Jinda Thai Restaurant

Overview

Bypass Victoria Street's seemingly endless spots for cheap eats and duck down one of the nearby alleyways to find Jinda Thai Restaurant. Since opening in 2013, Jinda has gained a strong following. Sure, there are spots on the strip that cost less money, but the authentic, high-quality food on offer here makes this undoubtedly one of the best-value restaurants in the area.

There are all the Thai classics that'll take you back to Patong Beach, but you shouldn't look past the deep-fried barramundi fillet with tamarind sauce, fried shallots and coriander or the traditional yellow curry with grilled chicken. This particular dish showcases Grandma Jinda's recipe, crafted from many years spent serving customers along Bangkok's canals.

If it's noodles that get you salivating, then it offers classics like pad thai and pad see ew with your choice of pork, chicken, beef or tofu as well as pad see mao. There are number of fun drinks here to help soothe the spice as well, including a crushed lychee concoction and an iced-lemon and iced-milk tea.

The space has an industrial warehouse feel, with exposed brick walls, large windows, lanterns hung throughout and a mish-mash of furniture. Despite its enormous space, Jinda is full of hubbub pretty much every night of the week, with queues flowing out the door, so get down early or book in advance.

Images: Visit Victoria

Appears in:

The Best Thai Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023