Much like Tiger Woods is nearly unbeatable on the golf course, Bangkok shares a similar reputation when it comes to food. The options are seemingly endless, with a selection of authentic Thai dishes from the north, northeast, south, and central regions combined with Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Middle-Eastern and Western fare, it really is enough to make your head spin. Fret not weary traveler, we’ve done the dirty work for you and combed everywhere, from the darkest recesses to the highest peaks, and assembled this mélange of the best eateries in Bangkok.

Arirang

Named for Korea’s most beloved folk song, Arirang is the star establishment of Bangkok’s Korea Town. Kimchi aficionados won’t be disappointed; you can (and might) take it home by the kilo. The succulent beef is the main draw here, which you barbeque yourself on charcoal grills built into the table. Some other delicacies worth trying are the bo-ssam (Chinese cabbage wrapped in pork), tukbaegi-bulgogi (beef in stone pot), and the delicate chicken ginseng herbal soup. 

Arirang
212/4-5 1 Fl., Sukhumvit Plaza
Soi Sukhumvit 12, Klong Toey, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2653 0177
www.arirang.co.th
Open every day from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

 

Baru-za

This Japanese themed restaurant serves a delightful mixture of international, Japanese, Thai, and Spanish food. The menu is the brainchild of the restaurant’s owner, who wanted to include some of his favorite dishes that he has encountered during travels around the world. Their Japanese counterparts directly inspire many of the recipes, while others were personally given to the owner by chefs over the years. Each menu item is ‘okayed’ by the owner to ensure a pleasant and fulfilling dining experience. The restaurant’s location in the Silom area makes it the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat before a night out on the town.

Baru-za
135/18 durawongse Road, Bangrak District, Bangkok
Tel: +66(0) 2634 4433

 

Café de Tu

For a relaxing drink or a light meal, this small bistro serves a la carte menu like Thai rice dishes and lasagna. There is also a mouthwatering array of sweets (mainly cakes and cookies) to nibble on as you page through a magazine, chat with a friend, or engage in surreptitious people-watching.

Café de Tu
Siam Paragon,
Ground Floor, 991/1 Rama I Road,
Pathumwan District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2312 1846

Divana Home Cuisine

Starting with the freshest ingredients, Divana Home Cuisine offers a true taste of exceptional home-style Thai cooking. While Divana is home to a renowned spa, by no means does this imply the dishes served here are bland spa cuisine. Expect bold combinations of flavors from the gardens and ocean, and exotic inspirations for the palate, including scrumptious sweets for dessert.

Divana Home Cuisine
8 Sukhumvit 35, Klongton Nua,
Wattana District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2261 4818
www.divana-dvn.com
Open every day from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

 

Great American Rib

A boastful name indeed, but darned if they don’t live up to every word. Come for authentic Southern USA-style steaks, nachos, buffalo wings, pulled pork and “butt-kickin’” chicken, and the slow-cooked pork and beef ribs marinated in their secret recipe sauce. For major appetites, go with the Great American Feast, including sides of curly fries and jalapeno corn bread, and wash it down with a pitcher of margarita (salt on the glass, please); this is hog heaven.

Great American Rib
33 Sukhumvit Soi 36 (Soi Napasup)
Sukhumvit Road, Klongton, Klong Toey District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2258 5942, +66 (0) 2661 3801
Fax: +66 (0) 2661 2991
Open every day from 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM

Harvey The Inspired California Cuisine

This swank eatery bills itself as California-style cuisine because of its use of healthy ingredients such as figs, avocados, artichokes, citrus fruits, and mushrooms fused with Chinese, Japanese and Mexican styles, though there is a strong Mediterranean and French influence in how they prepare such dishes as ravioli, foie gras and rack of lamb. A place to go for special occasions, there is also a cigar lounge and wine bar to see and be seen.

Harvey The Inspired California Cuisine
129 Sukhumvit 55, Thong Lor Soi 9,
Klongton Nua, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2712 9911
Fax: +66 (0) 2712 7123
www.harvey.in.th
Open daily from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM

 

Hip Hut Café

Catering breakfast, lunch, and high tea to the mid-day office crowds, Hip Hut Café is known for tasty Thai-Fusion cuisine. We recommend Thai dishes like the Hip Hut shrimp, lemongrass fried chicken with somtam and fried sticky rice set, steamed hor mok pla, tom yum river kung, roti with green curry, and Hip Hut pork steak with Thai salad. After dinner, appease your sweet tooth with fresh coconut ice-cream, crispy water chestnut in coconut cream, waffle with vanilla ice-cream, or taro balls in coconut cream.

Hip Hut Café
44/9-10 Thong Lor 13, Sukhumvit 55,
Klongton Nua, Wattana District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2715 0208
Fax: +66 (0) 0 2715 0209

Masala Art Finest Indian Cuisine

The interior is modern and the dishes, a less oily variety from Northern India where spices rule, are simply divine. They blend the traditional with the contemporary, yet there is no need to be intimidated by the menu at Masala Art. You may start with a mild Doodiya Murg Tikka (creamy boneless chicken kebab with burnt garlic) or a spicy Vindaloo meat curry, though there is also a substantial vegetarian menu, including Paneer Tikka (North Indian cottage cheese with spices).

Masala Art Finest Indian Cuisine
Thong Lor Soi 8, Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2713 8357-8
Open daily from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
and 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM

 

Pepper Lunch

With more than 200 outlets, Pepper Lunch is already one of the most popular steak joints in Japan, and now has four branches in Bangkok. This Japanese steak restaurant is a very popular dining venue for Thais that want quick and inexpensive meals. Pepper Lunch serves an attractive variety of steak, chicken, pork and salmon themed dishes. Diners can enjoy select cuts of beef from Australia and New Zealand cooked to their liking and delivered sizzling hot, garnished with their original sauce and (of course) fresh-ground pepper. The alluring aspects of this restaurant are the hot skillets upon which the food arrives. Guests can hear the sizzle and smell the tantalizing scents of their food being cooked, as though it’s a sort of teppanyaki. This is a great place for a quick and filling bite to eat that won’t take a huge chunk out of your wallet.

Pepper Lunch
Atrium Zone 6th Floor, CentralWorld, Tel: +66 (0) 2646 1914
2nd Fl., Chamchuri Square. Tel: +66 (0) 2160 5063
7th Fl., MBK SF Cinema City, Tel: +66 (0) 2686 3552
G Fl., Central Plaza Bangna, Tel: +66 (0) 2745 6541

Paulaner Garden Restaurant

Within a two-storey colonial-style house built at the turn of the last century by a Siamese nobleman and relocated to the present site in Nonthaburi (just outside of Bangkok), there is now a German brew haus, specializing in draft Paulaner beer from Munich, while also serving tasty German and Thai dishes (from pork knuckles to fried whole fish). Enjoy balmy evenings outdoors here with a frosty pint of this potent wheat beer.

Paulaner Garden Restaurant
42/99 Moo 7, New Samakkee Road,
Bangtalat, Pakkret, Nonthaburi
Tel: +66 (0) 2584 4831
Fax: +66 (0) 2584 4832
www.paulaner-garden.com

 

SOFA So Good

This pub and restaurant could be called a “pun and restaurant” due to its whimsical name. Come enjoy desserts or coffee in the cheery interior, or have snacks (like fried som tam and cheese-filled dumplings) or refreshing drinks at one of the many outdoor tables. A short walk from Ari BTS Station, this is a great place to chill with friends.

SOFA So Good
50 Soi Phaholyothin 7, Phaholyothin Road,
Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2617 0909
Fax: +66 (0) 2530 9726
Open daily from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM

Tasty Thai

Its bold name reflects an even more audacious goal: to become the global face of Thai food worldwide. With franchises already in the UK, USA, Sweden, Australia, visit Tasty Thai’s original location on Surawongse Road for their on-the-go selection of healthy, fast, and authentic Thai staples like Tom Yum Goong, Pad Thai with Prawn, and Green Curry with Chicken.

Tasty Thai
111/1 Surawongse Road, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2 234 3111
Fax: +66 (0) 2 234 3114
www.tastythai.com

 

Thann Native Tea Room
The world renowned Thann spa brand has extended its expertise to tea, with the opening of the modern Thai style Thann Native Tea Room at high society haunt Gaysorn Plaza. Tea lovers should check out the wide selection of 23 tea varieties from around the world, with fusion offerings like Vanilla Jasmine and Green Tea Ginseng to boost health benefits. This tea haven is a convenient stroll to and from the active Ratchaprasong intersection and the Chitlom BTS Station.
Thann Native Tea Room
Gaysorn Plaza, 3rd Floor,
999 Ploenchit Road,
Lumpini, Pathumwan District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2656 1399
Open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

The Old Phra Arthit Pier
While it looks ancient, The Old Phra Athit Pier is not actually that old, having been assembled from scavenged old wood for an instant antique vibe which draws the local lunchtime crowd along with buzz-following tourists. Classic Thai dishes make up the menu, such as Red Curry Duck; tender duck in a creamy curry sauce with grapes and pineapple.The moo satay (grilled pork skewers), served with toast and peanut curry sauce, also comes highly recommended.

The Old Phra Arthit Pier
23 Phra Arthit Road, Chanasongkran,
Phra Nakhon Disstrict, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2 282 9202 Fax: +66 (0) 2 280 0674
www.theoldpier.com
Open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

 

Long Table

Fashioned by the culinary pioneers behind the world famous Bed Supperclub, the achingly stylish Long Table is the haute sky dining destination. A breezy 25 floors above central Bangkok, the bold and the beautiful congregate here around Japanese-style sofas to sip on delectable drinks and dine on traditional Thai cuisine with a twist; like the Isaan favorite nua yang jim jaew made with Wagyu beef to go along with som tum and sticky rice. The centerpiece of the restaurant is the eponymous dining table, for you and sixty of your closest (and chicest) friends…some of which you may have just met that night. Open Mon to Fri at 11:00 AM to 05:00 PM for lunch, and every day from 06:00 PM to 02:00 AM.

Long Table
The Column Residence, 25th Floor
48 Sukhumvit Road Soi 16, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2302 2557-9
www.longtablebangkok.com

Cruise • La Grande Perle

Riverside dining in Bangkok is not limited to Thai food, as La Grande Perle offers a welcoming and relaxing ambience along the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Enjoy authentic French cuisine created by chef Oliver Daniel, such as “Burgundy style” escargot, Fin de Claire raw oysters, and roasted pigeon with a walk-in cellar offering a first-rate selection of Old and New world wines, or even enjoy afternoon tea here from 2:30 - 5:00 PM. This truly is a pearl of a restaurant.

La Grande Perle
River City Shopping Complex,
1st level Soi Charoen Krung 30,
Sampanthawong District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2237 0077
www.lagrandeperle.com
Open daily from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM - 12:00 PM

 

Cruise • Chaophraya Cruise
Board the Chao Phraya Cruise at the River City Pier and enjoy balmy evening breezes on the top deck, along with a tasty Thai and international buffet including Spicy Glass-Noodle Salad with Seafood, Beef Tenderloin Steak, Grilled Saba Fish with Soya Sauce, Fried Noodle Thai Style, and fried or steamed rice. After dinner, the party kicks into high gear, with festive live music and dancing below decks.
Chaophraya Cruise
490 Ratchadapisek Road,
Samsen Nok, Huay Kwang, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2541 5599
www.chaophrayacruise.com

Boarding: River City Pier 1,
Soi 30 Charoen Krung Rd., Bangkok

Cruise • Chao Phraya Princess
Chao Phraya Princess is perhaps the oldest dinner cruise operator in Bangkok, and apart from a huge selection of international buffet, the guests are also entertained by a famous Pop Jazz Band performed by artists from the Philippines as well as other arrays of onboard entertainments. The cruise starts at 7.30 PM from the River City Pier with a welcome drink and snack and normally returns before 10 :00 PM

Chao Phraya Princess
723 Supakarn Building, Charoen Nakhon Road,
Klongsan District, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2860 3700
Fax: +66 (0) 2860 1025
Email: tristar_chaophraya@hotmail.com
www.thaicruise.com

Boarding: River City Pier, Soi 30
Charoen Krung Rd., Bangkok

 

Food Street Route 1 • Chinatown Yaowarat

This is one of the most colorful parts of the city, as most Chinatowns anywhere tend to be. Chinese immigrants made Bangkok their home long ago, even before inhabiting this district after being moved from their previous settlement along the Chao Phraya River. Yaowarat is laden with exotic food options, market stalls selling fresh goods, and the hustle and bustle of residents going about their daily business. During the day, one can come across alleyways full of produce, shops selling herbal teas and medicinal brews, wholesale clothing storehouses, kitchen supplies, knick-knacks, hardware stores, jewelry, and miscellaneous goods. Come nighttime, the neighborhood is transformed into a maze of bright neon signs advertising all the restaurants that line the streets amidst the curbside vendors cooking noodle soup, fresh grilled seafood, wontons, black sesame paste-filled dessert dumplings in hot ginger broth, or a medley of other Chinese snacks. A particularly good vendor is Lek & Rut Seafood, a red-and-pink themed sidewalk restaurant also famously known as the ‘first store in Yaowarat’.

Food Street • Sukhumvit 38
When the party has subsided and pangs of hunger call from your alcohol- saturated belly, tell the taxi to take you to Sukhumvit 38, located under the Thong Lor BTS Station, opposite Sukhumvit 55, for a late night meal. Prominent even with movies stars and foreigners, the front part of Sukhumvit 38 serves up every type of Thai food you can think of, with some Japanese thrown in for good measure. It may not look like much to the novice Bangkok foodie, but this street is packed with culinary masterpieces of the Thai genre. Just sit at a table and order whatever you like from the numerous vendors, and don’t worry about keeping track of your tab as the servers are like Stephen Hawking when it comes to mathematical calculations. If you can’t read Thai, and don’t know where to find what you want, begin by identifying the ingredients you desire. Full chickens hanging upside down generally indicate a chicken rice vendor, dried noodles along with some pork are usually Goy Teow Moo, and those golden mangos indicate a Khao Niow Ma Muang, or sticky rice vendor. While prices here reflect the slightly more affluent crowd, a plate of chicken rice, is still only 35-40THB. For arguably the best Phad Thai in town,

 
look for the fellow directly on the right as you enter the street, known as Nai Dum (Mr. Black) Phad Thai. You’ll see him mercilessly frying noodles in a large wok. All you have to do is say ‘Phad Thai Gai’ and within a few minutes you’ll be enjoying this renowned dish in comfort.

Tanao Road • Sam Praeng • Khao San Road

This path will take you through one of the oldest sections of Bangkok where time-honored treats still tickle the taste buds.

Tanao Road is a storied area first built in 1863 during the reign of King Rama IV. It was once known as the place to buy powder make-up, perfumes, scented oils, and gold. Today you can see the October 14 monument at the end of the road, dedicated to those who perished in the 1973 people’s uprise against a brutal dictatorship.

Turn left, then right, near the October 14 monument is a wonderful dessert shop, Choo Tin. Here, you can sample all sorts of old-fashioned Thai sweets, like Khanom Chan (layer sweets) and Woon Kati Bai Toei (young coconut with pandanus). There is also a famous shop, Kor Panich, which offers delectable mango and sticky rice.

Sam Praeng is actually trans translates to three-way intersection. Here, Praeng Phuthorn, Praeng Nara and Praeng Sappasart intersect.

Within the remaining two-storey shophouses near Praeng Phuthorn are some shops worth mentioning, serving simple yet delectable dishes.

 

Niyom Pochana is famous for its crispy red pork on rice, while right next door is an unnamed restaurant that is known for delicious beef meatballs and noodle soup. Adjacent to these locations, Nutthaporn Ice Cream Shop serves old-fashioned Thai-style ice cream, with coconut and fresh milk the most popular flavors.

Head to the last stop, Khaosan road, which is actually a small street about three blocks long. Backpackers and budget tourists are drawn here by inexpensive accommodations, and it is a popular way point for travel throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Along the road, budget eaters can fill up on cheap and tasty grub: omelet with rice, Phad Thai, and stir fried noodles for only 10-20THB a serving.

Fans of Thai food are aware of the spicy soup, Tom Yum Kung, and the restaurant named after it on the far end of Khaosan road. Popular with both tourists and locals, this charming, low-key eatery has both inside and outdoor dining in a private courtyard.

A lesser known gem is Tae Meng Hong, an unassuming, time-worn shophouse restaurant where the specialty is Khao Kha Moo, or stewed pork on rice.

To top off your gourmet adventures, stop at one of the many fruit carts along Khaosan road, and pick up some healthy and refreshing fruits, including pineapple, papaya, guava, and green mango served with sweet fish sauce.