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There are two prerequisites for dining at Thai Pothong. The first? You gotta come hungry. After all, you’re eating at one of Sydney’s best Thai restaurants, dishing out sweet, sour, salty and spicy hits on Newtown’s King Street since 1996. And the second? You need to know there will be singing. A lot of singing, in fact. I counted at least six 'Happy Birthday' songs on my most recent visit, but our waiter told us they average about 20 a night. Now, you could get your knickers in a knot and say there are far better songs to be sung. Or you could look around, see all the happy families and friends celebrating in this joyous, brightly lit, huge and delicious restaurant, and join in the fun. I say: choose the latter.
The vibe
Seating more than 450 guests, Thai Pothong is bloody massive – making it a cracking choice for birthday celebrations (see above), catch-ups with mates, or a rendezvous after one too many Martinis at nearby celestial den Bar Planet, or before a boogie at purple-hued disco haunt Pleasure Club (winner of Time Out's Bar of the Year 2025). The dining room is brightly lit, vibrant and decorated with traditional Thai artworks and cultural pieces – and a couple of times I felt like I was back in balmy Southeast Asia. Service is swift, and even when they’re under the pump, the team remains friendly and happy to offer recommendations. Celebrating an anniversary? They’ll take your photo and serve a complimentary treat. There’s also an on-site gift shop, which sells Thai homewares, jewellery, metal crafts, wood carvings and paintings – it’s a bit random, but hey.
The food
Thai Pothong’s menu spans traditional and modern Thai offerings and is now all on a high-tech iPad rather than your usual plastic menu (miss you). Favourites like sour, spicy and fresh papaya salad, bouncy tamarind-laced pad Thai and bright and sour tom yum prawn soup are all there. For entrees, betel leaves come topped with a juicy prawn and cashew nut, onion and roasted coconut coated in a sticky sweet-salty-tangy sauce for a textural flavour bomb. Grilled chicken skewers are paired with nutty, sweet satay. And slippery rice noodles rolled up with chicken mince and mushrooms are moreish when doused in a dark soy number.
A barramundi curry, while slightly on the sweet side, is a standout – the flesh cooked just right and swimming in a coconut milk-based sauce that sings of makrut lime, turmeric, galangal and lemongrass. Meanwhile, marinated pork is glorious: charred, sticky, sweet and made even better with a spicy dipping sauce.
You have to order Thailand’s most famous dessert, of course. Thai Pothong’s mango sticky rice arrives with slices of mango arranged like a rose resting on a bed of sticky rice. I pour the salty-sweet coconut milk on top, close my eyes and I’m back at Koh Tao, circa 2013. Bliss.
The drinks
You’ll find Thailand’s beloved ale Singha on the drinks menu, as well as local brew Grifter Pale Ale. There are plenty of holiday-ready cocktails – think Mojitos, Singapore Slings, Piña Coladas and Blue Lagoons. My Lychee Martini arrives perfectly chilled with a toothpick holding two plump lychees and tastes sweet, tropical and bang on. Wines are affordable – glasses start from $12 and bottles from $28 – and include a solid selection of Aussie drops. Thai Pothong is BYO for wine only (with a small corkage fee), so bring a bottle of your fave and come here for your next birthday.
Time Out tip
Thai Pothong has a bunch of set menu options at different price points, starting from $42 per person. We went with the Jasmin Menu, which comes with entrees and mains, plus a glass of house red or white wine or soft drink – great value at $49 per person. Order one of those, I reckon. And make a booking – this place gets a longer line than the Enmore Theatre on a Saturday night.
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