The food scene in Wellington is simply out of this world. And when it comes to Thai cuisine, we take our business seriously. 

Our team will never take anything less than the best, so for recommendations, we’re the ones to trust. 

This selection of the best Thai restaurants in Wellington was done with some serious work and food sampling. It took us a while to settle for only the most notable options, but hey, at least we know our readers are eating well! 

1. Somtum Thai Restaurant

The range of food at Somtum Thai Restaurant is impressive, with various Thai staples perfect for family meals. Our team definitely loved the roti with satay sauce, as well as their moo ping grilled pork skewers as appetisers.

We also liked that they have a Bring-Your-Own (BYO) drink option and a fully licensed bar. This makes it easier for big groups to pair their meals with the restaurant’s Thai beer selection.

The only downside if you’re coming as a group is that parking can be a challenge, especially during busy evenings. There’s street parking, but it’s quite limited – it might be best to opt for a ride-share for your visit.

Despite this, the overall dining experience is top-notch, with them being able to accommodate various dietary needs. The menu also has clearly labelled options for vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free dishes.

Very satisfying experience 

“Had some delicious deep fried fish and a duck salad. Both the dishes were full of flavour, perfect amount of heat and tang, and good portion size. Loved both the dishes. The seafood lover in me was very satisfied. Really good food, and good customer service. Would love to go back to try out other options on the menu.”

Saipriya Krishna | Google Reviews 

Awesome food selection

“It was a great experience, full of flavours, hot, belly full and beautiful. We were glad to have a good advice from the duty manager and selected a salad and a stir fry to share. The salad was with fish, and the stir fry was pork belly. Ooohh! Both were awesome! A warning : hot, even not Thai hot, is burning you from inside, pleasantly but noticeable. So select wisely!”

Svetlana S (SvS) | Google Reviews

2. Phuthai Esarn Restaurant

Phuthai Esarn won us over with the quality of their service. Across all the visits we did, they were consistently welcoming and warm. They were particularly accommodating to small groups even during busy weekend evenings.

The menu is pretty well-rounded, carrying plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. We definitely loved their tom yum soup the most, considering how the flavours are so perfectly balanced (some patrons even call it the “best in Wellington”).

When it comes to prices, their dishes are reasonable, especially considering the quality and presentation. They even have lunch deals for cheaper options, as well as quick dine-in and takeaway services.

You may just find that for certain dishes, the portions are surprisingly small – even a few dessert items were smaller than expected. Nonetheless, they didn’t fall short in everything else we liked.

Excellent Thai food

“Excellent Thai cuisine in a small charming location slightly off the main restaurant area. Service was polite and efficient. Had the red mixed appetizer plate, curry seafood, chicken stir fry with cashews and carrot salad. Everything was fresh. Very reasonably priced. Limited wine list but good options. Can bring your own.”

Tom Lowe | Google Reviews

Good portion and prices 

“Best Thai food in Wellington. I was craving for Thai food and I was not disappointed. Good portion and price too. The whole fish was so delicious and Pad Thai is the must have. We also had deep fried ice cream for dessert and it was such a good combination the warm crispy coating and cold ice cream. Definitely will be back again.”

Tanyapat Parnell | Google Reviews

3. Aroy Thai Eatery – Cuba Street

Our team found Aroy Thai Eatery to be one of Wellington’s most affordable Thai dining spots. On top of that, their dishes arrive within only 5 to 10 minutes, making them perfect for those who need quick meals.

We loved their extensive menu that balances many rich and authentic flavours, including their beloved black pepper beer and chicken pad thai. Vegetarian options are available too, though we recommend clarifying your request to the staff first.

The restaurant isn’t your premium spot, but it’s clear and vibrant enough for most diners to enjoy. The servers are smiley, which we really appreciate considering most of their patrons are families with the elderly and kids.

Unfortunately, the food can be inconsistent at times, with certain ingredients appearing to be overcooked. But this is not a recurring issue and could have just been overlooked at the moment.

Highly recommended 

“The cashier left a little note on my food that absolutely made my day 🙂 She had the most beautiful service straight off the bat and the conversation flowed easy. Lovely young lady was the only staff I saw and I’m sorry I didn’t catch her name but I’ll be back because the food was also 10/10! Would highly recommend! Get the mango sticky pudding.”

Anja Tapiki | Google Reviews

Perfectly seasoned meals

“PLEASE try the Beef Noodle Soup but swap for Fried Pork. Its the best thing you could possibly eat for under $25 on a cold, miserable day. The broth is salty, meaty, sweet and well seasoned with spices. The fried pork is a perfect combination of fatty, meaty and crispy. Nice, lowkey place to get delicious food.”

Rebekah Motley | Google Reviews

4. Yor Yak Thai Eatery

Yor Yak ticked all of our boxes, especially when it comes to speedy services for groups. It’s located conveniently, making it the perfect spot for after-work eating out.

Our team absolutely loved their dishes, considering how the quality and flavours are consistently good. From the prawn fried rice to the chicken skewers, everything is well-balanced and served hot.

Though not that excessive, we appreciate the range of vegetarian options. Their staff accepts requests, so we recommend telling them ahead if you have dietary preferences. 

The portion sizes are just slightly smaller compared to what we expected, though. But hearing the responses from other customers, this isn’t always the case. At least the prices are fantastic, so even students can afford a nice, hearty meal.

Amazing, delicious, highly recommended 

“We ordered delivery and the food arrived on time, but the delivery wasn’t the greatest (delivery was thru a delivery service called Deliver Easy). After the weird delivery, we were a little worried about the food. But it was AMAZING!!!! Absolutely delicious, so glad we chose Yor Yak. Next time we’re in Wellington we’ll definitely go for the eat-in experience. We had Crispy pork and Crispy duck stir fry, highly recommended.”

Mystik Mermayde | Google Reviews 

Friendly and welcoming 

“The service here is friendly and welcoming. The food is amazing. I ordered cashew stir-fry with coconut rice. Good portion size and nice and hot. I highly recommend eating here. If you haven’t booked, like me, l recommend coming early as it is very popular especially for takeaways.”

Christina | Google Reviews 

5. Central Thai Restaurant

For those who want an atmospheric dining experience, Central Thai is definitely the spot. The decor will immediately transport you to Bangkok, with beautiful wooden accents, warm lighting, and cultural touches.

You can access their full menu any time of the day, but if we have to choose, their pad krapow is definitely the best. The flavour is bold but still has that nice, comforting quality to it that we think families would love.

Just take note that most of their dishes lean towards the sweeter side, so that authentic Thai kick isn’t that strong. Customers did tell us that they prefer this approach to food, as the portions are just as filling anyway.

Apart from the competitive prices, we also loved how prompt and polite their services are. And with plenty of street parking available nearby, it’s definitely an accessible spot for most diners. 

Closest thing to Thailand

“Closest thing to eating in Thailand I’ve experienced in Wellington. Going to Thailand has ruined Thai food for me in NZ. There are only a few places in Wellington that are as good as what I had in Thailand, and this is one of them. Oh and you have to try the dessert. So good.”

Sky Heighway | Google Reviews

Really good food

“Central Thai Restaurant in Lower Hutt serves really good food in a beautifully decorated and authentically themed environment. The food service was prompt and the staff were attentive and polite. The venue was very crowded, which meant it was a bit noisy at times, but that’s only because people were enjoying themselves. Prices were good too. I would like to come back and would recommend.”

Haydn Murdoch | Google Reviews

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