Nashville, TN
For Thai in Nashville, the local food press points to The Smiling Elephant, Degthaistreetfood LLC, and International Market. Picks from Nashville Scene and The Infatuation, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Nashville Scene and The Infatuation. Updated July 2026.
The Smiling Elephant · Melrose
A family-run Thai spot in Melrose from a member of Nashville's Myint restaurant family and a perennial readers' poll favorite for Thai. The pad thai leans herb-forward rather than sticky-sweet, and the kitchen doesn't hold back on heat if you ask for it.
Degthaistreetfood LLC · Nolensville Pike
A Thai street-food specialist on Nolensville Pike that grew from a 2011 food truck and has become a Nashville Scene readers' poll favorite for Thai. Flaky spring rolls, crispy tofu, and a creamy shrimp pad thai come out of a semi-open kitchen of cast-iron woks.
International Market · Belmont
A 50-year-old Belmont institution reborn as International Market 2.0 under the founders' children, pairing original steam-table lunch specials with an evolved dinner menu. It holds a Thai Select award and was a 2024 James Beard semifinalist.
Thai Esane Midtown
A Thai-Isan and Lao-inspired kitchen in Midtown known for genuinely fiery dishes like chicken larb, papaya salad, and dry sukiyaki. The Infatuation flagged it as a destination for diners who actively seek out the highest spice levels.
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