Brighton has a strong run of Thai restaurants, from family-run rooms where the owner cooks and works the floor to larger, more convenient spots that work well for lunch or family meals. This guide covers the best Thai restaurants in Brighton, what each one is good for, and the practical things worth knowing before you go, like which ones do BYOB and which actually open for lunch.
Several independents are small or have limited opening hours, so booking ahead for weekends is sensible. Opening times change, so check before travelling.
Thai Restaurants Featured in This Guide
| Restaurant | Area | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Tookta’s Thai Food | Spring Street (near the station) | The best overall, book ahead |
| Red Snapper | Seven Dials | Value, BYOB |
| Giggling Squid | The Lanes | Families, daily lunch |
| Chilli | The Lanes and Hove | Reliable all-rounder |
Table of Contents
Tookta’s Thai Food
Tookta’s Thai Food on Spring Street is the one locals name most often among the Thai restaurants in Brighton, and it is a five-minute walk from Brighton station. It is a small, family-run place, the kind where Tookta, the owner and chef, comes round to the tables herself. The room is tiny, only six or seven tables, so it fills up fast and reservations are essential at weekends.
The cooking is the draw: fresh, generous and made to order, with the curries (the massaman and green curry in particular) singled out again and again in reviews. Vegetarian and vegan options get the same care as everything else. It is at 30 Spring Street, BN1 3EF, and you can book on 01273 748071. Open Tuesday to Sunday, evenings only. Book ahead, especially Friday and Saturday.
Red Snapper
Red Snapper in Seven Dials is a family affair run by Panwad Manateepho, whose family has cooked Thai food across three generations. The kitchen avoids MSG, additives and anything from a jar, and the consistency has quietly earned it a loyal following.
The big draw is BYOB. You bring your own wine or beer and pay a small corkage, which keeps the bill down, and there is a wine merchant nearby if you want to pick something up on the way. The interior is worth a mention too: Panwad’s husband decorated it with art from Rayong street artists using recycled materials, so it has a real sense of identity. The room is compact, so book ahead at weekends. This is the value pick of the Brighton Thai restaurants.
Giggling Squid
Giggling Squid on Market Street is the chain option, and the Brighton branch is where the whole company started. It is set in a Grade II listed old fisherman’s cottage in the Lanes, spread across three floors with lots of small rooms, so it feels more characterful than most chains. There is outdoor seating in summer on the pedestrianised lane.
The menu runs from Thai tapas sets at lunch to evening classics like massaman curry, pad thai, sticky chicken and the salt and pepper squid. There is a kids’ menu, plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The deciding factor for families is that it is open every day from noon, has a kids’ menu, and is easier for a reliable Thai lunch than many of the smaller independents. It is at 11 Market Street, BN1 1HH.
Chilli
Chilli is a reliable all-rounder with a venue on Prince Albert Street in Brighton and another on Church Road in Hove. The menu covers the traditional ground well, with small plates like spring rolls, chilli squid and chicken satay to start, and the green curry gets regular praise. Vegetarians are well catered for. Having two sites makes it a useful fallback among the Brighton Thai restaurants if the smaller independents are full.
Other Options Worth Knowing
Beyond the main picks, Brighton has a few more Thai restaurants worth a mention. Namo in the Lanes is a modern Thai restaurant from Thai-born chef Bookie Mitchell, focusing on Northern Thai cooking, and it has appeared in several Brighton best-of lists. Kemptown has its own casual Thai options if you are that side of the city, a short bus ride on the 1 or 1A from the centre, and the Kemptown guide covers more of what is down there. And Unithai in Hove is a Thai supermarket with a small restaurant tucked away at the back, good for a cheap, authentic lunch, though seating is very limited so arrive early.
How to Choose
There are fewer Thai restaurants in Brighton than Indian or Italian, but the quality is high. For the best food overall, Tookta’s is the one to book. For value, Red Snapper’s BYOB keeps the bill down. For families or a guaranteed lunch, Giggling Squid is open daily with a kids’ menu. And if your first choice is full, Chilli’s two sites make it a dependable backup. These picks cover most needs across the Thai restaurants in Brighton.
The thing to remember across all the Brighton Thai restaurants is that the best independents are small. Tookta’s and Red Snapper are both small, so turning up without a booking on a Saturday night usually means waiting or walking. Book ahead and you will eat well.
FAQs
What is the best Thai restaurant in Brighton?
Tookta’s Thai Food on Spring Street is the most consistently praised by locals. It is small and family-run, so book ahead, especially at weekends.
Which Brighton Thai restaurant does BYOB?
Red Snapper in Seven Dials is BYOB. You bring your own wine or beer and pay a small corkage, which keeps the cost down. There is a wine shop nearby.
Can you get Thai food at lunchtime in Brighton?
Giggling Squid in the Lanes is open every day from noon, which makes it a reliable option for a Thai lunch. Several independent Thai restaurants also open for lunch on selected days, so check current times before travelling.
Do Brighton Thai restaurants cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. Thai cooking adapts well to plant-based diets, and most places here offer a good range. Tookta’s, Red Snapper and Giggling Squid all have vegetarian and vegan options.
Do I need to book?
For the small independents like Tookta’s and Red Snapper, yes, particularly on Friday and Saturday, as both are compact and popular. Giggling Squid is larger and easier for walk-ins.
Final Thoughts
The best Thai restaurants in Brighton are mostly small, independent and worth the effort of booking. Tookta’s leads on cooking, Red Snapper on value, and Giggling Squid on convenience and lunch. The two Chilli sites round out a scene that punches above its weight for a city this size. Book ahead for the small rooms and you will not be disappointed.
