“They’re going to spank us” Ute says whispering. She elaborates, “we’re in trouble, they wrote ‘late’ next to our name. I even argued with the woman over the location as I walked around and around the street as it used to be on the other side of the road!” she said.
Chat Thai is the uber popular Thai chain of restaurants whose location can be signalled by the crowd of people queuing outside. We’re at the Thaitown location, which is the original location located on Campbell Street in Haymarket right opposite the Capitol Theatre. It’s a long, narrowish space with exposed brick walls and paintings. You walk past the crowd of people that stand and sit transfixed, watching the chefs cook in the front kitchen. They await their name and number being called like yum cha patrons.
Seating is crowded and it is noisy inside with much jostling of elbows. Our waiter is efficient and friendly enough but the aim is to get you fed and turned around so that someone else outside can take your place. We have a look at the menu which actually looks like a book about the experience rather than the actual menu. The menu is varied and we choose quickly.
Thai tea $5
There are a range of soft drinks but I decide to try a Thai tea. A strong black tea mixed with condensed milk and sugar, it is sweet and strong but really quite addictive.
Strawberry juice $6
Gai chicken satay (each) $2 each
There was so much on the menu that it was hard to choose so we decided to go for the classics on the entree menu. We started with the chicken satay skewers. The entrees came out in a flash and we take a bit of the juicy, chicken satay sticks blanketed in a thick satay sauce. These came with a cucumber chilli salad.
Todt mun bpla fish cakes $10
This was one of my favourite dishes although rather surprisingly described as “dollops of fried fish cakes.” They really were dollops though but light and puffy and worlds away from any tough, chewy or firm fish cakes. They were served on lettuce leaves, in a generous number with pickled cucumber relish and a tumble of deep fried Thai basil leaves.
Som dtum thai $10
There are five types of sum tum salad, that wonderfully refreshing green papaya salad and our waiter recommended this version with peanuts and dried shrimps said to be a spicy, salty and slightly sweet version. It was crunchy and fresh and transported me back to holidaying in Thailand.
Goong nam prik pao King prawns with smoked chilli jam$20
A small pause between entrees and mains the two mains arrived within minutes of each other. The first was four enormous stir fried king prawns on smoked chilli jam with kaffir lime leaves. The prawns were enormous and firm but not rubbery with a delectable sweet smoked chilli jam sauce offset by the coriander and kaffir lime leaves. I would have loved a knife to be able to cut the prawns as they were so large (not that I’m complaining about overly large prawns…).
Pla Dtom Som $24
Our other main was enormous and sadly there was no way that we could finish it. It was a large fillet of steamed blue eyed cod with caramelised palm sugar, turmeric and tamarind sauce with Chinese cabbage, spring onion and chilli. It struck me as very sweet and strong with the gentle sourness of tamarind and the fish was cooked well. It was good but perhaps not one of those dishes that you would hasten to order a second time.
Sticky rice with mango $8
There was just room for one dessert shared and even that was probably pushing it. But the dessert menu with two and a half pages of offerings is hard to ignore. Overwhelmed by choice, we ask the waiter what is good and he gives us one answer, the sticky rice with mango. It’s a mound of salty sweet sticky rice with a little sweetened coconut cream and sliced fresh mango. On top of this is a sprinkling of crunchy rice and the whole thing has a good balance of textures and flavours with the rich coconut and salty sweet rice and fresh, sweet mango.
A few nights later, Mr NQN and I visited Chat Thai and without a booking, waited in the queue with everyone else. As it is an unseasonably chilly evening, they are nice enough to bring everyone cups of hot jasmine tea and the wait is about 30 minutes in total as we progress from standing outside to moving our way into sitting on the precariously lopsided stools.
Yakult blended juice $5 (left) Lodt shong Singapore $4.50
Just like the cendol, this drink is made up of coconut milk with pandan noodles that are silky soft – much softer than we’ve tried. “What is that?” the girls sitting at the table next to us enquire about it. With the second drink, both Mr NQN and I like Yakult so we thought we’d try it blended up with ice. It’s actually quite good but obviously quite sweet as Yakult trends to be. A drink this large is also a bit much and we have trouble finishing it as it is very sweet and strong.
Gai yaang $10
Our dishes come out quickly-the gai yaang is a favourite dish from holidays. Here it is a char grilled turmeric and lemongrass marinated chicken with smoked chilli and tamarind relish. The flavour is light and we’ve had it a bit sweeter in Thailand or served with a sweeter sauce whereas this is more firmly in savoury territory with the smoked chilli and tamarind relish.
Emerald duck $15
This is a stir fried five spice duck dish with seasonal greens although you might be hard pressed to find the duck in this dish. It’s mostly greens and quite disappointing. We watch the table next to us listlessly pick through the greens to find a sliver of duck, just as we did.
Gaeng Panaeng Nuea, Panaeng Curry $14
The Panaeng beef curry with kaffir lime leaves and basil came with a delectable sauce. The beef was a bit tough in parts but we ended up just spooning the sauce onto the rice.
Yum nuea, beef salad $12
There was a big gap between this and the other dishes and we thought that they had forgotten it. It was a char grilled beef salad with tomatoes and fresh chilli. The beef again was quite tough in pieces with some pieces with inedible gristle. However the marinade and flavour was excellent.
Coconut ice cream $5
I made sure that I left room this time for dessert as I love Thai desserts. The coconut ice cream came as two large scoops of coconut ice cream on a bed on sticky salty sweet rice and syrupy palm seeds with chopped, roasted peanuts. It was rich and the ice cream had a good coconut-y flavour to it.
Khao kreab pak mor (Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat only) $7
While we were waiting in the queue, we watched them making this dessert in the front open kitchen. We asked the waitress what it was and she pointed us in the right direction. This turned out to be one of the more unusual desserts-so much so that it had Mr NQN flipping through the dessert menu to see that it was actually considered one. There were deep fried garlic chips on top of a rice dumpling outer and inside was palm sugar, peanuts and chicken. It actually was quite nice if you had had it as a dumpling entree but as a dessert, it was very savoury so it was hard to get your head around it as a dessert.
We ask for the bill and pay it and I’m reminded of dining the night before with Ute where she said “I feel like we’re going to get a report card” Ute says as we leave. “We’re getting a F for being late, F for talking to much before ordering, F for trying to pay with an Amex and F for splitting the bill. And then you asked for a second copy of the bill and it was all over!”
So tell me Dear Reader, do you mind queuing for meals or do you avoid places where you have to queue?
Chat Thai
20 Campbell Street Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 (02)9211 1808
Open 7 days 10am-2am
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40 Comments | Add your own
I love thai food, everything looks incredible!
Thai desserts are amazing! I think it’s because of my insane love for coconut
I tend not to order beef when eating out at Thai restaurants – I find that it is almost always too chewy and tough 
No matter though, all the more stomach space for dessert! 
It’s a funny little place, isn’t it? Ok, not that little, I guess. I’ve been there a couple of times now – the savoury desserts are quite confusing – we thought we’d ordered from the wrong menu!
I went here I went here!! Or, to one of them. I remember because of those wacky khao kreab pak mor dessert dumplings. But, oh, my kingdom for som tum…
I must admit I’ve totally missed the memo about Chat Thai. A few weeks ago I was at the city Westfields for dinner at Xanthi and noticed the queues. I didn’t realise that it was a chain. I guess I’m just used to my local That restaurants and haven’t ventured further afield. Is it worth the wait I wonder?
Those drinks are pretty spectacular! I avoid places where you have to queue, other than fast food joints.
I don’t have a problem with queuing, but there’s nothing that guarantees my non-return like a restaurant full of empty tables who turn you away because they’re “fully booked”! Happens all the time up here in Newcastle
I was so disappointed with my visit to Chat Thai as all the food coming out the kitchen looked incredible yet I was told there are only a very small handful of dishes that can be made gluten free. Strange as I have alway found Thai to be one of the easiest as most dishes are traditionally gf anyway
Four of us were to meet at 11.30 for a Saturday lunch at an unbookable restaurant. I lined up at 11.20. There were already 15 people in the queue. Then there were 3 of us. We inched up to the front reception, and asked for a table for 4. Sorry but we can’t seat you until all your party is present. Please wait over there on the side. 2 phone calls later and 60 stomach- growling minutes later number 4 turns up. We chatted to others waiting for their friends who were in the same boat. The moral is always choose your dinner guests carefully! Is it always the case of, who lives closest arrives late?
My husband and I ate here a month ago when visiting Sydney, did not know it was a chain. This is a very popular restaurant. We ate here mid afternoon and only had to wait a few minutes for a table. Overall all aspects were pretty good,an, there was only one dish I wouldn’t order again. Cant recall the name but it was a whole fish deep fried. Our hotel was nearby and we noticed the line waiting, generally a good indication.
A chicken and rice dumpling as dessert??? Boy, that’s a new one on me. Are you sure they weren’t pulling your leg? LOL It looks mighty tasty, either way.
That looks like fantastic food for a chain restaurant. Just yesterday I ate in San Miguel’s only Thai restaurant and had the most mediocre green chicken curry. Yuck. Such a disappointment. I am a tad envious that you have such choices, but happy for you.
I’d rather not queue, but…if truly necessary for exceptional food…
Dear Nigella,
I don’t mind queuing for meals if the food is good but otherwise avoid places where you have to queue.
I am addicted to their Thai Tea & sticky rice with mango.
Great review and will need to plan my next visit soon!
Oh the food looks wonderful!!! Lol about worrying they may spank you for being late. I live all your images, so gorgeous, they really capture the mood of the place.
LOVE Thai food, TRUE!
Seems the dishes from these experiences was “hit or miss” too!
I’m not one to really queue,
Enjoy experiences where I can appreciate friend’s conversation in a low paced relaxed food environment too!
The American in me is comfortable waiting in a queue for a table but my Aussie husband won’t. If they don’t permit reservations and there’s a queue, he’s convinced there’s another place better suited for his dinner.
I love Thai food and I too eat the sauce if the meat is tough. I can’t handle tough meat as a rule but sauce and rice makes me happy.
Yes, the food looks appetizing, obviously has a good variety and one does not have to pawn one’s bling to eat there! Don’t think it is for me tho’: hate queueing, hate being rushed, hate noise: would rather have take-away at my own speed in the comfort of my own home
!
I love Thai food and especially Thai tea. I don’t mind waiting for something I know that I enjoy but Mr. Hairylegs does not handle waiting in line at all.
Chat Thai is one of my favourite Thai restaurants, and hands down my favourite place for dessert!
Unfortunately, the mains have been a bit of a hit and miss for me
Their savoury dishes are sooo salty sometimes!
Hate queuing, I always turn up when I say I will if bookings are permitted but those who don’t are giving patrons a bad name. That said, I do love Chat Thai’s food!
I don’t particularly like queueing, but I think I would for this. I am really looking forward to some lovely Asian food. I love Italian food, but I am ready for something different.
i still havent gathered the patience to line up for this place, im hoping to try it out soon!
Crazy dessert!
Queuing for food is something I hate. I don’t mind a buzzer that alerts me when I’m allowed in, so long as I can wander off a bit and the wait is less than 30 minutes. We found some places in California would take your cell number and call when your table was ready. This seemed to work well as you could go some distance – in our case indoors where it was warm! – but get back knowing your table was ready.
You have officially given me THAI CRAVINGS
really want thai for dinner tonight… but we were going to cook dinner >_<
I have heard so much about Chat Thai from my friends in Sydney and I think I understand why! All dishes look superb and like you Thai desserts are always good too ~
As for queues I hate them hahaha
But will still queue when I have to and if the place is worth it 
I wonder if I'll have time to squeeze Chat Thai in on my trip to Sydney this week
LOVE LOVE LOVE Chat Thai! It is my happy place for some serious thai food. I also love their lychee iced drink, it is the perfect summer’s night drink.
I will be in Sydney tomorrow night for the Black Keys concert (only for one night though – we’re going to NZ the next morning!) and was most definitely going to go to Chat Thai for a post-concert supper as I know that they do open until very late.
Seeing this very timely review on your blog tonight was awesome and I will definitely be listening to your recommendations. Can’t wait!
I’ve heard that this place is awesome – but I get put off by crowds.. I like the Manly one as its usually not too bad, but I think this one has a more extensive menu? Either way looks great!
Oooo we went to Chat Thai as well when I visited Sydney but without a booking we had to wait for over an hour.
We ended up wandering around and they gave us a call when our table was ready. The food was quite nice, although I do agree with the strange desserts!! We ordered those same dumplings and this other dish which was also part savoury.
Now that’s one splendid-looking tumbler of Thai milk tea! And those fish cakes look plenty tempting as well.
My hubby is not a big fan of Thai food, but I love it. One of the nicest ones I’ve had recently was a duck curry with lychees. Very yummy.
Lorraine, are you trying to wet our appetite? We will be spending a whole month again in Bangkok over Christmas, so ……. delicious food and pampering!!!!
Cant wait to enter some top kitchens and ‘streetfood’. Ciao, Carina (PS, but NO queue for me!)
Lorraine, are you trying to wet my appetite? Will be in Bangkok for 1 whole month over Christmas, lovely food…..and pampering!
Have some dates with a few kitchens and ‘streetfood’, but NO queues for me!, Ciao Carina
Interior is great. I’m not sure if’d be a fan of the form of menu, but food looks great
Have the best memories from Chat Thai…
I avoid places where you have to queue (except for Tim Ho Wan!) or go really early so there is no queue when I get there.
Siankat I here what you’re saying. We got offered a seat at the bar recently (at a Newcastle restaurant) and the three or more “booked” tables behind us remained empty all night. So frustrating.
What lovely looking food indeed! A line usually means great food, so of course it’s worth waiting for!
This place is a chili-fired firm favourite of mine. Neve had a bad dish here, in fact, they’ve always been exceptional. Great space especially if you get a table on the mezzanine level and can look down on the production line of Thai desserts being made below! And what great desserts they are, too.
I am not the patient kind, so I generally run from long queues. But there are a few places I will willingly wait to be served, simply because the food is excellent.
I will only queue at fast food places!!!!
Dining out you shouldn’t have to line up, it takes away from the experience.
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