It’s well worth a trip to Mount Juliet to sample the aesthetically presented Thai offerings that Chef Ao is dishing out at Smiley Thai and Sushi. Jumbo prawn-topped pad Thai, pla rad prik, panang curry, and Thai beef salad are all popular options at this festively lit restaurant (as is the sushi).

Located inside the L &L Market on Charlotte Avenue, Thai Ni Yom is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Popular offerings include pad see ew, beef salad, pad Thai, and Thai iced tea. Their stir-fried chicken, pork, or tofu lunch specials fill up your plate and your stomach for under $11.

With the move to Music Row, Esane has a bit more room to stretch its legs... along with its patio space and, more importantly, its bar menu. Walking into the elevated 3,500-square-foot location, diners are greeted with a six-foot-tall golden Buddha, shipped straight to Music City from Thailand. The menu will still feature favs from the 12 South location (hello, dumplings and papaya salad) along with new dishes from Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Singto also just added two new locations in Brentwood and at newly opened Fifth + Broadway for her long-time regulars.

Arnold and Anna Myint carry on their iconic mother Patti’s legacy of excellent hospitality in the revamped International Market with fresh, innovative takes on old favorites in a revamped interior. Local celebrity chef Arnold emphasizes locally sourced, seasonal ingredients such as using local trout instead of imported fish for the three-taste crispy garlic trout and applewood-smoked five-spice beef from Ashland City’s KLD Farms.

One of Nashville's more popular Thai restaurants, The Smiling Elephant packs in hungry patrons, serving up traditional Thai dishes like panang curry, shrimp pad see-ew, and a pad thai using green bean noodles. Just keep in mind a few house rules: no reservations and no BYOB.

This unassuming Woodbine restaurant serves up all the classics and packs a punch when it comes to flavor and value. Nearly all of the generous portions of classic Thai fare — like simmering bowls of Tom Gah Kai, crispy duck in a red curry sauce, and coconut massaman with beef — fall under $15.

Former fan-favorite food truck Degthai joined the coterie of eateries that found permanent parking on Nolensville Pike. There, they opened a new brick-and-mortar location where their big cheeky logo watches over the shady outdoor patio and artfully painted interior. Popular options still remain the pad Thai, shumai-style steamed dumplings, and the spicy tom yum soup packed with shrimp.

Tucked away off Nolensville Pike, Siam Cafe has been a trailblazer when it comes to Thai food in Nashville since the Silpacharn family opened it in 1972. Hit the buffet or grab a table on the full-service side of the restaurant for some can’t-miss hung ray curry, sweet and spicy Siam duck, or disco chicken.

This Thai staple in Bellevue has been going strong for several years, and with good reason — generous portions of creamy curries, filling noodles, light spring rolls, and their signature tray of sauces keep locals coming back for seconds and thirds. The tea menu is extensive, featuring soul-warming cups of chocolate hazelnut black tea, Moroccan mint green tea, and mango passionfruit.

King Market flies a bit under the radar thanks to its off-the-beaten-path Antioch location, but its authentic Lao-Thai cuisine makes for one of the more interesting meals in town. Case in point: fried pig intestine, pork ears, and blood cake are all standard menu items.

Venture down Nolensville Road and you’ll find Bangkokville tucked away on a side street. This cozy hidden gem offers homestyle Central Thai cuisine like Mee Kati (steamed thin rice noodles with ground chicken in made-from-scratch coconut soy paste gravy) and crispy duck in panang curry at affordable prices.