Best Thai Food in Minneapolis

Khao Hom Thai on Central Avenue is the Thai restaurant Minneapolis deserves. The menu runs deep — way past the usual pad Thai and green curry — into boat noodles with rich, dark broth, larb with real heat, and a papaya salad that does not pull its punches. The curries are made with freshly ground paste, and you can taste the difference: the panang has a depth and fragrance that microwaved curry paste simply cannot produce. Portions are generous, prices hover around $14–$18 for entrées, and the space is casual and unpretentious. This is the spot where Thai expats in the Twin Cities eat, which tells you everything. The khao soi — that rich, coconut-curry noodle soup topped with crispy noodles — is one of the best bowls of anything in Minneapolis. Closed Tuesdays.

Chef Ann Ahmed's Khâluna on Lyndale Avenue South is not a traditional Thai restaurant — it is a Southeast Asian fine dining destination that draws deeply from Thai and Lao traditions. The menu shifts seasonally, but expect dishes like nam khao (crispy rice salad), massaman curry made with lamb shank, and a whole grilled fish with tamarind sauce that could headline any restaurant in the country. The space is gorgeous: a resort-like interior with lush plants, an open kitchen, and a patio that fills instantly in summer. Prices reflect the ambition — entrées run $24–$42 — but the cooking justifies every dollar. Ahmed was a James Beard semifinalist for 2026 and the restaurant holds a 4.9 on OpenTable. This is destination dining that happens to be rooted in Thai and Lao flavors. Make a reservation.

Khun Nai took over the old Krungthep Thai space on Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street corridor and has quietly become one of the most reliable Thai kitchens in the city. The pad Thai is excellent — properly wok-charred with good tamarind balance, not the sugary mess you get at lesser spots. The green curry has real Thai basil flavor and legitimate heat if you ask for it. The lunch specials are a steal at $11–$13 and come with a spring roll. The drunken noodles are loaded with fresh vegetables and have that smoky wok hei that separates good Thai from great Thai. The space is small and unadorned, the staff is friendly, and the takeout game is strong. Khun Nai does not try to reinvent anything — it just cooks honest Thai food with good ingredients, and on Eat Street, that puts it near the top.

Thai Garden Fusion on Cedar Avenue South is a neighborhood gem that most Minneapolis food guides ignore entirely, and that is their loss. The larb is fiery, funky, and properly lime-forward — not the sanitized version designed for timid palates. The papaya salad has that perfect balance of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy that makes som tum one of the great dishes of the world. Curries are rich and coconut-forward, and the basil fried rice with crispy egg is a sleeper hit on the menu. Prices are remarkably low — most dishes land between $10–$15 — and portions are generous enough that leftovers are basically guaranteed. The dining room is modest, the neighborhood is diverse and vibrant, and the food punches well above its price point. Open Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays.

Sawatdee is the grande dame of Thai food in Minneapolis. Open since 1983, it was the first Thai restaurant in the state, and the Washington Avenue location in a converted warehouse is still going strong. Let's be honest: Sawatdee is not the most exciting Thai food in the city anymore. Other spots have surpassed it on authenticity and heat. But what Sawatdee does — solid pad Thai, dependable curries, a crispy spring roll that has barely changed in forty years — it does with the consistency of a restaurant that has survived four decades. The panang curry is still the move, the tom kha gai is comforting and well-balanced, and the space itself is beautiful: warm lighting, Thai art, and enough room for groups. Entrées run $15–$22. If you want the most authentic Thai in Minneapolis, go elsewhere on this list. If you want a reliable, atmospheric Thai dinner downtown, Sawatdee has earned its reputation.

Thai Curry is the kind of place that flies under the radar because it does not look like much from the outside. A tiny storefront on Nicollet Avenue south of Lake Street with maybe ten seats and a takeout-first mentality. But the food is outstanding. The massaman curry is deeply spiced with tender potatoes and peanuts, the red curry with tofu has real complexity, and the pad see ew has proper wok char. Racket called it a potential “new takeout Thai go-to” and that assessment is spot-on. Prices are extremely reasonable — most dishes $12–$16 — and the kitchen is fast. The tom kha kai soup alone is worth the trip. They have a perfect health score of 100 out of 100, which should not matter but does reassure. If you live in south Minneapolis and have been driving across town for Thai food, stop. Thai Curry is right here and it is legitimately great.

Karta Thai on Currie Avenue takes a farm-to-table approach to Thai cooking that is unusual in Minneapolis. Fresh (never frozen) vegetables, USDA meats, wild-caught seafood — the ingredient quality is a step above what most Thai restaurants in the city offer, and you can taste it. The khao soi with beef is the signature dish: rich coconut curry broth, egg noodles, and a tangle of crispy noodles on top that delivers serious texture contrast. The tom yum soup has a brightness that comes from fresh lemongrass and galangal, not a jar. The green and red curries are both excellent, with customizable heat levels. Prices are higher than your average Thai spot — entrées $16–$24 — but the quality justifies the markup. Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, the downtown location makes it a solid pre-show option for Target Center or the theaters. Reservations recommended on weekends.

Bagu is a neighborhood restaurant on Chicago Avenue that has been quietly serving solid Thai and Japanese food since 2006, and it does both with surprising competence. The pad Thai is genuinely good — properly seasoned with real wok flavor — and the green curry with tofu is rich and fragrant. The sushi side of the menu is strong enough that you can split a dinner between a Thai curry and a sushi roll without feeling like either cuisine was an afterthought. The JBB roll is a local favorite. The dining room is cozy, service is warm, and the 4.6-star OpenTable rating reflects years of consistent execution. Entrées run $14–$20. Bagu is not going to blow your mind with boundary-pushing Thai cooking, but it will deliver a reliably good dinner in a comfortable neighborhood setting, and sometimes that is exactly what you want. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Gai Noi is technically a Laotian restaurant — the name refers to a type of glutinous rice from northern Laos — but the menu is loaded with Thai and Thai-adjacent dishes that earn it a place on this list. Chef Ann Ahmed (yes, the same chef behind Khâluna) created a more casual, walk-in-only concept at 1610 Harmon Place that serves pad Thai, pad see ew, red curry, and some of the best basil chicken wings you will eat anywhere. The sticky rice is exceptional: properly steamed khao niew served in a traditional bamboo basket. The space is stunning, with greenery, communal seating upstairs, and a vibe that works equally well for a quick lunch or a date night. Most dishes $14–$19. No reservations — walk in only, regardless of party size. Lines form during peak hours, and they are worth the wait.

Thai Pepper on Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis is the kind of reliable neighborhood Thai restaurant every area needs. The curries are well-spiced and coconut-rich, the pad Thai has good balance, and the Thai iced tea is properly sweet and creamy. Nothing here is going to reinvent the genre, and that is fine — what Thai Pepper offers is consistent, well-executed Thai comfort food at fair prices in a part of the city that does not have many Thai options. Entrées run $13–$17. The drunken noodles with chicken are a solid pick, and the spring rolls are crispy and fresh. The space is clean and welcoming, established in 2019 and already a fixture for the Diamond Lake and Tangletown neighborhoods. Open for dinner Monday and full service Tuesday through Sunday. If you are south of Lake Street and craving Thai, this is your spot.