1. Xiandu Thai
Asian fusion fare is the draw at this orange-walled, bi-level eatery on Walnut Street. Take a tip from regular diners and order the Angry Beef, a dish of marinated flank steak in a red wine-infused tom yum sauce. Thai fare purists can choose between six variations on traditional curry.
1119 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107; (215) 940-8855 More »
2. Chabaa Thai Bistro
Helmed by Chef Nongyao “Moon” Krapugthong, Manayunk's Chabaa Thai Bistro churns out authentic Thai cuisine with a contemporary flair. Take, for instance, the chef's specialty jasmine rice, which is stir-fried with King crab meat and crowned with cilantro, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
4371 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127; (215) 483-1979More »
3. Baan Thai
Despite its somewhat off-the-beaten-path location, the diminutive Baan Thai draws a crowd for its generously portioned Thai fare, which centers around the classics: pad Thai, Massaman curry, and chicken satay, to name a few items on the menu. Did we mention Baan Thai is a BYOB?
1030 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19123; (215) 238-1219More »
4. Tamarind
Overwhelmed by the menu at Tamarind? Go for the pad kee mao (drunken noodles), and, if you're feeling particularly brave, up the spice to a 7, the highest heat level at this spacious South Street BYOB.
117 South St. Philadelphia, PA 19147; (215) 925-2764More »
5. Smile Cafe
Located in a somewhat out-of-the-way location in Rittenhouse Square, this tiny eatery has a steady customer base of take-out-only diners. Still, Smile Cafe's art-adorned, 28-seat space creates a cozy spot for tucking into a plateful of pad see ew or slurping a spoonful of seafood coconut soup. The fact that it's a BYOB is just icing on the proverbial cake.
105 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103; (215) 564-2502More »
6. Jasmine Rice
Friendly, accommodating service augments a dining experience at this Center City BYOB just south of Spruce Street. That said, you can feel free to linger a little after polishing off some spicy green curry, arguably Jasmine Rice's most popular dish. The pad Thai and the peanut-studded papaya salad also earn raves.
306 S. 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102; (215) 546-0818More »
7. Circles
Alex Boonphaya, a native of Bangkok, has earned a cult following through Circles, his Thai restaurants in South Philly and Northern Liberties.
The twin restaurants share the same name; however Circles' flagship location in South Philly centers around traditional Thai fare, while the NoLibs spot switches things up with contemporary twists on old favorites. Pro tip: If you're unsure which to try first, start with the South Philly location.
Locations in Northern Liberties and South Philly; see website for contact infoMore »