Bird Thai

Bird Thai is a small Thai restaurant at Zeedijk 72-74 in Amsterdam's Chinatown area on the edge of the Red Light District, in the Netherlands. It serves Thai street food and is consistently ranked among the city's better Thai restaurants. The cooking is fast, heavy on chili and fish sauce, and closer to a Bangkok street stall than to a sit-down restaurant. Pad Thai, green curry and som tam salad are the standing orders, and mains cost roughly €11 to €18. The room is a tiny, always-packed, canteen-style space with cramped bench-and-table seating and an open kitchen, so diners eat to the sound of woks. The atmosphere is energetic and noisy, and it is not designed for long, quiet dinners or dressy occasions. Beverages are simple, mostly beer and soft drinks. The restaurant is open daily for dinner from 17:00 to 22:30. Reservations are not taken for small groups and the venue is essentially walk-in, so a queue on the street outside is normal during dinner hours, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Arriving right at 17:00 or after the first rush is the easiest way to be seated. Spice levels can be significant, and diners sensitive to heat should ask when ordering. The Zeedijk location makes it convenient after sightseeing in the old centre, close to the Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown's temple and shops, and a short walk from Centraal Station.