Chokdee Motueka Thai Cusine

About Chokdee Motueka Thai Cusine

Chokdee Motueka Thai Cuisine is a Motueka restaurant built around traditional, made-from-scratch Thai cooking. The kitchen makes its own curry bases, sauces and condiments rather than using pre-made jarred products, with an emphasis on fresh, natural ingredients and sourcing locally grown produce where possible, including Thai staples like basil, kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass.

Because everything is made in-house, Chokdee can cater to a wide range of diets, including gluten free, nut free, vegan, and onion-and-garlic-free requests, and dishes can be adjusted from mild through to Thai hot depending on preference. The restaurant offers both a Lunch Menu and a fuller Dinner Menu, spanning entrées, soups, salads, curries, stir-fried dishes and noodle dishes.

Chokdee was recognised as having the Best Takeaway Food in Motueka in 2022, a distinction noted through Restaurant Guru, reflecting its reputation both for dining in and for takeaway orders.

Chokdee Motueka: Authentic, Made-From-Scratch Thai Cuisine

Chokdee Motueka Thai Cuisine has built its reputation on a simple philosophy: make everything from scratch. Curry bases, sauces and condiments are all prepared in-house, with a strict policy that if it comes in a jar, it doesn't go in the kitchen. It's an approach rooted in the belief that Thai food depends on a careful balance of flavours that shouldn't be masked by shortcuts.

Fresh, Local, and True to Thailand

Chokdee places a strong emphasis on fresh, natural ingredients, aiming to prepare food the way it would be made in Thailand itself — full of aroma, low in fat, and never overcooked. Where possible, the restaurant sources locally grown produce, particularly for the herbs and aromatics that define Thai cooking, like basil, kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass. That commitment to freshness and quality has helped the restaurant build a loyal following in Motueka, and in 2022 it was recognised as having the Best Takeaway Food in Motueka, a distinction highlighted through Restaurant Guru.

A Menu for Every Diet and Every Spice Level

Because the kitchen builds every dish from scratch, Chokdee can accommodate a genuinely wide range of dietary needs, including gluten free, nut free, vegan, and onion-and-garlic-free requests. Spice levels are just as flexible — every dish can be ordered mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot, so diners who like their Pad Thai extra fiery aren't stuck with a toned-down version.

From Lunch Specials to a Full Dinner Menu

During lunch hours, Chokdee runs a dedicated Lunch Menu covering noodle and rice dishes, soups and stir-fries, all designed for a quicker midday meal. Come dinner, the full menu opens up considerably, starting with entrées like Thai Mini Spring Rolls, Prawn Toast, Thai Fish Cake and the shareable Mixed Entrée, perfect for two people to start a meal together.

Soups include the classic Tom Yum and the coconut-based Tom Kar, while the salad section features a Thai Style Beef Salad made with NZ ribeye, a Seafood Salad, and Larb, a traditional minced meat salad seasoned with lime and roasted rice.

The curry list runs deep, covering Green, Red, Panang, Yellow, Massaman, Pineapple Red, Roast Duck, Northern Lamb and Jungle Curry — each available with a choice of protein where applicable, from chicken and pork through to duck, seafood and crispy chicken. Stir-fried dishes offer similar variety, including Phad Cashews, Phad Khing (fresh ginger), and Phad Kra Paw (stir-fried sweet basil), alongside noodle dishes like Phad Rad Na and Phad See Ew.

Dining In or Taking Away

Chokdee is set up for both a sit-down meal and takeaway orders, with online ordering and table bookings both available through the restaurant's website. Whether it's a quick lunch, a relaxed dinner, or a takeaway order to enjoy at home, the restaurant's from-scratch approach means the same care goes into every dish regardless of how it's enjoyed.

Visiting Chokdee Motueka

Chokdee is open seven days a week, running lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm and dinner from 5pm until late. For anyone in Motueka after an authentic Thai meal — from a comforting bowl of Tom Yum to a rich Massaman Curry — Chokdee's made-from-scratch approach and flexible spice and dietary options make it a dependable local choice.

Signature items

• Phad Thai
• Tom Yum
• Green Curry
• Massaman Curry
• Mixed Entrée
• Larb

Menu

Soups

• Tom Yum — Tangy and spicy soup with lemongrass and galangal, choice of protein.
• Tom Jued Woonsen — Clear glass noodle soup with minced pork or vegetarian filling, a gentle flavour.
• Tom Kar — Coconut soup seasoned with galangal, coriander and tomato, choice of protein.

Salads

• Thai Style Beef Salad — NZ ribeye fillet thinly sliced, tossed with cucumber, tomato and onion in Thai dressing.
• Seafood Salad — Cooked squid, prawns and mussels tossed in homemade Thai dressing with cucumber, onion, tomato and chili.
• Glass Noodle Salad — Glass noodles, tomato, cucumber, onion, herbs and chili in homemade Thai dressing, choice of protein.
• Larb — Minced pork, chicken or beef seasoned with lime juice, roasted glutinous rice, lemongrass, herbs, chili, mint and coriander.

Curries

• Green Curry — Vegetables cooked in homemade creamy green curry sauce, choice of protein.
• Red Curry — Vegetables cooked in homemade creamy red curry sauce, choice of protein.
• Panang Curry — A rich, creamy curry cooked with capsicum and beans, choice of protein.
• Yellow Curry — Turmeric-based curry, choice of protein.
• Massaman Curry — Beef or lamb cooked in massaman curry.
• Pineapple Red Curry — A sweet and savoury red curry with pineapple, choice of protein.
• Roast Duck Curry — Roasted duck in curry sauce with pineapple, tomato and lychee.
• Northern Lamb Curry — NZ lamb slow-cooked in homemade curry sauce.
• Jungle Curry — A spicy curry without coconut cream, packed with Thai herbs, choice of protein.

EntréEs

• Thai Mini Spring Rolls — Minced pork or vegetarian filled spring rolls served with chili sauce.
• Prawn Toast — Minced prawns spread on bread, sprinkled with sesame seeds and deep-fried.
• Prawn Wontons — Marinated prawns wrapped in wonton pastry and fried until golden.
• Pork Spare Ribs — Ribs marinated in house spices, deep-fried and served with sweet chili sauce.
• Thai Fish Cake — Homemade Thai fish patties, deep-fried and served with sweet and tangy peanut sauce.
• Samosa — Vegetarian filling wrapped in homemade samosa dough, deep-fried until golden.
• Chicken Satay — Skewered chicken tenders marinated in satay marinade and grilled, served with peanut sauce.
• Fresh Spring Rolls — Vietnamese-inspired rolls with lettuce, cucumber, spring onion, coriander, rice noodle and prawns in rice paper, served with a tangy sweet sauce.
• Chicken Nibbles — Chicken nibbles marinated in herbs and spices, deep-fried until golden.
• Fried Wontons — Minced chicken and vegetables wrapped in wonton pastry and deep-fried.
• Curry Puff — Minced chicken with onion and potato filling, wrapped in pastry and fried.
• Mixed Entrée — A combination of mini spring rolls, pork ribs, chicken nibbles and prawn wontons, made for two.

Lunch Specials

• Chicken Satay on Rice — Tender marinated chicken skewers barbecued and topped with Thai peanut sauce, served with rice.
• Phad Thai — Thin noodles stir-fried with eggs, peanuts, spring onion and bean sprouts in homemade Phad Thai sauce.
• Pad See Ew — Wide noodles stir-fried with eggs and seasonal vegetables.
• Khao Pad (Fried Rice) — Fried rice stir-fried with eggs and mixed vegetables.
• Noodle Soup — Rice noodle soup with bean sprouts and spring onions.
• Tender Beef Noodle Soup — Rice noodle soup with stewed beef, bean sprouts and spring onions.
• Duck Noodle Soup — Rice noodles in a five-spice broth with stewed duck, bean sprouts and spring onions.
• Black Pepper Stir Fry — Cracked black peppercorn stir-fried with onions, mushroom, zucchini and capsicum.
• Tom Yum Fried Rice — Stir-fried rice in tom yum paste with Thai herbs, eggs and vegetables.
• Tom Yum Noodle Soup — Spicy and sour broth over rice noodles with bean sprouts, spring onions, coriander and ground peanuts.
• Tom Yum — Hot, spicy and sour Thai soup with lemongrass, mushrooms, tomato and coriander, served with rice.
• Tom Kar — Citrus coconut soup with lemongrass, galangal, mushroom and tomato, served with rice.
• Garlic Pork — Crispy fried garlic served with rice and choice of protein.

Noodles And Rice

• Phad Thai — Thin noodles stir-fried with eggs, peanuts, spring onion and bean sprouts in homemade Phad Thai sauce, choice of protein.
• Phad Rad Na — Wide noodles charred in a hot wok with dark soy sauce, thick soy broth and vegetables, choice of protein.
• Phad See Ew — Wide noodles stir-fried with eggs and seasonal vegetables, choice of protein.

Stir Fried Dishes

• Phad Nam Mun Hoy — Seasonal vegetables stir-fried and seasoned with oyster sauce, choice of protein.
• Phad Satay — Seasonal vegetables stir-fried in homemade peanut sauce, choice of protein.
• Phad Cashews — Seasonal vegetables stir-fried in soya bean, chili paste and cashews, choice of protein.
• Phad Khing — Seasonal vegetables stir-fried with fresh ginger, choice of protein.
• Phad Biew Wan — Stir-fried Thai sweet and sour sauce with pineapple, cucumber, tomato and vegetables, choice of protein.
• Phad Kra Paw — Seasonal vegetables stir-fried with sweet basil, choice of protein.
• Phad Ped Nor Mai — Capsicum, bamboo shoot and kaffir lime leaf stir-fried with red curry paste, choice of protein.
• Phad Cha — Homemade chili paste stir-fried with fish and seasonal vegetables.
• Phad Geang Keow — Green curry paste stir-fried with mushroom, seasonal vegetables and Thai herbs, choice of protein.
• Phad Prik King Pla — Thick spicy red curry paste stir-fried with fish, capsicum, green beans, sweet basil and kaffir lime leaves.

Frequently asked questions

What are Chokdee's opening hours?

Open 7 days, 11:30am-2:30pm for lunch and 5pm until late for dinner.

Can dishes be made to suit dietary requirements?

Yes, because everything is made from scratch, Chokdee can cater for gluten free, nut free, vegan, and onion-and-garlic-free diets.

Can I choose how spicy my meal is?

Yes, dishes can be made mild, medium, hot or Thai hot on request.

Does Chokdee offer takeaway?

Yes, and it was recognised as having the Best Takeaway Food in Motueka in 2022 via Restaurant Guru.

Can I book a table?

Yes, tables can be booked through the restaurant's website.

Is there a separate lunch menu?

Yes, a dedicated Lunch Menu is available from 11:30am to 2:30pm, separate from the full dinner menu.

What are Chokdee's signature dishes?

Phad Thai, Tom Yum, Green Curry, Massaman Curry, Larb and the shared Mixed Entrée are among its standout dishes.

Tips

• {"body":"The restaurant closes between lunch (ending 2:30pm) and dinner (starting 5pm), so plan your visit around those windows.","title":"Mind the afternoon gap"}
• {"body":"All dishes can be adjusted from mild to Thai hot on request.","title":"Ask for it Thai hot if you like spice"}
• {"body":"The Mixed Entrée is designed for two people and covers a good sample of the starters menu.","title":"Share the Mixed Entrée"}
• {"body":"Takeaway orders can be placed directly through the restaurant's website.","title":"Order online for takeaway"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Dishes can be made gluten free, nut free, vegan, or without onion and garlic, and spice levels are adjustable on request."}