This stunning destination restaurant on White Plains Avenue offers a more upmarket take on Thai cuisine. The front resembles a weathered Zen-style home, while the inside features an indoor garden with vegetation and waterfalls that bring you closer to nature—a great setting for Thai cuisine's fresh tastes.

Basil is called Thai basil (bai horapa), which is a popular spice in Thailand. That should give you a good idea of the kind of profiles you'll find here. Everything is created from scratch, even the spices, which are pounded by hand to get the desired tastes. Basil is delighted to mix heritage with great ingredients in a modern, relaxing ambiance where customers are invited to eat their troubles away. The ultimate objective is to make authentic Thai cuisine available to everyone. They aspire to serve the finest of this historic cuisine to everybody who requests a meal.

Must-try dishes: Pad Thai, Thai Crispy Fish with Green Mango Salad, Thai Heavenly Pineapple Fried Rice, and Green Chicken Curry.
Locations: Ayala Malls The 30th, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, The Podium, and SM Mall of Asia

Website: https://basil-white-plains.business.site

Nav is far from being as real as purists would like. Chef Francis Lim is pushing for a more modern interpretation of traditional dishes. The furnishings are more minimalist than grandiose, with only a few Asian details sprinkled around the wood-decked area. Spice is the qualifier in their carefully crafted cuisine, amplifying the already potent tastes. Even salads aren't exempt. Don't worry, you're free to dial it back.

Parking might be difficult, as can finding a seat, but both can be forgotten as the meal begins to creep on your taste senses. Nav specializes in both comfortable and slightly edgy modern Thai food. They're not aiming for anything completely unique; rather, they want to accentuate a modern touch and deviate from the norm.

Must-try dishes: Crispy Catfish Salad (P245), Bagoong Rice (P225), Yellow Crab Curry

Location: 16C United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

More information: https://bit.ly/38KlY7a

You just need to travel as far as SOMS Noodle House if you're searching for no-frills Thai. After all, that kindness, complaining about the occasional mosquito or fly buzzing about feels like terrible manners after all that hospitality. It has a "street-food" vibe to it that goes nicely with Thai food. Filipino-friendly flavors are gentler yet still magnificent. SOMS is frequently full with Rockwell residents and students, making finding a seat difficult.

The menu paints a picture of Thai food through the ages, blending traditional cooking techniques from the past, robust flavors from the present, and pushing limits to create futuristic flavors. The steamed sea bass topped with lemongrass, lime, garlic, and chile, for example, is one of the menu's highlights.

Must-try dishes: Moo Ping Bai Cha Plu (pork skewers, P260), Tom Yum Talay (P145), Phanaeng Neur Yang (beef tenderloin curry, P360)

Location: 5921 A. Alger Street, Poblacion, Makati City

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somsnoodlehouse

If it's true that the finest pad thai and tom yum are eaten at home, then this renovated dwelling has the best pad thai and tom yum. Thaipan bills itself as a fine-dining establishment, and the décor reflects this. The restaurant has a modern garden feel, with lots of white and a little greenery thrown in for good measure. Wall panels with complex vine patterns—possibly the only oriental clue in the entire space—are finished in a classy black. The serving size is a touch tiny, as is apparently common in fancy eating establishments, but it's jam-packed with flavors that are intense even by Thai standards.

The restaurant's hallmark dish, real Thai green curry, has been praised, but the remainder of the menu is extensive and encourages local products. Try their special catch of the day for the freshest fish, and dine in an unassuming setting with well-presented home-cooked Thai food.

Must-try dishes: Pad Thai (P310), Tom Yum Kung (P130/personal serving), Tod Man Kung (crab cakes), Poo Nim Pud Pong Karee (stir-fried crablets), Tah Koh Sakhoo (pandan and coconut, P160)

Location: 120 Scout Lazcano Street, Tomas Morato, Quezon City

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thaipanQC

Crying Tiger Street Kitchen is a cool little hole-in-the-wall that has quickly become a local favorite in Makati Poblacion. It's as near as you can get to the real Thailand street food scene, with its colourful décor and laid-back yet energetic atmosphere. The majority of residents come here for pre-game and post-work dinners, but it's also great for a late-night snack because it's open until midnight! If your intentions aren't last-minute, you should make a reservation ahead of time because it may get quite busy, especially on weekends.

The dishes here are still in its early phases of development, but that does not imply it aren't tasty. The Mabantas know how to run their restaurants, and presenting a small yet delectable menu allows them to ease into service and operations while still pleasing their customers. The sour dipping sauce, formed into a slurry with minced lemongrass and onion, is the best item at Crying Tiger.

Must-try dishes: Khao Pad Goong, Chicken Satay, Moo Krob, Pad Thai Woon Sen, and Khao Nian Mamuang.

Location: 4986 Guanzon Street 1210 Makati Luzon

More information: https://bit.ly/37iiIjh

Mango Tree is a worldwide concept with over 70 locations around Asia. If you must choose one near to home, Toplist strongly suggests their Philippine flagship at Bonifacio Global City. It's certainly one of Manila's most Instagrammable Thai restaurants, thanks to its trendy tropical décor and large eating area. In reality, the former is highly influenced by Thailand's four regional cuisines! Mango Tree's cuisine is designed to appeal to a wide range of customers, with dishes inspired by four different areas of Thailand. When you try each dish, you'll discover a pleasing combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. Their menu is evenly divided into two sections: traditional and classic foods, dubbed Purist, and contemporary cuisine, dubbed Adventurist.

Thai cuisine blends all elements to create a wonderful dish: salty, hot, sour, sweet, and, of course, spicy—and Mango Tree is all about spicy. The multinational restaurant company, which began in Bangkok, Thailand, has long served Filipinos Thai classics. It's currently regarded as one of Manila's most genuine Thai fine dining establishments.

Must-try dishes: Pomelo Salad with Prawns, Gai Yang, Pad Thai Soft Shell Crab, Thai Tapioca Dumplings, and Mango Cheesecake.
Locations: Bonifacio High Street – Central Square, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and TriNoma

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MangoTreeManila

Doon Thai and Asian Fusion Restaurant, adjacent to De La Salle University, College of Saint Benilde, and St. Scholastica's College, is a great place to go for Thai food. This restaurant, which serves authentic Thai food at a reasonable price, is something that students should try if they need to pass the time until their next lesson. Doon also provides a pick-up service for individuals who are constantly on the go and like to eat out. They only need to phone the restaurant to place their orders and schedule a pick-up time.

DOON Thai and Asian Fusion Cuisine has a unique backstory: it was initially intended to be a good ol' lutong-bahay eatery catering mostly to local college students. But when they started serving Thai food, word got out about how good (and inexpensive!) it was, and the rest is history. This is located in the old Malate neighborhood, and it's even right next to a washing business, adding to the 'neighborhood hidden gem' impression.

Must-try dishes: Tom Ka Gai Soup, Catfish Salad, Red Curry, Pad See Ew, and Butt’rd Garlic Shrimp.
Location: #936 Dolores Street, Malate, Manila

More information: https://bit.ly/37lzhe1

To say Nara has won over the hearts (and stomachs) of Filipinos would be an understatement. It is the first place that comes to mind when one seeks real Thai food in Manila. The business was launched in the Philippines in 2017 without sacrificing the originality of the famous recipes, having previously established itself as a cuisine attraction for residents and travelers in Bangkok.

To put it another way, Nara Thai is to Thai food what Din Tai Fung is to Taiwanese cuisine. This Bangkok-based global concept is your best chance for a large menu — but don't expect it to sacrifice quality for quantity. It's one of the few restaurants in the area to have gained the Thai Select seal of approval. There are now two locations: one at SM Megamall and the other at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. So, if you're seeking something sweet after a long day of shopping, you know where to go!

Must-try dishes: Nara Thai Sampler, Pla Gao Neung Ma Nao, Crispy Fried Shrimp Cakes, Massaman Curry, and Khao Niew Ma Muang.
Locations: SM Megamall – Mega Fashion Hall and Ayala Malls Manila Bay

More information: https://bit.ly/3jMJgvF

Check out My Thai Kitchen for another Thai restaurant that can be found in several malls across the Metro. With all of the well-lit interiors and vividly colored furnishings, it's also difficult not to notice their stores when wandering about. This counteracts their delectable culinary options, which are pure comfort food. What's even better? Most of these are served in large portions, so dive in!

Six noodle meals, including pad Thai, and nine rice dishes, ranging from coconut jasmine to pineapple and crab, are on the menu. Cashew, basil, ginger, green curry, pineapple curry, and peanut curry are among the chicken mains. The interiors are contemporary and international, not at all like typical Thai house decor.

Must-try dishes: Pow Piet Tod Gha, Khau Kluk Gapi, Tom Kha Gai, Shrimp Pad Thai, and Khao Neaw Mamuang.
Locations: 204 Wilson Street, Addition Hills Greenhills 1500 San Juan NCR

More information: https://bit.ly/37Ucjum

Kapitolyo, a laid-back neighborhood, is recognized for its diverse restaurant scene, which caters to practically every appetite. If you're seeking Thai cuisine, Same Same Thai Satay Bar is the place to go! Despite its diminutive size, the huge griller in front makes it simple to find. This hole-in-the-wall is evocative of Bangkok's curbside cafes, which adds to its allure. Complementing this is their simple menu, which consists of a combination of Thai and Pinoy street cuisine - all for under $200!

Traditional meals are served in a modern atmosphere that is vast, opulent, sophisticated, and soothing. Invigorating wood walls with indentations and green accents greet visitors at the entry. Further in, steel lattices are put above the ceiling, kitschy Thai decorations are erected, and cage chandeliers are installed.

Must-try dishes: Satay Sampler, Shrimp Pad Thai, Crab Khao Pad, Thai Omelette, and Chicken Green Curry.
Location: 6b San Rafael Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig

More information: https://bit.ly/3Mg191M