Thai Tide An Array of Regional Thai Cuisine in Melbourne CBD

I’m usually not the type who has a meal and immediately rushes home to write about it, but after dining at Tide Thai earlier today, I felt compelled to do just that. Tide Thai is a restaurant in Melbourne that showcases regional Thai cuisine and celebrates Thai culture. So, when Fafa suggested we have our Friday dinner date there, I readily agreed.

We arrived at Tide Thai at 5 PM, an hour earlier than our reservation, but they had just opened and graciously sat us on one of the empty tables.

We started with a cocktail each: Mango Sticky Rice for me and Tom Yum for Fafa. After just one sip of my Mango Sticky Rice cocktail, I was convinced this place would deliver an exceptional dining experience.

I ordered Miang Kham, wild betel leaves, and burnt chilli jam oysters for appetisers. Both were bursting with flavours.

Regional Thai Cuisine in Thai Tide Melbourne CBD

I asked for Bone Marrow Garlic Fried Rice with Egg Yolk for the main course and let Fafa choose the rest. Dishes with bone marrow hold a special place in my heart, as they remind me of memorable meals from my childhood.

This fried rice, cooked extra spicy per our request, was phenomenal.

It deserved its spot alongside my Atta’s Spicy Mutton Bone Marrow Curry and the roadside Bone Marrow Soup I used to have with my Appa in Sop Sani.

We also had Charcoal Chicken Green Banana Jungle Green Curry (a Central Thai dish) with a side of fresh chilli. Although it wasn’t my first time having a banana in a dish, it was still a unique experience. The bananas added a distinctive sweetness that balanced the spiciness of the green curry paste.

Meanwhile, Fafa’s favourite dish (second only to the fried rice) was the Plaa Tu, Grilled Mackerel with Nam Phrik (a pungent chilli relish). The fish is commonly found in the coastal waters of Samut Songkhram Province, particularly around the Mae Klong River estuary in central Thailand.

It’s worth noting that while everything was spicy (again, per our request), each dish was served with a different type of chilli on the side, and I loved it.

Fafa enjoyed a Thai milk tea tiramisu for dessert while I savoured the rest of my delicious Mango Sticky Rice cocktail.

If you’re craving Thai food in Melbourne, I highly recommend Tide Thai (I am already planning a return visit to try their Southern Thai Gati Curry) for a slightly fancy dining experience and Soi 38 for a BBQ-in-the-carpark vibe. If you’re craving Indonesian food with an equally good food-price-ambience blend, check out Makan or Kata Kita.

For more Melbourne eatery recommendations, check out the #Melbourne Eats tag on this blog.

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