Australia’s love affair with Thai food runs deep. From bustling city restaurants to suburban Thai eateries, the cuisine’s signature balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours has become woven into the fabric of modern Australian dining culture.
While pad Thai, green curry and tom yum soup remain perennial favourites, Australian diners are increasingly adventurous. Seeking out regional Thai specialties that showcase the country’s diverse culinary landscape. Here are five trending Thai dishes to try in 2026. Plus where to find the most authentic expressions at Thai SELECT-certified restaurants across Australia.
Five trending Thai dishes
1. Kuay teow ruea (Thai boat noodles)
Born on Bangkok’s historic canals, boat noodles pack intense flavour into compact bowls. The deeply savoury broth combines slow-cooked pork or beef stock with pork or beef blood for velvety richness, aromatic spices and fermented sauces. Served with your choice of rice noodles and fresh herbs, these bite-sized portions were designed for vendors’ floating kitchens. The result is abold dish that invites you back for multiple servings.
2. Pad kaprao (holy basil stir-fry)
Thailand’s ultimate comfort food dish, pad kaprao features minced meat stir-fried with fiery birdseye chillies, garlic and pungent holy basil leaves. Traditionally topped with a crispy fried egg, this beloved dish balances savoury, spicy and aromatic flavours over jasmine rice. Pad kaprao is a staple from street stalls to upscale restaurants, offering different spice levels and protein choices from pork to seafood.
3. Gai tod Hat Yai (Thai fried chicken)
This southern Thai specialty showcases the region’s Muslim culinary heritage through its aromatic spice blend of cumin, coriander, turmeric and white pepper. Deep-fried until golden and crackling, the chicken is crowned with crispy fried shallots and traditionally served with sticky rice. What began in street stalls in the regional city of Hat Yai has become a national comfort food, offering a more complex, aromatic alternative to standard fried chicken.
4. Khao soi (Northern Thai curry noodles)
This Northern Thai specialty layers soft egg noodles in a rich coconut curry broth. It’s topped with crispy fried noodles for textural contrast. Typically served with chicken or beef, khao soi delivers the quintessential Thai balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy. All enhanced by pickled mustard greens, shallots and lime. This Northern Region icon offers depth and complexity that rivals Malaysia’s laksa.
5. Pad kee mao (drunken noodles)
Despite containing no alcohol, drunken noodles earn their name as the ultimate hangover remedy. Wide rice noodles are wok-tossed with generous fresh chillies, Thai holy basil, and your choice of protein in a sauce balancing soy, fish sauce and sweetness. It delivers immediate heat tempered by fragrant herbs and vegetables, creating the bold, dynamic flavours that define Thai street food culture.
Finding authentic Thai flavours in Australia
Australia boasts an impressive array of Thai restaurants, with high-quality Thai cuisine available across major cities and regional areas. However, identifying truly authentic Thai dishes can be challenging. To guide diners toward genuine Thai flavours, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce established the Thai SELECT certification program. This official mark of authenticity recognises Thai restaurants worldwide across multiple tiers – from Thai SELECT Casual to one, two and three-star ratings – based on cuisine authenticity, ambiance, service excellence and adherence to traditional Thai cooking methods. Look for the Thai Select seal to ensure you’re experiencing Thailand’s diverse regional cuisines as they’re meant to be enjoyed.
Thai SELECT is a mark of certification awarded by the Ministry of Commerce The Royal Thai Government to guarantee the authentic Thai taste of Thai restaurants in overseas, as well as to encourage Thai restauranteurs to maintain their standard.
