Thai cooking in Minneapolis runs from strip mall storefronts to Uptown dining rooms, and the strongest kitchens here work small menus hard rather than padding them out. This list leans on what actually shows up on the plate: tamarind balance in a pad thai, the char on pad see ew, whether the curry still tastes like it did last year.
№ 01
BaGu Sushi & Thai
$$
4741 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · +16128235254
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BaGu splits its counter between sushi and Thai plates, and the hand rolls stand out for using real wasabi rather than the horseradish substitute most rooms default to. The space runs small, so seating can lag at busy hours even with a reservation. Once seated, service moves efficiently, with staff who know the menu well enough to guide first-time orders through both sides of the kitchen.
What to orderhand rolls, nigiri, maki rolls
№ 02
Mai Thai Restaurant
$$
3839 Lakeland Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55422 · +17635331877
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Pad thai is the reason regulars keep coming back to this Minneapolis storefront, ordered up to level five spicy and consistently praised as some of the best in the metro. Tom kha holds its own too, built with tofu for diners who skip the meat. Massaman curry and pad see ew round out a menu built for weeknight takeout and DoorDash more than a sit-down occasion.
What to orderPad Thai, Tom Kha, Pad See Ew
№ 03
Thai Curry Restaurant
3752 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409 · +16124898083
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Thai Curry Restaurant keeps its footprint in Minneapolis focused on the dishes its name promises, a straightforward option for diners who want curry without a sprawling menu to sort through. Details on the room and specific standout plates are thin, but the concept is clear: a neighborhood spot built around curry as the centerpiece rather than an afterthought on a long list.
№ 04
Naviya's Thai Kitchen
$$
2812 W 43rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55410 · +16122765061
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Naviya's runs an open enough kitchen that diners can hear the wok working from the tables, and the food arrives tasting like it. Chicken satay comes breaded, a departure from the usual grilled skewer that surprises first-timers, and the peanut sauce draws requests for extra. Thai fried rice gets particular praise from regulars. The room stays simple, strip-mall plain, and owner-run.
What to orderchicken satay, pad thai, thai fried rice
№ 05
KhunNai Thai Cuisine
$$
2523 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404 · +16128747721
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Coconut curry and fast, attentive service make KhunNai a reliable choice for groups, with tables of seven getting seated and handled without much wait. Pad thai has shifted sweeter in recent memory, moving away from the tamarind-forward version regulars used to order, which has some longtime fans recalibrating expectations. Larb rounds out the menu for diners looking past the noodle standards.
What to orderPad Thai, coconut curry, larb
№ 06
Thai Cuisine Xpress
$$
1517 Como Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123547782
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Pad kee mao and red curry anchor the following at this neighborhood counter, where regulars name the noodle dishes, pad see ew included, among the best in the Twin Cities. Service moves quickly whether the order is dine-in or takeout, and the kitchen holds its quality consistently enough that visitors from out of state have sought it out based on its reputation alone.
What to orderpad kee mao, red curry, pad see ew
№ 07
Roat Osha
$$
3001 Hennepin Ave S, Ste 1370, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · +16123774418
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Green curry and tom yum soup headline a menu that draws steady praise for reliable execution, with pad thai as the anchor order. The Uptown room can read quiet from the street on weekend nights, which has led some visitors to double check whether it is open. Online ordering has hit snags with locked doors despite an active phone line, so calling ahead for pickup is worth it.
What to orderpad thai, green curry, tom yum soup
Frequently asked
What is the best Thai restaurant near me in Minneapolis?
It depends on the neighborhood. This guide covers rooms across Minneapolis, from Uptown to strip mall counters, each ranked by an Insider Score built from the review record. No restaurant pays to be listed or to rank higher.
Which Minneapolis Thai spot has the best pad thai?
Mai Thai Restaurant draws the most consistent praise for its pad thai, ordered at high spice levels and described as a standout by regulars. Thai Cuisine Xpress and Roat Osha also hold steady followings for their versions.
Is real wasabi common at Thai restaurants in Minneapolis?
No, most restaurants serving Japanese-style condiments use a horseradish substitute. BaGu Sushi & Thai is notable for serving real wasabi with its hand rolls, which review notes flag as unusual for the area.
How is the Insider Score for this guide calculated?
The Insider Score comes from an analysis of the public review record for each restaurant, weighing consistency and volume of feedback. It is independent of payment; no restaurant on this list paid for placement or ranking.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
