Orlando’s Best Thai Restaurants
Braised beef and prawns at Sea Thai (Photo Credit: Andrew Langford)
August 8 • By Michael Brown
Few cuisines are as crowd-pleasing as Thai food. But with rich regional variations and a deep list of spices and vegetables to pull from, there’s much more to Thai cuisine than pad Thai and crab rangoons in takeout containers. Whether you’re looking to branch out or just stick with the carry-out classics, here are many of the most popular Thai options in Central Florida and where they stand when ranked against each other.
12. Mee Thai
1200 Lee Rd, Orlando, FL 32810
(407) 802-2323
This longtime Lee Road establishment is something of an institution with the Winter Park crowd and in recent years has been rated as one of the top restaurants in Florida by Yelp. That said, this is maybe the most underwhelming Thai option in town. Dishes are uninspiring, certain meats come out chewy or undercooked, and the interior is tired. Sometimes you scratch your head at a highly reviewed spot - this is one such example.
11. Thai House
2117 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 898-0820
Smokey and the bandit pot at Thai House (Photo Credit: Thai House)
Another traditional pillar of Orlando’s Thai restaurant scene, Thai House runs into many of the same problems as Mee Thai. Here, the food is all properly cooked, but the dishes remain formulaic and the space feels like it has seen better days. Many Orlandoans will point to its nostalgic appeal, but that may be all Thai House has going for it. With an interesting business dynamic that sees the family here involved with some other Thai spots around Central Florida, your best bet is to stick with some of those other locations like Thai Basil.
10. NaraDeva Thai Restaurant
4696 Millenia Plaza Way, Orlando, FL 32839
(407) 903-0300
NaraDeva highlights the inherent power of Thai food. Even for a not particularly exceptional Thai restaurant, you’re still likely to achieve some basic degree of satisfaction. Plates stick to the classic southern fare most are used to with carry-out Thai food, but sometimes that is all you’re looking to eat.
9. Coco Thai
6304 International Dr Unit D, Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 668-4248
Chicken satay at Coco Thai (Photo Credit: Coco Thai)
A very popular I-Drive option, Coco Thai will probably come up when you search “best Thai food in Orlando.” Still, there’s little that sets it apart from your usual Thai options. The interior is a bit nicer and they have cocktails, but the menu itself is fairly standard. Still, the curries just taste a bit more complex than restaurants previously shown on this list and their beef-based dishes are some of their stronger plates.
8. Thai Island
2522 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 412-6909
This East Orlando strip mall staple has been a beloved spot for nearby residents and those traveling down Semoran. Most of the plates stick to the classics, though it’s important to pay attention to the highlights of the menu. Thai Island seems to be at it’s best with the liquid-based dishes, like the tom yum soup and curries. For those rainy or rare cold days, these entrees make Thai Island a safe bet, particularly for those living in an area with so few good Thai options.
7. Thai Basil
5800 Red Bug Lake Rd, Winter Springs, FL 32708
(407) 699-8889
Sharing connections with Thai House on Colonial, Thai Basil follows a similar formula but just manages to pull off a better product for its Winter Springs diners. In an area without much variety, this is welcome break from the norm and has made regulars out of many in the surrounding suburbs. The dishes represent the same staples highlighted in previous reviews, but unlike Thai Island, the strengths here lie more in the noodle entrees than the curries and soups.
6. Pop Thai
1227 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 203-5088
Drunken Noodles at Pop Thai (Photo Credit: Pop Thai)
At this point, this is probably sounding like a broken record. Pop Thai is another entry in the American-focused Thai space. Asian and Asian-fusion spots in the Mills 50 area are a dime a dozen, but this is the best Thai option in the neighborhood. The dishes are all familiar favorites, but the quality of ingredients and execution helps to set this spot apart. Those looking to add to the Thai staples may also enjoy ordering from their small sushi menu.
5. Neveyah Sushi & Thai
100 S Eola Dr #105, Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 849-3739
Combined Thai and sushi restaurants - or any mashup of Asian cuisines for that matter - are usually a bad bet. But at Neveyah, formerly Oudom Thai, both sides of the menu find fair representation. Beyond the most standard Thai dishes, their heavy seafood focus means some refreshing variety, like whole snapper, in addition to a portion of the menu dedicated to duck. Thai food also tends to get written off as being “cheap,” but Neveyah challenges this assumption with a higher-end space perfect for a night out downtown.
4. Krungthep Tea Time
1051 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 733-3561
Thaiger is King sandwich at Krungthep (Photo Credit: Krungthep)
Finally, a breath of fresh air. KrungThep stretches the definition of Thai a bit with its fusion sandwiches, but anyone who has dined here would never hold that against them. The menu also includes Thai teas and salads, but the focus here is on the paninis. Whether it’s the flavorful marinated chicken or the fresh vegetarian ingredients that go into options like the “From the Forest” sandwich, these paninis make KrungThep not only one of the best Thai options in Orlando, but one of the best spots in the area to grab a sandwich.
3. Thai Thani (Multiple Locations)
Main Location: 11025 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32821
Main Location: (407) 239-9733
Pad Thai at Thai Thani (Photo Credit: Thai Thani)
The reigning local champion of the classic Thai restaurant most Americans are used to, Thai Thani makes a good argument for visiting this touristy stretch of International Drive near SeaWorld. The space itself dials up the kitschiness of most Thai restaurants to eleven, but the real star of the show here is the food. Skewers of meats, heaping of larb, and rich curries make this a destination enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. Success has meant additional locations, but it’s their flagship on I-Drive that churns out the best dishes.
2. Isan Zaap Thai Cafe
4693 Gardens Park Blvd Suite 113, Orlando, FL 32839
(407) 203-1868
A selection of Isan specialties at Isan Zaap (Photo Credit: Isan Zaap)
Focusing on plates from Thailand’s northeast Isan region, Isan Zaap is a jumping off point for many of the less common regional plates that most Thais - and neighboring Laotians - enjoy. Switching up some of the herbs and adding more fermented ingredients, plates here include a vast array of papaya salads, uncommon cuts of meat like grilled pork neck, and the usual classics like curries and pad Thai. Some recent Michelin attention and a new spot at Lotte Plaza Market means this may only just be the start of an exciting new chapter for Ittiwat Suntron, one of the area’s major Thai proprietors.
1. Sea Thai
3812 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 895-0985
Pork belly in a curry sauce at Sea Thai (Photo Credit: Andrew Langford)
Sea Thai: The King of Orlando’s Thai Scene
It’s relatively easy to find a Thai restaurant serving good food - the cuisine just dictates such a high baseline. But finding a truly great Thai restaurant is an occasion worth celebrating. Orlando luckily has one spot meeting this criteria: Sea Thai. Helmed by Chef Jack Tawa Chavitranurak, this spot has largely flown under the radar since opening in 2007. Which is a shame, because his takes on southern Thai classics are arguably the best in town. Yet what truly elevates this establishment are the “chef’s specials” that Tawa dreams up to highlight many of the country’s more unique plates. If there is a Thai restaurant worth driving long distances for or taking visitors with high standards for Thai fare to in Orlando, it would be Sea Thai.
