Best places to eat in Bangkok: When it comes to countries with great food, Thailand is one of the first places that comes to mind. Bangkok, the Thai capital, has a vibrant food scene, as evidenced by its restaurants and bars. However, it can be tricky to decide where to eat. To help you out, the suggestions in this guide should help you find the best place to eat in Bangkok. Most of the restaurants on this list have been recommended by locals and food bloggers in Bangkok. Check them out.
Where to eat in Bangkok: restaurants serving local Thai dishes
No one could talk about Bangkok without mentioning its diverse and varied culinary wealth. To this end, several restaurants in the Thai capital offer typical local menus.
Raan Jay Fai
This is Bangkok’s most legendary street food restaurant. Jay Fai, 70, is a well-known superstar in Bangkok. Reservations are impossible, so customers wait from 10 am. The advantage is that there is no real queue, but rather a sign-up list.
If you’re lucky enough to get a seat, Jay Fai’s menu favorites like the crab omelet and seafood noodles won’t leave you cold. Meals here are considerably more expensive than street food, but far less than Michelin-starred meals elsewhere in Bangkok. A two-hour wait is something to brag about, since the meal is worth it.
Address: 327 Mahachai Road, Samranras Subdistrict, Phra Nakon District, Bangkok 10,200, Thailand.
Sanguansri
Before visiting Thailand, it is believed that curry is the only type of Thai food. However, it is not even commonly consumed, because Isan cuisine (northern Thailand) is one of the most popular dishes among Thais. But you will find incredible curries in the Thai capital.
One such curry can be found at Sanguan Sri, a local restaurant located near Phloen Chit BTS. The signature dish of this restaurant is the green chicken curry. However, a green beef curry is served every Thursday, and on that day, the restaurant is packed.
Address: 59, 1 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Isaya Siamese Club
The Isaya Siamese Club is nestled in a beautiful two-story colonial villa with a stunning floral garden. The majestic setting alone is a delight to many, as the adjacent rooms are colorful and electric. This creates a calm and welcoming environment for a cocktail or a meal with friends.
Chef Ian Kittichai, one of the world’s most celebrated chefs, offers a contemporary take on Thai cuisine. Order from a variety of set menus or choose to expand your palate with a selection of dishes.
Address: 4 Chuea Phloeng 2 Alley, Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10,120, Thailand.
Bangkok restaurants serving middle-class food
Few people can afford to go to extremely expensive restaurants that offer good quality food. A restaurant that is suitable for a decent budget is made for such people.
Khua kling pak sod
The hottest part of Thai cuisine is in the south, and Bangkok has some excellent restaurants of this type. Khua kling pak sod is one of them. It is a family-run restaurant with several outlets around the city. All the restaurants are decorated in a colonial style and the food is clean, well presented and very tasty.
Southern Thai cuisine is the spiciest. The menu at Khua Kling Pak Sod clearly indicates which dishes are spicy and which are not. The main dish at this restaurant is the spicy dry fried curry. Other recommended dishes include Kai Pa Loh Kha Moo and Nua Pu Pad Prik Kee Noo Sua.
Address: 98/1 Pai Di Ma Di Klang Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Prai Raya
Phuket’s most popular Thai restaurant, Prai Raya, also has a branch in Bangkok. This restaurant, housed in an old colonial building, serves typical southern Thai cuisine. The main dish is a yellow curry with fresh crab meat usually served with white rice noodles called Khanom Jeen.
This dish has become popular in Phuket, and the Bangkok version tastes exactly the same, but with more crab meat. Another highlight is the steamed pepper pork belly which is tender and bathed in a not-too-spicy dark sauce. Also note that the fried shrimp with tamarind sauce is a truly exceptional seafood dish.
Address: 59 Soi Sukhumvit 8, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Bangkok restaurants serving international cuisine
Renowned for offering local menus, Bangkok also offers international dishes. This allows foreigners to enjoy a unique taste experience.
80/20
80/20 is a modern restaurant that showcases Thai flavors. The restaurant’s name refers to the chef’s philosophy of using 80% Thai ingredients and 20% foreign ingredients. The result is a wonderful menu that balances seasonal flavors, such as the Storm Sea special with calamari, mangosteen and chili and the pork belly stuffed with mushrooms.
This 80/20 restaurant is housed in a former Chinatown storefront and is distinguished by its alluring lighting, raw concrete, and handmade ceramics. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, including an in-house fermentation lab, the kitchen is perfect for a first date with foodie friends.
Address: 1052-1054, 26 Charoen Krung Rd, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.
Akira Returns
Located on the 37th floor of the Bangkok Marriott Hotel in Queens, Retour d’Akira Japanese restaurant is a benchmark for fine dining with panoramic skyline views. Featuring a dark and sophisticated design, the restaurant is large and includes a main dining room, a sushi bar, an Omakase bar and four private dining rooms.
Unusually for a Japanese restaurant, the food is artfully crafted and uses a wide range of quality ingredients with Japanese and Korean influences. Enjoy delicious dishes, sophisticated cocktails, premium gin and the best views in town.
Address: Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Soi Sukhumvit 22, Klong Ton, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10,110, Thailand.
Bangkok Restaurants Serving Desserts
Dessert is known worldwide as the last food served during a meal. Bangkok is no exception to this rule and also offers desserts through different outlets.
Kor Panich
Mango sticky rice is the most popular Thai dessert among travelers. Known as the king of mangoes, the Nam Dok Mai mango is juicy and sweet. Spoiled mangoes can ruin this dessert, so make sure to find a mango sticky rice vendor that only sells ripe Nam Dok Mai mangoes. One such vendor is Ko Panich, arguably the oldest and most famous in the city.
Founded in 1947, this legendary confectionery offers a wide range of Thai sweets but is best known for its mango sticky rice. Thanks to recipes from the royal kitchen, Kor Panich’s mango sticky rice has reached the heights of consumption in Bangkok.
Address: 431 433 Thanon Tanao, San Chao Pho Sua, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream
This place serves the best coconut ice cream in town. The premises are located in a small house in the middle of a residential area, so you shouldn’t expect anything fancy. They make all kinds of ice cream in the room next to the shop, including the famous coconut ice cream made with just one ingredient.
Mango ice cream, for example, is made from 100% pure mango and without artificial flavors. This rule applies to all types of ice cream, including the coconut version. There are several flavors, but coconut is by far the most popular.
Address: 94 Phraeng Phuthon Rd, San Chao Pho Sua, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.
Bars in Bangkok
Where to drink in Bangkok largely depends on your budget and location. The iconic Teens of Thailand (Thailand’s first real gin bar), Ba Hao, Asia Today, Tep Bar, and Tax are all within a minute’s walk of each other. Chinatown and Yaowarat Road offer plenty of varieties of late-night drinks.
On the other hand, there are some impressive bars in Bangkok, like The Locker Room, Rabbit Hole, and the new Opium. They are located in a historic building above the Potong Chinese restaurant. They are hard to find, but they attract visitors. As for hotel bars, Lennon’s is another good option.
If food and drinks are what you’re after, check out ZUMA’s late-night brunch on the weekends. Located in the St. Regis Hotel, ZUMA offers a variety of Japanese dishes and complimentary sake in a glamorous setting. It attracts a young and stylish crowd.