Thai and Green

Most people visiting Barcelona never make it past the Sagrada Família or the manicured blocks of Eixample. They stay in the safe zone, eating overpriced croquetas and wondering why the paella looks like it came out of a microwave. But if you’re willing to hop on the L5 metro and head north toward the hills of Horta-Guinardó, you’ll find something that feels a lot more like real life. You’ll find Thai and Green.

Located on Passeig de Maragall, this isn't some high-concept, white-tablecloth temple of gastronomy. It’s an unpretentious, modern outpost that has managed to do something nearly impossible in this city: serve consistently excellent, punchy Asian flavors in a neighborhood where 'fusion' usually means a bad pizza place. When you walk in, the first thing you notice is the green—the plants hanging from the ceiling, the clean lines, the sense that someone actually gives a damn about the environment they’re feeding you in. It’s bright, it’s airy, and it’s usually packed with locals who know exactly what they’re doing.

Let’s talk about the Pad Thai. In most of Europe, Pad Thai is a soggy, sugary disaster. Here, it’s the benchmark. It’s got that essential tamarind tang, the right amount of funk, and the kind of wok-breath that only comes from a kitchen that isn't afraid of high heat. The noodles have bite, the sprouts have crunch, and it reminds you why this dish became a global icon before it was ruined by a thousand airport food courts. Then there are the baos. These aren't the leaden, doughy bricks you find in the frozen section. They are soft, pillowy clouds of steamed bread, cradling everything from crispy shrimp to tender pork belly, dressed with just enough acidity to keep things interesting.

The menu at Thai and Green is a bit of a wanderer, touching on Chinese influences and broader Asian fusion, but it never feels lost. Whether you’re diving into a red curry that actually carries a respectable heat or tearing into their vegetable tempura, the quality of the ingredients is obvious. This is one of the best Thai restaurants in Barcelona because it doesn't try to be anything other than a great place to eat. It’s honest food served by people who seem genuinely happy you showed up.

And then there’s the dessert. This is where the narrative takes a sharp turn into left field. You don’t expect a Thai joint in the outskirts of Barcelona to be famous for its Banoffee pie or its cheesecake. It sounds wrong. It sounds like a mistake. But then you taste it. The Banoffee is a decadent, unapologetic middle finger to tradition—layers of cream, banana, and toffee that have no business being this good at the end of a spicy meal. It’s the kind of plot twist I can get behind.

The service is fast, the prices are more than fair, and the vibe is refreshingly devoid of the 'look-at-me' pretension that plagues the city center. It’s a neighborhood spot in the truest sense. If you’re looking for a romantic date night in Barcelona that feels like a discovery, or just a place to escape the tourist hordes and eat something that actually tastes like something, this is your spot. Is it worth the trek to Horta? Absolutely. Just don't tell too many people. The locals already have a hard enough time getting a table.