Thai restaurant Soi38 relocating from Melbourne carpark - Cheap Eats

Sep 06, 2024

Things are revving up for Melbourne's favourite parking lot restaurant.

Look both ways, because Melbourne’s cult Thai favourite is moving out of the parking lot and into fresh new digs. After nearly 10 years, Soi38 – our favourite car park restaurant – will leave its no-frills space in the Wilson Parking above-ground garage off Mcilwraith Place and relocate to a newly renovated Bourke Street building.

Once there, the husband and wife-owned restaurant will neighbour Ho Jiak chef Junda Khoo’s three upcoming Malaysian eateries.

The new site, in a restored Art-Deco building off Royal Lane, will seat up to 300 guests rather than the current 60, and will bring the same aesthetic from the Wilson Parking lot. Only with fewer roller doors.

Oysters, hotpot, grilled pork and corn salad at Soi38

The blue and red tables and brightly-coloured stools will make the new Soi38 immediately recognisable for the restaurant’s many fans, who can be seen frequently snaking down the path in search of noodles.

The menu will also come along, however with some exciting additions. The current Soi38 is only kitted with electric appliances but the Bourke Street spot is hooked up with gas. This means you’ll still be able to get your boat noodles, spicy chicken and papaya salads, and as much soup as you can handle, but with extra deep-fried and stir-fried options. Bonus.

Owners Chavalit “Top” Piyaphanee and Phawinee “Tang” Suwankamnerd plan to head to the Bourke Street location at the end of spring.

People dining at Soi38 in a parking garage

But wait, there’s more. Before heading for greener pastures, they’ll open a second restaurant in the city, R.Harn on La Trobe Street, near the near-complete State Library Station.

R.Harn – which opens in October – will be a 110-seat venue with a very different energy to Soi 38. The menu will highlight southern Thai food which focuses on hearty curries with more spice, and more grilled and deep-fried dishes.

Soi38 will remain open until late spring before relaunching at 235 Bourke Street. R.Harn is slated to open at 260 La Trobe Street, Melbourne this October.