Step inside Baan A-ma in Adelaide’s east and it feels like stepping into a Thai family home. The restaurant is the brainchild of Sarinee Chammas, her mother Sirirat Kitisatthathik, and sister-in-law Kanchana Kitisatthathik, and with help from Sarinee’s daughter, it’s a three-generation family venture built on the kind of cooking that starts at the table, not in a cookbook.
“We are a family business, me, mom, and my sister-in-law,” Sarinee says. “The restaurant is very much a family business… that kind of environment you come and dine in.” Their roots in hospitality run deep. Sarinee previously ran a venue in Bangkok which closed its doors just before COVID hit.
The family relocated to Adelaide three years ago, drawn by the city’s calm, convenient lifestyle. “I love it because it’s quiet and cosy, and everything’s close. You go to the airport, the beach, the hills. It’s so easy to get around,” Sarinee says.
At the heart of Baan A-ma is food inspired by home and family traditions. “In our family in Thailand, everything starts from the table,” she explains. “Thai people, we always ask, ‘Have you eaten?’ Instead of ‘How are you?’ You never let people go hungry.”
The restaurant’s name is a nod to that ethos: “Baan” means home, and “A-ma” means grandma, Sarinee explains. “[A-ma is] at the centre of everything we do. She’s even on the logo!”
The menu reflects this focus on comforting, home-style Thai food, and it reads like a love letter to home cooking, grounded in the kind of recipes that are passed down, not written down. It’s emblematic of food inspired by family, and what better way to bring people together than through food?
Entrees lean into Thai street food staples, executed with a homestyle touch. Crisp vegetarian spring rolls and prawn-filled counterparts bring that familiar golden crunch, while chicken satay is served with a rich, house-made peanut sauce. Moo ping, Thai-style BBQ pork skewers, deliver a hit of sweetness from palm sugar and garlic, and northeastern Thai sausage adds a punchier edge. Chive dumplings and fried eggplant feel nostalgic, balancing crisp textures with soft, savoury centres.
Classic soups offer both spice and comfort. Tom yum layers lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime into a bright, fragrant broth, while tom jued provides a soothing alternative, filled with handmade chicken balls and vegetables.
Salads deliver bold, refreshing flavours. Som tum bursts with lime, chilli, and fish sauce over shredded green papaya, while larb, available with chicken or tofu, is warm, herbaceous, and lifted by toasted rice powder.
Curries are also at the heart of the menu, from the slightly sweet roasted duck curry to the classic green and slow-cooked massaman. Mains continue the balance of comfort and flavour, with punchy stir-fries, crispy pork dishes, and standout items like A-ma moo dang and moo krob, barbecue pork and crispy pork belly prepared as grandma would make it. Familiar favourites such as pad thai and fried rice round out the offering.
Sides stay simple, from jasmine rice to roti, while desserts lean into classic comfort, with coconut ice cream and sticky rice offerings.
Baan A-ma opened earlier this month, taking over the space formerly home to The Thai Guy, a popular Thai restaurant that closed late last year. The new restaurant, however, has already earned itself plenty of praise. It’s clear they’re doing something right. “I’m really happy to have seen good reviews already,” says Sarinee.
With three generations involved in the cooking and the care that goes into every dish, it’s a place where you can sit down, enjoy a meal, and feel like part of the family.
Baan A-ma
Where: 402 Magill Rd, Kensington Park
When: Mon – Wed 5 – 9pm
Thurs & Fri 11am – 2:30pm, 5 – 9pm
Sat 5 – 9pm
For more info, click here.
