Chat Thai - Circular Quay — Restaurant in Sydney

We really wanted to like Chat Thai lot. We were completely enchanted by the concept. And the reviews were raving! We have had Thai au pairs living with us for more than a year from a couple of different regions when our children were young; They were both excellent cooks, and so we have high expectations of Thai restaurants, and we always have. Frankly, that’s not exceptionally fair.

This one was very, very good. It just was not excellent. I think that’s my issue. My husband is a purist. He judges all Thai restaurants by the quality of their pad Thai. I’m much more adventurous, and I enjoy larb and whole fish and anything else that would be much more off-the-beaten-path in terms of menu. So he had his Pad Thai, and he proclaimed it, “very good. But not excellent.” It did not win his heart. I think if it had a bit more fresh ginger or something, he would have really liked it. It was good, but it wasn’t exquisite. And based on all of these reviews, I thought it would be exquisite. Oh well.

My meal was very good. I had Amy’s noodles. The description was amazing! It sounded so nuanced and complex. It was very, very good and the shrimp were excellent (large prawns). And, of course, I pulled the heads off and ate every bit of it, as one should. But I still could not help feeling that there was something missing, either the sauce or the preparation or the noodles. I found my dish to be a four out of five. We also had some dumplings. The flavors were good. But a bit soggy.

Cocktails were good, I found them to be refreshing, but not anything I would write home about. The one cocktail I really wanted was not available, and that happens. The other two were beautiful physically. I like the fact that they lit our mai tais on fire. That’s always cute. But we’ve had mai tais before with Loki lomi foam, and they just felt more special.

Here is the real reason for the three stars. We wanted to order some larb to go, but they closed the kitchen. That is my only other real complaint. They did not tell us they were closing the kitchen, and I would’ve had a larb to go, and yet here we were with a closed kitchen. Suppose we wanted to order dessert? The server wasn’t very forward with telling us. There was no “last call” for food or drink. It wasn’t even that late. I feel that if the kitchen is going to be closing, the server should tell you, just in case you want dessert or another drink or something to-go, etc.

Overall, yes, this place is absolutely worth visiting. Is it a five out of five? Is it one of the best places in town? Perhaps. Depending on what you order. Perhaps we ordered wrong. We will go back again and try it again. But based on all the other glowing reviews, we really expected to be wowed and we were met with great,...

The staff are absolutely unprofessional, condescending and have a poor command of understanding what the customer is asking or taking the orders correctly. The prices are sky high and quantity is poor. The food is mediocre and below average.

Upon arriving for lunch we sat down on a table and a wait staff or manager walked up to us, after seating our two kids and elderly parents, and told us that we couldn't sit there because we wouldn't be served there. There was no sign or barriers - just looked like it was part of the customer's dining area. After relocating to another section of the restaurant, we asked if we could move to a bench instead of all chairs as its easier to manage the children. We asked a wait staff to sit there and her response was "I dont think so." Seriously, whats up with the attitude? You don't think so? We were able to sit there anyways and she had annoyed to have to clean the table after customers left.

We ordered the food and the wait staff was least interested in taking the orders. It was close to end of lunch time and they couldn't care less that we were paying customers. Without surprise, two orders came wrong but we were didn't feel like raising our concern because they simply didn't give a sith about us. The only smile we got was when we were paying and she showed me the tablet where I was asked if I wanted to include a TIP! Not surprisingly this was all about grabbing money off the customer and that was the only part that would make them happy. Perhaps this restaurant is used to western tourists as its located in Circular Quay and I'm sure their service for them would have been presidential and extraordinary. Who are we?

Never going here again.

EDIT after owner's response: The place where we initially sat had YOUR STAFF having lunch there. We didn't know that they were your staff at the time. They were busy eating and it clearly looked like they could have been customers as well. It's your restaurant, you can do what you want. At least when you send someone to kick us out, let that staff be polite and not condescending.

Third Edit 17.10.2025: No, there was NO sign that said the area was closed. If it was there, I don't see any reason why we would sit there. Perhaps tell your staff to not eat there and make it look it's open. But this was not an issue for us. It was your staff's attitude (four of them) that was unpleasant and...

Hidden upstairs in a building opposite the Circular Quay wlferry wharf, lies this great Thai restaurant. There is an escalator to take you up. There is a sitting waiting area in the foyer if the restaurant is busy.

One inside you will find that it is a cosy, modern atmosphere with a relaxed and vibrant vibe.

You're promptly seated and given the menu. The menu is very cool as it as a dedicated sections for vegetarian and vegan dishes. Rather than the usual mode of reading every dish and determining if it has a vegetarian or vegan options or not, you can flip straight to the vegetarian section or the vegan section and peruse every dish available to you. This is very cool if you are vegetarian or vegan. You are asked if you would like still or sparking water. Please bear in mind that sparkling is $8 a bottle. This is mentioned by the staff. It would be kind for them to mention that, instead of patrons being surprised at the bill.

There are a lot of enticing dishes which encourages return visits to sample the other dishes youay not select on your current visit. There are a good selection of noodle dishes, curries, seafood,hot and cold salads and more.

The soft shell crab and apple salad is wonderlly refreshing that complements the light delicate flavours of the soft shell crab, and the gentle crunchy texture.

The entres and also wonderful. It's all good and service is warm and friendly. Do note there is a 50 cent charge for each take away container if you require them for leftvovers. There is also a surcharge applicable for card payments.

If you arrive early, service is fast and you can have a wonderful meal before going to the Opera house for a performance.

Worth a visit or...