Treat the menu like a map and explore Thailand’s flavors by region, with starters like its beef skewers, heat-packed num new, a rice noodle and pork dish with red curry from the North, green curry from the South, and Panang curry from Bangkok.

This Northside counter-to-table spot is known to offer Thai with a Laotian influence, with dishes like drunken noodles, Thai red curry, and chicken basil. Its traditional boat noodle soup, however, is its signature. This iconic dish, which sells out often, is composed of a deeply flavorful beef broth base with rice noodles, rib-eye steak, and pork balls. Have a great pairing for Thai? Take advantage of Its BYOB policy, which comes with a $5 corkage fee.

It’s common knowledge that no one should ever grocery shop hungry, and here, you don’t have to. Stop in at the restaurant for big portions of Northeastern Thai and Laos-style classics like the green curry, fried rice, and the pad see ew or stir fry, or go for the “all-time favorite” deep-fried whole white pompano that’s served with a special Thai sauce. Finish the meal off with Street Food’s mango sticky rice, and then shop in its mini market for ingredients where you can test your cooking skills at home.

Housed inside a market just off of I-45, this quaint restaurant boasts some of the best Thai and Laotian food in Bayou City. The lemongrass chicken nuggets and fermented sausage are a perfect snack before diving into a main course like the red curry with pineapple or a classic pad Thai. Don’t leave without perusing the aisles in the market. You’re sure to find something fun to elevate your next at-home meal. 

Robust flavors takeover at this Memorial Drive hotspot, which promises all the usual suspects, like pad Thai, a variety of curries, a picturesque papaya salad that you eat with your eyes first, and one of the best Tiger Cry dishes in the city. Be sure to shop for your favorite bottle beforehand. Zaab Der is BYOB with no corkage fee.

Located inside the POST Market food hall, Thai Kun serves Thai street food with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. The TK fried chicken and waterfall pork with tiger cry sauce are served with a gang of herbs and rice that complement the spicy, savory meats. The crab rice and black noodles are also must-try items.

This elegant Uptown Park spot serves fresh, traditional Thai dishes alongside an impressive wine, cocktail, and liquor selection. The crispy red snapper, served whole will certainly make heads turn as it arrives at your table, and house specialties like the heavenly beef should not be missed. Have a sweet tooth? Don’t miss out on its lychee and jackfruit creme brulee or the fried banana rolls.

Don’t let this Katy strip mall location fool you. Inside you’ll find a casual but elegant eatery that serves visually beautiful and mouth-watering Thai dishes. Choose between three versions of som tam (papaya salad), including the more pungent Thai Country that replaces the lime juice and dried shrimp with Thai fish sauce and pickled crab. The fried whole tilapia — served standing on the plate — is a show-stopper.

One of Houston’s oldest Thai restaurants, the newly renovated Nidda can be found deep in the heart of Montrose, with all your Thai favorites like green papaya salad, Thai pepper steak, drunken noodles, and green curry done right. Chase the spice down with a sweet Thai tea and mango sticky rice.

MaKiin harnesses the most luxurious dining experiences in Thailand, with dishes like the Flavors of Siam, a sugary seared wagyu steak served with charred eggplant, lemongrass, and Thai-style sauces, and the Majestic Ocean Medley noodle and seafood casserole. Dessert and cocktails are just as extravagant, with the plant-like Dessert Wonderland that’s made with chocolate soil, lychee rosewater sorbet, edible moss, and a chocolate tree with tufts of cotton candy, and a splashy Bangkok Pad Thai vodka cocktail made with peanut-infused simple syrup that’s garnished with shrimp and tofu.

River Oaks’ Rim Tanon serves modern Thai dishes that deliver a perfect balance of sour, spicy, savory, and salty. The Rim Tanon noodle is a flavorful and hearty dish, loaded with fish balls, baby bok choy, and bean sprouts, and topped with crispy fat barbecue and minced pork, crushed peanuts, chili powder, cilantro, onions, and crispy wontons. Its Thai-style shaved ice, layered with coconut jelly, herbal jelly, red bean paste, and milk, is a sweet way to take the edge off the heat.

Located in the Saigon Houston Plaza, this family-run restaurant serves some of the most flavorful Thai dishes in the city that are perfect for groups to enjoy family style. The namesake sweet, savory, and spicy Tony wings are not to be missed.

Located in Bellaire’s Hong Kong Food Market, this low-key family restaurant offers quick service and standout dishes, like fried catfish with kaffir lime leaves, pad woon sen, and a classic pad Thai.  Beware, Anna’s takes its spice levels seriously, but rest assured — its Thai teas or iced coffee can help drown out any residual heat.

With locations in Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and the Heights, Zapvor offers Thai in the form of street food and tapas, or “finger food” style, meaning items like its chicken curry puffs, Thai pork jerky, steamed Thai dumplings, and fried spare ribs are all meant to be shared. The special Zap shaved iced dessert — made with tapioca, coconut, palm seed, and jackfruit — offers a refreshing and cool end to a meal.

Street to Kitchen’s chef G has teamed up with Eculent genius and Choctaw chef David Skinner to take diners on a journey through Indigenous foodways. The tasting menu experience starts around 2400 BCE, offering dishes that trace back to both Thai and Native American cuisine in its earliest stages. Start with pickled veggies, a display of the Thai fermenting technique, then experience red snapper with a sweet orange curry with hints of citrus, before moving on to a more modern tender venison made with a peppery red curry.