Best Thai Restaurants in Napier: Curries, Noodles and Royal Thai Dining

2Thai Chef’s Restaurant

Thai Chef’s Restaurant on Taradale Road in Onekawa is the Napier branch of the Thai Chef group, which also runs restaurants in New Plymouth, Wellington and Christchurch. The menu centres on Royal Thai cuisine, with Phad Thai, green curry and tom yum alongside the chef’s own dishes such as Famous Chick. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and the kitchen can adjust the heat to suit anyone at the table.

Services

• Lunch and dinner dine-in
• Thai takeaways
• Online ordering
• Banquet menu for groups of four or more
• Vegetarian and vegan dishes

Highlights

• The Thai Chef group was awarded Thai Select Premium in 2013
• Part of a group with restaurants in four New Zealand cities
• Heat level adjusted to taste on request

Location & Contact

Name: Thai Chef’s Restaurant
Address: 110 Taradale Road, Onekawa, Napier 4112
Phone: 06 843 4595
Website: thaichef.co.nz

3Aroy Thai Eatery

Aroy Thai Eatery is a casual Thai eatery at 141 Hastings Street in Napier South, part of a family business that opened its first Aroy restaurant on Cuba Street in Wellington in 2008. The menu covers appetisers, noodles and classic Thai dishes, plus house-made Thai desserts and drinks, with wines and local and imported beers. It is open seven days from 11:30am through to 9pm, for dine-in, takeaway and delivery.

Services

• Dine-in lunch and dinner, seven days
• Online ordering for takeaway
• Delivery through DoorDash, Delivereasy and Uber Eats
• House-made Thai desserts and drinks
• Bookings by phone

Highlights

• Family recipes handed down through generations
• Thai chefs from a number of regions in Thailand
• Loyalty programme for regular customers

Location & Contact

Name: Aroy Thai Eatery
Address: 141 Hastings Street, Napier South, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 835 8840
Website: aroy.co.nz

4Thai Lotus

Thai Lotus is a family-owned Thai restaurant in the middle of the Taradale shopping centre, run by a local Thai family with chefs trained in Thailand. Dishes come from all regions of Thailand in the Bangkok style, cooked with a mild heat by default, so ask if you want them hotter. There is an outdoor dining area at the back, BYO wine is allowed, and takeaways can be ordered online or by phone for pickup.

Services

• Lunch Tuesday to Friday and dinner seven nights
• Takeaways ordered online or by phone
• Delivery through Delivereasy
• Business and private functions

Highlights

• Owned and run by a local Thai family
• BYO wine welcome
• Outdoor dining area and ample parking

Location & Contact

Name: Thai Lotus
Address: 275 Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier 4112
Phone: 06 844 2760
Website: thailotus.co.nz

5Sri Thai Restaurant

Sri Thai Restaurant at 70 Bridge Street in Ahuriri serves Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, from Thai green curry to Vietnamese spring rolls, made to its own recipes with the freshest ingredients. It opens for dinner from 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, close to the inner harbour and the Ahuriri waterfront. Takeaways are available by phone, and BYO is welcome for diners who want to bring their own bottle of wine.

Services

• Dinner dine-in from 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday
• Thai and Vietnamese takeaways ordered by phone
• Thai and Vietnamese menu

Highlights

• BYO welcome
• Thai and Vietnamese dishes on one menu
• Ahuriri location near the inner harbour

Location & Contact

Name: Sri Thai Restaurant
Address: 70 Bridge Street, Ahuriri, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 835 2299
Website: srithai.co.nz

Thai Restaurants in Napier at a Glance

How to Choose the Right Thai Restaurant in Napier

• Decide on the area first: Napier South and the city centre, Onekawa, Taradale and Ahuriri all have Thai options
• Check whether you want dine-in, takeaway or delivery, and which delivery apps the restaurant uses
• Ask about the heat level when ordering, as many kitchens cook mild by default and will make dishes hotter on request
• Look for vegetarian, vegan and tofu dishes if anyone in your group needs them, and ask about allergens
• Check whether the restaurant is licensed or BYO before you go
• Book ahead for groups, weekends and functions

Frequently Asked Questions About Napier Thai Restaurants

Where can I find a Thai restaurant near me in Napier?

Napier’s Thai restaurants are spread across the city. Emerson Street and Hastings Street in Napier South are close to the city centre, Taradale Road in Onekawa and Gloucester Street in Taradale serve the western suburbs, and Bridge Street in Ahuriri is near the inner harbour.

Do Thai restaurants in Napier offer takeaway and delivery?

Yes. Most Thai restaurants in Napier take takeaway orders online or by phone, and several deliver through apps such as DoorDash, Delivereasy and Uber Eats. Ordering through the restaurant’s own website is usually the simplest way to see what is available on the night.

Is Thai food in Napier good for vegetarians and vegans?

Most Thai menus include tofu and vegetable dishes, and many curries and stir-fries can be made without meat. Fish sauce and shrimp paste are common in Thai cooking, so ask staff to confirm a dish is fully vegan.

Can I ask about allergens when ordering Thai food?

Yes. Restaurants and takeaways must know which common allergens are in the food they sell and be able to tell you when asked. Peanuts, shellfish, fish and gluten are worth checking in Thai sauces and noodle dishes. New Zealand Food Safety explains what food businesses must do and how to eat out safely with an allergy.

How spicy is Thai food?

Heat varies by dish. Massaman and Panang curries are usually milder, while jungle curries, larb and som tam can be very hot. Most Thai kitchens will adjust the spice level if you ask when ordering.

What is the difference between green, red and Massaman curry?

Green curry uses fresh green chillies and herbs for a bright, often hotter flavour. Red curry is built on dried red chillies for a deeper heat, and Massaman is a milder, richer curry with spices such as cinnamon and cardamom, often cooked with potato and peanuts.

Do I need to book a Thai restaurant in Napier?

Walk-ins are usually fine midweek, but booking is wise for Friday and Saturday nights, summer evenings and any group booking. Several restaurants take bookings by phone or online.