The Best Thai Food in Palembang? I Tried PanThai—Here's the Full Scoop
qponx
2026-03-06
Thinking of trying PanThai in Palembang? Get the honest scoop on this popular spot known for its tasty Thai-Indo fusion food, perfect for group hangouts. While not strictly authentic, dishes like the zesty Tom Yum Goong and fragrant Pandan Chicken are definite crowd-pleasers. This review also gives a heads-up on potential crowds and service waits, plus essential tips on booking, seating, and what to order for the best dining experience.
Every time I ask my friends in Palembang where to eat out, eight out of ten recommend PanThai, claiming it's "the best Thai food in Palembang" 🤔. To be honest, a veteran like me is already immune to terms like "the best," but the hype was too strong to ignore, so I had to go check it out!
Let me say this upfront: This is a great restaurant to Nongkrong with family and friends, and the food is good. But if you're a Thai food purist looking for "absolute authenticity," you might want to lower your expectations first.
The Food is Good, but Don't Get Too Picky
The atmosphere is quite comfortable, with both indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for a family gathering. Since there were a lot of us, we went ahead and ordered almost all their signature dishes.
Tom Yum Goong[1] was definitely the MVP of the night! That refreshing sour and spicy kick is an absolute appetite-opener, and the shrimp were fresh and chewy. Girls who love sour and spicy flavors, go for it! 🌶️
Pandan Leaf Chicken (Ayam Pandan)[2] was also Mantap. The chicken was infused with the fragrance of the pandan leaves and was incredibly tender; even my picky friend went back for several more pieces.
Another dish, the Fried Gurame with Mango Sauce (Gurame Saus Mangga)[3], was a pleasant surprise. The fish was fried to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and paired with a sweet and sour mango sauce, the texture was fantastic. It's the kind of flavor that Indonesians would absolutely love. In comparison, the fried rice was a bit ordinary; it feels like the quality isn't very consistent[4], so it's a matter of luck.
Okay, Enough Praise, Now for the Downsides
Alright, enough with the praise, it's time for some real talk. 🤫
First off, this isn't authentic Thai cuisine. It's more like a “Thai-Indo Fusion”[5] that blends Chinese and Indonesian flavors. The food is delicious, but it's not the same as what I've had on the streets of Bangkok.
Secondly, when it gets crowded, the place can get really noisy[6]. And when the staff gets busy, the serving speed and service response can't quite keep up[7]. You might wait forever just for a sweet iced tea. The five of us spent around 600k Indonesian Rupiah[8], which isn't cheap per person, but considering the food is decent, I guess it's acceptable.
My Sincere Guide, You're Welcome!
Finally, here are some solid tips for my friends who plan to check it out:
- Book in Advance: If you're going on a weekend or public holiday, make sure to book your table and even pre-order your food via WhatsApp! Otherwise, you'll be waiting long enough to question your existence[9].
- Seat Selection: If you can't stand the heat or flies, just go for an indoor air-conditioned seat[10]; the experience will be much better. The outdoor area is Chill, but it's at your own risk, haha.
- Parking Guide: The restaurant has very few parking spots of its own, just a handful. But don't worry, you can park on the roadside right outside[11]; just find an empty spot.
- Ordering Strategy: Expect to spend around 40-60k[12] per person for a main dish and a drink. The portion sizes for the dishes are on the smaller side, but the upside is you can try more variety—perfect for foodies like us who want to try a bit of everything
- Tom Yum Goong is a sour & spicy delight with fresh, bouncy shrimp. A perfect appetizer if you love a good kick [1]!
- Pandan Leaf Wrapped Chicken is so tender and aromatic from the pandan. A guaranteed hit for the whole table [2].
- Fried Gurami with Mango Sauce is crispy-tender with a sweet & sour mango sauce. The amazing flavor combo is a true Lokal favorite [3]
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