Ton's Thai Restaurant is Ashburton's original Thai restaurant, serving the town from East Street since mid-2004. Founder Ton first opened under the name 'Charming Thai' and, after a decade of loyal local support, rebranded as Ton's Thai to represent Ashburton's Thai dining destination. His promise remains the same: the best service and quality food, with Ton's personal thank-you to customers for their patronage.
The restaurant runs two distinct services: lunch Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30am to 2.00pm, and dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5.00pm to 9.00pm. Each service has its own menu, and dedicated takeaway menus cover both lunch and dinner for those who prefer to eat at home. Online ordering is also available, making it easy to have Thai food ready for pickup.
True to Thai tradition, the kitchen builds its flavours around the herbs and spices that gave Thai food its reputation when it first reached New Zealand around 1960 and won over Cantabrians from the mid-1980s onward. Whether you settle in for a relaxed dinner or grab a takeaway on the way home, Ton's Thai brings the tastes of Thailand to Mid-Canterbury.
On East Street in Ashburton, Ton's Thai Restaurant holds a distinction no other local eatery can claim: it was the town's first Thai restaurant. Opening its doors in mid-2004 under the name 'Charming Thai', the restaurant introduced Ashburton diners to the fragrant world of Thai herbs and spices, and it has been feeding the town ever since.
Thai food's journey to New Zealand began around 1960, and by the mid-1980s the first Thai restaurant had opened in Christchurch, quickly becoming popular. The Thai herbs and spices at the heart of the cuisine created a new dining experience for Cantabrians, and word spread. Ton brought that same spirit further south in mid-2004, opening Charming Thai as Ashburton's first Thai restaurant.
The restaurant found its audience quickly. With loyal support over the following decade, Ton decided the establishment deserved a name of its own, and 'Ton's Thai' was born — a name that now represents Ashburton's Thai restaurant. Ton's message to customers is a simple and sincere one: thank you for your patronage, and we look forward to giving you the best service and quality food.
Ton's Thai keeps a schedule that works for almost any appetite. Lunch is served Tuesday through Saturday, from 11.30am to 2.00pm — a window that suits everything from a midweek work break to a weekend catch-up. Come evening, the kitchen fires up for dinner service Tuesday through Sunday, from 5.00pm to 9.00pm. Notably, dinner runs one day longer than lunch: Sunday nights are for dinner only, while Mondays are the restaurant's day of rest.
The menus are organised with clarity in mind. There is a dedicated lunch menu and a separate dinner menu for those dining in, each with its own distinct offering. And for customers who would rather enjoy their meal at home, Ton's Thai maintains dedicated takeaway menus for both lunch and dinner — the same Thai cooking, packed to go.
Convenience matters, especially on a busy weeknight. Ton's Thai runs its own online ordering platform, which means you can place your order ahead of time and simply collect it when it's ready. For those who prefer the personal touch, the restaurant also takes orders the old-fashioned way — by phone or in person at 148 East Street.
What keeps a restaurant going for two decades in a town the size of Ashburton? Consistency, familiarity and food people genuinely crave. Ton's Thai has built its reputation on quality food served with care, and the restaurant's team is part of that story — a whole-team welcome is very much the tone of the place.
The cooking stays rooted in what made Thai food beloved in Canterbury in the first place: the interplay of Thai herbs and spices that turns a simple meal into something memorable. Whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth, the aim is the same — a genuine taste of Thailand, served in the middle of Mid-Canterbury.
Ton's Thai Restaurant sits at 148 East Street, Ashburton — easy to find and easy to reach. If you're planning a lunch visit, remember the midday service runs Tuesday to Saturday only. For dinner, you have Tuesday through Sunday to choose from. Mondays, the kitchen takes a break.
Questions about menus or takeaway? Call the restaurant on 03 308 5885, check the menu pages on the website, or place an order through the online ordering system. You can also follow Ton's Thai on Facebook for updates. Two decades in, Ton and his team remain committed to the same thing they set out to deliver in 2004: the best service and quality food for Ashburton.