Salt Lake City's Best Thai Restaurants

Description:

Chanon Thai Cafe tops the list of Salt Lake City's surprisingly vast array of Asian restaurants. This little hole-in-the-wall is a funky, quirky, friendly cafe that serves up fresh-tasting, wonderfully-smelling Thai cuisine in a low-key, traditional dining room. If you are looking for something spicy, Chanon Thai Cafe can definitely deliver the goods-but as you may already know, you should likely not order higher than a 2 or 3 out of 5 on the spice scale. Don't worry if you are not into spice; you can customize the dishes as you wish. The Gang Masaman Curry and the Pad Gra Paw are some of the best dishes on the menu.

The cafe is nearly always packed and the service is reliably slow for American standards. Be patient because the wait is certainly worth it and one you order the food it is typically in front of you within minutes. Alternatively, a great option is to order for takeaway; the food is still just as good, but the slower service won't bother you!

Description:

Thaifoon celebrates Asian-American food in every way, shape and form. Though the name of the restaurant suggests that their specialty is Thai food, they also serve up Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and other Asian-fusion creations with a modern twist. Try the "Drunken Shrimp" - crispy shrimp served with a flaming sauce of sweet citrus and rum. Or try their "Mango Chicken" signature dish - mango and chicken stir-fried in a sweet mango chili sauce. Located in the Gateway Center, the restaurant vibe is upscale yet approachable. Be sure to get a seat near the 40-foot cascading glass water wall (or, if you'd prefer, sit near the west-facing windows to watch the sunset). Validated parking is available in the Gateway lots.

Description:

From the outside, this cafe is very unassuming. It looks more like a fast-food restaurant than the home of fine Thai food at reasonable prices. However, this place serves delicious, authentic Thai cuisine and is very popular with locals. The food tends to be on the spicy side, so be sure to discuss your preferences with your server. The spicy shrimp in hot chili sauce is a favorite or try a milder chicken or noodle dish.

Description:

Known by Salt Lake City locals as one of the best lunch spots in town, Thai Lotus serves up flavor packed traditional Thai items from Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles to spicy stir-fry veggie dishes and seafood Thai curries. Located across the street from the Salt Lake Public Library, Thai Lotus is just a Trax ride away from downtown. With colorful flowers on the table, lively art on the walls, and Thai pop music filling the air, this family run restaurant is warm and cozy.

Our Local Expert Says:

Fabulous curry dishes, extensive vegetarian menu, and tasty desserts.

Description:

Salt Lake City has an abundance of great Thai Restaurants, but this one really does stand above the others in terms of atmosphere, fresh flavors, and generousness with seafood, meat, and veggies. Praised as "The most authentic Thai eating experience in Utah" by City Weekly Magazine, Sawadee serves up over 50 Thai items on their menu from the classic Pad Thai to stir-fried shrimp, scallops, or tofu with zesty hot chili sauces. Appetizers are a must -so try the Crispy Thai Spring Rolls or the Thai Curry Puff (deep-fried puff pastry with potato, onion, and curry), which pair nicely with Sawadee's extensive wine and beer menu. The portions are generous so you'll want to share. Just make sure to save room for sticky rice and mangos for dessert.

Bottom line: for just a dollar or two more per entree, you'll enjoy better service, a more elegant atmosphere, and greater portions than at Sawadee's competition.