The Thai — Restaurant in Te Hiku Community

On each of my visits to The Thai in Mangonui , the experience has been nothing short of extraordinary, with every encounter feeling even more welcoming than the last. The owners radiate a warmth and hospitality that's genuinely heartwarming, making you feel cherished and at home the moment you step through the door.

Diving into their menu is like embarking on a culinary expedition across Thailand. The Green and Red Curries envelop your senses with their rich, complex flavors, offering a perfect harmony of heat and herbaceous notes. The Spring Rolls, fresh and bursting with crisp vegetables, encapsulate the essence of Thai freshness and are beautifully presented in their delicate rice paper wrappings.

Among the treasures I've discovered is the Salt and Pepper Fish, a delightful secret not listed on the menu but known among those who ask. This dish, with its perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection presentation, is a testament to the kitchen's ability to create memorable dishes that linger on your palate and call you back for more.

The Pad Thai, Lad Nar, and the marinated Mussels each have their own story to tell, with flavors that are bold yet balanced, showcasing the diverse and rich tapestry of Thai cuisine. It's evident that each dish is crafted with love, care, and a deep respect for traditional methods.

The beverage selection, with its special Thai cocktails and refreshing mocktails, like the peach-infused soda that offers a perfect blend of sweetness and fizz, complements the meal beautifully. This, paired with the stunning views of Mangonui Harbor through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, creates an ambiance that's both exhilarating and serene.

The warmth extends beyond the owners to the entire staff, who make dining here feel like a gathering of friends. The authenticity of the experience is enriched by the culinary team, including family and chefs with direct ties to Thailand, ensuring that each dish is not just authentic but carries a piece of Thai culture.

Having indulged in Thai cuisine around the world, I can affirm that The Thai in Mangonui stands out as a beacon of culinary excellence. The opportunity to enjoy such authentic flavors in a setting that is as welcoming as it is beautiful is not to be missed. The Thai is more than a restaurant; it's a destination that offers a genuine taste of Thailand, complete with dishes and a hospitality that will have you planning your next visit before the...

Very disappointed. I had visited this restaurant a couple of years ago and have spoken highly of it. However this year Feb 13th, it was awful, the service was unskilled, unprofessional and at times, totally rude.

We arrived at our booked time. Five staff members ignored us for some time while they laughed and chatted amongst themselves, eventually a girl took our name, told someone else we were there, and they pointed and nodded at table 16. Nice table by the window. It took a while for a drinks order to be taken, and when I asked a question, the waitress told me, she didn't know the answer because she didn't drink!!! Not that she would find out? Drinks arrived, noisily placed on the table while stretching over, rather than walking around, got use to that as it happened all night. The food wasn't what it use to be. I made the error of not ordering rice, a good waitress would have asked if rice was required. So my mistake, dinner went cold while we waited for rice. The kitchen was noisy, staff were loud and talked amongst themselves loudly, not the ambiance of the place its promoted to be. Final straw came when we hadn't finished our drinks, but the restaurant was being packed up around us, 9.30 on Saturday evening, and we were asked if we had finished with our half full drink!! The waitress then proceeded to clean cutlery at a table nearby, banging that around. The restaurant was more a cafe style than an actual place to go for dinner. Definately won't be going back for a dinner, but possibly OK for a...

Extremely disappointing experience on Sunday. We were a table of 20 people, and we gave them 2 days noticed for our booking. Our booking was for 6:30pm, and we were all seated by 6:30pm. There were 20 glasses on the tables, for water... but we were only given one bottle of water. We asked 3 times for more bottles of water, and it took an hour to get them.

We were hungry and thirsty, and all just sat there watching the waiters ignore our entire table for over an hour. Around 7:30pm, someone asked us if we'd like to order drinks. Absolutely POOR service to have to wait an entire hour before being asked for a drink! We all ordered, and it took about 30 minutes for us all to have our drinks in front of us.

Our meal order was taken shortly after this, and then we waited, and waited... and then about 6 people got their meals at about 8:30 (2 hours after we had sat down). About 15 minutes later, another 4-5 people got their meals. And then another 15-20 minutes later (being around 9pm at this stage), the rest of the table received their orders.

We are all locals, and this was a special occasion. There were tables of 4-6 people who sat down after we were seated who were served water before us and drinks before us, and food before us.

I've worked in the hospitality industry for 15 years of my life and this was one of the poorest experiences I have had, which is such a huge shame, because the food was beautiful - but sadly we won't be returning as this kind of poor service ruins...