Tabelog ratingSweet Basil (タイ料理 Sweet Basil) has earned its reputation, including multiple Tabelog 'Top 100' awards, by serving Thai food that pulls no punches. Run by Thai cooks, the kitchen focuses on the vibrant, herb-driven, and often fiery flavours of regional Thai cuisine. This is not Thai food adjusted for local palates; reviewers, including many from outside Japan, consistently praise its authenticity, comparing the taste directly to what you would find in Thailand.
The menu's stars are the Green Chicken Curry, noted for its fresh herbal notes rather than just coconut sweetness, and a distinctive northern-style pork curry. The Pad Thai is also a crowd-pleaser, made with thinner-than-usual noodles. Crispy shrimp spring rolls are another frequently mentioned favourite. The main point of feedback is a warning: the chilli heat levels are real. Dishes marked as spicy are genuinely hot, so proceed with caution. A minority of guests have found portion sizes for single dishes a bit small and the service style brisk and efficient rather than leisurely.
Value is considered excellent, especially at lunchtime. A lunch set including a main like chicken curry, plus soup, salad, and a drink, was recently reported at around ¥1,100. Dinner is more expensive, with a typical spend of ¥4,000–¥5,000 per person. Recent prices paid by reviewers include ¥1,100–¥1,320 for Pad Thai, around ¥1,210 for the Green Chicken Curry, and ¥1,650 for a pork-and-basil stir-fry. For dinner, sharing several plates or opting for a course menu (around ¥5,000) offers the best value.
- Getting There: The restaurant is on the 2nd floor, a 5-minute walk from Fukushima Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. Note that the entrance is up a narrow flight of stairs.
- Reservations: Reservations are essential for dinner, as evenings often sell out. Lunch is walk-in only and can get very busy around noon.
- Payment: Credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners, UnionPay), electronic money (transportation IC cards, iD, QUICPay), and QR code payments (PayPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay) are all accepted.
- Language: An English menu is available, and staff welcome international guests.
- Seating: There are 38 seats. Private rooms can be booked for groups of 15 or more, typically requiring about a month's notice.
- Smoking: The restaurant is non-smoking. A smoking area is provided outside the entrance.
- Parking: No dedicated parking, but paid lots are available nearby.
