Khao Thai Kitchen in Bayan Lepas offers a warm, homey vibe and a Thai-run kitchen with plenty of menu options. The RM 15.90 set lunch (main + drink + dessert) delivers good value, while their regular dishes cover the popular Thai flavours you’d want. Cozy and comfortable, it’s one of the better picks for an affordable, casual Thai meal in the area.
Tucked away in Pulau Tikus, Wok & Whisk is a fresh new Thai eatery offering a thoughtfully curated, pork‑free menu in a charmingly cozy setting. With a streamlined yet satisfying selection—think classic favourites like Som Tum, Tom Yum, Green Curry, and Pad Kra Pow—you’ll find just enough variety without feeling overwhelmed. The warm interior vibe, paired with approachable prices, makes this a great spot for relaxed weekday meals or casual get‑togethers with friends.
Tucked along Kampung Malabar, Thai House Cafe is a modest Thai eatery helmed by a team from Hatyai. The menu leans towards Southern Thai flavours, offering a variety of spicy, tangy dishes that stay true to their roots. The air-conditioned space provides a comfortable setting, though portions tend to be on the smaller side. Prices are reasonable, and the place sees a steady crowd, especially on weekends.
New Thai restaurant for Thai food lovers to explore- GSH Thai Cuisine Cafe at Seang Teik Road Georgetown offers a Thai menu featuring Rice Set and Noodle options. Budget-watchers would be glad to know that a Rice Set here costs as low as RM9.90. The place is air-conditioned and could accommodate large groups. The only downside is the lack of parking space.
Thai food lovers would be glad to know that there is a new Thai restaurant at Tree Square- Rose's Home. The signage might not be that visually-appealing but Rose's Home is a Thai restaurant with a big Thai menu. You can find all familiar Thai delights here- from appetizers to proteins or even desserts. The place has limited seating and if you are planning to visit in a large group, do make early reservation. Price-wise, the dishes are priced slightly above average.
Thai food lovers will be glad to know that there is a new Thai restaurant opened in Farlim Square. Though the name Baan Khun Thai does sound familiar and may coincide with other establishment- we were made understood that this is a new Thai restaurant. The owner runs a Thai Wellness Centre a couple shops away from the restaurant. Menu-wise, it offers quite a good selection of Southern Thai delights. The restaurant is air-conditioned but might be less-accommodating for larger groups due to limited tables. Do make early reservation if you intend to visit in a large group.
A humble new restaurant at Jalan Krian- Man Man Fu 满满福 offers a Thai-influenced menu specializing in Thai noodle dishes. Their signature dishes include the Thai Koay Chiap, Thai Tom Yum Noodles and various Thai Rice dishes. The setting is really simple and straight-forward, but the place is air-conditioned so you still get to dine-in comfortably without sweating profusely. Good quality of food and reasonable prices, a place meant for a Thai quick fix.
Housed in CYC Heritage Hotel at CY Choy, Skiff Thai Cafe replaces ATAS Cafe of the same spot; offering a small Thai menu. Visitors can park their cars at the car park behind the building (within the CYC Heritage Hotel) and enter from behind. The cafe features a small Thai menu consists of Thai Boat Noodles, a small selection of Thai appetizers and mains. The price points are generally higher than most Thai restaurants- considering the extremely small portions. It poses a challenge to visit in a big group as you will probably need to order a few more extras to make up the portion (also the drinks- be prepared to pay RM9 for a glass of Nutmeg-cordial juice). Quality-wise, the ones we had were fine, just the portion did not quite justify the prices.
Strategically located right next to the Pulau Aman Jetty, Thong Ne Thae Restauran is a Halal Thai restaurant that has been trending on social media platforms. The place is known for its breath-taking sea view, particularly in the evening for the sunset view. The restaurant has plenty of tables and able to accommodate large groups... making it ideal for company eat-outs or casual family dining. The menu is somewhat limited though- with a few Thai-style signature dishes. It has a self-service system where diners will need to order through the order-counter and self-collect the orders from the pick up counter. It is crucial to understand Malay language as they will call the name and inform in Malay language (not so friendly to foreigners). The place is not air-conditioned and can be quite warm during late afternoons. On top of the restaurant menu, there is also a corner dedicated to Thai-imported snacks where you can find chilled Thai products (like CP Burgers) or snacks. To reach this place, follow the same path as how you would travel to the Pulau Aman Jetty, you will need to pay RM5 for the parking fee (and it does not warrant you a place to park).
Right opposite to Chung Ling Private High School along Jalan Air Hitam, Yum Saap is a neighborhood Thai restaurant that serves classic southern Thai stir fry dishes. The menu is pretty extensive- from the timeless Thai appetizers to mains like Tom Yum, they even have Thai raw marinated Seafood. Prices are reasonable, expect around Rm 20- Rm 30 per pax for a meal here. The facade may not seem too appealing but there is an indoor, air-conditioned dining area. Regular patrons start to flood in after 6:30 pm, so be there early if you need to secure a table in the air-conditioned dining area.
Those who seek for affordable Thai quick fix at Sungai Dua area should check out Thai Tuk Tuk, a new Thai restaurant at Vanda Business Park (few shops away from Family Mart). The place is air-conditioned with simple but comfortable seating. Thai Tuk Tuk carries a fairly big Thai menu- whether you are seeking for personal meal or to share, the options are there.
Thai Tut Tut at Southbay Plaza, Batu Maung has been around for a few good years. The place has been dishing out authentic yet wallet-friendly Thai delights since its opening. It is a popular spot for those who work/live in the area for a quick Thai fix. The menu is fairly big, featuring many Thai dishes familiar to Penangites. There are some hits and misses but the price points are very affordable, especially it is a proper, air-conditioned Thai restaurant.
Urai Thai Kitchen is one of the latest additions to the Penang Thai food scene, it is a casual eatery that serves up some seriously good Thai food in the heart of Georgetown. It is easy to miss Urai Thai Kitchen, pay attention to the right side while you are driving along Cintra Street, the Thai restaurant is a short walk away from the traditional biscuit shop- Ng Kee. Menu-wise, the restaurant offers a big Thai menu with many familiar classics on the list; for solo-diners, you can also order their Set Meal which is good for only one diner. Dishes are reasonably priced with good, complex Thai flavors; worth checking out for Thai food lovers.
A new spot for Thai food lovers to check it out- Kin Zab at Noordin Street offers a Thai Street Food menu, featuring many Thai delicacies from southern Thai. The proprietor is from Hatyai and naturally, able to offer the best from Songkhla district. The menu features a selection of Thai noodles- Boat Noodles, Tom Yum, MAMA noodles etc with an array of Rice and side dishes. Some uncommon dishes like Yen To Foo are also available. Price points are reasonable but expect the portion to be smaller than expected. The place is air-conditioned and offers a comfortable space for a quick meal.
Those hankering for a taste of Thai can satiate their cravings at Meng Thai Village Restaurant, a Thai restaurant located off the bustling Jalan Raja Uda. The Thai restaurant has just started its business operations end of last year and has been the go-to Thai restaurant for those living in the neighborhood. The place gets busy even in the afternoons; but for the heat intolerant, be warned- as the place is not air-conditioned. So be prepared for a sweat-inducing meal. The Pork-Free menu is fairly big, with most signature Thai delights included. The price points are of middle-range. Despite the good reviews given by some online reviewers, we found there were some hits and misses for our orders. Probably we did not order the right dishes...
Thai food lovers would be very excited to learn that Para Thai, a Thai chain restaurant has finally opened up a branch up north in Penang. The latest branch can be found at the lower ground floor of Gurney Plaza Penang. The strategic location provides easy access to delicious Halal Thai food. The menu is somewhat extensive- from saliva-inducing starters to tummy-satisfying mains or even Thai sweet treats. The quality seems to be pretty consistent (its a chain restaurant anyway) but the price points are above average (example: the bill for the two of us came to be slightly more than RM160). Nevertheless, we do see that Para Thai is an option with easy access and for quality Halal Thai food.
The Thai Cafe and Restaurant at Sri Bahari Road is a new place where you get to enjoy good Thai food in a comfortable cafe setting. Unlike any regular Thai restaurant, this new kid on the block offers a slightly different menu as compared to its competitors. The menu features mostly rice sets with a small variety of appetizers or sides; making it hard for bigger group of diners to share the food (good for smaller groups). The Thai has the standard cafe setting, fully air-conditioned and certainly comfortable. A nice place in town to have a quick, budget Thai fix.
Thai food lovers should not be new to the name- Thailander, as the brand has a strong presence in Gurney Plaza food court. The proprietor is also related to the Thai food stall in Lotus E-Gate. With the strong support from the regulars, Thailander has finally opened a proper Thai restaurant in Vantage Desiran Tanjung Penang. The menu is quite limited but more than good enough to satisfy anyone with Thai food cravings. The classics are there- from Maeng Kam, various Thai Salads, Tom Yum to Thai stir-fries or even desserts; Thailander has everything in the menu. Also, food items here are affordably priced so a decent meal here would not cost a bomb.
Satisfying your cravings for authentic Thai delights at The Fisher By KruaThai, a new Thai restaurant opened in September 2022. It took over the spot at Le Embassy Hotel (Burmah Road) previously occupied as Catch by D.A.M. Minimal changes to the interior, The Fisher now offers an authentic Thai menu manned by Thai Chefs. There are plenty of Thai options- from the familiar dishes like Mieng Kam to Tom Yum Seafood or even Tab Tim Krob; diners can also expect to find some uncommon yet exciting ones like Salt-Grilled Fish, Thai Lamb Rack Soup, Thai Glutinous Rice Balls etc. While the food quality is impressive, the dishes are also reasonably priced. If you are visiting in a big group, do make early reservations.
Many Thanks to The Fisher By KruaThai for hosting us.
Ever since Thailand uplifted the foreigner entry requirements (no vaccination cert required) in Oct 2022, many Malaysian tourists are resuming their pilgrimage visits to Hatyai, the southern town of Songkhla. With only 60km away from the Malaysia-Thai border, it is a popular destination for a short getaway. Clearing customs and immigration is as easy as before, just present a valid Passport and relevant forms (if driving). There are many changes to Hatyai- with some places closed down for good but there are also quite a lot of new places sprung up. We too did the routine, ritual shopping at Kim Yong Market and Central Festival Mall but apart from that, we had ventured further to explore new places that we haven't been before.
Read our previous blog entries to Hatyai here: Year 2017 and Year 2019.
