MELBOURNE | Thai Baan, which opened in 2023 and soon had lines down the street for its affordable Thai street food dishes, including some of the best boat noodles in Melbourne. It came as a surprise, then, when the restaurant closed in April this year as we reborn as Manaaw in June. I paid them a visit for What’s on Melbourne to find out more.
The space is brighter than it was before, and the branding a bit more slick. The menu is more focused than it used to be, but still extensive. There’s still a big focus on authentic Thai street food, and affordability. During the night, its Manaaw’s all you can eat mookata hot pot offering that draws the crowd. By day, it’s the express lunch options that are most popular. And yes, you can still get the famed boat noodles.
During the owners wanted to showcase the lunch specials, which are $13.90 each and change daily. I had a bit of a try of everything after the photoshoot, and loved the bold flavours, true to what you’d expect to find in Thailand. Options include:
- Monday: Pad krapao – Minced pork stir fried with Thai basil and chilli on rice
- Tuesday: Khao Moo Dang – Chinese-style char sui pork with thick gravy on rice
- Wednesday: Gaeng khiao waan gai – Green curry with chicken on rice
- Thursday: Pad se ew – Stir fried soy sauce noodles
- Friday: Khao phat – Thai-style combination fried rice
To drink, it’s classic options like Thai milk tea, nom yen (Thai pink milk), and Singha beer.
Based on each of the express lunch options that I sampled during my visit, I’m keen to return at night for a proper meal, and to try the hot pot and some of the other options on the menu.
Manaaw
51 Bourke Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: 0423 385 154
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 11:30am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm to 9:30pm