Thyme

Thyme describes its cooking as gourmet street food, and the idea behind it is easy to grasp: dining that favours quality over quantity. Instead of a long list of safe standards, the kitchen offers a compact menu that borrows from several cuisines, with burgers, bao buns, tacos, pasta and Middle Eastern plates sitting side by side. It is based on Ibragg Road in Swieqi, a residential and commercial district close to St Julian's and the main northern coast road.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the business is part of our directory of delicatessens in Malta, alongside shops and food halls that sell prepared dishes and speciality produce. Thyme is closer to a casual kitchen than a counter of cured meats, but it shares the same focus on well-sourced, carefully made food.

Burgers, bao buns and Asian classics

The house burgers are the first section of the menu. The American House Cheeseburger (18.20 euros) uses a beef patty in a rustic potato bun with a double cheese melt, crispy onions, pickles and mayonnaise, served with fries. The Double Swiss Smash Burger (19.50 euros) adds bacon and onion jam, crispy Parma ham and Parmigiano, and there is a Crispy Tofu Burger (15.60 euros) with panko tofu and marinated mushrooms for vegetarians.

The Asian classics section is where the kitchen shows its range. A Banh Mi with house roast beef, seasonal pickles and horseradish mayonnaise costs 17.20 euros, while the Tamago Sando, a Japanese egg sandwich on milk bread, is 14.20 euros. Bao buns come in pairs: crispy pork belly katsu or marinated buttermilk chicken thigh, each at 16.90 euros. The Rich People Spring Rolls (18.20 euros) are filled with fresh prawns, fish roe and sweet corn and come with a harissa and dill dip.

Fries are priced separately, from 3.50 euros for plain French fries to 4.50 euros for parmesan and truffle oil, chilli and sumac, or sweet potato versions.

Middle Eastern, South American and pasta dishes

The Middle Eastern plates include the Lamb Belly Porchetta Burger (19.50 euros), which the kitchen marks as the chef's favourite, with mint and yoghurt sauce and tabouleh. Beef Arayes, six pieces of spiced minced beef in grilled pita with tahini, cost 16.90 euros, as does the Lamb Pita Bowl with a lamb skewer, bulgur and a smoked pepper and feta dip.

South American dishes are tacos and enchiladas: Taco al Pastor with slow-cooked pulled pork (three pieces, 16.90 euros), Octopus Tacos with chimichurri (three pieces, 19.50 euros) and Beef Enchiladas with a choice of tomatillo salsa verde or a spicier sauce (15.60 euros).

For something heartier there is homemade pasta. The duck lasagna with a house duck ragu and parmesan fondue is 19.50 euros, the paccheri with nduja and green mussels is also 19.50 euros, and the asparagus ravioli with walnuts and house tomato sauce is 16.50 euros.

Salads, sides and the specials board

Four salads cover lighter eating. The Crispy Rice Salad and the Chickpeas and Tofu Salad (both 16.90 euros) are meat free, the Cured Salmon Salad is 20.80 euros, and a Caesar without the chicken is 14.00 euros and contains anchovies. Sides are priced for sharing: lamb and vegetable samosas (7.80 euros), shrimp popcorn (9.10 euros), brie bites (7.80 euros), pumpkin and scamorza arancini (7.80 euros) and focaccia with hummus (7.70 euros).

The specials give a feel for the kitchen's sense of humour and its local streak. The Maltese Club Sandwich (16.90 euros) is another chef's favourite, built from pulled slow-cooked rabbit, peppered gbejna cheese and Maltese sausage crumble. There is also a Camembert and Bacon Waffle (15.60 euros), a Greek Halloumi in Pita (17.50 euros), and a Lobster Roll with lobster and king prawn meat at 49.50 euros. A vegetarian focaccia with grilled vegetables is 13.00 euros, with burrata available for €3 extra.

Allergies, ordering and visiting Swieqi

All prices on the menu are in euros and include VAT. Food may contain milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts or tree nuts, and guests are asked to tell their server about any allergy or dietary need before ordering. If you are travelling with a family member who has a serious allergy, raise it at the table rather than relying on the menu wording alone.

Thyme also takes orders online through the Wolt delivery app, which is handy if you are staying in a flat or villa nearby. Swieqi sits a short distance from the bars and hotels of St Julian's, so our guide to hotels in Sliema and the St Julian's area is a useful starting point if you are still choosing where to base yourself, and where to stay in Malta compares the main resorts. Visitors planning the rest of their time can browse things to do in Malta or check the Malta weather guide before deciding when to eat out.

Other local businesses in our directory include Agenda Bookshop for a browse before a meal and AM Language, a language school for those staying longer. If you are thinking of a longer stay, the Malta relocation guide covers the practicalities for UK arrivals, and flights to Malta lists the routes from Britain.

To ask the team about the menu, or to pass on a message, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will send it on to the business.