Muang Thai
This restaurant has ceased trading.
New Town
- Food served: Mon–Sat noon–2.30pm, 6–10.30pm; Sun 6–10.30pm
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses)
- Capacity: 58
- Largest group: 58
- Open since: August 2001
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With such a central location just off George Street, it would be tempting for Muang Thai to get away with the bare minimum and cater solely for Edinburgh's year-round visitors. The owners have avoided that, though, and some thought has gone into creating a dining space awash with hardwoods, wooden wall panels and pockets of greenery. There is also a raised section created with couples in mind. Muang Thai works equally well for groups, which can be a downside if a stag or hen party is in at the weekend. All the Thai mainstays are on offer here; pad Thai is pulled off fairly well and a massaman curry is cooked with a good balance of salty fishiness and coconut cream. Other plus points are that fiery dishes aren't watered down for local palates, and no MSG is used in the cooking. The desserts, though, come displayed on a dreaded plastic menu. This is no budget option either, with the prawn toast a particularly steep £4.99, though that does not seem to deter the tourists and smattering of locals who happily come here, and not just during the Festival.
- High point: Attempt at a-cut-above-average décor
- Low point: A touch on the expensive side for Thai
Reviews of Muang Thai (97 Hanover Street, New Town, Edinburgh)
- 4. Quanda, Edinburgh – 25 April 2010, 9:42am
Muang ThaiReport -
I've visited Muang Thai three times over the past two years, and have had a pleasant dining experience each time.
The staff have been polite and helpful, and the lady waiting on our table last time we visited even took the time to tell us about the current political situation in Thailand, her home country, when my husband expressed an interest in how things were going.
Of course, it's for the food that we keep going back. The tom kah soup is wonderful with its broth of coconut and spices. For that soup alone, I would recommend this restaurant to friends.
- 3. Wiliam, Edinburgh – 6 December 2009, 2:38am
Muang ThaiReport -
With a busy lunchtime service in flow, I was surprised to see only two Polish staff manning around 10 tables. After a 5 minute wait to be acknowledged I was seated in a pokey, badly lit table for two.
It took ten minutes for my drinks order to be taken and another 5 minutes for it to arrive - I'd half expect my starter to be well on the way in that time-frame. When the drinks order arrived, I was stunned to find it completely wrong - what was supposed to be a glass of water and a diet Coca-Cola; turned out to be a bottle of still mineral water and a normal Coca-Cola. The wait for the drinks did however give me time to eves-drop on two nearby tables - one of whom complained on how salty a dish was, the other on how long it took for the main-courses to arrive.
I opted for the £7.95 two-course lunchtime menu - Starter: Tom Yum Soup. Main: Pad Kee Mow (with chicken)
The Tom Yum soup arrived luke warm and with little flavor. The small straw mushrooms in the soup tasted very much of brine and overwhelmed what little substance the soup possessed.
Pad Kee Mow isn't a particularly hard dish to get wrong, unfortunately I was disappointed once more with the quality of food. The dish was presented with little elegance that thai chefs are so famous for; instead a 'pile' of congealed noodles and a selection of sorry looking vegetables arrived. To add a dangerous twist to this course - the chicken appeared still completely translucent and thoroughly undercooked.
+ none
- raw chicken, lack of flavor, poor service
- 2. Laura1977, Edinburgh – 8 January 2009, 9:42pm
Muang ThaiReport -
Love this restaurant, most authentic Thai food I have had outside of Thailand. Can be a bit pricey in the evening but worth it compared to other Thai restaurants as the food is always excellent as is the service. Lunch menu is great value - £7.95 for two courses, big portions too. We have visited many times for lunch and have never been disappointed.
- 1. Edinburgh resident, Muang Thai, Hanover Street – 1 July 2008, 11:38amMuang ThaiReport
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Always a delight to eat here, you know what you're getting, the quality is always superb and the staff welcoming and friendly. The decor is very stylish and comfortable, great for all occassions. I had my birthday here and the service was excellent to accommodate such a large number.
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