Ottawa has a deeper bench of Thai kitchens than most people realize, spread from the Byward Market to Bells Corners, Nepean to Orleans. This list was put together by cross-checking restaurant websites, Google ratings, and reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp to find ten spots that are currently open and consistently well reviewed.
1. Khao Thai Restaurant
Area: Byward Market · Rating: 4.4 on Google (1,527 reviews)
Khao Thai has been serving the Byward Market for more than 20 years, and its longevity shows in how dialed-in the menu is. Reviewers consistently point to fresh, authentic dishes and reasonable prices as the draw, making it a solid pick for a casual dinner before a show or a night out downtown.
2. Wandee Thai Cuisine
Area: Centretown, near Beech Street · Rating: 4.7 on Google
Wandee has built a reputation for fresh ingredients and homemade sauces rather than shortcuts from a jar. It rates among the highest of any Thai kitchen in the city on both Google and TripAdvisor, and suits diners who want a more scratch-made version of the classics.
3. Siam Bistro
Area: Hintonburg, on Wellington Street West · Specialty: traditional Thai curries · Rating: 4.5 on Google (1,096 reviews) · Since: 1989
One of the older Thai restaurants in the city, Siam Bistro's best-sellers include panang curry, tom yum goong and pad gra pow. Its long track record and steady review volume make it a dependable choice for anyone new to Thai food who wants a broad, well-executed menu.
4. Sweet Basil Restaurant
Area: Alta Vista, near Billings Bridge · Specialty: pad thai and sizzling hot plates · Rating: 4.6 on Google
Sweet Basil pairs a warm, minimalist dining room with a menu built around pad thai, Thai curries and sizzling dishes. It can also accommodate group bookings and celebrations, which makes it a practical option for a birthday dinner or a small office outing.
5. Thai Coconut
Area: Nepean, on Prince of Wales Drive · Rating: 4.5 on Google (386 reviews)
Thai Coconut runs out of a small, unassuming space but consistently draws praise for bold flavours and generous portions. Its Thai Coconut Chicken and green curry come up often in reviews, and it suits anyone in the west end looking for a low-key neighbourhood spot rather than a formal dining room.
6. Sala Thai Cuisine
Area: Alta Vista Drive · Rating: 4.4 on Google
Sala Thai has built a following around its green curry with bamboo shoots and a bright, modern dining room. Reviewers describe it as a go-to for genuine flavours rather than a Westernized version of the cuisine, making it a good fit for diners chasing more authentic heat and balance.
7. Social Thai
Area: Centretown, on Bank Street · Rating: 4.4 on Google (400 reviews)
This small, stylish Bank Street spot is known for a creamy, not-too-sweet pad thai that has developed a cult following, alongside fresh spring rolls and pad se ew. It suits downtown diners who want a compact, well-curated menu with adjustable spice levels rather than an exhaustive one.
8. Thai Flame Restaurant
Area: Bells Corners, on Robertson Road · Rating: 4.5 on Google · Since: operating in Ottawa for more than 13 years
Owned by a Laotian family, Thai Flame has quietly served Bells Corners for over a decade with well-balanced stir-fries, rich curries and tom yum soup. It's a solid option for west-end residents who want a neighbourhood restaurant rather than a downtown destination.
9. Little Elephant Thai Bistro
Area: Orleans, on Innes Road · Rating: 4.5 on Google
Little Elephant brings a cozy, warmly lit dining room to Orleans, an area with fewer sit-down Thai options than the city's core. Reviewers highlight friendly, attentive service and flavourful curry and noodle dishes, and it doesn't yet have its own website, so its TripAdvisor listing is the best place to check current hours.
10. Baan Thai Restaurant
Area: Nepean, on Centrepointe Drive · Rating: 4.2 on Yellow Pages
Baan Thai draws consistent praise for generous portions and reasonable prices in a part of Nepean with limited Thai options. It doesn't carry a widely cited Google rating the way some of the others on this list do, but its reviews across Yellow Pages and TripAdvisor are steadily positive.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including restaurant websites, Google reviews, TripAdvisor and Yelp, current as of August 2026. It is not a paid placement, and ottown has not tested or visited any of these restaurants. Ratings and review counts are cited only where they could be directly verified. One restaurant that came up repeatedly in early searches, Nana Thai Cuisine on Preston Street, was excluded after research showed it has closed and appears to have transitioned to a different name at the same address. If you notice outdated information, let us know so we can correct it.
Sources: Google search results, TripAdvisor Ottawa Thai restaurant listings, Yelp Ottawa Thai restaurant listings, and individual restaurant websites.
