Bangkok restaurants

There are plenty of restaurants in Bangkok, so you’re never far from some form of food outlet. Everywhere you look there are noodle stands, fruit stalls, curry shops, road-side barbecues and even carts selling fried insects; and then there are countless superb restaurants serving international as well as Thai and other Asian cuisine to suit most tastes and budgets. The range of options is quite staggering and very few visitors or expats can claim to have tried everything Bangkok restaurants have to offer.

During your time in Bangkok it’s certainly worth making the effort to seek out a few quality restaurants, and there are many throughout the city. Most of the top hotels will have at least one or two restaurants and these can be excellent, although often pricey – especially the ones offering non-Thai cuisine. But if you take to the streets some very good and more affordable Bangkok restaurants present themselves – there are many Thai restaurants but you can also find Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants to satisfy Asian tastes; and for western food Bangkok is well served with its Italian, French, German, Scandinavian and British eateries.

If you’re staying in a guesthouse it’s even more important to get out and experience Bangkok restaurants as guesthouse food can be bland and after a while it all starts to taste the same.

If you’re new to Thai food and you’re feeling adventurous then Bangkok is a great place to start. Dishes from all regions of Thailand can be found here: the very spicy North-eastern Thai food (from the area known as Isaan) includes somtam – a salad made from papaya and a variety of pungent sauces and spices, and of course copious amounts of chilli (how many can you handle?); and laap – minced pork fried with mint and, yes, more chillies and served with salad. Southern Thai dishes include gaeng som – a very flavoursome and tangy curry made with oranges; and massuman – another curry, this time very creamy and made with peanuts and potatoes. Then you have the Thai classics such as tom yam goong – a sour and spicy soup made with lemongrass, ginger and chilli, pad thai – a very popular fried noodle dish available on the streets as well as restaurants everywhere; and gaeng phet – the famous red curry, which can be found in Thai restaurants the world over.

Price guide
$ dishes b60 – b100; quart of beer b100; whiskey shot b100; cocktails b120
$$ dishes b100 – b200; quart of beer b150; whiskey shot b150; cocktails b200
$$$ dishes b200 – b350; quart of beer b200; whiskey shot b200; cocktails b300
$$$$ dishes b350 and above; quart of beer b300; whiskey shot b300; cocktails b450


Bangkok restaurants - Thai dishes
Lemongrass: very nice décor and excellent food. Serves a touristy clientele but the food is distinctly Thai. $$
Sukhumvit Soi 24, BTS station Phrom Phong. Tel 0 2258 8637. Booking recommended.

Baan Kanitha: doubles up as an art gallery, so the numerous works of art on the walls add to the ambience of this superb, award winning Thai restaurant. Well worth a visit. $$$
South Sathorn Road, BTS Station Surasak or Sala Daeng. Tel 0 2675 4200 or
Sukhumvit Soi 23, BTS station Asoke. Tel 0 2258 4128. Booking recommended.

Klang Soi: very affordable and popular with locals and tourists alike. Good food, good value. $
Sukhumvit Soi 49. BTS station Thong Lo. Booking not necessary.

Anna’s Café: ideal for lunch, this bright and cheerful second floor café serves a range of dishes, both Thai and western but the Thai food comes highly recommended. $$
Sukhumvit Road, next to Landmark Hotel. BTS Station Nana. Tel 0 2653 2395. Booking not necessary.

Vientienne House: serving Lao and Northeastern Thai food, this great restaurant features nightly Lao dancing and sometimes even Thai boxing matches. These performances are unobtrusive though, so you can get on with enjoying the excellent food. $$$
Sukhumvit Soi 36, BTS Station Thong Lo. Booking recommended.

Tom Yam Kung: named after one of Thailand’s signature dishes, this is by far the best Thai restaurant on Khao San Road. Very affordable too. $
Khao San Road. Booking not necessary.

Naj: a pricey and sophisticated venue, Naj is a good restaurant for a special occasions. Features classical Thai music performances on the more informal second floor. $$$
Convent Road, Silom. BTS Station Sala Daeng. Tel 0 2632 2811. Booking recommended.

La Na Thai: if you’re feeling very flush then the elaborate La Na Thai can provide you with some of the finest Thai food in the city. Located in the trendy Face complex which also features an exclusive spa, a swanky cocktail bar and another superb Indian restaurant, this is a place for extravagance, and of course, outstanding food. $$$$
Sukhumvit Soi 38. BTS Station Thong Lo. Tel: 0 2713 6048. Booking essential.

Bangkok Restaurants - International dishes
Gullivers (international, pub food): very much an expat bar and restaurant, this large and air-conditioned venue has some great British-style pub grub as well as some Thai dishes. A good place for night time entertainment too. $$
Sukhumvit Soi 5. BTS Station Nana or Khao San Road.

Outback (American): more of a lunchtime or post-shopping diner, expect hearty meals of burgers, steaks and ribs at this friendly, cheerful establishment. $$
2nd Floor Siam Discovery Centre. BTS Siam.

Sweet Basil (Vietnamese): great atmosphere and live piano combine with delicious Vietnamese food to make for a highly recommended city centre restaurant. $$
Siriveng Road (off Soi Pramuan), Silom. BTS Station Surasak. Tel. 0 2238 3088. Booking recommended.

The Irish Exchange (Irish, pub food): a wide selection of British-style pub meals and Irish stews provide a hearty meal in this popular night-time venue. Special offers and happy hours are frequent. $$
Convent Road, Silom. BTS Station Sala Daeng.

De Lalo (Italian): fun restaurant located in the busy Sukhumvit Road area, with pizza dough being thrown in the air and full-length windows looking out onto the streets below. $$$
Sukhumvit Soi 23. BTS station Asoke. Tel 0 2260 9750. Booking recommended.

Himali Cha Cha (Indian): one of many excellent Sukhumvit Indian restaurants, Himali Cha Cha specialises in Northern Indian dishes. It’s all very affordable too. $$
Sukhumvit Soi 35. BTS Station Phrom Phong. Tel 0 2713 6048.

Jasmin (Chinese): great Chinese food is to be had at this award winning Bangkok Chinese restaurant. Specialising in Hong Kong cuisine, the Peking duck and suckling pig are not to be missed. $$$
4th Floor Time Square building, Sukhumvit. BTS station Asoke. Tel. 0 2250 0501 Booking recommended.

Café Swiss (Swiss): fondue, salmon steak and raclette are all excellent here, and there are some Thai options on the menu too. Great, fun restaurant, ideal for large groups of diners. $$$
Convent Road, Silom. BTS station Sala Daeng. Tel 0 2233 5345. Booking recommended.

Angelini (Italian): located in the five-star Shangri-La hotel, this award winning Italian restaurant is certainly a great place to visit if you fancy splashing out. The menu is constantly being updated so that the place feels fresh and exciting. $$$$
Shangri-La Hotel, New Road. BTS station: Saphan Thaksin. Tel 0 2236 7777. Booking essential.

Kisso (Japanese): popular with Japanese expats and tourists, this expensive but excellent restaurant is worth the effort to sample if you can afford it. Features a sushi counter, a Sunday buffet and teppenyaki tables. $$$$
8th Floor, Westin Grande Sukhumvit Soi 19. BTS station Asoke. Tel 0 2651 1000. Booking essential.

Le Beaulieu (French): Brand new French restaurant with a Mediterranean twist, Le Beaulieu is going down a storm with the critics. Excellent, classy food and a great wine list, somewhere for a special occasion. $$$
G/F Sofitel Residence Sukhumvit Soi 19. BTS station Asoke. Tel 0 2202 2004. Booking recommended.