Thai Opal Dunedin — Restaurant in Otago

Absolutely Impressed – A Must-Visit in Dunedin!

We visited Thai Opal on a Sunday evening around 6:30 PM, based on a glowing recommendation from our hotel. Being in a smaller town, we didn’t know what to expect, but this restaurant exceeded every expectation we had.

First, let’s talk about the drinks. My partner had a mango lassi, which was absolutely delightful. As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I was thrilled to find that every cocktail on their menu could be made into a mocktail. I opted for the lychee coconut drink, and it was not only stunningly presented but also one of the most delicious beverages I’ve ever had.

For appetizers, we ordered the spring rolls, which were crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Then came the main dishes—Chicken Pad See Ew and Red Curry Beef with rice. The rice was incredibly fresh and fragrant, complementing the dishes perfectly. What stood out most was the abundance of fresh vegetables in both dishes, all cooked just right to retain their crunch and flavor. Our only minor critique was that we found the curry to be slightly on the watery side—it didn’t detract much from the overall experience, but a thicker consistency would have elevated the dish further.

The service was fast, friendly, and attentive, and each dish was beautifully presented with the elegance of a high-end restaurant. Yet, when the bill arrived, we were pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the pricing was for such exceptional quality and generous portions.

The restaurant itself is spacious, beautifully designed, and provides a comfortable atmosphere. While there weren’t many customers that evening—possibly due to the time or day—the experience felt personal and peaceful.

Overall, Thai Opal is a hidden gem and one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve visited in New Zealand. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this is a dining experience you don’t...

Went here for a friends birthday and it was lovely! Service was beautiful, and the staff were so friendly and accomodating. Even better was the food!! The starters were so yummy and portions were generous, I ordered the fresh rice wrap spring rolls with the peanut satay sauce (declious btw) and we also got the curry puffs, prawn twisters, crispy spring rolls and the chicken skewers (which came with rice!)—same with the mains! I ordered the chicken pad thai which was so flavourful and delicious and the portion was so big it felt like I’d barely made a dent in the meal even after I was full. My friend ordered the chicken cashew curry which he said he also enjoyed and he also couldn’t finish it due to the portion size. Everything came out very fast and the restaurant itself is beautiful, very sleek and ambient atmosphere. I will definitely be eating here again. Although it is a little pricey, you are getting very good value for...

We ordered the chicken wings, spring rolls, Pad Thai, and Pad See Ew. The wings and the spring rolls were nice. The Pad Thai, however, was quite different from the traditional version — it tasted more like noodles in a tomato-based sauce. While the presentation was fine, I would expect a Thai restaurant to serve something closer to the authentic dish. I shared my feedback with the waitress and mentioned that I couldn’t eat the Pad Thai because it wasn’t to my taste. Unfortunately, we were still charged for it. Where I’m from, it’s quite common for restaurants to offer a gesture of goodwill in such situations, especially when the dish remains untouched. We ordered another Pad See Ew instead, which was enjoyable — not exactly authentic, but nice. Overall, there’s room for improvement, especially in keeping dishes closer to the original Thai flavors, but the service was polite and the...