Bangkok is a melting pot of culinary delights, with restaurants, cafés, snack bars, and even food carts available at virtually every corner. Given that Bangkok is such a cosmopolitan city, it is no surprise that it comes with a diverse menu of cuisine, including Italian, French, Indian, Chinese, seafood, vegetarian, American, and more exotic Thai bites.
Food in Bangkok is abundant, varied and tasty and when it comes to dishes to try you are spoilt for choice with everything from Som Tum (spicy green papaya salad), Gaeng Daeng (red curry) and Kao Pad (fried rice) to the iconic Pad Thai – fried noodles with finely ground peanuts.
Khao San Road
To the north of Rattanakosin lies the popular Khao San Road. Here you will find the best vegetarian restaurants in the city, perhaps the most famous of which is May Kaidee’s. At this eatery, you simply order your food by selecting the picture of the meal you prefer from their laminated menu. Tham Na has also proved to be a popular choice for vegetarians as all of their food is organic, which is certainly worth paying a little bit extra for. For lovers of all foods, Mayompuri is the standout option in the area. Its luxury and spacious interior boasts waterfalls and relaxing music. International food is served so there is a wide variety on the menu. Whatever you do choose, be sure to save some time for walking around their beautiful garden. Food carts are commonplace here and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if more than a few of them serve fried insects – a Thai delicacy.
Sukhumvit Road
Sukhumvit Road is an upper class area just east of Siam Square and is traditionally where the best restaurants in the city are found. Rib Room & Bar is arguably the best of the best. From the 31st floor of The Landmark Hotel, Rib Room & Bar offers a city-wide view of Bangkok, which is best enjoyed at night. The speciality here is the Ohmi Waygu, which is considered to be one of the most premium steaks worldwide. Di Vino Food & Wine is a classy Italian restaurant run by Milanese native, Roberto Ferrin. Ferrin has used his expansive knowledge to provide a menu of fine dining that comes with a selection of more than 300 wines.
Soi Tonson
Soi Tonson is home to the Little Italy of Bangkok. Unsurprisingly, this is the area to find the best Italian restaurants, and none is better than Gianni. Run by celebrity chef Gianni Favro, the menu here is Venetian; with dishes such as rabbit ravioli and risotto of artichoke and lobster. The cuisine of restaurants here in Soi Tonson does branch out to other parts of Europe too; ARTUR Restaurant is perhaps the pick of the non-Italian restaurants. As a French restaurant, diners here can expect careful presentation and tender meat served with creamy and herb-embellished sauces.
Yaowarat Road
The heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown is along Yaowarat Road, in the Yaowarat and Phahurat areas of the city. Shangarila is a huge banquet restaurant that is typical of dim sum restaurants in the area. China Town Scala represents a more upmarket Chinese restaurant and offers a much more exotic menu, which includes shark’s fin and bird’s nest. The Phahurat area is home to the highest concentration of Indian restaurants in Bangkok. You are spoiled for choice here but the most popular spot is Royal India Restaurant, which is off a side street in the middle of the Indian neighborhood. They serve excellent cuisine and the fact that their curries have won numerous awards over the years is testament to this. Just off Yaowarat Road, on Phadung Dao, you will find some top seafood restaurants.
Restaurants
• May Kaidee’s, Tanao Road no. 59.
