Cheap Pours, Legit Thai, No Complaints
Lincoln Park · Duluth · Thai · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Thai by Thai’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eight wines, all available by the glass, priced between $7 and $8 a pour — Thai by Thai is not trying to be a wine destination, and it knows it. What it is doing is keeping things cheap, approachable, and honest, which is more than you can say for plenty of spots with twice the bottle count. The list fits on a napkin, and at these prices, you're not going to stress about it.
This is an all-California lineup with zero pretense: Dark Horse, Mark West, McManis, Hess Select — these are grocery-store staples, not cellar finds. The eight labels cover the obvious bases (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cab, Zinfandel) without any regional surprises or producer deep-cuts. There's no old world, no skin-contact curiosity, no esoteric Rhône blend hiding in the corner. What's here is exactly what a casual downtown Thai joint's clientele will recognize and order without blinking.
Every bottle on the list is also available by the glass, which keeps things simple and low-commitment. At $7–$8 a pour, this is some of the most affordable restaurant wine in Duluth, full stop. Don't expect rotation or discovery — these pours have probably been the same since opening day.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling — $27/bottle
Kung Fu Girl is a genuinely solid Washington Riesling that retails around $12–$14, and at $27 a bottle it's barely marked up at all. It's also the smartest match for spicy Thai food on this entire list — off-dry, bright with stone fruit and citrus, and built to take the heat out of a bowl of Drunken Noodles.
McManis Zinfandel
Nobody orders Zinfandel at a Thai restaurant, and that's exactly why you should consider it. McManis is a reliable, fruit-forward Zin that overdelivers for its price point, and at $29 a bottle it's a low-stakes way to go a little sideways from the usual Pinot Grigio crowd.
Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon
Hess Select Cab is a fine wine in the right context, but it's the wrong call here — big, tannic red wine and spicy Thai food fight each other, and there's no winning that battle. Order the Riesling and save yourself the trouble.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling + Drunken Noodle
The off-dry character of Kung Fu Girl gives you a touch of sweetness to soften the heat from the chilies, while the wine's acidity cuts through the savory, soy-forward sauce. It's the most food-friendly bottle on the list matched with the kitchen's most assertive dish — a genuinely good call.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Thai by Thai isn't here to impress a wine crowd, and that's completely fine — at $7 a glass and $27 a bottle, this is a no-stress, just-drink-something spot where the food is the reason you came anyway. Order the Kung Fu Girl Riesling, get the Drunken Noodle, and stop overthinking it.
Woodland · Duluth · Pizza, American Grill
Bulldog Pizza & Grill is a perfectly good neighborhood pizza spot that has no business being evaluated for its wine program, because there isn't really one. Drink the beer, enjoy the pizza, and save your wine curiosity for a different night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miller Hill · Duluth · Italian
Come for the never-ending pasta bowl and the breadsticks; the wine program is an afterthought that charges you for the privilege of being ignored. If you want a real glass of wine with dinner, this is not your night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canal Park · Duluth · Casual Italian / American
Green Mill is a solid pizza-and-a-beer kind of place, and the wine list knows it — it's not trying to be anything more than a functional afterthought. Send a friend here for deep dish and a cold drink, not for the wine.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fitger's Complex · Duluth · Hotel Restaurant / American
Lake Avenue Café shouldn't have a wine list this interesting — and that's exactly why you should pay attention to it. If you're passing through Duluth or staying at Fitger's, make a Wednesday reservation and work the half-price list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Duluth · Indian
India Palace is a genuinely solid spot for Indian food in Duluth, but the wine program is collecting dust. Steep markups, a California-only list that ignores everything that actually works with spiced cuisine, and zero signs of anyone caring enough to change it — order a mango lassi and save the wine for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chester Park / East Hillside · Duluth · Farm-to-table American, vegetarian-friendly
Sara's Table is a genuinely great neighborhood cafe, and the wine list is perfectly functional — just don't come here hoping to discover something new. If you want wine that won't fight your meal and won't empty your wallet entirely, it does the job; if wine is the point of your evening, you'll want to look elsewhere in Duluth.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Rochester · Thai
ThaiPop isn't a wine destination, but its list is smarter than the size suggests — just stick to the aromatic, low-tannin options and leave the Cab to someone else. If you're in downtown Rochester and want Thai food with a decent glass of something cold and food-friendly, you won't be disappointed.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Vancouver · Vancouver · Thai
Thai Orchid isn't a wine destination and doesn't try to be — but the pricing is honest, the Riesling is the right call, and the glass count gives you enough to work with. Order the Riesling, skip the Cab, enjoy your curry.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SR 200 / Southwest Ocala · Ocala · Thai
Royal Orchid makes solid Thai food, and you should absolutely go — just order a Thai iced tea or a beer and pretend the wine list doesn't exist. If someone at your table insists on wine, point them to the Riesling and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.