I’ve spoken before about my limited culinary experiences growing up and how I was bought up to be a meat and 3 veg kind of girl. While I still love my meatloaf (my mum makes the BEST meatloaf, I swear it rocks my world), my favourite cuisine is Thai food and I would eat it for lunch and dinner every day given the opportunity.

I have never been to Thailand but I hear the food there is more than phenomenal. Thai here is pretty darn good too and I’d like to point you in the direction of my favourites. It seems that more often than not, the ‘good’ Thai places in Melbourne are generally the ones that get called ‘dodgy’ or are so full of kitsch you feel uncomfortable being there. My favourites are clean (I wouldn’t settle for anything less) and have charm (not to mention amazing food), but don’t overdo it.

Pad Thai is a staple at every Thai restaurant and falls in my top 3 Thai dishes. I have eaten it at each of these restaurants so many times I can’t count anymore and while I rarely stray from ordering from my favourites, each of these venue has a drool worthy menu of dishes to tempt and delight. 

First up is Bamboo and Lily, Elwood. This one is a modern Thai restaurant that has no cultural décor as all. It is minimalist at best but the food is spectacular. Lisa, your host, is also lovely and will probably remember your name (she knows ours!). Bamboo and Lily has the friendly appeal of your local with your favourite international cuisine and being located in a beachside suburb with an al fresco feel from the open shop front gives it that bit extra over traditional Thai eateries.

Poppy’s Thai, in Docklands and Croydon, are both favourites from way back. Poppy’s Croydon is located in Main Street and while it’s very quiet during the week, book for Friday and Saturday or risk missing out. Poppy’s balances just the right amount of oriental décor with divine food and speedy service. The Docklands equivalent serves equally as good food, but their service (for a restaurant with ‘express’ in the title) leaves something to be desired. Lunch here is somewhat slow but very much worth the wait.

If you are out in the Eastern suburbs, Basil Leaf Thai in Montrose is the pick of the bunch. Don’t even think about turning up without a booking – this intimate venue only seats about 20 people and is full up most every night, A favourite for surrounding suburbs, Basil Leaf has been in Montrose institution for quite some time and the kindly owner gives the place plenty of personality. Visit Skyhigh around the corner at Mount Dandenong after dinner – another good reason to visit the ‘burbs.

Bamboo and Lily 94 ormond road elwood vic 9531 3382
Poppys Express 763 bourke street docklands vic 9600 4166
Poppys Thai 106 main street croydon vic 9725 2969
Basil Leaf Shop 9/926 dandenong tourist road montrose vic 9761 8188

Where is your Thai local? What do you love about it and which dish takes your number one spot?