First things first. The huge, hulking Thai elephant in the room. Bangkok can give you the meal of your life on almost any street corner, for just a few sheets of Baht. But with a metropolis of this size, pace and pollution, eating that meal on that street corner may not always result in the most laid back of dining experiences.
Though the idea of going to restaurants and spending relative big Baht on food in Bangkok sometimes feels a little frivolous, this is one sophisticated city, with a culinary scene that’s just as comfortable dishing out multicourse tasting menus as it is pink plastic plates of spicy wonder.
From time to time, it’s nice to take that little big longer luxuriating in this city’s glorious cuisine. In an air conditioned room, back supported and upright in a chair, with a glass provided for your beer, or even, perhaps, with a glass of wine. To take stock of the country, the city and its alluring cuisine. For that, we won’t judge you.
So, with all that in mind, we’ve taken on the unenviable task of eating through Bangkok to give you, in our view, the most essential, scene-defining restaurants in the city. Here is our IDEAL 22; the best restaurants in Bangkok.
Samrub Samrub Thai, Silom
Ideal for a singular, masterful expression of Thai food both past and present…
This intimate, chef’s table experience might boast a Michelin star and a just-announced 29th place on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, but accolade chasing really doesn’t feel like the point at Samrub Samrub Thai.
Instead, expect a deep dive into historic Thai recipes and a regularly changing tasting menu that places fresh focus on a region, season or simply a vibe with each new menu, whether that’s a celebration of a long-lost Southern Thai seafood recipe book or a whole evening of food inspired by the poetry of the Kingdom of Lanna. Though the influences are idiosyncratic, the result is a singular, masterful expression of Thai food both past and present.
At the stoves here is chef Prin Polsuk, who has some serious roots in Thai fine dining, having been the head chef at Nahm in London when it won its Michelin star, the first Thai restaurant in the world to have done so.
On the plate (and in the glass – there will be numerous gratis shots of chef Prin’s homebrewed liquor handed out!), Samrub is all about generosity, with the main sharing spread at the centrepiece of the tasting menu the perfect embodiment of Thai hospitality.
That generous spirit exemplifies the family-style nature of this brilliant restaurant, with Polsuk’s wife Mint running the front of house operations, and chef Prin happily sharing a little background on the dishes you’re eating, as you eat.
Right now (the November and December 2024 menu) and with the team fresh from an appearance on the just-released Apple TV docu-series Omnivore, the menu is something special, even by the restaurant’s usual lofty standards; a celebration of the last seven years of Samrub. A greatest hits, if you will…
Given the typically idiosyncratic title of ‘revisit, rethink and recreate!’, dishes for the next month or two traverse the Kingdom, aptly demonstrating the restaurant’s creative, explorative spirit, and just sound so bloody enticing. Highlights include a ‘miang’ of papaya salad and coconut braised salted beef, a dry beef curry with green banana, and a young milky rice pudding for afters. We’re booked in once again later in the month; we’ll let you know how it goes.
To our mind, this is the best Thai restaurant in Bangkok and, by rights then, the world. The fact that the menu changes so regularly and so emphatically is starting to seriously worry our bank manager!
- When is Samrub Samrub Thai open? Samrub is open from Tuesday to Saturday for two dinner servings, one starting at 5:30pm and one at 8pm. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
- Do I need to book in advance? Booking well in advance is recommended, which you can do so on Table Check. You’ll have to pay for the tasting menu in advance, by way of a deposit.
- How much should I expect to spend? The tasting menu here is priced at ฿3900 (around £85), excluding service charge and VAT.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Sala Daeng BTS is a 5 minute walk from the restaurant.
Address: 39/11 Yommarat Alley, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Website: samrubsamrubthai.com
Tang Jai Yoo, Yaowarat (Chinatown)
Ideal for whole roast suckling pig, designed for sharing…
Right in the heart of Chinatown, just off Yarowat Road, is an old school institution that’s stood here for more than a century…
…I mean, there are probably hundreds of places that could follow-up that introductory sentence and feel perfectly at home doing so, such is the history and culinary clout of Bangkok’s most food-focused neighbourhood.
Not all of those century’s old institutions in Bangkok’s Chinatown are doing quite such an iconic, photogenic, banquet-worthy dish as Tang Jai Yoo, though. Specialising in Teochow cuisine and famed, more specifically, for its suckling pig, this is a dish (and restaurant) that it’s almost criminal not to try when visiting Yarowat. The fact it deserves a party of six to take it down shouldn’t be considered an obstacle; it’s a sociable place on the streets here, so crack open a beer, make some friends, and bring them along for the ride.
Or, you could simply tackle the whole piglet – splayed open, bronzed and burnished – solo, and then die happy. Either way, it’s one of Bangkok’s must-try dishes, and has a real sense of ceremony to it.
Once ordered (in the past a pre-order was necessary, but no longer), a suckling pig – splayed on a spit – is brought from the kitchen and out to the front of the restaurant, where the charcoal is already burning in a drum. A chef spins the spit frantically over raging hot charcoal, brushing it with oil using what looks like a rag on a stick. Even if you don’t eat here, it’s quite the spectacle to watch as it progressively crisps and crackles.
It’s then brought back inside palanquin-style to audible gasps from the dining room – each and every time. A skilled chef then proceeds to deftly remove the crackled skin with a cleaver before portioning it into bite sized pieces and adding it back onto the pig, like a comprehensive, successful skin graft. It’s all very theatrical and just a little bit macabre; we love it.
The whole pig is then placed in the centre of circular banqueting tables, aboard a lazy susan alongside pancakes, cucumber, green onions and hoisin sauce, the harsh lighting of the dining room only serving to illuminate the main event and hammer home that this is an old school sort of place.
The idea is to wrap only the crisp skin and its suggested adornments in the pancakes. Once those pancakes have been eagerly dispensed with and the skin finished, the suckling pig is then taken back to the kitchen, where the flesh is chopped up into cubes and stir fried with chilli and garlic.
What a glorious affair this all is, but there’s plenty of other bits on the menu to get excited about too, including oyster omelette (arguably better than that version), black olive fried rice, deep-fried mantis shrimp and an intriguing selection of complex, reviving soups. Singhas and whisky flow freely, as if the deal needed anymore sealing.
Closest BTS/MRT? Tang Jai Yoo is a 3 minute walk from Wat Mangkon MRT.
When is Tang Jai Yoo open? Tang Jai Yoo is open from 11am to 2pm for lunch, and 4:30pm to 10pm for dinner.
Do I need to book in advance? You can make a reservation over the phone only, which requires Thai or Chinese to be spoken. Alternatively, you can pitch up and still get a table – the restaurant has rows of chairs set up outside for customers waiting their turn. Those tables, despite the convivial nature of the place, get turned fast.
How much should I expect to spend? Right now, the whole suckling pig and its accouterments is ฿2500 (just north of £50). It’s well worth the money.
Address: 85 ถนน เยาวพานิช Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Baan Tepa, Bang Kapi
Ideal for an ultra-modern Thai dining experience anchored in tradition and family…
Close to the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bang Kapi, Baan Tepa is one of Bangkok’s most exciting – yet also comforting, soul-nourishing – restaurants. We say restaurant, but Baan Tepa is billed as a ‘culinary space’, home to a chef’s table, a larger dining room overlooked by an open kitchen, a tea experience, and an organic culinary garden of which much of the 9 course tasting menu is built around (ask for a tour; it’s a fascinating living library of herbs, flowers and spices).
Enough of the fluff. Under the pioneering stewardship of chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam, the world’s first Thai female chef to be awarded two Michelin Stars, the menu at Baan Tepa is a celebration of organic, small batch Thai producers and the country’s rich biodiversity, an ethos inspired by chef Tam’s time spent at the legendary Blue Hill at Stone Barns.
Expect highly intricate but ultimately satisfying dishes, each telling a story of chef Tam’s extensive travels across Thailand and beyond. Highlights of our recent meal here included a reimagining of classic Issan chicken liver skewers and jaew, here presented as a smooth parfait but still boasting the heady, earthy flavours of white pepper, garlic and coriander root that makes up the traditional marinade. Alongside, an incredible sourdough brioche whose starter is made from wild rice was complex and crisp. Gorgeous.
Later on, a show-stealer; the signature ‘anatomy of a river prawn’ featuring a whopper sourced from Ayutthaya and its smoked head juices, which was brought back to the street with possibly the best nahm jim seafood we’ve ever encountered. It’s this anchoring of ultra-modern technique with recognisable, faithfully delivered elements that makes Baan Tepa so captivating.
As with several of the restaurants on our list, there’s a personal connection to the space, too; chef Tam’s family grew up here, with the space owned by Chef Tam’s grandmother, Lady Suwaree Debhakam. The space still retains many of its original features, and its warming, welcoming soul. When combined with some of the most innovative expressions of Thai food you’ll find anywhere on the planet, it’s a highly alluring experience.
- When is Baan Tepa open? Baan Tepa’s tasting menu experience is dinner only, available from Wednesday to Sunday in two sittings each evening, one at 6pm to 9:30pm, and one at 7pm to 10:30pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? You’ll likely need to book at least two weeks in advance.
- How much should I expect to spend? A sprawling 9 course affair is ฿7300 (£168). This price is exclusive of service and VAT. You’ll have to pay for the tasting menu in advance, by way of a deposit.
- Closest BTS/MRT? There are no BTS or underground stops close to Baan Tepa. Best get a taxi to this one!
Address: 561 Ramkhamhaeng Rd, Hua Mak, Bang Kapi District, Bangkok 10240
Website: baantepabkk.com
Methavalai Sorndaeng, Phra Nakhon (Old Town)
Ideal for iconic, old-school Thai fine dining…
Opposite Democracy Monument, step into the gently faded grandeur of Methavalai Sorndaeng and you’ll find the essence of traditional Thai fine dining celebrated with a grandiosity reminiscent of the nation’s royal heritage.
An iconic restaurant if ever there was one, and now in its seventh decade, the dishes here are delicately presented but full of flavour, with the coconut curries particularly well balanced. Despite its luxurious ties to regal splendour and sophistication, Methavalai Sorndaeng offers an accessible dining experience.
Though once Michelin-starred (they inexplicably lost theirs in the 2024 edition of the guide) The prices are surprisingly modest, with most main courses not exceeding 500 THB (approximately £12), and a selection of others priced even more kindly. The wine is presented with an easy-going charm – a straightforward choice between red or white, always served by the glass – underscoring the exceptional value. The nightly live 80s Thai music seals the deal.
- When is Methavalai Sorndaeng open? Methavalai Sorndaeng is open every day from 10:30am to 10pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? Though the restaurant can usually squeeze you in, it’s wise to book a day in advance for this one.
- How much should I expect to spend? You can eat very well here and drink very merrily, ordering from the a la carte menu, for around ฿3500 (£75) for two people.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Sam Yot MRT is a 15 minute walk from the restaurant. Alternatively, owing to the restaurant’s position close to the Chao Phraya river and canals (khlongs), you can shimmy up to the restaurant via Bangkok’s waterways. The closest canal stop is Panfa Leelard Pier. The closest ferry terminal (along the Chao Phraya) is Phra Arthit.
Address: 78/2 Ratchadamnoen Ave, Wat Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Instagram: @methavalaisorndaeng
Baanual, Phra Nakhon (Old Town)
Ideal for lesser known, home-style Thai dishes cooked expertly…
Though Baanual has recently moved to a new, slightly swankier location along Fueang Nakhon (there’s air conditioning here), it’s still as impossible to book as ever, testament to siblings Yu and Tommy Sakornsin’s superb hospitality and comforting cooking.
Feeling decidedly more domestic than many of the other restaurants on our list, as you step through the doors of Baanual you’ll enter a whimsical world filled with decorative birdcages, an old-school ice-shaving machine, and just three tables. On the stereo is ’80s Thai soul and the clattering of woks, the mise en scene set perfectly for a meal of satisfying home-style Thai dishes.
Many are here for the awesome stir-fries like the moo pad kapi (stir-fried pork neck with shrimp paste), which is boldly flavoured and humming with wok hei; the perfect accompaniment to endless freshly steamed jasmine rice, of course.
Don’t leave without ordering the signature yum dukkajorn, a salad of cowslip creeper, minced pork, and shrimp, all tossed in a coconut cream dressing. It’s both delicate and rich, and a great expression of what makes Baanual so popular; lesser known, home-style Thai dishes cooked expertly.
To get a reservation, follow Baanual on Instagram – it’s their main communication channel.
- When is Baanual open? Baanual is open Wednesday through Sunday, for lunch between midday and 2pm, and for dinner 5pm to 8pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? You will need to book Baanual months in advance, via phone (+66 81 889 7403). There is a waiting list.
- How much should I expect to spend? Two people can eat handsomely at Baanual, with a couple of cold ones, for ฿2500 (£55).
- Closest BTS/MRT? Sam Yot MRT is a 10 minute walk from the restaurant.
Address: Ministry Of Interior, 37 Fueang Nakhon Rd, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Instagram: @baannual
Sorn, Central Sukhumvit
Ideal for soigné Southern Thai cooking that doesn’t hold back…
The impossible-to-book restaurants keep on coming, but Sorn is probably – still – the most coveted table in town. Chef Supaksorn Jongsiri’s culinary love letter to the farmers, fishermen and producers of Southern Thailand was the first Thai restaurant in the world to win 3 Michelin stars just last week, but that doesn’t mean you’ll find flavours tempered to suit an international clientele.
Instead, ingredients and spice levels remain resolutely ‘Southern’ to their soul, with unfiltered fish sauce, premium quality shrimp paste and, yes, mouse-shit loads of chilli all present and correct on the expansive tasting menu.
Right now (as of December 2024), the restaurant has recently returned from a break which saw the space renovated and the chefs take an extensive research trip down south. The new menu is looking refreshed and updated, the doors are now open again and the kitchen is on song.
Dishes that weren’t on the previous menu include an opening gambit of rice cracker with river prawn that’s so much more than its prosaic description, a complex soup of freshly pressed coconut milk and melinjo leaves that’s finished with crab oil, and an extravagant crispy omelette – all puffed up and lacy like an Elizabethan neck ruff – that’s filled with poached lobster. Yep, this new iteration of Sorn is looking even better (and certainly mroe luxurious) than the last – and that’s saying something!
For those keen to try the team’s cooking at a fraction of the price, chef Supaksorn’s more casual Southern Thai eatery Baan Ice has several outposts across the city, and is ace.
- When is Sorn open? Sorn is usually open for dinner only every day except Saturday, with service starting at 6pm, although right now it’s closed for research and renovation.
- Do I need to book in advance? At Sorn, reservations can be made a month in advance as announced on our social media platforms. Getting a table requires precision planning and setting your alarm. Check their socials for more information.
- How much should I expect to spend? The full tasting menu is currently priced at ฿7200 (£156), tax and service excluded. With the third star recently dropping, we expect prices to rise somewhat in the near future.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Phrom Phong BTS is a 15 minute walk from Sorn.
Address: 56 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Klongton Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Instagram: @sornfinesouthern
Read: Where to eat Southern Thai food in Bangkok
Appia, Central Sukhumvit
Ideal for a faithful Roman trattoria experience in the heart of Bangkok’s business district…
Of course, modern day Bangkok’s culinary scene is also home to some of the region’s best international restaurants, and if you’re after Italian food in the Thai capital, then you should look no further than Appia.
Standing as a tribute to the authentic Roman trattoria experience, since opening in 2013 on the bustling Sukhumvit Soi 31 (where you’ll find a couple of the other restaurants on our list, incidentally), this heartfelt homage to Rome has been packed out every night of the week, with diners seeking solace in the iconic Big Four pasta dishes that are synonymous with the Eternal City, as well as the everpresent porchetta that turns slowly on a spit in the window, beckoning diners inside. You’ll find us thoroughly beckoned at the counter more often than we’re proud to admit.
- When is Appia open? Appia is open everyday, for lunch and dinner, with the restaurant open all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Do I need to book in advance? Booking in advance is highly recommended, which can be done over phone, email or Line.
- How much should I expect to spend? A bowl of pasta at Appia is ฿400 (£8.70), a glass of house wine is around ฿300 (£6.50).
- Closest BTS/MRT? Phrom Phong BTS is a 15 minute walk from Sorn.
Address: 20/4 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Klongton Nua Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Instagram: @appiabkk
Chef Man, Sathorn
Ideal for one of Bangkok’s most acclaimed dim sum lunches…
Located in the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn Bangkok (and with two other outposts in the city), Chef Man is one of the city’s most popular joints for fans of the food of Southern China.
Master Chef Wai Yin Man, a Hong Kong native, brings his expertise and passion for Cantonese cuisine to the forefront here, his meticulous Peking duck preparation the restaurant’s obvious centrepiece (more than 30’000 have been served across the city since Chef Man pitched up in 2011) but certainly not the only reason you should head here.
For us, the dim sum at Chef Man is the real highlight. Served from 11am every day, this is our favourite brunch spot in Bangkok. The ha kao shrimp dumplings are plump and squeaky fresh, and the signature yam cake – appearing looking a little like a deep-fried coronavirus – reveals an oozing salted egg yolk centre. It’s a real indulgence, with the frenetic energy of the broad open kitchen only adding to the fun. An extensive tea selection is also available.
Arguably the city’s most popular dim sum spot, you’ll want to book well in advance for this one.
For reservations, call Chef Man (the restaurant, not the actual fella) on 02 212 3789, 02 212 3741 or email [email protected]
- When is Chef Man open? Chef Man is open everyday for lunch and dinner, from 11am to 2:30pm, and 6pm to 10pm, respectively.
- Do I need to book in advance? Reservations a few days in advance are necessary, which can be made via phone or email.
- How much should I expect to spend? A dim sum feast for two, with tea, will set you back around ฿1000 (£22) per person.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Surasak BTS is just a 2 minute walk from the restaurant.
Address: 33 1 S Sathon Rd, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok 10120
Instagram: @chefmanrestaurant
Ojo, Silom
Ideal for Mexican haute cuisine on high…
Ojo is the crowning jewel of Bangkok’s tallest skyscraper, the King Power Mahanakhon, a Mexican restaurant that somehow lives up to its lofty billing with a fully-flavoured, tastefully opulent dining experience. Helmed by chef Francisco Paco Ruano from the acclaimed Restaurante Alcalde in Guadalajara, the restaurant takes its name from the word ‘eye’ in Spanish, and it’s an apt epithet, seeing as the dining room casts its gaze over Bangkok so seductively.
Drag your eyes away from the skyline and into the dining room, which straddles a real sense of glam with something more tastefully refined; the work of designer Ou Baholyodhin, whose sense of suave and drip seemingly knows no bounds. On the plate, things are equally beautiful, with dishes clearly crafted to taste as good as they look. All of this adds up to a sense of narrative and unity that manages to be totally satisfying rather than shallow. At 76 floors up, you’d certainly hope it wouldn’t be the latter.
You can read our full review of Ojo here.
- When is Ojo open? Ojo is open everyday for lunch and dinner, from 11:30am to 2:30pm, and 5:30pm to 11:30pm, respectively. The sunset slot, around 6pm onwards, is highly recommended!
- Do I need to book in advance? Reservations can usually be made on the day.
- How much should I expect to spend? Ojo isn’t cheap, with starters between ฿500 (£11) and ฿1000 (£22), and main courses in the region of ฿2000 (£43). Wine is equally lofty.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Chong Nonsi BTS is just a 2 minute walk from the restaurant.
Address: 76th Floor, The Standard Bangkok, 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Website: ojobangkok.com
Aksorn, Bang Rak
Ideal for a bookish, beautifully rendered spread from ‘the godfather of Thai food’…
Inspired by the Thai cookbook authors of the 1940s and 1950s, Aksorn takes pride both in its location on Charoenkrung Road, an area that once buzzed with retail and entertainment and is now home to some of the best restaurants in Bangkok, and in its setting, once a former bookshop.
The restaurant’s menu is a celebration of Thai culture and heritage, offering a regularly changing, single-set selection of dishes that reflect the remarkable transition from a rich Siamese past to modern Thailand.
David Thompson, considered by many as the world’s leading authority on Thai cuisine, is at the stoves here (quite literally, on the night we visited last year), drawing inspiration from historical archives and his profound expertise for a menu that offers both comfort and a few surprises. See; the first bite of sardines on toast; heaving with white pepper and adorned with gossamer thin slices of shallot and coriander leaves, it seems to bridge the city and the chef’s disparate elements poetically.
There are more recognisably Thai dishes, too. Expect expertly conceived, highly-seasoned curries that sing with freshly squeezed coconut cream and Thai aromatics at their peak, as well as sweet and salty desserts that are surely some of the very best in town. Thompson is known for his sweet tooth, and this is just the place to indulge in the glorious marriage and sweet and savoury that Thai food is so celebrated for. Pair it all with a chilled, slightly sweet (of course) Australian Riesling, and you’ve got yourself one of the most well-rounded spreads in the city.
- When is Aksorn open? Aksorn is open everyday for dinner, from 6pm to 9:30pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? Reservations can usually be made on the day, though you’ll want to book in advance for the weekend.
- How much should I expect to spend? The set menu at Aksorn is currently priced at ฿3400 (£74) per person.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Saphan Taksin BTS is a 10 minute walk from the restaurant.
Website: aksornbkk.com
Err, Thonglor
Ideal for Thai drinking food and creative cocktails…
Err is the brainchild of the dynamic chef duo Duangporn ‘Bo’ Songvisava and her Australian-born husband Dylan Jones. Both chefs are renowned for their commitment to preserving Thai food heritage, with the pair’s globally renowned restaurant Bo.lan considered one of the world’s top Thai restaurants in its pomp.
The couple bring their expertise to Err in Thonglor, focusing on Thai drinking food classics and traditional dishes with a twist. The deep-fried whole chicken skin is unmissable, arriving still fully formed and needing nothing more than a little house sriracha sauce for dipping. It’s one for the ‘gram, sure, but it’s also bloody delicious.
Even more lip-smackingly good with a cold one is Err’s take on fermented pork, neam. A Northern Thai classic, here sticky rice-cured pork arrives wrapped around skewers, its gnarly edges grill-marked and caramelised, its body juicy, rich and full of savour. It’s a truly glorious take on one of our favourite foods in the world.
Of course, Thai drinking food needs drinks, and some serious thought has gone into Err’s. Go for The Laabtini, a unique cocktail blending tequila with laab spices. Created by the team’s no-waste cocktail bar Wasteland, it’s already a classic.
- When is Err open? Err is open 11am until late On Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, and 5pm until late on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.
- Do I need to book in advance? Err is walk-in only.
- How much should I expect to spend? The majority of snacks and dishes here are priced at around ฿250 (£5.50).
- Closest BTS/MRT? Thonglor BTS is a 5 minute walk from Err.
Address: 56 10 Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Website: errurbanrusticthai.co.th
Gaa, Thonglor
Ideal for Bangkok’s best modern Indian food…
Garima Arora, the Mumbai-born culinary genius behind Gaa, is the first Indian female chef to be awarded a Michelin star, with a historic second following earlier this year.
Having already honed her skills at Copenhagen’s world famous Noma, in 2015 she moved to Bangkok to work as a sous chef at Gaggan, the highly creative Indian restaurant run by Gaggan Anand that has topped the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list several times.
With the blessing of the big man, Arora struck out on her own, opening Gaa in Bangkok in 2017, with the aim of blending ingredients and cooking sensibilities from the Indian subcontinent with the odd Thai flourish, reflecting her diverse culinary experiences to dramatic, alluring effect.
Having recently moved to a new location close to BTS Thonglor and just round the corner from the aforementioned Err, the restaurant is going from strength to strength, capped off by that second Michelin star a few months ago. We can’t wait to see where they go next.
- When is Gaa open? Gaa is open daily, for both lunch and dinner.
- Do I need to book in advance? You can usually book Gaa for the following day, though tables are a little more scarce at the weekend.
- How much should I expect to spend? The Gaa experience is currently priced at ฿4700 (£102) per person.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Thonglor BTS is a 5 minute walk from Gaa.
Address: 46 Sukhumvit 53 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Website: gaabkk.com
Potong, Yaowarat (Chinatown)
Ideal for a thoughtful, forward-thinking reflection of Bangkok’s Chinatown…
Standing slap bang in the middle of Bangkok’s Chinatown, Potong pays homage to the city’s rich tapestry of Thai-Chinese heritage through its innovative cuisine. This avant-garde restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Pam, the current Asia’s Best Female Chef (whatever that means), who has skillfully woven her family’s century-old recipes with a modern twist, creating an unforgettable gastronomic journey.
The ambiance of Potong is a seamless blend of the past and present, with decor that reflects the elegance of Shanghai in the 1920s, yet pulses with the contemporary beat of Bangkok. It’s a match made in heaven.
You can read our full review of Potong here.
- When is Potong open? Potong is open Thursday to Monday, for dinner service only, 4pm to 11pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? You will need to book a table for Potong, via Chope, several months in advance.
- How much should I expect to spend? Potong’s 5 senses, 5 elements tasting menu is priced at ฿5500 (£120) per person.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Wat Mangkon MRT is a 5 minute walk from Potong.
Address: 422 Vanich Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Website: restaurantpotong.com
No Name Noodle, Central Sukhumvit
Ideal for elite soba noodles you’ll have to set your alarm for…
You better set your alarm bright and early if you want to sample a bowl of some of Bangkok’s best soba noodles. Not because No Name Noodle – suitably mysterious in its moniker – opens early doors, but because you have to pre-book your bowl (one of only 35 made each day) in a kind of Glastonbury T-day scramble for one of seven stools and a satisfied slurp. Only furthering that comparison, it happens to be 9am every Sunday that the chaos unfolds online.
It’s well worth hammering that F5 button; chef Shinichiro Kondo is a master of his craft, with every bowl given immaculate care and attention, a glorious blend of innovation (there’s some sous vide work here) and respect for tradition.
There are only two menu options here; Tokusei Shio Soba, a noodle soup with a seafood base and various toppings including pork and chicken chashu, and Tokusei Kombusui Tsuke Soba, a dish with noodles dipped in kombu dashi and a side of shoyu tsuke soup. Both dishes are crafted with over 30 ingredients, and diners are invited to customise their bowls with additional condiments for that touch of the personal.
Regardless of which bowl you go for, the soba noodles are the star of the show here, a labour of love that boast just the right amount of bounce, chew and earthy grounding. There are fewer more satisfying bowls in a city full of them.
- When is No Name Noodle open? No Name Noodle is open every day except Monday for lunch, between 11am and 3pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? Oh yes, and it’s one hell of a process.
- How much should I expect to spend? A bowl of noodles at No Name Noodle falls just shy of ฿500 (£11).
- Closest BTS/MRT? Phrom Phong BTS is a 20 minute walk away.
Address: 2 Soi Attha Kawi 1 Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei Bangkok 10110
Instagram: @no_name_noodle
Charmgang, Talat Noi
Ideal for a modern curry and rice restaurant that’s really so much more than that…
Bangkok’s historic Talat Noi neighbourhood, sitting pretty on the outskirts of the city’s Chinatown, is one of the most thrusting in the city, where seemingly not a day goes by without a new cocktail bar opening or an art installation popping up.
Charmgang, now in its fifth year and the recent recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand, exemplifies this new sense of cool in the area, a restaurant that’s both traditional and forward-thinking in its approach, and one of, quite simply, the best places to eat in Bangkok.
Conceived by a trio of ultra-ambitious chefs – Geravich ‘Mew’ Mesaengnilverakul, Aruss ‘Jai’ Lerlerstkull, and Atcharaporn ‘Aew’ Kiatthanawat – who met at world renowned Nahm, the restaurant is nominally a ‘curry shop’, and true to this billing, the curries here are gorgeous, a skilful blend of Thai culinary tradition and the occasional modern technique, all to be enjoyed in a tastefully furnished, artistically minded dining room that shares its energy with the open kitchen which overlooks it.
Yep, you’ll hear the clatter of the wok and the pok-pok of the pestle and mortar while you eat, the perfect seasoning for a graceful, elegant spread. Do not miss the beef cheek panang curry, a celebration of fresh coconut milk as much as it is of chilli and perfectly braised, surrendering beef. Desserts are fabulous, too, so do try to save room.
Check out, too, the team’s sister restaurant Charmkrung just up the road. Having opened at the end of 2023 and with a keen focus on natural wine and late night vibes, it’s already a real gem in the area.
- When is Charmgang open? Charmgang is open daily for dinner, from 6pm to 10:30pm. It opens for lunch, too, on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Do I need to book in advance? Reservations are highly recommended, and usually required for a week or two in advance.
- How much should I expect to spend? A full spread of curries, soups, salads, relishes and the rest at Charmgang will set you back around ฿3000 (£65), before booze is added.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Hua Lamphong MRT is a 10 minute walk away.
Address: 14 Soi Nakhon Kasem 5 Bangkok
Instagram: @charmgangcurryshop
Ms Maria & Mr Singh, Central Sukhumvit
Ideal for perfectly poised marriage of Mexican-Indian cuisine from one of the world’s most recognisable chefs…
Even those not conversant in Bangkok’s culinary landscape might recognise chef Gaggan Anand, perhaps having seen him on Chef’s Table, or on a a TikTok reel traversing Bangkok via tuk tuk with Ed Sheeran or, you know, having read the entry on Gaa just a few paragraphs previously.
At Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh’s, chef Anand tells the culinary story of a ‘’love affair between a Mexican hometown girl and an Indian city boy’’ via a perfectly poised marriage of Mexican-Indian cuisine that the restaurant has dubbed ‘fantasy cuisine’, realised here by the two head chefs Hernán Crispín Villalva and Roshan Kumar. Trust us on this one; it works.
Here, diners can savour Anand’s signature crab curry, which is now ingeniously paired with Goan poee bread, ideal for pulling through the intricate sauce. The menu also features keema paneer quesadillas, bursting with the robust taste of mutton and toasted spices, followed by pork vindaloo tacos accompanied by a tart pineapple salsa, striking an intoxicating yet strangely comforting balance of flavour and texture.
Both are part of the latest tasting menu, offered at an attractive price of 6000 THB (£130) for two, and served in the fresh setting of the second floor of the eponymous Gaggan Anand restaurant. The atmosphere is laid-back and whimsical, with the interior design drawing inspiration from both Oaxaca and Jodhpur, creating a lively and colourful ambiance.
Echoing this playful spirit, guests are greeted by a bright neon sign as they step into the restaurant, boldly stating that “love should never be mild.” The dishes served here not only match this bold statement but also reflect Chef Anand’s continued passion for creating food that’s as spirited and joyous as ever.
- When is Ms Maria and Mr Singh open? Ms Maria and Mr Singh is closed on Mondays, and open for just dinner (6pm to 11pm) from Tuesday to Fridays. The restaurant also opens for lunch at the weekend.
- Do I need to book in advance? Reservations are highly recommended, and usually required for a week or two in advance.
- How much should I expect to spend? The tasting menu for two here is priced at ฿6000 (£130)
- Closest BTS/MRT? Phrom Phong BTS is a 20 minute walk away.
Address: 8 Sukhumvit 63 Road (Soi Ekkamai 6) Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Website: mariaandsinghbkk.com
Read: The best Mexican restaurants in Bangkok
Aunglo by Yangrak, Bang Rank
Ideal for immaculately conceived Thai izakaya …
Inspired by Japanese izakaya style dining, Aunglo by Yangrank is a paean to the grill (‘aunglo’ is a type of charcoal grill in Thai), expressed via a procession of blistered and burnished sticks of seafood, meat and root vegetable that are as delicious as any aunty’s moo ping you’ll find outside any BTS station. And that’s the highest praise we could bestow on a place…
The counter bar here faces an open kitchen where chefs glaze and rotate a series of skewers, all whilst maintaining a decent side of conversation and good cheer, the intermittent licking of flames the perfect clarion call that the glaze is doing its job. Not exactly harming things in the flavour department, that glaze is often a thick, reduced coconut curry, a massaman-coated, barbecued squash a delicious case in point that demands re-upping several times.
Sure, you’ll have to factor in leaving absolutely humming of smoke, but it’s well worth it for the delicate kiss of charcoal that every dish at Aunglo by Yangrak has received, even the desserts.
- When is Aunglo by Yangrak open? Aunglo by Yangrak is closed on Tuesdays, and open every other day for both lunch and dinner.
- Do I need to book in advance? You can book a spot via direct message on their Instagram, but it’s not often full.
- How much should I expect to spend? The big feast of skewers, sides and beers for two won’t top ฿3000 (£65)
- Closest BTS/MRT? Saint Louis BTS is a 10 minute walk from Aunglo by Yangrak.
Website: 6, 8 Decho Rd, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Instagram: @aunglo.by.yangrak
Haoma, Central Sukhumvit
Ideal for neo-Indian fine dining with genuine green credentials…
Billed as Thailand’s first urban farm and zero-waste restaurant (a bold claim that’s a little tough to verify, perhaps), neo-Indian fine dining restaurant Haoma certainly wears its sustainability chops proudly on its sleeve, with a biophilic dining room that merges the outdoors and in succinctly, and a tasting menu built around on-site hydroponically grown produce (you’ll get a tour of the fish ponds and gardens when you arrive) and organic ingredients sourced from their sister farm in Chiang Mai.
It’s an approach where each discipline of the restaurant – the food, winelist, ambience and hospitality – feeds into the next, creating a homogeneous, self-sustaining feel that you can’t help but admire. Both a Michelin star and Michelin green star for sustainability have followed.
That’s not to say that this is purely branding; Chef Deepanker Khosla certainly puts his money where his mouth is. Following a hugely successful, altruistic pandemic project called the #NoOneHungry campaign that has given more than 500’000 meals to those most in need in Bangkok, the chef has now opened Bangkok’s first permanent soup kitchen. Legend.
On the menu back at Haoma, just two choices; a tasting menu of meat and seafood or a vegetarian version, and 15 courses or 11. In the lean, green spirit of the place (smells like green spirit?), we went for the shorter vegetarian option at Haoma, but certainly didn’t feel short changed. This is a precision procession of loosely Indian, pretty-as-a-picture plates that felt both clean and indulgent, avant garde but anchored, the storytelling behind each dish helped along by a series of postcards and artefacts that rest on your table as you eat.
At 3500 THB (around £75) for the ten courser, Haoma also represents an absolute steal for a restaurant that’s surely due a second star in the coming years.
- When is Haoma open? Haoma is closed on Mondays, and open for dinner (5:30pm to 11pm) Tuesdays to Fridays. At the weekend, it’s open for lunch too, from midday to 2pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? You can usually book a table at Haoma the day before.
- How much should I expect to spend? The Chefs Tasting menu of 10 courses is currently priced at ฿3500 (£75).
- Closest BTS/MRT? Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT are a 15 minute walk from Haoma.
Address: 231, 3 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Website: haoma.dk
Côte by Mauro Colagreco, Sathorn
Ideal for a meticulous meeting of the Med and the Chao Phraya…
When it was announced that a globally celebrated chef would open a fancy French restaurant in a 5 star hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok’s culinary cognoscenti could have been forgiven for wondering if another such place was really necessary.
But such is the quality of Côte by Mauro Colagreco, and the unique skills of head chef Davide Garavaglia, that those doubts died down almost as soon as the restaurant had finished its first service, with the spot now arguably the city’s destination fine-dining restaurant for those not in the mood for Thai (fools).
Of course, the pedigree here is undeniable. Mauro Colagreco, whose illustrious career’s highlight is the three Michelin-starred Mirazur on the French Riviera, has brought a slice of the Mediterranean to Bangkok, with a tasting menu that imbues traditional French technique with the odd Thai flourish to great effect. Here, it’s a choice of five, seven or nine courses (the latter of which will set you back in the region of £140, one of the city’s more expensive menus), which see the diner put complete trust in the chef.
Whilst we wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise here, the restaurant has a wicked way with seafood, a dish of local sea urchin and textures of cauliflower landing as one of the best dishes we’ve enjoyed in the city, a perfect marriage of sense of place and the chef’s own idiosyncrasies. The panoramic river views certainly do no harm.
Last week, the consistency and quality of Côte was further underscored by Michelin’s awarding of a second star.
- When is Côte open? Côte is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and open for both lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
- Do I need to book in advance? You can usually book a table at Côte the day before.
- How much should I expect to spend? The full nine course tasting menu is currently priced at ฿6500 (£140)
- Closest BTS/MRT? Saphan Taksin BTS is a 15 minute walk away.
Address: 300/2 Charoen Krung Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Website: cotebkk.com
Samlor, Bang Rak
Ideal for Thai comfort food given a respectful, ridiculously delicious reinvention…
The dynamic chef duo Napol ‘Joe’ Jantraget and Saki Hoshino are responsible for some of Bangkok’s most genuinely enjoyable upscale restaurants, from their work at the innovative 80/20 just up the road to their recently opened celebration of Central Thai food at Nawa.
You’ll find that innate sense of hospitality at Samlor, too. Meaning ‘tricycle’ in Thai, it’s a name that hints at the more homely vibes this place exudes, complemented by its bare bricks interior and chalkboard specials menu.
The signature dish here is without doubt the Samlor omlette, an obscene looking thing with a soufflé-like rise, crispy top and runny centre. Served simply with a little fish sauce and chilli, it’s no doubt a knockout, but certainly not the only dish that deserves your attention.
Even better, we think, is the slow-cooked wagyu beef krapow. Perfumed with deep-fried holy basil leaves, it’s an absurdly satisfying riff on Thailand’s favourite comfort food, which pretty much sums up the restaurant’s strongest suit, we think. Pair it with that omelette in place of your usual frilly fried egg, and you’ve got yourself a pretty perfect meal. As long as there’s plenty of jasmine rice to hand, of course…
With a local craft beer (of which Samlor has a fine selection) this order will give you change from 1000 THB (£21). That’s some serious value.
- When is Samlor open? Samlor is closed on Tuesdays, and open for dinner only (6pm to 10:30pm) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. At the weekend, it’s open for lunch, too, between 11am and 1:30pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? You’ll want to book Samlor a week or two in advance, via their Instagram.
- How much should I expect to spend? The omlette and pad grapao are priced at ฿300 (£6.50) and ฿400 (£9), respectively.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Saphan Taksin BTS is a 20 minute walk away.
Address: 1076 Charoen Krung Road, Bangrak, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Facebook: samlor.bkk
Sushi Masato, Central Sukhumvit
Ideal for Bangkok’s most acclaimed omakase experience…
This exclusive traditional omakase sushi bar is the work of Chef Masato Shimizu, a culinary virtuoso whose journey began in Japan and soared to new heights in New York City, where he became the youngest chef to be honoured with a Michelin star at the tender age of 29.
Sushi Masato, tucked away off Soi Sukhumvit 31 (there it is again) behind an unmarked door, brings the chef’s meticulous craft from over 20 years of experience to the forefront, showcasing both his skills and his impeccable sourcing directly from the fish markets of Tokyo to a first-floor chef’s counter. Though that first floor is chef Shimizu’s domain, for a more laid back, languid experience, head upstairs to Raw Bar Masato, where you can order a la carte sushi of the same premium quality as the full experience below.
Securing a reservation at Sushi Masato requires some effort; seats are released on a month-by-month basis, precisely at 00:00 hrs on the 15th of every month for the following month. Amazingly for a restaurant of this pedigree and poise, there’s a takeaway menu of sorts at Sushi Masato; via their website, you can order a bespoke mini omakase box to be delivered to your door for the princely sum of 2500 THB.
- When is Sushi Mataso open? Sushi Mataso is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and is open for both lunch (midday to 2pm) and dinner (5pm to 10pm) Wednesday through Sunday.
- Do I need to book in advance? Yes, indeed, and it’s something of a scramble On the 15th of every month at midnight, new seat slots for the following month are released.
- How much should I expect to spend? The lunch omakase is ฿4000 (£87), the dinner ฿6000 (£130).
- Closest BTS/MRT? Phrom Phong BTS is a 10 minute walk away.
Address: 3/22 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Tan Nuea, Vadhana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
Website: sushimasato.com
Khua Kling Pak Sod, Thonglor
Ideal for consistently brilliant Southern Thai food…
‘Do you like spicy?’. The familiar question fired at a farang upon ordering. Sometimes it’s more of a warning: ’very spicy’, or words to that effect. Here, the waiter’s words of caution were conspicuous in their absence; when you come to Khua Kling Pak Sod, you know what you’re letting yourself in for. This is Southern Thai food and as such, unashamedly pungent, ferocious and, best of all, delicious.
The namesake khua kling – a dry pork curry – is unreal. And hot. Abundant ‘rat shit’ chillies are used as garnish and are as forthright as their nickname. All this bravado shouldn’t detract from how good the food is though – it’s brilliant. The blue swimmer crab yellow curry is just masterful. Make sure to order lots of rice to smooth out those rough edges, and you’re set. In a city with new Southern Thai restaurants seemingly opening daily, Khua Kling Pak Sod still stands out as one of the very best.
- When is Khua Kling Pak Sod open? Khua Kling Pak Sod Thonglor is open daily from 9am to 9pm.
- Do I need to book in advance? For the Thonglor branch, it’s recommended you book in advance.
- How much should I expect to spend? You can eat very well here (and drink merrily) for around ฿3000 (£65) for two.
- Closest BTS/MRT? Thonglor BTS is a 10 minute walk away.
Website: khuaklingpaksod.com
Address: 98/1 Pai Di Ma Di Klang Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
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