What was once the popular Pho-jita food truck is now the brick and mortar Sao Lao, located in the GOOF. The casual, but charming restaurant features counter service and is famous for its boat noodle soup, a dish that often sells out before the day is up. Fear not — other offerings, like the drunken noodles with shrimp and crispy fried rice, are equally worthy.

This no-frills restaurant in Spring Branch is a reliable go-to for honest Thai plates like chicken satay, pork larb, Panang curry, and hot basil tofu. In addition to being budget-friendly with plenty of options under $10, it’s also BYOB.

Explore a broad range of Thai dishes at this decades-old café with locations around Houston and its suburbs. From soft summer rolls and crystal noodle salad with ground pork to oversized bowls of yellow chicken curry soup, pretty much everything on the menu here will satisfy you wholly.

Have twice the fun at this Thai restaurant, which doubles as an Asian market. Dine-in on favorites like Thai egg omelets and pad see ew, then peruse the aisles of the market for imported Thai ingredients and sauces to make DIY dishes at home.

With locations spanning across the city, and a popular Express location tucked inside a Downtown convenience store, Nara is synonymous with great Thai in Houston. Start with aromatic green curry or beef pad Thai and then sweeten your palate with a plate of mango-topped sticky rice. Its buzzy new location on Washington Ave. offers all of the classic Thai eats and drinks, and has an expansive dog-friendly patio, too.

This chic Uptown Park eatery has an attractive dining room and plenty of traditional Thai dishes made with freshly ground spices and local ingredients. Order the crispy whole red snapper and watch as heads turn as the dish makes its way to your table, or splurge on the wagyu braised short rib with Thai herb sauce. Complement the extra spicy dishes with Thai tea to cool down, or imbibe with a solid wine list and cocktails like the Songkran tiki colada.

Nidda has long been a Thai favorite in the heart of Montrose, and after a temporary closure to revamp the retail center it’s located in, guests are welcome back once again. Straight-forward and approachable, the menu includes green papaya salad, a slew of vegetarian and meat curries, drunken noodles, and Thai pepper steak sauteed with garlic pepper.

Helmed by chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter from northern Thailand, Street to Kitchen features an authentic menu of Thai traditions. The pad see ew combines a mess of flat rice noodles with garlic, eggs, and broccoli, while the made-from-scratch green curry is hearty with creamy coconut milk and chicken. Craving something different? Keep your eyes and ear to the street (kitchen) for weekend specials like fish cakes, shrimp salad, and grilled pork belly.

This casual River Oaks hideout puts a modern spin on Thai traditions, including a sweet and savory pumpkin red curry pad and Thai stir-fried with tamarind sauce and presented in a delicate egg sheet. Dessert earns just as much attention, with traditional mango and sticky rice — a seasonal offering — and top-notch, Thai-style shaved ice layered with coconut jelly, herbal jelly, red bean paste, and milk.

Despite building a bigger dining room, patrons still continue to pack into Thai Gourmet for true Thai eats during lunch and dinner. The hearty drunken noodles here are spiked with plenty of fresh vegetables and fragrant basil. Be warned, though — ordering “hot” here means getting a seriously spicy plate, so tread carefully when making spice requests.

Launched by a husband-and-wife team who immigrated from Bangkok, Thai Cottage has remained a hot spot in Houston for Thai eats since 1997 — now, with multiple locations across the state. Spring rolls, noodle plates, and curries are aplenty, and grilled specialties like Thai-style barbecue pork ribs are definitely a good idea.