Pha's Thai — Restaurant in Cooma

This used to be our favourite restaurant whenever we are in the area. But we had a really bad experience this time around. We reached there at 6pm (reservation) and placed our order around 6:10. The appetisers and drinks came in a relatively timely manner, and then we kept waiting till around 7:20 for our main courses to be served! Not sure if it was a problem with the waitress or with the kitchen. We'd like to think it was the former! At around 7pm we asked our waitress about our main courses, she said they'll be ready in 5-10 minutes. She didn't check with the kitchen (we were seated close to the kitchen and we were sure she didn't check with them). At 7:15 we complained again, after seeing all the surrounding tables being served their main courses even though they came after us! The manager then came and told us they usually prepare the courses in the sequence the orders were placed. Then we told him that we've been waiting for over an hour. He was clearly surprised! After probably 5 minutes, our courses were served, with the waitress commenting while serving the first dish "it's coming it's coming" in an angry/sarcastic way. But some of the beef was undercooked, probably because they rushed it in order not to delay it anymore. We didn't say anything because at that point, we were extremely tired and fed-up. After being "regular" customers, this will be our last time...

Housed in a beautifully converted old wool shed, Pha’s Thai has a distinctive charm. With the original tannery next door (now “the loft”) the renovation thoughtfully preserves the building’s history, adding to the overall experience.

We’ve visited several times over the years, and it’s easy to see why this place is consistently busy. The atmosphere is vibrant, the interior is stunning, the service is friendly, and the staff are always attentive. And, of course, the food is exceptional.

Strangely, despite all our previous visits, we hadn’t left a glowing review—something we’re happy to change now!

This time, we ordered:

• Penang Duck Curry – Coconut, lychee, and kaffir lime • Mhu Grob Prik Khing – Stir-fried crispy pork belly with krachai and chili

We were advised that the pork belly dish had a bit of heat, but we found it perfectly balanced—a mild to medium spice level. The pork was crispy yet tender, with flavors that were incredibly well-rounded.

The duck curry was equally impressive. The richness of the coconut cream paired beautifully with the citrusy notes of the kaffir lime and the depth of the yellow curry.

We intentionally ordered a little more than we could eat, knowing we’d be excited for the leftovers the next day—and it was worth it!

Pha’s Thai is, without a doubt, one of the best—if not the best—restaurants in the region.

We’ll always come...

The food was awesome, it was perfectly cooked and the taste of the several dishes I sampled was fantastic. It had that clean fresh taste that is common of so many Thai dishes. The serving sizes were just perfect.

We all had dessert and it was just as good and the starter and mains with everyone saying taste this one..

The selection of dishes is just amazing and the price is more than reasonable.

The service by the staff was super friendly and they are very attentive.

When asked about what a dish was they were able to describe what was in it and make changes to accommodate one of our more fussy eaters in the group.

The selection of drinks was substantial.

The restaurant is clean and tidy and has a really cosy atmosphere. The seating is comfortable.

If you want to take your partner or family for a special occasion this would be an excellent choice.

It was my first time at the restaurant and it definitely won't be my last.

I have visited many Thai restaurants in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and a few places in between and this was probably the best overall. A perfect slice of Thai heaven...