As Songkran ushers in the Thai New Year, the city’s Thai restaurants turn up the heat with flavourful, fiery and memorable plates
Hong Kong has never needed an excuse to fall for Thai food. We are, as a city, deeply susceptible to flavour that is loud, fragrant and a little bit unruly. We love the brightness of lime, the perfume of herbs, the gentle creep of chilli heat and the thrilling balance of sweet, sour, salty and umami that Thai cooking handles with such grace. It is food that is generous, expressive and gloriously alive, which, when you think about it, feels entirely in step with how Hong Kong likes to eat.
Which brings us to April and Songkran, the Thai New Year, celebrated this year from April 13 to 15. Widely known for its joyful water celebrations, Songkran is about renewal, gathering and starting afresh. Traditionally, water is used to symbolically wash away the past year, making space for luck, clarity and new beginnings. But, as with any great cultural celebration, the true heartbeat lives at the table: in dishes designed for sharing, flavours that awaken the palate, and cooking that feels both comforting and vibrant.
Fortunately, if a Songkran sojourn is not on the cards, Hong Kong’s Thai dining scene is particularly spirited, offering plenty of ways to mark the season through flavour rather than flights.