NewsBite

Advertisement

Pinto Thai

Simple digs for an impressive line-up of big, bold dishes.

Specialising in pork and beef-based soups.
1 / 4Specialising in pork and beef-based soups.Bonnie Savage
Inside the Exhibition Street restaurant.
2 / 4Inside the Exhibition Street restaurant.Supplied
Stir-fried noodles.
3 / 4Stir-fried noodles.Supplied
Fishball bomb
4 / 4Fishball bombSupplied

Critics' Pick

Thai$

A steady stream of expats and those seeking convenient yet quality street food come and go from bright and homely Pinto, named for the Thai lunch boxes that stack one on top of the other. Dishes come out lightning fast, whether deliciously puffy strips of fried pork fat or still-warm pandan custard with a lick of fragrant coconut cream.

Hugely popular boat noodle soup is a dark pool of umami broth fragrant with cinnamon, enriched with blood and star anise. Alternate each slurp with bites of pork meatballs bursting with ginger and lemongrass, and braised pork that falls off the bone.

There’s a selection of noodles but fresh silky rice strands with subtle chew are the pick. You have to love meat to eat well here but if you do, you’ll leave stacked.

Continue this series

Melbourne CBD
Up next
Cauliflower with blood orange and macadamias.

Reed House

Brand new yet totally in tune with the heartbeat of the city.

O’Connor steaks are cooked over a robatayaki grill.

Robata

Flaming good fun in a futuristic-feeling room.

Previous
Savarin with orange cream.

Philippe

Leading light of gastronomy hidden underground.

See all stories

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/vic-good-food-guide/pinto-thai-20241105-p5ko1n.html