About Us

Owned and operated by a local Thai family, wishing to share their love of the best of Thai Cuisine.

A few words about us

This is a friendly, courteous, family/group orientated restaurant employing genuine Thai Chefs who have passed the family’s knowledgable taste test.

We serve Thai Cuisine from all regions in Thailand in the Bangkok style with the Kiwi palate in mind. Spicy dishes are served only mildly hot. If you want them hotter to the taste, please discuss this with your waitress/waiter before ordering. After you’ve tried your meal, it can be made even hotter by adding flakes of dried chilli – a very Thai thing to do! Just ask your waiter/waitress.

Our dinnerware is very special. It is hand-painted “benjarong”, a compound Thai word meaning “five-colours” and one of the finest examples of Thai culture. Our particular choice of benjarong design is “lai nam thong” meaning ”design liquid gold” and we import this directly from Thailand in the trust that you enjoy its uniqueness as much as we do.

While you are with us, view our photo of His Majesty’s 70th birthday celebrations. He is the longest serving monarch in the world and representatives from every royal family attended this illustrious occasion. There are also many fine examples of carved wood panels and superbly crafted clay pottery on show, all made in Thailand by genuine Thai craftsman.

A place to wine, a place to dine

We have a modest selection of excellent wines from both New Zealand and around the world, but if you want to bring something special feel free to do so as we allow BYO (wines only). Please deposit your bottles with the Duty Manager (usually Onjira or Saravut). We have a statutory duty to be responsible hosts and prevent intoxication.

Reservations are not always required mid-week but it is a sensible precaution to avoid disappointment. Your making a reservation also helps us arrange appropriate staff-levels, so you are neither kept waiting for food, nor feel your waitress/waiter is unattentive.

The restaurant is air-conditioned and recently decorated including refurbished restrooms for your comfort.

In addition takeaways are also available for your convenience, with ample parking available. We also cater to business and private functions.

We are open every day except the 25th, 26th and 27th December. No surcharges are applied on public holidays.

Onjira

Saravut

The banner at the top of the page is a painting that was commissioned from a well known contemporary artist in Thailand by Thai Lotus Restaurant and hangs opposite the entrance. It portrays a very popular mythical story that is so old it is mirrored in many south east asian cultures.Like all great myths, the story-line is moralistic ( a fable). It is also serialised over more than a human life-time.

The particular episode depicted may be briefly explained as follows:-

Deep in the heart of the Kamala Kingdom lies a magical forest glade, where reside the graceful Kinnaree, the half-bird, half-woman angels of age-old myths.The Prince comes across this enchanted place and is entranced by the magnificent beauty he finds there. Overwhelmed with desire, he decides to capture one of these fascinating creatures using his magic lasso. The sight of the tearful and terrified angel fills the heart of the young boy with great pain and regret and he is taught a princely lesson in compassion from the delicate Kinnaree.