The argument: Sydney is the best place to eat Thai outside Asia. The evidence: the pioneering Spice I Am (90 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills, 02 9280 0928) and its spin-offs, the Isaan House (202 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, 02 9280 0364), and, upstairs at the same site, the more pan-Asian Surry Hills Eating House. Then there’s Chat Thai (our picks are its Thaitown HQ at 20 Campbell St, Sydney, 02 9221 1808, and the glossier Westfield branch; Level 6, Westfield Sydney, Cnr Pitt & Market Sts, Sydney, 02 9221 0600), and its newer offshoots, Assámm (Shop 17, Lower Ground Floor, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, 02 9261 0204) and Boon Café (1/425 Pitt St, Sydney, 02 9281 2114). Sailors Thai (106 George St, The Rocks, 02 9251 2466) and Longrain (85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, 02 9280 2888) offer fine Thai eats in a full-service setting. North of the bridge it’s all about the buzzy Khao Pla (7/370-374 Victoria Ave, Chatswood, 02 9412 4978) and its new food-court branch Chum Tang (Shop 5, Podium Level, Chatswood Interchange, 438 Victoria Ave, Chatswood, 02 9419 2872). For serious heat, head back to Chinatown for southern Thai specialist Caysorn (1/8 Quay St, Sydney, 02 9211 5749).
