Though these days finding a coffee under £4 is close to impossible, securing an available table at Oli’s Thai is not far behind. When we heard the beloved Thai restaurant was re-opening its doors on Magdalen Road, we couldn’t wait to book a table. After being a deli for a few years due to the owners having two young kids, they reopened as a restaurant full-time, open three nights a week, in 2025. Although naïve as we were, we didn’t quite appreciate that when we opened the booking page in November 2025 that the first date we would be able to secure would be February 2026.
With an intimate and low-light setting, Oli’s Thai only has a handful of tables including a couple of spaces for walk-ins on the high tables around the bar area. If any tables do end up being available on the day, they usually post them on their social media, so you may be able to snap up a coveted table.
The bookings fill up fast for good reason, with an ever-changing menu boasting bold yet refined flavours and catering to a range of dietary requirements, it is easy to see why Oli’s Thai is an Oxford favourite.
We decided to splash out and try two starters and two mains, with a Chang beer to wash it all down. First up was the miso aubergine which I find hard to resist whenever I read it on a menu – and this one did not disappoint. Sweet and a bit smoky, the aubergine was melt-in-the-mouth soft and coated in a creamy, umami sauce that I never wanted to end. Topped with some crispy onions, it was heavenly, I was almost annoyed that I had to share it.
For a second starter we decided to go for something on the specials board. They had some sweetcorn ribs with lemongrass and lime, which offered a crunchy and tangy follow-up with a sauce that was so more-ish I kept just dipping my fork into even after the ribs were all finished.
The mains were hard to choose between because as soon as I saw aubergine curry it took all of my effort to resist ordering it, but since we got the aubergine starter it only seemed fair to mix it up a little bit for the mains. Sowe opted for the grilled courgette and tofu with coconut relish which was fresh, a little sweet with a definite coconut flavour coming through which I really appreciated. Our second choice of main again came from the specials board – a butternut squash and cauliflower yellow curry. I am not always the biggest fan of cauliflower as it can sometimes be a bit bland but that was certainly not the case here. They used cauliflower florets and crisped them up to perfection so there was a textured crunch throughout the curry. Every main comes with rice which was great to hear, so you don’t have to worry about adding on an extra £3 to every dish.
Overall, it is clear to see how Oli’s Thai books up months in advance, with a great atmosphere and each dish more delicious than the other, it is clear how Oli’s Thai has bounced back as if it never left.
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