Rosa’s Thai

From East End café to national favourite
Rosa’s Thai on Hanbury Street offers Thai cuisine, delivering a brand experience that feels both authentic and contemporary. Founded by Saiphin Moore in 2008, the first restaurant opened on the site of a popular East End cafe on Hanbury Street. It’s an institution for the locals, so out of respect for its previous owner (and as there was no money for new signs), they chose to keep the name. The name stuck, and Saiphin has become known as Rosa. What started with a love for home-style Thai cooking has since grown into a celebrated national chain. Still, the essence of Rosa’s: bold flavours, family recipes and an approachable menu remains unchanged.

The lunchtime set menu is a standout feature that adds real value, particularly for busy diners. Including a drink is a thoughtful touch, and the neatly presented tray of dishes evokes the comforting order and balance of traditional Thai meal structuring. It’s a small but effective detail that helps take the diner, even if just briefly, for a quick working lunch as this was, to a more relaxed setting. Each dish on the menu uses fresh ingredients, punchy sauces and a genuine nod to Thai street food. The story showcased on Rosa’s Thai website is one of cultural and culinary pride. It’s a dependable stop for anyone seeking a flavourful meal with a reasonable price point.