, the noise levels are low enough to have long, casual conversations. It has a nice mixture of locals and tourists too, so the appeal of tastes is pretty diverse.

If you’re coming during busy hours though, around lunch and a little after 8:00 PM, the slow can feel much slower than expected. It can be frustrating, but your patience will pay off in the end.

Large and tasty food 

“We had a nice meal. We came without reservations so they asked us to return in 45 minutes. At that time, we were seated right away. We got the calamari appetizer, which was a little spicy but otherwise tasty. I got the duck pineapple and lychee curry. There weren’t many lychees but it was very tasty and the portion size was large. The pad thai was good.”

Elizabeth Chiang | Google Reviews 

Delicious and exceptional meals

“The restaurant is located on the first floor. We enjoyed dinner. They are busy many customers eat at a restaurant and take away. The staff works continuously and the service is good, the food comes out quickly. The dishes we ordered were delicious. Except for the beef patty, it’s okay. I see they also sell some small plants, set of spoon and knife on the counter. Nice!”

Chloe Dang | Google Reviews 

2. My Thai Lounge

Because of its popularity among tourists, we were a bit unsure about My Thai Lounge. Fortunately, they immediately earned our trust with an extensive menu, and yes, the flavours are as authentic as they can get.

Highlights like the minced pork kaprao and yum woon sen have nice presentations. The portions of the dishes are perfect for sharing, so it feels like you’re getting more than what you’ve paid.

Our team’s favourite part, though, is the ambiance of the place – it has panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains. While the views aren’t the most “Thai” per se, we do love the cosiness and family feel it gives off.

Just take note that their staff can be a bit pushy when it comes to upselling drinks or entrees. We find them friendly and nice, but we know it’s bothersome for some guests, so please take note.

Accommodates food restrictions 

“Just like in Thailand, the real deal. With a wonderfully tangy and spicy green papaya salad, spring rolls, and noodles and curries. The pad see ew was brilliant, as were the red curry and the other dishes we had. There were five of us and everyone felt content with our choices. Staff was friendly and happy to accommodate any food restrictions we had. And the view at our table was a bonus.”

Doron Hovav | Google Reviews

Friendly and pleasant service 

“Im someone who normally hesitates with regards to thai food, but this came out as a pleasant and delicious experience. Service crew friendly and attend to needs promptly. Would give 6/5 if I could for the thai food. We are mainly vegetarian and had the vegan dumplings, green curry, rice, roti and drunken noodles and tapioca pudding. Food was great throughout!”

Vishnu Vemula Sri Sai | Google Reviews

3. Bronze Elephant Thai – Frankton

Bronze Elephant Thai doesn’t even have to try at this point. As one of the city’s most prominent Thai spots, they earned a loyal following for many reasons: good food, great prices, and vibes that match pretty much every type of diner.

The location alone is a win – it has plenty of free parking available, so driving with your group or family is a breeze. Once you enter, the ambiance has a light, comforting feel, which we like to associate with their cheerful staff. 

Some of the best meals we’ve had here are their chicken pad thai and the massaman curry, the latter being one of the best we’ve had outside Thailand. Plus, if you request so, they can swap certain ingredients to meet dietary needs.

If you want to dine in, we suggest bringing cash as there’s a surcharge for credit card payments. And you may want to order some drinks, as occasionally some of their dishes taste saltier than expected.

Professional service and reasonably priced 

“Friendly, professional staff, an open kitchen and great, reasonably priced Thai food. We had to wait a bit longer and the waitress came out with complimentary spring rolls. We were just looking forward to the food and wouldn’t have minded waiting the extra 10 minutes, but the gesture was really nice and appreciated!”

Boy Roozendaal | Google Reviews

Lively dining atmosphere 

“Great little spot, nice and bright with a lively atmosphere, can see the chefs busy in the kitchen. The food was tasty, friendly service. Only area for improvement would be that they should bring the food out at about the same time. Our stir fry arrived first, then had to wait for the fried rice and the side vegetables only arrived after we had almost finished eating. Worth checking out if in the area!”

Naomi C | Google Reviews

4. Tham Nak Thai

Popular among tourists and locals alike, Tham Nak Thai offers everything we want in a restaurant. They offer a wide range of delicious Thai dishes, served in portions that are generous enough for sharing.

Some of the best we’ve tasted include their thom kha soup, pad see ew, and their vegetarian spring roll entree. In line with the last one, they can have a dedicated vegetarian section, so it’s easy for those on an alternative diet.

Food is fairly priced and the service remained fast and attentive, even though we arrived during busy lunch hours. It does feel packed though, but nothing that can easily frustrate the average diner.

The only downside is the inconsistency of the food quality – there were reports that the food was too sweet or too bland. On the good side, this appears to be a small issue that the restaurant has dealt with immediately.

Down-to-earth staff 

“A hustling restaurant with tasty food at a reasonable price. I would recommend the red duck curry and the tom yum soup, but the thai milk tea was a little too sweet for my taste – though in all fairness I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. The staff were very accommodating and down to earth as well.”

Aria S. Zhang | Google Reviews

Lovely Thai restaurant 

“Great $15 lunch special deal with spring roll entree, choice of main, and a drink. Gorgeous food. Generous portion even for the deal. Pictured is the Cashew Nut with beef. Service is excellent, polite and not overbearing. A lovely Thai restaurant right in the heart of Queenstown, just two blocks from Lake Wakatipu. I would definitely return.”

Renae C. Greenman | Google Reviews

5. Thai Siam Kitchen

Convenience is definitely Thai Siam Kitchen’s winning point. Located in the Frankton area, the restaurant offers plenty of parking, which isn’t something you can easily find in more central locations.

Inside, it’s modest, but it’s cosy and easy to have a casual chat with. It has a nice, family feel, which is further emphasised by their friendly staff. Everyone is polite and attentive, making it feel like we’re in a 5-star resto.

The food is delish and straightforward – the red curry and chicken pad Thai have the perfect balance of flavours. We also loved their taro shakes and Thai iced tea which match well with every meal

If you’re thinking of delivery orders, though, you may encounter delays and communication issues. For quick meals, we find it enough, but dining in may be best to really enjoy the entire experience.

Incredible food and atmosphere 

“Well what can one say. Incredible food, incredible atmosphere and the lovely young lady that served was 100% I was so happy with all that I only took a photo of my entree, Tom Yum soup which in the words of our server “oh she is so cute” Sorry I can remember your name (starts with M?) but I loved your bubbly personality. So combined with the amazing food and you I will be back when I am next in Frankton, QT.”

Tess Curry | Google Reviews

Nice hot meals 

“We were staying at the Holiday Inn just down the road from here. Very handy on cold nights. You don’t have to go looking for some where to eat. There were four of us, the meals were so nice we came for four nights. Between us we had eight different meals. We couldn’t fault any of them. Nice & hot, plenty of food on the dishes. Fried banana & ice cream. Sweet & Sour, 2 bowls of white rice each night, I can’t remember all the meals. Some are ticked below. Plus one of us had a glass of Irish Whiskey on ice.”

Terry Uren | Google Reviews

---