Best Southern Thai in Phoenix: LeDu Thai’s New 7th Street Home Serving Southern Thai Soul

Dining spaces are set up to make it feel like you're home

Some restaurants are pretty.  LeDu Thai is that, and then it opens its arms. On 7th Street, our table turned into a living room; friends drifted in without planning; chairs inched closer as conversation found its rhythm between passing plates. Gabby cooked like we were in her house, dishes with personality, care tucked into the details, and a finale from her childhood that felt less like dessert and more like a memory shared. The room is gorgeous, yes; teakwood tones, soft glow, details for days, but it’s the food that does the transporting. One sip, one crunch, one spoonful and you’re halfway to Southern Thailand. It’s the feeling that lingers: seen, welcomed, fed.

If you keep a quiet list of the best Thai in Phoenix, this is where you pencil in a star, and read on for why.

What We Ate (and Loved)

Kolae Chicken Skewers

Smoky, lightly sweet, a little char, the kind of starter that disappears while you’re still telling the story of your day. They set the tone: bright, happy, shareable.

Som Dtam Tod (fried papaya salad; game changer!)

All the papaya-salad fireworks, now with a crisp edge. Limey, funky, crunchy, addictive. Not your typical som tam, this one crackles.

Green Garden Wrap

I sat this one out (mushrooms are a no for me, the fungi allergy gal) but the table raved, fresh, herb-packed, the cleaner counterpoint to all our saucy, cozy choices.

Kao Man Na Nuer

Oh man. Tender beef over fragrant rice, crowned with a cured egg yolk that eats like silk. Garlic for days (my love language). It’s comfort with a wink of elegance.

Pad Thai

A classic done perfectly: chewy noodles, balanced tamarind, just-right sweetness, and a squeeze of lime that ties it all up with a bow. No notes, just smiles.

Khao Soi

My forever-favorite Thai dish, and LeDu’s version sings. Coconut-curry depth, a crisp-noodle halo, and enough heat to knock this spice wuss down a peg or two. (My secret weapon: a few cooling sips of Coconut Sunshine between bites. Balance, achieved.)

What We Sipped

Cha-Thaitini Shines Bright next to the LeDu Old Fashioned

LeDu Old Fashioned

So good it earned a repeat. Familiar, but dressed in LeDu’s house style, rounded, aromatic, eminently sippable.

Coconut Sunshine

Tropical, bright, and perfect at taming spice when the khao soi turns feisty.

Cha-Thaitini

Thai tea in a coupe, creamy, dreamy, a little nostalgic, a lot fun.

Land of Smiles

Exactly what it promises: sunny and easygoing. The dinner-party friend who gets along with everyone.

The Sweetest Ending

Just when we swore we were done, Gabby sent out a childhood favorite from Southern Thailand: Thai corn tapioca with a soft, creamy top. Not too sweet, more like a gentle palate cleanse that leaves you glowing. It felt like a story passed down at the table, and I loved that.

Why LeDu Belongs on Your Short List

LeDu Thai makes you feel taken care of. The food transports; the room calms; the service sees you. Even with an hour-long drive, we’re already planning our next visit. This one is special, folks.

(And yes, I’m obsessed with their enamel sink in the restroom. I need it. Consider this my official design-crush confession.)

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Know Before You Go

• Location: 5813 N 7th St #150, Phoenix, AZ

• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday for lunch & dinner; Monday closed (check site for updates)

• Best for: Sharing plates with friends, date night with a little sparkle, cocktails that play nice with spice

• Order like a pro: Kolae Chicken Skewers, Som Dtam Tod, Kao Man Na Nuer, Khao Soi + Coconut Sunshine