absolutelyBangkok archive · Food & Drink
Originally published June 7, 2011
Bangkok Cuisine
-Like the French, it’s not uncommon to have long social sit-down dinners and to see everyone seemingly eat around the clock in Thailand without a national obesity problem. This foodie spirit along with the shared national centric mindset has rocketed Thailand and Bangkok to the top of every traveler’s “must-see” list and continues to attract some of the most creative chefs and food-loving entrepreneurs from around the world. This global culinary scene has influenced Bangkok cuisine dramatically, as every part of the world is represented in the form of a food cart, cafe, or restaurant.
Thailand is also blessed with warm weather, friendly relaxed people, and a lower cost of living compared to most Western countries. Happily, the city of Bangkok acts as a world showcase for it’s own world-renown cuisine as well as for palette-full of other international cuisines. Whether you are searching for Chinese, Indian, Italian, African, Middle-Eastern, Mexican, or even Brazillian, you will certainly find it in Bangkok.
So where should you start? First, know that Bangkok has many different multicultural communities rooted in many different spots throughout the city. If you don’t have a restaurant recommendation, start by traveling to the particular neighborhood that will offer the cuisine you have in mind. For example, to find great Chinese food, head straight for Chinatown; or, if you’re more in the mood for savory Indian food, venture down to Pahurat Road. Once you arrive, take a stroll down the neighborhood streets and look around. You will see that these Bangkok restaurants are open-aired, offering a sense of the eatery and an opportunity to scan the menu before making a full-meal commitment.
Chinatown
Neighborhood Location: Along Yaowarat Road
Bangkok Restaurant or Neighborhood Recommendation: Try food from one of the endless food carts scattered through the neighborhood or try out Tang Jai Yoo, where you will find locals treating themselves to delicately sauced crab, whole sea bass with chile sauce, rich lobster, and roasted suckling pig. Tang Jai Yoo restaurant is located on 85-89 Yaowa Phanit Road.
Little India
Neighborhood Location: Around Pahurat Road
Bang kok Restaurant or Neighborhood Recommendation:
At around the 30-60 baht price range, Toney Restaurant serves off a delicious menu that’s some of the most affordable Indian grub in Bangkok. Located off Pahurat Road, Toney Restaurant is found on a small motorcycle walking street marked by a luggage store and a few travel agencies.
Japanese Community
Neighborhood Location: Along Sukhumvit Road around Phrom Phong Skytrain (
BTS)
Station
Bangkok Restaurant or Neighborhood Recommendation:
Find delicious sushi and tempura at Hakata, a Japanese restaurant located close to Phrom Phong (BTS) station and near Emporium shopping center at 4 Sukhumvit Soi 39.
Koreatown
Bangkok Neighborhood Location:
Koreatown can be found around Sukhumvit Soi 12′s Sukhumvit Plaza, which is a short walk from the Asok Skytrain (BTS) Station Bangkok Restaurant or Neighborhood Recommendation:
Several yummy Korean restaurants, like the Jang Wong Korean BBQ restaurant, can be found scattered throughout Korea Town, the area found around Sukhumvit Soi 12′s Sukhumvit Plaza (a short walk from Asok BTS station).
Little Africa
Bangkok Neighborhood Location:
Near Sukhumvit Soi 3 and Soi 5; near the Grace Hotel Bangkok Restaurant Recommendation: Try visiting Nana Skytrain (BTS) Station, as it is dense with Arab and Northern African food stalls and cafes. Your best beat would be to head down Soi 5, there are small sub Soi’s of this street that are full with Arab and African restaurants, just look for the hashish pipes. You will feel like you are in down town Cairo when you find this place.
Old Farang Quarter & Riverside
Bangkok Neighborhood Location:
At the West End of Silom Road
Bangkok Restaurant or Neighborhood Recommendation:
Try one of the many riverside cafes or the China House, which occupies a Fabergé-delicate heritage house, redone in 1930s Shanghai style with wood screens and ‘opium bed’ booths. The long Cantonese menu offers authentic dishes along with some fun innovations. China House is located on Charoen Krung Soi 38, perpendicular to Silom Road.
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