Last week, I was invited to the launch night of Busaba Cardiff. The newest restaurant in the city. Whilst talking to other attendees, the one thing mentioned most was the lack of Thai Restaurants in Cardiff. I was baffled to hear this, as there are quite a few. So, to put things straight, here are all of the Thai Restaurants in Cardiff.
This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up for anything from this website, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Updated March 2023
Firstly, food from Thailand, known as Thai food, is all about equilibrium. The perfect balance between sweet, sour, hot and salty. Pungent herbs such as lemongrass tone down overpowering spices. While salty sauces are offset with sugars or acids like lemon and lime. The most well-known dishes are Pad Thai, a stir-fried noodle dish scattered with crushed peanuts, Gaeng Daeng, red curry, and Kaeng Khiao Wan, green curry.
Get 50% off food
So, did you know you can get 2 for 1 on meals or 50% off food with a Tastecard? There are independent and chain restaurants to choose from and a variety of cuisines. Get a 2-month free trial here:
Thai Restaurant Cardiff City Centre
Busaba Cardiff – CLOSED
Ad | So, the brand new Thai restaurant Cardiff can be found in the Brewery Quarter. The independent chain is the first restaurant outside of London and the first one in Wales. The Busaba launch night was exciting. On arrival, there was a fire-breather, and once inside, we could take in the beautiful surroundings. The décor is sophisticated with accents of black and gold, and of course, a buddha or two. Traditional Thai dancers entertained the hungry crowd, before the food tasters were served.
Customers can look forward to calamari or soyamari, the vegan alternative, wok-tossed in ginger and green peppercorn sauce. I’m not usually a fan of the texture, but it was one of my favourite bites of the evening. Other options include ginger beef (another big hit on the night), crispy duck noodles, sweet and sour ma Muang and their signature green curry.
If it remains as popular as the others in London, then it’s on track to be the best Thai restaurant in Cardiff City Centre, if not the whole of the city.
CLOSED – Thai Restaurant closes after a year
Malai
Directly opposite Busaba is Malai, with just three tables in their simply furnished interior. Between 12pm and 4pm every day, £6.99 buys you one of a selection of noodle dishes, curries and soups with a bottle of water. However, if you’re visiting outside of these hours, Malai’s extensive menu features a big range of dishes including stuffed chicken wings and crispy sea bass with tamarind sauce.
Rosa’s Thai Cafe
Another London favourite has taken up residence in Cardiff. Rosa’s Thai Cafe, the award-winning restaurant can be found on Church Street. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Try the signature dishes or delicious Thai staples, such as red curry, pad Thai, chilli and basil stir fry, drunken noodles and massaman curry.
Thai Asian Delish
Thai Asian Delish can be found in Cardiff Market, Monday to Saturday between 10am-4pm. Recently the great value street food supplier celebrated their 6th birthday. The food is cooked fresh to order. You choose chicken, beef, pork or prawns, sticky rice or noodles – or half and half if you’re a true Cardiffian (half chips, half rice). The perfect lunchtime treat! Why not take it to Cardiff Castle, a short walk away and eat in the luxurious surroundings?
Praya Thai
On Churchill Way is Praya Thai. You can choose a fixed-price banqueting menu or select your favourite authentic dish. Starters include chicken satay skewers, spring rolls, pork ribs or tom yum soup. Mains cover curries, stir-fries, grills, steamed fish and noodles. There’s even an express lunch menu for £7.95 per person.
The Thai House
The Thai House on Guilford Crescent was lost last year when the building block was demolished. The family business opened in 1985 and has had a AA Rosette since 2008. But they are currently looking for new premises.
Sawadee Thai Cardiff
The takeaway restaurant on Wyndham Crescent is no longer in business.
Get on the train
Getting around Cardiff has never been easier. With stops in The Valleys, Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, two in the city centre – Queen Street and Cardiff Central – plus Cardiff Bay. Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. And, who doesn’t want to save money?
Thai Cardiff in Roath
Moo Moo Thai Tapas
On City Road is Moo Moo. The dishes capture the taste of Bangkok with freshly prepared salads, wok noodles, stir-fries and curries to satisfy your Thai food cravings. It is one of the smaller restaurants, so it’s first-come, first-served if you want to eat in. However, you can enjoy it as a takeaway. Top tastes on the menu include salt and pepper squid, kagae massaman, a tender lamb shank and tod mun pla, traditional Thai fishcakes.
Chilli Basil
Get freshly stir-fried Thai food on City Road. Chilli Basil is known for serving a good papaya salad, tom yum and pad Thai, as well as friendly staff and excellent service. It is a small restaurant, with just four tables and sixteen seats, so there is often a wait. I loved the duck yellow curry which is also packed with vegetables; carrot, courgette, aubergine, peppers and bamboo shoots, and stir-fried noodle with bean sprouts, broccoli and Chinese cabbage in soy sauce.
Tuk Tuk
Tuk Tuk on Crwys Road has a compact, well-priced Thai street food menu. Alongside the classic dishes are some unique ones, such as the kai jieaw, a crispy Thai omelette and nomyen, a pink milk tea. Don’t have time to eat in? The food is also available for takeaway.
Pim’s I Cook Thai
At Pim’s I Cook Thai on Crwys Road, not only can you eat in or enjoy it as a takeaway, but you can learn to cook perfect Thai food too. The restaurant stocks chicken; however, you can pre-order other meat and seafood. Alternatively, there is tofu or extra vegetables for vegetarian’s and vegans.
Thai Restaurants in Canton, Cardiff
Bangkok Cafe
The vibrant Thai food restaurant is a short walk from the city centre on Cowbridge Road East. All dishes are made to order in Bangkok Cafe and served on colourful plates bursting with flavour. They use local suppliers and even make their own dipping sauces and marinades.
Thai Restaurant Cardiff Whitchurch
Thai Village Restaurant
The Thai Lounge in Whitchurch Village specialised in authentic Thai cuisine and was even award-winning. Unfortunately, this has now closed and has been replaced with a French / Welsh restaurant Sopra 73. It is above Pizzeria Villaggio. It’s just one of the restaurants in Whitchurch.
Brother Thai
Not a traditional Thai restaurant, but Brother Thai has built up a considerable following. It started as a street food trader in 2015, and the rotis have become legendary. Now it has a premise on Whitchurch Road. The menu is small but packs a punch. Choose from rotis, plates, rice bowls and even a few desserts. It can often be challenging to get a reservation, so booking in advance is highly recommended.
Thai Restaurants in Tongwynlais
Ton Thai Street Food Cafe
In the village of Tongwynlais is Ton Thai. The set lunch menu is excellent value for money. The street box meals are £6.95 each and include green curry, massaman curry, Pad Thai or a stir fry. Spring rolls, chicken satay, Thai fishcakes, chips or crackers can be added on for £2 each. Individual dishes or a set meal for two for £35 can be purchased in the evening.
Thai Restaurant Cardiff Bay
Mom’s Thai Kitchen
Mom’s Thai Kitchen is collection only. The Thai takeaway offers authentic Thai food, all freshly prepared for you. The dishes are pure flavour bombs, from Panang curry with jasmine rice to a milder spiced massaman curry. A side of crispy spring rolls is a must.
Map of the locations
Not sure where the locations are? They are all on this handy map. Zoom in or expand, and plan your route to discover the Thai Restaurants in Cardiff.
Best Thai restaurant Cardiff
Did you know that Cardiff had so many Thai restaurants? So, how many of these Thai restaurants have you dined in?
I try to keep this list of Thai restaurants in Cardiff up to date. Have I missed any out? However, if anything is outdated or there are new offerings, please feel free to get in touch.
Are you one of the establishments listed and want me to review your offers or new menu? Feel free to get in contact; work with me.
Restaurants in Cardiff
Cardiff is a foodie’s delight. From the quality of the produce to the level of cooking, at both the casual and cheap eats, Cardiff is staking a serious claim to being one of the most exciting places to eat in the UK.
- Afternoon tea in Cardiff
- Bottomless brunch in Cardiff
- Steak restaurants in Cardiff
- Vegan restaurants in Cardiff
- Japanese restaurants in Cardiff
- Caribbean restaurants in Cardiff
- Chinese restaurants in Cardiff
- Burger restaurants in Cardiff
- Street food in Cardiff
- Welsh food in Cardiff
Get 50% off food in Cardiff
We all need to refuel and rehydrate. If you love food and drink, do you have a Tastecard? You get 50% off the food bill or two meals for the price of one. There are over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. Get a 90-day free trial here:
FREE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide
Get your FREE Visiting Cardiff Checklist and Guide with over 25 pages full of travel tips, how to get around, places to visit, food and drink, shopping, parks and green spaces, some Welsh phrases and a travel itinerary.
Do you want to be the first to read my latest blog posts? If you have enjoyed my Thai restaurants Cardiff round-up, you can stay updated with my other best of Cardiff, South Wales and travel features by signing up for my mailing list:
Follow me on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Related Articles
