From Bangkok to Isan, from established authentic restaurants to bold new food bars. We’ve gathered Thai restaurants that will fly you straight to the Far East, with a cold cocktail in hand and plenty of fresh chili. Ready to pull up a chair?
Everyone’s on vacation—or at least that’s how it feels scrolling Instagram in August. And if Thailand didn’t make it onto your flight schedule, you can start with the local version: a Thai restaurant with a table loaded with plates, sticky rice, curry, fresh herbs, slow-building heat, and a cold drink on the side. But the reason to return to these restaurants doesn’t end with summer. Thai cuisine in Israel has expanded far beyond pad Thai and tom yum in recent years, with spots bringing food from different regions of Thailand, bars blending food, drinks, and music, and restaurants offering local interpretations alongside traditional dishes. Some places in Israel even hold Thai SELECT, a certification awarded by the Thai government to Thai restaurants worldwide.
The list before you isn’t based on gut feelings, but on Ontopo’s real data—the places and restaurants you, the diners, search for most and book in real time. The list combines the most sought-after spots with culinary gems worth discovering along the way, from Tel Aviv to Haifa.
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1. Thai House | Tel Aviv
Few restaurants have shaped the way Israelis know Thai food like Thai House. The veteran restaurant on Bograsov, led by Chef Yariv Malili, has built a menu over the years that travels between different regions of Thailand. Here you’ll share street dishes and home-style plates, dip sticky rice into rich curry sauces, and surrender to the herbs, fish, meats, and plenty of heat for those willing to go all the way.
This is a restaurant especially suited to a table of several diners: order dishes from different regions and styles, add rice, and start passing plates to the center. Alongside the familiar classics, the menu features plenty of dishes less commonly found in your average Thai restaurant, and every bite flies you straight to the East.
Must-try dishes: Som tam to start, sai hua—Chiang Mai beef sausage, pad krapao lad khao—minced beef stir-fried with holy basil.
📍 Address: 8 Bograsov, Tel Aviv
2. HaTailandit BeSamtat Sinai | Tel Aviv
In the plaza by the Great Synagogue, among outdoor iron tables, music, and a Tel Aviv evening slowly building around the square, HaTailandit BeSamtat Sinai brings to the table one of the most delightful qualities of the Thai meal: eating together, and a lot. Not one dish per person, but a table composed of different flavors that blend in fascinating harmony.
The menu jumps between spicy salads, curries, wok dishes, fish and meats, with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, and chili instantly setting the fiery mood. This is a spot suited to a group ready to open as many plates as possible, raise glasses, and let the evening unfold around them.
Must-try dishes: Khao soi—aromatic yellow curry soup from northern Thailand, Thai sashimi that pairs beautifully with a cocktail on the side, pla pao—whole sea bream grilled without scaling.
📍 Address: 1 Har Sinai, Tel Aviv
3. Thai 148 | Tel Aviv
On bustling Dizengoff, Thai 148 nails the connection between Thai food and the vibe of a local bar full of energy. The ground floor houses the lively restaurant, and upstairs awaits another space that lets you turn up the volume and extend the night well into the evening.
The kitchen turns out beautifully executed Thai classics with flattering local touches, and the format is especially suited to sharing. This is the ideal spot for anyone wanting to enjoy chili, Thai basil, and crisp green papaya alongside a Dizengoff night out, not necessarily within the framework of a traditional restaurant.
Must-try dishes: Miang kham charred veal sweetbreads over charcoal, yam mamuang salad with fish in nam pla sauce, jungle curry with beef fillet chunks served with steamed rice.
📍 Address: 148 Dizengoff, Tel Aviv
4. Molam | Tel Aviv
A few steps down Har Sinai alley sits Molam, the food bar from the same culinary family that pulls the experience into darker, sexier territory. The name draws inspiration from a genre of Thai folk music, and accordingly, the place offers a mesmerizing blend of curated sound, fine alcohol, and bites designed to electrify the palate.
The menu here is tight, leaning on specific Thai cooking traditions and regions, and tailored especially for relaxed eating alongside a glass of natural wine or a smoky cocktail. The dim lighting and bold character make this one of the strongest choices for a date with international flair or a chic night out.
Must-try dishes: Koi pla—tuna tartare, yam tang kwa—Chinese cucumber salad, satay—vegan dish of tofu skewers in peanut sauce.
📍 Address: 2 Har Sinai, Tel Aviv
5. Kab Kem | Tel Aviv
Kab Kem takes the Thai dream and turns it into an unforgettable premium celebration. Under the direction of Chef Yariv Malili, the concept of “kab kem”—which in Thai means a gathering of food and drink that never ends—comes to life. Bold colors, driving sound, addictive heat, and tables filled to the brim with small plates blending fish, meats, and fresh herbs.
Hidden within the complex is also Nai, an intimate, meticulous, and dimly lit bar. With dark wood walls, records playing in the background, and sake poured generously, Nai offers a slightly more private and focused alternative, with dedicated dishes alongside Kab Kem’s greatest hits. The choice between them depends only on the pace you’re looking for tonight.
Must-try dishes: Goong satay—shrimp skewers wrapped in peanuts, gai tod som tam—spicy papaya salad with crispy chicken drumstick on the side, pad pak khiao—seasonal greens with asparagus on the wok.
📍 Address: 11 Lincoln, Tel Aviv
6. Tiger Lily Sarona | Tel Aviv
Sarona Market gets a colorful energy boost in the form of Tiger Lily, bringing the streets of Bangkok straight into the heart of Tel Aviv. The industrial design, glowing signs, and wok aromas rising into the air wrap diners in an experience that’s all fast pace, rich flavors, and pure joy.
Under the leadership of Chef Yanir Green, the food here maintains an accessible, comforting Thai line. Indulge in rich pad Thai, warm up with fragrant tom yum, and enjoy an excellent option for lunch or a midday stop. This is an ideal spot for a family meal where everyone can find their preferred heat level.
Must-try dishes: Tod man koong—four Thai shrimp fritters, kuay teow soup with chicken or tofu, pad muang—egg noodles with chicken and bacon.
📍 Address: 3 Aluf Kalman Magen (Sarona Market), Tel Aviv
7. UMA Thai Bar | Tel Aviv
The blend of Bangkok nightlife and Tel Aviv energy finds excellent expression at UMA. The bar on Bograsov blurs the lines between dinner and a night out, with the kitchen streaming plates to the table that represent the sacred balance of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy.
The cocktails here steal the show and are designed to pair masterfully with the bold bites. Gather friends, order several dishes for the center of the table, clink glasses, and let the buzzing space work its magic on the way to an unforgettable evening.
Must-try dishes: Yam woon sen—glass noodles with minced chicken, pee gai—crispy wings in Thai sauce, shochu mule—shochu cocktail with lemon juice and ginger beer.
📍 Address: 34 Bograsov, Tel Aviv
8. chatuchak | Netanya
chatuchak is named after the iconic, massive market in Bangkok, and it certainly lives up to the name with a dizzying abundance of flavors, colors, and textures. This is one of the few restaurants in Israel proudly holding the prestigious Thai SELECT certification from the Thai government, a testament to quality and authentic ingredients felt in every bite.
If you’ve been searching for excellent Thai cuisine outside the borders of Tel Aviv, this is your place. Open a big table, combine vegetables and seafood in sweet-spicy sauces, and enjoy a meal that’s a true celebration for the senses.
Must-try dishes: Pla muk—crispy calamari rings, red tuna sashimi in fish sauce with fresh herbs, and panang—spicy red curry with chicken/beef/tofu and Thai pumpkin.
📍 Address: 17 Gibborei Yisrael, Netanya
9. Surin | Savyon
Surin in Savyon takes Thai cuisine and runs it through a contemporary, elegant, and more refined prism. The restaurant doesn’t try to mimic a food truck from the East, but offers a modern interpretation, using advanced techniques and premium local ingredients to create a special culinary experience.
The atmosphere radiates quiet class: low lighting, beautiful plates designed for sharing at the center of the table, and cocktails that accompany the meal in harmony. This is an ideal location for a romantic date, an evening with friends, or an inspiring dinner.
Must-try dishes: Miang kham—seasonal leaves with crispy fish to start, vegetarian popiah—cigar leaves with vegetables, kai yang—Cornish hen in Thai marinade served with sticky rice on the side.
📍 Address: 4 HaDuchifat, Savyon
10. Thai Cho | Petah Tikva
Thai Cho brings Petah Tikva a fresh breeze in the form of a small, intimate Thai restaurant full of soul. The menu here focuses on extracting bold flavors and aromas associated with the cuisine, and allows you to enjoy an authentic experience without needing to sit in traffic on the way to Tel Aviv.
The boutique space and direct approach to the food turn Thai Cho into a local gem delivering a warm, enveloping experience. Whether you pop in for a quick lunch or settle in for dinner around several sharing dishes, expect precise bites that bring an instant smile.
Must-try dishes: Yam pla pao salad—worth adding fried fish, satay gai—chicken skewers in coconut milk and curry, pad pong karee with chicken/tofu/calamari.
📍 Address: 47 HaSivim, Petah Tikva
11. Tala Thai | Rishon LeZion
When you combine excellent Thai food with a Mediterranean Sea breeze, you get Tala Thai. The kosher restaurant sitting on the Rishon LeZion promenade serves an instant vacation on a plate. As the sun begins to set and the sea turns orange through the window, the aromas of coconut and chili rising from the kitchen complete the experience perfectly and do most of the work.
Order a frozen cocktail, dig a fork into rich stir-fries, and let the open, relaxed atmosphere do the rest. An excellent, enjoyable solution for anyone seeking authentic Thai food with strict kosher certification facing the waves.
Must-try dishes: Pomelo/mango salad and fried fish, vegetarian cashew stir-fry, classic mango sticky rice for dessert.
📍 Address: Rishon LeZion Promenade
12. Pan | Haifa
We close the list in the capital of the North, Haifa. Pan restaurant offers diners a fascinating envelope of Asian fusion, with a massive presence of flavors, sauces, and spices straight from Thailand. This is a brilliant, colorful, flavor-packed alternative to the Mediterranean cuisine, fish, and meats that typically dominate the area.
The dynamic vibe, meticulous design, and dishes meant for sharing make Pan a must-stop for a meal in the North. Indulge in noodles stir-fried over high heat, enjoy stinging spiciness, and open a wild table that doesn’t require a long drive to the center.
Must-try dishes: Pad pak khiao—for the first time, kuay teow gai soup with beef broth and beef fillet inside, gaeng kiew wan—green curry stew with local chicken/beef fillet.
📍 Address: 107 Sderot Moriah, Haifa
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