Noppakao is located a little bit away from Munich center. The name “Noppakao” reminds me of Thai words: “Na”, meaning rice field and “Pao/Khao”, meaning rice — together, it gives the image of simple, honest food rooted in everyday Thai life – a nod to the honest cooking you’ll find here.
On warmer days, their outdoor seating, draped in flowers and greenery, offers a quiet leafy retreat.
The owners and staff are warm and kind. We asked for their authentic, Thai script-only menu, and our waitress guided us patiently, explaining every dish. She even helped us switch a dish at the very last second before it hit the pan when we realized we had almost ordered the wrong thing.
Restaurant Profile
🏷️ Name of the Restaurant: NOPPAKAO Thai Restaurant
📍 Adress: Belgradstraße 45, 80796 München
🍜 Style: Thai Cuisine – soups, salad, curries, stir-fries, rice dishes, noodle dishes etc.
💰 Price: approx. 15–25 € per person (including drinks and tip)
After carefully studying the menu and trusting the Thai staff’s recommendations, we chose a few dishes and all of them were spot-on!
Som Tam Gung (Papaya Salad with Shrimps)
A refreshing punch – a salad that’s all about texture and bold flavor. Shredded green papaya—a crisp, mildly earthy fruit with a unique, clean flavor that’s like a refreshing sponge for sauces—forms the base. It’s pounded in a mortar with tomatoes, crunchy long beans, sharp chilies, and carrots, creating a blend of fresh, cool, and quite spicy notes.
Plump shrimp and roasted peanuts add nutty, savory depth. The dressing is the best part: lightly sweet, subtly creamy, and nutty from fermented fish sauce (nam pla), tying everything together with an addictive umami tang.
Seafood Holy Basil Stir-Fry (Pad Kra Pao Talay)
A fiery coastal wok classic – the beloved “pad kra pao”, elevated with ocean deliciousness: an abundance of fresh octopus, giant mussels so tender they are almost creamy and watery, and big shrimp swim with bamboo shoots and long beans in a spicy, aromatic sauce.
The holy basil (kra pao), a peppery, slightly anise-like herb, infuses the dish with its irreplaceable scent. Stir-fried with fiery chilies and fish sauce, it’s seriously spicy-sweat. On top is a fried egg with a runny yolk. Piercing that golden orb lets the rich liquid cascade over the seafood and rice, creating a luxurious, velvety sauce that tempers the intense spice, adding a layer of comfort.
Waterfall Noodle
This famous Isaan (Northeastern Thai) dish, umami-rich and meaty, is named for the waterfall-like sensation of flavors. It features wide, silky rice noodles and tender pork, beef and bouncy beef balls, all bathed in a dark, thick soup.
This soup is umami, slightly sweet, and peppery, built from long-simmered bones, dried spices, roasted chili, and soy sauce. Topped with fresh cilantro, celery, spring sprouts, Pak Choi, and crispy roasted onions, each spoonful is a complex harmony.
The tender, lightly chewy beef complements the spiced, warming soup—making the bowl hearty, robust, and very comforting.
Authentic Thai foodcan be intensely fiery, but Noppakao can adapt, especially for dishes on their standard menu. Beyond our feast, they also offer various curries, stews, rice dishes, stir-fried noodles, and soup noodles, customizable with your protein of choice—tofu, fish, seafood, chicken, beef, or pork.
Their weekday lunch specials start at around 10 EUR. It’s a great place if you’re seeking a generous, flavorful meal, where an authentic taste can be thrilling and accommodating.
