Thao Thao
Old Town, Margate
Restaurant in Margate, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$10–20per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Book Thao Thao for an easy King Street meal when convenience matters more than awards, chef-name pull, or a high-ceremony room. Lunch is the smarter play for most Margate plans; cross-shop Bottega Caruso for ££ Italian or Sargasso for modern cuisine if you need a clearer category fit.
About Thao Thao
Thao Thao is a Margate venue with a limited public profile, so the most useful planning details are practical: it is open Thursday to Sunday, closed Monday to Wednesday, and has a casual dress code. Treat it as a direct option to check against your schedule rather than a venue to choose on the basis of awards, prices, menu details, or service format.
The clearest information is the opening pattern. Thao Thao is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; open Thursday 12–3 PM; open Friday 12–3 PM and 6–9 PM; and open Saturday and Sunday 12–4 PM.
If you are considering Thao Thao for a visit in Margate, use the details first: casual dress, daytime openings from Thursday to Sunday, and Friday evening hours.
Where it fits in a Margate shortlist
If you are comparing Thao Thao with other named options, you might also research The Ambrette, Mannings Seafood, Hantverk & Found, Bottega Caruso, or Sargasso.
Use the broader city pages if the visit is part of a longer Margate plan: restaurants and bars. Quick reference: Thao Thao is casual, closed Monday to Wednesday, open during the day Thursday to Sunday, and open on Friday evening.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: Closed
- Location
- 18 King St, Margate CT9 1DA, United Kingdom
- Website
- thaothao-kitchen.com
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Thao Thao sits in Margate’s Old Town as a compact, owner-operated Southeast Asian spot that channels the neighbourhood’s independent spirit. The restaurant’s small-room scale and short menu lend an intimate, charming feel, while its proximity to the seafront lets a hint of salt air into the space. Rather than flashy design statements, Thao Thao feels like a focused local address: a specific culinary point of view in a street now defined by tightly run, characterful restaurants. The result is a quietly scenic, intimate place that fits naturally into King Street’s creative hospitality strip.
Best For
Thao Thao is best for relaxed shared meals with friends and small groups. The kitchen follows a Southeast Asian logic where the table is built outward and dishes arrive to share, so the place suits communal dining and casual hangouts rather than staged tasting sequences. Its short, owner-driven menu encourages mixing plates and passing dishes around, making it a strong pick for groups who want to balance textures, heat and flavours across a spread. The restaurant’s Old Town location and informal scale make it a comfortable choice for both lunchtime and evening gatherings.
Ordering Tips
Approach ordering at Thao Thao with the communal ritual in mind: choose a handful of plates to share so textures and heat levels play off one another. Stick to signature items (rice noodle bowls, banh mi and summer rolls) as anchors, then add vegetable or hot elements to create balance across the table. The short menu rewards a few well-chosen selections rather than many single portions, and sharing encourages diners to sample broadly. Expect a paced, collective meal rather than a linear tasting progression.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cheerfully informal with simple fresh interior, wooden chairs, dark green tiles, and window seats for people watching.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Quick Bite
- Capacity
- Intimate
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly
Signature Dishes
- rice noodle bowl
- banh mi
- summer rolls
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 18 King St, Margate CT9 1DA, United Kingdom
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- 12–3 PM
- Friday
- 12–3 PM, 6–9 PM
- Saturday
- 12–4 PM
- Sunday
- 12–4 PM
Location
18 King St, Margate CT9 1DA, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Choose Bottega Caruso if the group wants Italian at a known ££ tier. Choose Sargasso if modern cuisine is the brief and the meal needs a more defined restaurant profile.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Margate
Thao Thao is the lower-pressure choice in this Margate set: easier to slot into a town-centre day, but with fewer public signals on price, cuisine, or format. Bottega Caruso is the clearer value comparison because its Italian, ££ positioning tells you more before you commit. Sargasso is the better pick if you want modern cuisine with a more defined dining brief.
For seafood, compare against Mannings Seafood and Hantverk & Found before choosing. The Ambrette is also a better fit when the meal needs a more established restaurant feel. Pick Thao Thao when ease and location beat category certainty; pick the peers when cuisine, setting, or occasion weight matters more.
Explore Margate
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Thao Thao guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Thao Thao
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thao Thao | Margate | No published awards | ||
| The Ambrette | Margate | No published awards | ||
| Mannings Seafood | Margate | No published awards | ||
| Hantverk & Found | Margate | No published awards | ||
| Bottega Caruso | Margate | Italian | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Sargasso | Margate | Modern Cuisine | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
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How Thao Thao Margate compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are daytime or Friday evening hours better at Thao Thao?
The hours give more daytime openings than evening openings. Thao Thao opens Thursday 12–3 PM, Friday 12–3 PM and 6–9 PM, and Saturday-Sunday 12–4 PM. Friday evening is the least flexible slot in the schedule.
What should a first-timer know about Thao Thao?
The key details are practical. Thao Thao is in Margate, has a casual dress code, is closed Monday to Wednesday, opens Thursday 12–3 PM, Friday 12–3 PM and 6–9 PM, and Saturday-Sunday 12–4 PM.
What are alternatives to Thao Thao?
Other names to compare while researching include The Ambrette, Mannings Seafood, Hantverk & Found, Bottega Caruso, and Sargasso.
Is Thao Thao good for a special occasion?
Consider carefully: Thao Thao has a casual dress code and limited opening hours.
