Thai Baan

Specialist spot for funk-driven broths and more.

November 18, 2024

1 / 5Thai Baan’s boat noodles are a must-order.Bonnie Savage

2 / 5Inside Thai Baan’s CBD outpost.Bonnie Savage

3 / 5Oyster salad with shallots and red onion.Bonnie Savage

4 / 5Slips of salmon with fish roe.Bonnie Savage

5 / 5Pork neck and dipping sauce.Bonnie Savage

Critics' Pick

Thai$

A tasty jewel in Melbourne’s Thai-Town crown, this Isan-focused joint serves some of the city’s most popular boat noodles. But that’s not all. Fans of jerky will find the dried beef deep-fried for an XXL crunch and served alongside fluoro red chilli sauce.

Twice-cooked pork belly dons a sweet and sticky armour in the chilli basil stir-fry. Add an impossibly lacy fried egg for maximum decadence. Dishes arrive well seasoned, but those looking to punch up the sour-spice-salt trinity can raid the wok-fried chilli flakes and fish sauce on tables.

Folding tables and stools line the narrow room, but what Baan lacks in decor it makes up for in speedy service and a ridiculous ice-cream sandwich of brioche bulging with mango, coconut and egg yolk-flavoured scoops. Lines sometimes get lengthy at weekends so arrive early or suffer the consequences.