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Best Thai Food in Austin, TX

Best Thai Food in Austin, TX

This is your comprehensive guide to the best Thai food in Austin, Texas. When it comes to Thai food, I have gone from someone who only ordered pad Thai to someone who now seeks out more traditional dishes like moo ping and som tum.

One of my personal benchmarks is spice level. I am the type of person who orders Thai spicy every time. If it actually comes out Thai spicy, I know I am in the right place. If it comes out mild, then I start to question whether I chose the right restaurant.

Those are the standards I use when evaluating Thai spots. With that said, here are the places I recommend for authentic Thai food in Austin, Texas.

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Ros Niyom

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Ros Niyom is 100% worth the drive to Round Rock. The reason is simple: this is where you will find truly authentic Thai dishes in a low key setting that actually delivers on flavor.

They have, in my opinion, the best moo ping in town, grilled in a traditional style and packed with flavor. The som tum is properly spicy and pairs perfectly with the moo ping.

If you want to order like a local, my go to is the moo ping, two orders of sticky rice, som tum, chicken wings with the sauce on the side, and the tom kha soup, which is the best in Austin. Another must try is the pla tod nam pla, a deep fried marinated whole trout in fish sauce served with shredded mango and a spicy lime sauce. We also enjoy their curry puffs!

Of all the Thai spots on this list, this is the one you cannot skip if you are looking for the best tasting, traditional Thai food. I do think P Thai is slightly stronger overall, but they do not serve many of the classic dishes you would expect, like som tum or pad see ew.

Click here for their full menu.

Dee Dee

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Dee Dee has reopened at Leona Botanical Cafe and continues to serve some of the best Thai food in Austin. Their pad kra pao is perfectly spiced and the best in town,Other items I recommend are the roasted chicken with Thai marinade, jimjeow sauce, and sticky rice. Personally, I love their som tom isaan, a fermented papaya salad. Their moo ping is also solid, but in my opinion, their mango sticky rice is the best in Austin.

Click here for their website

Kiin di

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Khao Soi

How lucky Austin is to have one of the best Thai spots in the city open a brick and mortar in South Austin. Kiin di is the closest to the Thai food you’d get in cities like LA. We ordered their killer noodles, banana blossom salad, creamy crab curry, and the Khao soi. Everything was well cooked and flavorful.

My only hope was for a bit more acidity in some of the dishes, which is a note I’ve already passed along to the restaurant. Other than that, it was an excellent meal, and I’ll definitely be back to try more of the menu. I love how much they’ve expanded from their food truck days, and I have high hopes that this will be a top contender for the best Thai restaurant in Austin.

Click here for their IG

Pthai Khao Man Gai

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I met Chef Thai years ago when he owned Thai Kun. One of the things he taught me was never to skimp on the spice. His philosophy is that if customers say the food is too spicy, then he knows he is doing it right.

Although Thai Kun is no longer around, and I still miss dishes like the larb and other signature items, you can now find him at Pi Thai, where he is serving Thai Chinese cuisine. Staying true to his roots, he delivers fiery, deeply authentic dishes for those seeking bold, traditional Thai flavors. Must tries include the gai tod (fried chicken), pig ear salad, gai yang (rotisserie style chicken), and the boat noodles. In 2026 Chef Thai is a Jame's Beard semifinalist.

Click here for their website.

Quick Reference

By Neighborhood

South AustinDee Dee, Kiin di
Round RockRos Niyom
North CentralPthai Khao Man Gai

At a Glance

4 spots covered3 neighborhoods