Interior of Chat Thai Circular Quay restaurant with timber ceilings, lush indoor plants, leather seating, and diners enjoying organic Thai lunch and dinner.

Chat Thai Circular Quay – Organic Thai Lunch & Dinner

Sydney loves Thai food. Always has. But when Amy Chanta opened Chat Thai back in ’89, she raised the stakes: no compromises, no shortcuts, no dumbed-down pad thai for tourists. She scoured Sydney for ingredients that tasted like Bangkok, and in doing so, rewired the city’s palate.

Three decades later, her daughter Palisa Anderson took the family obsession one step further. If the city couldn’t supply the produce they needed, she’d grow it herself. That’s how Boon Luck Farm happened — 107 acres of certified organic Byron Bay dirt, turning out more Thai botanicals than most Aussies can pronounce.

Boon Luck Farm – The Secret Weapon

Forget wholesale markets. Chat Thai grows its own. At Boon Luck Farm, everything is certified organic, chemical-free, and obsessively curated for authenticity. We’re talking:

Herbs & Greens: holy basil, Thai basil, gai lan, bok choy, pandan, makrut lime leaves
Aromatics: galangal, garlic, turmeric, green peppercorns
Citrus: finger limes, sudachi, kaffir limes, Buddha’s hands
Exotics: miracle fruit, peanut butter fruit, Brazilian cherries, wild raspberries
Extras: 3,000+ fruit trees for carbon soak, 30 buzzing beehives, a koala corridor for good measure

The result? Flavours most “Thai” restaurants can only buy frozen, here grown fresh and carried direct into the kitchen. This is farm-to-wok authenticity, done Sydney-style.

Photo Credit: Boon Luck Farm Organics / Palisa Anderson - Scenes from Boon Luck Farm in Byron Bay, where Chat Thai grows its certified organic produce. From harvesting leafy greens to tending citrus groves and free-range chickens, the farm supplies the herbs, aromatics, and vegetables that define Chat Thai’s Sydney menus.

Location – Circular Quay

Address: Gateway Shopping Centre, L05/1 Macquarie Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9247 3053
Website: www.chatthai.com
Hours:

Sun – Wed: 11am – 9:30pm
Thu – Sat: 11am – 10pm
(Last order 30 minutes before close)

The BioHax Take

Circular Quay might be a tourist choke point, but inside this room the energy is pure Bangkok. Flames leap, woks clang, and plates hit tables at a pace that would give most CBD kitchens heart palpitations. The difference? Every som tum, curry, and stir-fry here hums with produce grown for purpose. This isn’t Thai-by-numbers — it’s Thai with a terroir.

What’s On Offer

Lunch & Dinner: Full spread of Thai classics made sharper by farm-fresh produce
Signature Plates: Som tum with Boon Luck’s green papaya, holy basil chicken, fiery larb, wok-fried noodles with Thai basil straight from Byron
Sweet Edge: Mango sticky rice when the season’s right — using fruit grown on their own farm
Drinks: Thai iced tea, fresh juices; BYO welcome

Photo Credit: courtesy of Chat Thai Sydney - Signature dishes from Chat Thai Circular Quay, showcasing the farm-to-wok difference. From wok-tossed prawns with greens, to smoky fried rice, to chargrilled pork with dipping sauce — each plate is powered by certified organic produce from Boon Luck Farm in Byron Bay.

Signature Dishes

Chat Thai’s menus aren’t built for timid eaters. Circular Quay fires out the hits with farm-fresh produce that actually tastes alive:

Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles): Wok-scorched rice noodles laced with Thai basil straight from Boon Luck Farm — fiery, messy, and addictive.
Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad): Made with Boon Luck papaya, mortar-pounded with chilli, lime, and peanuts — the definition of Bangkok street food in a bowl.
Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken): Marinated with aromatics, chargrilled until smoky, served with tangy dipping sauce.
Khao Pad Pla Kem (Fried Rice with Salted Fish): Comfort food with a funky twist, balanced with herbs and lime.
Pla Neung Manao (Steamed Fish with Lime): Whole fish doused in lime, garlic, and chilli, powered by farm herbs.
Khao Niew Mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice): Seasonal Byron Bay mangoes laid over coconut sticky rice — the dessert Sydney waits all summer for.

Ideal For

Power lunches with colleagues who know their pad see ew from their pad thai
Tourists who want real Thai by the harbour instead of food-court knockoffs
Date nights that need chilli, lime, and a little chaos to break the ice
Pre-theatre eats before the Opera House or a city show
Late-night cravings when only wok-charred noodles will do
Organic diehards who want their basil, turmeric, and mangoes grown chemical-free

Sustainability Snapshot

Certified Organic: 100% chemical-free cultivation at Boon Luck Farm
Regenerative Farming: Crop rotation, compost systems, and soil-first practices
Carbon Offset: 3,000 fruit trees to soak up CO₂
Wildlife Corridor: 15 acres reserved for threatened species, including a koala habitat
Bees, Not Sprays: 30 hives pollinating naturally

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chat Thai Circular Quay use organic produce?
Yes. All vegetables, herbs, aromatics, and many fruits come from Boon Luck Farm in Byron Bay — certified organic, chemical-free, and grown specifically for Thai cooking.

Is Chat Thai Circular Quay open for both lunch and dinner?
Yes. It runs all day, opening from 11am and serving through to late evening. Lunch, dinner, pre-theatre — it’s all covered.

Does Chat Thai Circular Quay offer takeaway?
Yes. Takeaway is available directly from the restaurant — ideal for office lunches or a quick riverside dinner. Delivery options are also available via major platforms.

Can I order Chat Thai Circular Quay online?
Yes. You can pre-order lunch or dinner online for pick-up, or use delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash depending on availability in your area.

Does Chat Thai Circular Quay take bookings?
Primarily walk-ins. Expect queues during peak lunch and dinner times, especially on weekends and before theatre shows.

Does Chat Thai Circular Quay have vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes. Many dishes can be made vegetarian or vegan on request. Expect plenty of plant-based plates using organic greens, herbs, and vegetables from Boon Luck Farm.

Does Chat Thai Circular Quay cater for gluten-free diners?
Yes. Gluten-free options are available, but always confirm with staff as some sauces and noodles contain gluten.

What makes Chat Thai different from other Thai restaurants?
The produce. Chat Thai grows its own at Boon Luck Farm in Byron Bay — everything from Thai basil and pandan to finger limes and galangal. This means fresher flavour and more authentic dishes.

How long has Chat Thai been around?
Since 1989. Amy Chanta’s original restaurant redefined Thai dining in Sydney, and today her daughter Palisa Anderson continues that legacy with an organic farm-to-table model.

Is Chat Thai Circular Quay good for groups?
Yes. Large tables can be accommodated, though walk-in waits are common. It’s a high-energy, share-everything kind of space.

Does Chat Thai Circular Quay do late-night dining?
Yes. Open until 10pm on weekends — one of the better late-night CBD food options near the harbour.