"Birmingham's Thai standard-bearer since 1996, in Five Points South — bring the team for the roasted-pineapple shrimp."
About Surin West
Surin Techarukpong opened Surin West in 1996, his first Birmingham room after building a Thai following around Atlanta. Three decades later it still anchors Five Points South at 1918 11th Avenue South, a few doors from the fountain. The kitchen runs long: fresh basil rolls in plum-peanut sauce to start, the best-selling Ka Proud lamb, and shrimp in roasted pineapple served inside the hollowed fruit for $26. At lunch a chicken-and-eggplant noodle soup is the order regulars place before they sit down.
The Kitchen
Surin Techarukpong came to the American South by way of Atlanta, where his Surin of Thailand restaurants earned a following before he crossed into Alabama. Surin West, opened in 1996, was the Birmingham bet, and it paid off: the room has fed Five Points South for nearly thirty years and seeded sibling locations on Highway 280 and beyond. The cooking is Central Thai, pitched to please rather than punish, with heat dialed to the table's request and balance prized over fireworks. Start with the fresh basil rolls, lettuce and bean sprout and rice noodle wrapped around pork and shrimp in a plum-peanut sauce, at $7. The Ka Proud lamb, stir-fried with holy basil and chili, is the listed best-seller. The dish to remember is shrimp in roasted pineapple: large prawns and caramelized pineapple in a sweet-tart Thai sauce with red and green pepper and cashews, served in the fruit, $26. Noodle plates such as pad see ew and drunken noodles run $15.50 to $18.50, and a sushi bar was added as the room grew. Dinner lands around $30 to $45 a head before drinks. It fits the criteria in our guide to the seven signs of a great restaurant, and there is more of the city in the Birmingham dining guide.
The Room
Surin West fills a long brick storefront on 11th Avenue South, the dining room hung with Thai art and warmed by low pendant light. Sound sits at an easy hum at lunch and climbs to a sociable buzz on weekend nights, never so loud that a table of six has to shout. Tables are spaced for comfort rather than packed in, the banquettes hold larger parties, and the whole room runs smart-casual, with no jacket and no fuss. It seats roughly ninety across the main room and bar, plus a sushi counter along one wall.
Best for a Team Dinner
Book Surin West for a team dinner for three reasons: the menu is broad enough that vegetarians, spice-seekers and the cautious all order happily; the room takes large tables without a private-room surcharge; and the pace is relaxed, so a working dinner can run two hours without anyone hovering. Order family-style, with basil rolls and satay to pass, then the roasted-pineapple shrimp, the Ka Proud lamb and a couple of noodle plates down the middle. A Friday table of a dozen colleagues after a long week is exactly the scene this room was built for. For more group tables, see the Birmingham dining guide.
Not for
Not for a quiet, refined tasting-menu evening. This is generous, crowd-pleasing Central Thai in a busy neighborhood room, and weekend nights get loud.
Frequently Asked
Is Surin West worth it?
Yes, if you want reliable, generous Thai cooking rather than fine dining. Surin Techarukpong has run the kitchen in Five Points South since 1996, and the roasted-pineapple shrimp and Ka Proud lamb have kept regulars coming for nearly thirty years. At roughly $30 to $45 a head it is fair value, and the long menu means a mixed group all leaves happy.
How hard is it to book Surin West?
Not hard. Surin West takes reservations by phone at 205-324-1928 and through the usual booking and delivery apps, and a weeknight table rarely needs more than a day's notice. Weekend dinners in Five Points South fill up, so call ahead for a Friday or Saturday table, especially for a party of six or more who want the banquette.
What is the dress code at Surin West?
Smart-casual, and nobody will blink at less. This is a neighborhood Thai room rather than a white-tablecloth dining room, so jeans and a collared shirt are entirely at home. Come as you would to a good local Italian: presentable and comfortable, no jacket required. The one night to dress up a notch is a birthday or a date you want to impress.
What should I order at Surin West?
Start with the fresh basil rolls in plum-peanut sauce, then build the table around two signatures: the Ka Proud lamb stir-fried with holy basil, and the shrimp in roasted pineapple served inside the fruit. Add a noodle plate, pad see ew or drunken noodles, to share. At lunch, the chicken-and-eggplant noodle soup is the local order.
Is Surin West good for a team dinner?
Yes. The broad menu suits mixed groups, the room seats large parties without a private-room fee, and the relaxed pace lets a working dinner stretch. Order family-style and let everyone graze across the table. For other group-friendly tables in the city, see our Birmingham dining guide.
Reserve a Table
Call Surin West to reserve
Reserve by phone. Weeknight tables need little notice; book ahead for weekend nights in Five Points South.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1918 11th Ave S, Birmingham
NeighbourhoodFive Points South
CuisineThai
Price$30–45 per person, dinner
HoursLunch & dinner, daily
Dress CodeSmart-casual
SeatingAround 90 seats plus sushi bar
ReservationPhone
