Thai Emerald - Cheltenham in Cheltenham

Love this restaurant and visit every time we are in the area. Best Thai food outside of Thailand.

Wonderful place. Such amazing furniture and decorations. Great food and great staff.

Amazing food, even better prices, and the atmosphere and ambiance is calm and beautiful.

Came for dinner and the food was amazing. We got the sharing platter and all the food was of a high quality.

What a delight! Waiter was friendly and attentive. Food was spectacular, thoroughly enjoyable evening. They were very busy but did not feel rushed. The only issue I have is the size of the table it was a bit if a squeeze with the amount of dishes in the set menu

Lovely restaurant, authentic decoration, service was prompt, only snag was the sticky rice was a solid lump, when mentioned to waitress we were told it would come off the bill. Then the head waiter tried to tell us that this was normal and we should add sauce to it from the dishes, it was still on the bill and we couldn’t be hassled to argue about it. Also don’t agree with 12% service charge automatically being added. We prefer to leave our own tip.

Feel like I'm transported abroad on holiday😍

Was chosen as a convenient walkable restaurant from Holiday Inn Express IHG and was no problem to stroll along to. Impressive de or didn’t disappoint with traditional and impressive Asian style carvings. We chose fishcakes and a duck for starters and they were both shares and delicious. Main courses chosen was a a chicken green curry and a red curry with duck, both absolutely delicious, one with Coconut rice the other with jasmine rice. The waiting staff were courteous but quiet and the whole meal experience was lovely. The only criticism was that 10% service charge was already applied when our bill was presented which I did not query but felt a tip is discretionary at the diner’s discretion and wondered if it would be making its way to the waiter and waitress serving our table. Overall a very nice experience

Awesome food. Very delicate flavours and beautifully presented. This is a great place to eat. The decoration of the restaurant is really special. They have really focused on the fine details and that should be commended. Definitely worth a visit

Have just enjoyed a superb lunch at the Thai Emerald. The food was great, served on beautiful crockery and the whole restaurant is a great experience. I have lived in Cheltenham for many years but this is the first time that I have been there and it will not be the last.

Very impressed with the food. Didn't particularly like all of the dishes, but that was down to personal taste and trying to be adventurous!! The food was great quality. We enjoyed the Massaman curries and sticky rice.

Always awesome food, great service & a relaxed atmosphere 😋😋😋

Food was great, but felt a bit rushed by some of the staff who started clearing away plates etc. When some were still eating. Didn't appreciate be leant over as I was eating so they could take away a plate or bowl etc. Wouldn't go back!

Went for dinner here recently. Have been here numerous times before. Service was great and drinks lovely. I had the vegetarian spring rolls to start which were nice but not very special. The main I had however was tofu and aubergine glazed with tamarind sauce was delicious. I could have kept eating that all evening. Overall still such a fabulous place to go!

I had my birthday meal here, 10 of us including me. Lovely pad Thai

We popped into Thai Emerald (not on instagram) before seeing @romeshranga in Cheltenham this Saturday. The rest was stunning, very authentic wooden Thai decoration. It was almost temple looking. The food was also excellent! We went for the mixed starters, pad thai, and the duck! It was a nice little treat before the show..(which was very good, btw) #thaifood #thaiemeraldcheltenham #padthai #foodiesbristol #thaifoodlover #instafood #Thailand #thaicooking #foodinfluencers #foodiesbath

Excellent restaurant- can’t praise it enough. I have visited many Thai restaurants around the U.K. and this was the best by far. Food and service was exceptional. Highly recommend and looking forward to coming back.

Freaking superb. Go there, go there now.

Superb lunch. We had the top set menu for two. Elegant starter with chicken, fish and prawns, tasty dips and satay. Main was coconut duck, spicy and aromatic with a beef and fish dish which was excellent and vegetables. Tasty egg fried rice. Best oriental style meal I have had in a long while. The decor is fun too .

Good food, with a wide selection of classics and some more authentic and original choices. Very good service - fast, polite and attentive. Smart location and decor - not or crowded or noisy. A good choice especially for a larger group.

Delicious & fantastic service. Great value for money with Lovely staff. So much to choose from. Can’t wait to come back!

Absolutely delicious food in a beautiful venue

Awful..just awful. No customer service at all. Food was basic. Don't waste your time. Wooden carvings are the best thing to go for!

Brilliant service in the best Thai restaurant for miles. If you're serious about Thai food, I suggest a visit when in Cheltenham. The taste of the food and the environment are both really authentic. If it weren't for the skylight window, you could easily believe you're in Thailand itself.

I haven’t been to Thai Emerald for a few years, probably not since before Covid hit. I’d forgotten what a fantastic restaurant this is. The flavours, the artistry, the design of the place and it’s lovely authentic Thai food - not to mention the lovely people running it and it’s a great local business..

Really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. It was authentic and very tasty food. Would recommend to stop by

I saw this one on the Internet and thought it was worth a try. Wow, I'm glad that I've booked because it got very busy! I went for beef Penang and was delighted to see it was delicious!

Lovely decor and atmosphere, polite and well-dressed staff, lovely food. Will come again.

Great food, staff friendly and helpful, the intricate wood carvings alone make this restaurant worth going to, then the food comes out and it's excellent. Next time I'm in Cheltenham I'm going again to this restaurant. It's reasonably priced and the portions are ample.

Brilliant food, lovely Atmosphere And interior absolutely amazing.

Great quality food and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal there. I would say, be VERY specific of the level of spice you can take, as 1 chilli on the menu (to which I thought meant mild), blew my head off when I had it. I literally spent the next 10 minutes with my tongue in a glass of iced water. The staff were kind enough to take note and readjust the spice level for the following dish.

Had meal on the 10/10/23. Food looked nice Starter- well decorated- with veg , ribs tasteless and overcooked, one bit of fish cake was more than enough. Main- beef mince was off - smelt terrible.swapped off a fresh one . One of the pots hardly has chicken- full of sauce and very little meat Noodles over cooked . I have no business going back to this place . Didn’t even ask for a left overs to be packed

Excellent decor. Très travaille et soigne. Par contre petit plat et petite quantité.

Unusual interior and great food

Brilliant service and outstanding food. The venue is also great for a special occasion as it is different but a lovely place to visit.

The place is beautiful and the food was nice (although we’ve had better Thai meals). But the experience was spoilt by the extremely rude waiter. I don’t know what his problem was but he slammed the plates down and appeared to be in a very bad mood. We didn’t make a fuss as it was my sons birthday but he kind of spoilt the evening for us. The lady waitress and young lad were very nice and polite but our main waiter (an older guy) was so rude it was like something from Faulty Towers. Won’t be returning any time soon. Shame.

Beautiful restaurant with much potential. This was my first visit for many years since moving away. Surly staff, not friendly at all. Nobody asked how food was. Pressure on customers to leave a tip. Food was average. Asked if the fan could be turned off that was blowing cold air into our table, the man just said nothing and walked away. He didn’t turn the fan off. So was asked the older lady a few minutes later if it could be turned off and she rolled her eyes and walked off. Very unprofessional. Cheltenham is a foodie town with far better options than this place. Don’t know how they stay in business such a long time when the customers aren’t valued.

Just a beautiful place and food.

After reading google reviews we went there for an evening meal, spent £102 for two adults and 2 kids. The atmosphere was great, we really enjoyed. We might have gone there on one of those not very good days. We shared a mixed starters platter which was nice. Phad Thai Kung was too sweet, not to the expectation, waste of money. Other items were fine, but not great. Chocolate crunchy pudding was lovely. The service seemed needs improving with happy smiles and good communication. Food arrived quickly, but Nobody checked about are we happy about food. When the bill was presented, the person reminded us, that the service charge is not included. Also while holding the Card payment machine he kept asking at least 4 times, if we want to add a service tip. That was ridiculous, we will never go back. He sounded insisting.

What a beautiful place, restaurant is beautiful, so ornate. Food was delicious, piping hot with lots of choice. Staff friendly and very helpful. Will definitely return.

Excellent service, food and drinks. Wonderful interior design which felt like we were back in Thailand! Definitely recommend. We had the grand banquet set menu and couldn’t fault it

Fantastic restaurant! We've been yesterday after having heard great things about it and walking by the door we felt catapulted in a thai paradise: the decor was really spot on , the staff even wore traditional clothing. The atmosphere was really relaxing and the staff really attentive and kind. The food was amazing, served in beautiful dishes. The price absolutely reasonable and great value for money. We'll definitely go back , thank you all to the staff that looked after us !

Wonderful dining experience during lunchtime opening. Not very busy so the service is good and the food delicious.

We had our wedding reception at the Thai Emerald yesterday and our 140 guests loved everything about it. Food was excellent and authentic, restaurant was beautiful, staffs were efficient, friendly and very polite. We would like to thank Khun Manop and his team for giving us an amazing afternoon. Sarinya and Clive Parkhurst 🙏🏼

Good atmosphere and service. However food is not authentic and mediocre. Quite bland tasting Thai food.

Had the chilli banquet for two. Food was no more than average. Banquet plus bottle of water, glass of lemonade and a boddingtons beer cost £71. Left feeling dissatisfied, smallest portions ever experienced in Thai restaurant and went back to hotel where we had a sweet. The surroundings were stunning and it was spotless. Great shame an experience we had to look forward to flopped.

food is nice except Tung Yum Kung is too salty. Price is reasonable

I was really impressed with the decor and ambience of the Thai Emerald. The squid starter - although having a good texture and flavour - contained very little squid. Tiny thin strips inside a crisp but rather greasy batter so, poor value for this amount of squid and price. My main course (Garlic Prawns with Coconut Rice) was pleasant but not exceptional. I didn't enjoy having to struggle to remove the tails from my tiger prawns. Well worth a visit even if mainly to marvel at the decor.

Ordered a take-away from here.... The Tom Yum Kung was too sour and I didn't taste any lemongrass or spice. The Pad Thai was also too sweet and must have used 6 tablespoons of sugar. Not to my expectations.

Certainly didn’t live up to expectation…., What a great looking and feeling place. It felt authentic Thai and such a disappointment. We visited on a Wednesday night just before the 9am last orders - along with 2 other couples who we didn’t know. To our surprise we were informed that they were closed and would not serve us. All 3 groups were formed the same. What a shame and we will not be back - awful customer service

Stunningly beautiful interior. Truly a feast for the eyes. Shockingly mediocre food. Not a feast for the tastebuds. We had the eggplant dish which was the best, the spring rolls which were bland, and the vegan pad Thai which was so tasteless it was almost inedible. We had to ask the waiter for more spices, and when that didn’t do the trick, we asked for soy sauce and peanut sauce in order to try and concoct our own flavor to add to the noodles. He didn’t offer to help us remedy the dish, despite our obvious dismay. In fact, he didn’t smile or interact with us at all; I think he might be clinically depressed. Anyway, the only thing I can recommend is the eggplant dish. I’m still baffled at how an authentic Thai place can botch pad Thai so badly.

Such a beautiful place! Its a hidden gem in the middle of cheltenham town center thats worth a visit. Food is delicious, and staff is lovely.

Very nice ambiance and good food. Authentic food.

Excellent restaurant. Fabulous food and great service. Will definitely return.

The only good thing was the Sunday buffet...Why have they taken it away & don't blame it on covid😬 food wasn't as good as it once was quite bland. Lacked atmosphere hardly any diners & the service was limited a let down

Wanted to go to this restaurant for a long time but wouldn't go back. Food was very tasty and faultless. But very small and expensive dishes. You need plenty of sides to fill up a family but they are not cheap. Also apart from a friendly man at front of house which was lovely, the rest of the staff needed happy pills! Restaurant it's self is amazing and a touch of class though.

Dinner tonight at the Thai Emerald Restaurant - Cheltenham was hands down the best Thai food we've ever eaten and I've been to quite a few restaurants in Phuket and Koh Samui. 10/10 for excellent food, service, and decor.

Booked this restaurant on recommendation and was not disappointed. Friendly and attentive staff. Lovely food would certainly recommend and look forward to visiting again

A fabulous restaurant with great atmosphere , beautiful delicious cuisine. Staff attentive, service quick and excellent. They’re many uk restaurants could learn from their professional service

A fabulous restaurant with great atmosphere , beautiful delicious cuisine. Staff attentive, service quick and excellent. They’re many uk restaurants could learn from their professional service

Great food! Very authentic and delicious food - quick service and lovely decor. Will return soon and will recommend.

Very rude staffs. - As soon as we were seated, the lady took away one of the two sets of cutlery on the table, assuming we were not ordering a starter. - While my husband was still eating, the male staff started to take away all the empty plates, cutlery and even water cups without asking. - Strongly said “Service charge is not included.” when the manager got the bill to us. Apparently they hadn’t had even asked if we needed anything else during eating. - My friend are asked to grab and toss the squeezed lemon from the table to the female staff who cleared the table.

The place itself is beautiful, the staff and flavours of the food were excellent. BUT the quality of the food is horrendous from rubbery chicken and Thai fishcakes to which I love anywhere else. The ribs were cold. The dessert was the best I have had in a very long time thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a gem of a place. From the outside it looks like a normal restaurant front, but when you walk in it’s like stepping into opulence. Full of beauty, carved animals, warm wood panels, gold accents and plenty of greenery that makes you feel like you have left the dreary streets of the UK and jumped into Thai nature. The food was incredible and generous. I had the HOY CHAOW REUA - Fresh mussels stir-fried with chilli, garlic, lemongrass, lime leaf, galangal, holy basil as a starter and PED MAKHAM
Roast duck glazed with tamarind sauce, crispy shallot, Chinese broccoli, on sizzling dish as my main course. The staff were attentive and polite. A great restaurant with a tropical atmosphere. Extensive menu serving quality food.

Absolutely exquisite experience! It was like stepping into another world with stunning Thai decor. The handcarved wooden images are mind boggling in detail. The service was efficient. The food was delicious. The price paid seemed way too low for top rate food. What a wonderful evening.

Great meal last night will return again

The food was absolutely stunning! Great service and the building was so nice!

Amazing authentic Thai food with great service and nice atmosphere

What a wonderful evening out. After having read some of the horrendous recent reviews I was a little worried it was no longer the great restaurant of yesteryear but from the moment we entered it was clear this place still has all its magic. The...

Great food and menu with really friendly staff. The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars is because giggling squid is better in my opinion. It’s a good chain of Thai restaurants and never disappoints.

Tried this place again after a break of 5-6 years. Unfortunately, they seem to have given up. The food was boring, bland and almost completely tasteless. The sweet and sour chicken dish was sickly sweet with no sour and very little chicken for that matter....

Great night the food was fantastic and the staff were so friendly and helpful

Lovely Thai food in Fantastic surroundings. Definitely recommend

As soon as we walked in, we knew we were in for a real treat. There is a traditional Thai theme running through the restaurant which was very relaxing and reminded us of being in Thailand. The food was amazing, delicious, very authentic, we would definitely come back. The only downside was they had no desert menu and we were really looking forward to Mango Sticky Rice. Excellent service and friendly staff.

Beautiful place, friendly staff, great menu. Felt very welcome and relaxed not rushed in any way. Will be going back more often. Well recommend.

Stopped by for a takeaway, everything was prepared quickly. The decor of the restaurant is nice and authentic, feels like i stepped into a whole nother country when I was there. Food is delicious, as expected with Thai cuisine.

This is the second Thai Emerald I have visited and I was super disappointed with this visit. The whole evening was ruined by the worst service I think I have ever experienced. The waiter who served us was so rude, aggressive and completely dismissive of...

After being presented with the bill, we’ve been asked to leave the table for the new group to be seated in a very short manner. When I’ve pointed out that we’ve just ordered a round of drinks before the bill arrived and needed to finish them first, we were quickly dismissed in a very rude way and told we should still vacate the table and leave immediately. This is not the way to treat your customers. Won’t be coming back.

After being presented with the bill, we’ve been asked to leave the table for the new group to be seated in a very short manner. When I’ve pointed out that we’ve just ordered a round of drinks before the bill arrived and needed to finish...

Great food and atmosphere. Been here before and will come again!

We opted for one of the set menus and on the whole the food was really good. The only thing stopping giving it 5 stars was the chicken seemed a little rubbery as did the fish cakes (both on the mixed starter dish).

Love the look and feel of this place, excellent food as well!

Fabulous place. The quality of the food & decor make it a favourite for my friends and I. We went there for a birthday recently and the staff went above and beyond to make it special. Excited to return again this weekend!

Decor 5 star, felt like was back in Bangkok, Food was delivered fast and fresh! fresh water grilled prawns stood out.

Called at 8pm asking what time they were opened to, was told 10pm. Got there just after 9pm and told they were shut..............why can't restaurants be honest and say "we shut at 10, but if there are no customers, we will shut early"' unprofessional to...

Absolutely fantastic! The next best thing after Thailand. We visit Thailand every year and I really miss real Thai food in the UK. I am so glad we came across this wonderful place. Ignore the negative reviews, how can someone down rate such a wonderful place because they didn’t get enough sweet chilly sauce on the side is beyond me. If this is what you after, just go to Harvester 🤦‍♀️. Delicious food, fragrant, authentic, with fresh ingredients and authentic Thai taste. So happy we discovered this place. Thank you for the lovely dinner.

Great food great service and great ambience 🥰👍✨

Staff well one of them was not very friendly at all asked for some sweet chilli sauce which came in about 15 mins and the portion wow smallest jar ever approx a teaspoon for 4 person greedy 2 years ago huge ramekin and the girl was blaiming covid come on people you want to make customers happy or what no wonder it was only us was not busy at all soooo disappointed!!!!

The food was delicious and good quality service.

10 of us had a lovely relaxed lunch here, as always great food in a terrific restaurant.

Went for a family birthday meal for my son’s 14th birthday on a Saturday night. Everyone loved the layout and the decor. The restaurant was extremely busy but the staff never stopped working hard. A couple of times, we needed to get someone’s attention to...

Visited with the family just before Christmas whilst stay with my son. Warm welcome with smiling faces. The décor is amazing & the carving under the glass on the tables is very usual. We ordered starters, mains & wine, all the food arrived within a...

First Thai dinner in Cheltenham for me and my party and we were impressed with the venue and the ornate wood carvings throughout the restaurant. If that wasn’t even we had the food to contend with….. it was amazing, tasty, superbly presented and plentiful. And the best part, inexpensive and suitable for every sized pocket. Staff were exceptional but could do with cheering up a bit, but that aside, I still give full marks.

Work meal with many people. Good food served quickly enough. Got started on the buffet and then more hot food appeared. Very pleasant evening.

Table booked for 7:00 on a Tuesday evening in early December. Pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant busy with a good buzz about it. Starters were a little disappointing and quite pricey. Instead of a beautifully carved carrot, we would have preferred something tastier…BUT….the mains...

I'm not a fan of Thai food, but this was fabulous. Service to order was a little slow but the food when it arrived & the atmosphere was amazing

Fantastic decor, pleasant atmosphere and authentic taste of Thailand

My boyfriend and I enjoyed the Bangkok (sharing) special. It was delicious and hot.

Excellent food, portions a very big. Reasonably priced.

The food, the atmosphere, the service- everything is of the best quality. An absolute experience. Couldn’t recommend it enough.