Bangkok: Eat
Bangkok is one of, if not the best, food cities in the world. From street food to rooftop Michelin starred restaurants, here are some of my favorite places in my first 6 months here:
The Streets:
Wattana Panich Beef Broth: You’ll know you’re here when you see the absolutely massive bowl of beautiful beef stew being cooked right by the sidewalk. When I say massive, I mean big-enough-to-feed-a-village-for-a-month massive. Cheap and delicious, and an iconic place in the Bangkok street food scene.
Arunwan: Located around the corner from Wattana is Arunwan, which is a legendary noodle shop. It’s a bit tough to find, down an alley, but totally worth it.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle: Located right on Yaowarat Road, this place is legendary in Bangkok, and an absolute must eat for their ridiculously crispy pork and some solid duck as well.
Jek Pui Curry Rice: You may have seen it on Netflix, but being here in real life feels surreal. You walk up to a shop on the corner with massive buckets of red, green and yellow curry. Let the owner know what you want, grab a seat, pop a squat in the street basically, and they will bring you a heaping serving of the best curry in the city (and for about $3 as well).
Prachak Roasted Duck: Another place with fantastic crispy pork and duck options, and over a hundred year history. Roasted Duck here is life changing - and for cheap, of course.
The Fancy Shit:
Rongros: Located right on the Chao Praya River, this is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It’s a beautifully transformed garage serving traditional Thai food and amazing drinks to go along with it. It’s a quaint restaurant that isn’t all up in your face, but the food and views do all the talking.
Bar.Yard: This place would fit great in Los Angeles. Perched up on the 40th floor, this is the place to go for some BBQ, more American-style food and vibes. It’s fancy but also very laid back at the same time - think like Miami meets Palm Springs meets LA meets Bangkok. Probably makes it more confusing, but nevertheless, if you want some good rooftop food, go to Bar.Yard.
The Smokin’ Pug: Can’t talk about American food without mentioning this place. A proper American-style BBQ joint just north of Lumphini Park for when you just can’t resist that craving of some good old fashioned meat.
Here BKK: The best Indian food in the city (and a solid bang for buck too if you ask me). I actually recommend coming for brunch and just sampling a bit of everything. The chef here is a 2 Michelin star at the sister restaurant just upstairs, Gaa, but at Here, you will not be paying an arm and a leg (just a few fingers maybe).
Err Urban Rustic Thai: Also a cheaper version of a MIchelin star restaurant, Err is an ideal place to get a refined taste for Thai cuisine. Couple that with a cute little hidden setting and you’ve got an ideal spot to go out.
About Eatery: A solid Italian place on Soi 21, where you can watch them make their own noodles whilst sipping on orange wine. Yes, orange wine. Honestly, tasted basically like white wine, but it was a cool first!
Escape Bangkok: I almost put this in the Bangkok: Drink blog but decided to keep it here since two out of the three times I’ve come were for the food. Here, you’ll have some solid Western-Thai fusion with nice views out over Sukhumvit. Plus the drinks are great (but don’t have too many because the glass bottom-bridge on the way out might freak you out a bit extra).
Isao: A very solid sushi place that is super popular amongst locals and expats alike. I hesitate to say its the best in the city because I have yet to get to Zuma or Ocken or other places, but its very high up there, and a really solid option.
I’m indecisive:
Commons: This is Bangkok’s hip and trendy version of Grand Central market in LA or Timeout Market in Lisbon. Some of the city’s coolest, best restaurants serve their food in stalls of this transformed building, where you then find a table anywhere and have a good time. Honestly, its probably become one of my most frequented places in the city.
Yaowarat Road: There’s just so many freaking options here. And everything is so good. Only recommendation I would say is to go with someone who speaks Thai, otherwise its super overwhelming. Unlike street food in places like Taipei or Seoul or Tokyo, the stalls here kind of all had their own specific procedure and it was all somewhat disorganized (classic Thai style). Regardless, visiting Yaowarat is a must.
Breakfast and snacks:
Oqposite: Look, this is the most genius name of anything ever named in the history of naming things. Plus, they serve solid smoothies.
Old Town Cafe Bangkok: Breakfast isn’t a huge thing in Thai culture, but the Old Town Cafe makes some fantastic lattes (get the Old Town Muddy Coffee - it might be the best $2.50 drink ever). Oh, and the baguette sandwich (I got the one with pâté) is the best baguette I’ve ever had outside of France - and seriously close to the ones I had in France as well mind you.
Woodbrook Bangkok: For a solid espresso and a pasta if you fancy, with bean bags overlooking the Chao Praya, this trendy place is a solid option to visit.
Featherstone Bistro Cafe: This is a hype cafe with a vintage vibe and serves Western food along with some fancy shmancy espressos and coffees and teas. Also a great place to do some work.
Toby’s: Australian cafe with an LA vibe, set in Bangkok. This place is one of the more popular breakfast spots in the city, and definitely worth checking out
After You: The best dessert place in the city, hands down. Absurd portions, wild flavors, and an impressive variety make this a must if you have a serious sweet tooth.
For one of the best food experiences you’ll ever have: Jay Fai
She is a legend in the culinary world. A street food chef with a Michelin star. That shit is legendary. And you get to watch her make everything right in front of you. The sheer quantity (and quality) of the crab in the crab omelette is astounding, the flavors of the Tom Yum are, well, extraordinarily yummy, and the drunken noodles along with the crab yellow curry all together will provide you with one of the best meals you’ve ever had. While you sit on a stool. On the sidewalk. And for about $25 per person at the end of the day. This was the only meal I ate the entire day, so to say it was worth it would be a huge understatement. I emailed in advance to make our reservation (about a month in advance) and even still, we waited about 20 minutes for the table to be ready. The entire experience took the better part of 3 hours from beginning to end, and every minute was worth it - if not while eating, while watching the legend of Jay Fai go to absolute work like the queen she is.