With Thailand in such close proximity to Qatar, it should come as no surprise that Doha is one of the best cities in the Middle East to find high-quality Thai cuisine. Whether you’re looking for a hot bowl of Tom Kha Kai, some Pad Thai noodles, or a spicy curry, Doha has so many Thai food restaurants, that you’ll never run out of new places to try. That being said, where is the best Thai restaurant in Doha?
Saffron Thai Restaurant off of Al Khaleej Street in downtown Doha has some of the best Thai food in the entire city. Unlike some of the other more “average” Thai restaurants in town, Saffron offers a high-end, fine-dining experience like no other. Every detail from the plating to the taste of the food is exquisite!
According to Trip Advisor, there is a multitude of Thai restaurants in Doha, which means that they’re almost as common as finding a Chinese restaurant in the U.S.! I’ve probably eaten at around 20 of them over the past couple of years, and I’ve had good, mediocre, and bad food. So, I decided to compile a short list of the best Thai eateries in the city to save you guys the trouble! Check it out!
Doha’s Best Thai Restaurants
Doha is probably best-known for Indian, Turkish, and Middle Eastern food. After all, it’s on the Persian coast; a region known for its unique interpretation of food and spice. If you’re looking for the best Indian dishes in town, then I definitely recommend checking out this piece I wrote the other day.
However, the second-most-popular cuisine in Doha is arguably Thai food. Keep in mind that Qatar’s Thai food is going to be a bit more on the expensive side (like everything in this city). However, it’s well worth the price.
One of the things that make Doha Thai food so great is that the restaurants are able to source all of their ingredients directly from Thailand. This means that the noodles are fresh, the spices are authentic, and the chefs were likely born in Thailand and grew up cooking the dishes they serve to you.
If you combine all of these factors, it’s easy to see why Doha’s Thai cuisine is some of the best in the world! So, the next time you’re in the city and have a craving for Thai, check out one of the following awesome Thai spots.
1) Busaba Bangkok Thai
If you’re a Londoner, then you’ll probably recognize this name, as it’s a common franchise in the UK. Given Qatar’s history as a British colony, it makes sense that you’d find one here. Don’t let the fact that it’s a “franchise” fool you, though. The food here is top-notch, as is the service.
My favorite dish to eat at Busaba Bangkok is the Thai Green Curry with Spring Vegetables. They make the curry sauce out of mildly spicy green chiles and mix in juicy shredded chicken and freshly-chopped vegetables. It’s the perfect meal to satisfy your spicy and savory cravings!
2) Khao San Thai Restaurant
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly lunch spot, then Khao San Thai Restaurant is an excellent choice. Located on the bustling Al Jazeera Street, Khao San is a small eatery that specializes in serving delicious, authentic, cultural Thai dishes.
The plating and seating aren’t quite as fancy as you’d expect from somewhere like Saffron, but the taste of the food is easily just as good! If you visit on Wednesdays or Sundays, you can also take advantage of their unlimited Thai hot pot meal where they’ll refill your meats or fish until you’re completely satisfied for just 79QR.
3) Thai Snack and Massage
If you’re the type of visitor who enjoys “hole in the wall” restaurants, then you’ve got to try Thai Snack! Unlike some of the other restaurants I’ve listed, Thai Snack isn’t an opulent restaurant. It’s a lot like some of the smaller Doha Asian buffets I posted about.
The plates and seating are relatively basic; the food, however, is out of this world! The environment is one of a kind as well. There’s a really nice outdoor seating area located in a small garden, and the music and ambiance will make you feel as if you were actually in a small family-owned eatery in Thailand.
The best part? They also have a small massage parlor in a separate building to the side. So after you’ve finished your meal, you can go let their experiences Thai masseurs rub the stress of the day away. Overall, it’s an awesome concept!
4) Saffron Thai Restaurant
While Thai Snack may be my favorite small/homestyle Thai restaurant, Saffron is my favorite high-end Thai food restaurant. The atmosphere is like something out of Las Vegas or Dubai, and it’s definitely what I’d call an out-of-this-world experience. Then again, Qatar is one of the world’s richest countries, so I guess opulence is to be expected.
As far as the food goes, Saffron typically serves classic Thai dishes like Pad Thai, Khao Pad, Curries, and soups like Tom Yum Goong and Tom Kha Khai. The plating is what really differentiates it from other Thai restaurants, though, and the dishes are truly works of art. You almost don’t want to cut into the food and ruin the immaculate plating!
5) White Oryx Thai Restaurant
The vibe in White Oryx is what really makes it such a special place. Unlike other Thai restaurants that offer a more oriental style and vibe, White Oryx showcases Middle Eastern art, seating, and food presentation. This makes for an interesting combination that makes it feel like you’re eating your Thai food in an Islamic art museum!
Conclusion
There you have it! Finding the cream of the crop as far as Thai restaurants go definitely took me a little bit of time. However, these spots are guaranteed to impress you both in terms of the atmosphere and the food. Once you finish your main entree, be sure to check out my list of the best cake bakeries in Doha and go grab yourself some dessert!