Bangkok Travel Guide

Eating Out

Visitors usually opt for the food in the hotels, which is beautifully decorated with vegetables engraved in ancient Thai designs, one of the characteristics of Thai dishes served in the household of high-class Thai families in the past.

Most fancy Thai restaurants found in Bangkok also boast Thai art pieces and sculptures as well as exquisite gardens with Thai plants and flowers. Some also have traditional Thai dancing shows with live music, provided by musicians playing traditional Thai musical instruments.

Bangkok is also home to a variety of international cuisines from all over the world including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Sri Lankan, German, French, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Turkish, American and British as well as Mediterranean food. Sukhumvit road is packed with many international restaurants and cafes, with the majority serving authentic Italian dishes and most of them offering al fresco dining too.

French fare is also popular and can be found at many four and five-star hotels. Alternatively, check out Auberge Dab, a favourite place for French food connoisseurs opposite Central Chidlom on Ploenchit road.

For original Chinese food, make sure you stop by Chinatown on Yaowarat road. Many good American steakhouses and British/Irish pubs are also found in the tourist and expat areas around Bangkok such as Sukhumvit road.

Even eating at street-side noodle shops for an impromptu lunch or snack, like the locals do, is an experience and the food is usually tasty. These are always on hand and if you’re concerned about hygiene, look out for the ‘clean food good taste’ health certificate in the form of a large green and blue sign hanging outside.

More popular with visitors is tom kha gai (mild coconut-based soup with mushrooms and chicken), best for those who can’t tolerate chilli. Foreigners, especially westerners, also enjoy other palatable dishes like gai pad med ma muang (non-spicy stir fried chicken with mushrooms, dried chilli and cashew nuts), pla pad preaw wan (fried fish with sweet and sour sauce) and the well-known pad thai (fried noodles with little shrimps, pieces of tofu, bean sprouts, peanuts and vegetables).

Optionally, you can also try Isaan food from the northeast part of the country, which has a higher level of spiciness. Somtam (spicy papaya salad), larb moo (spicy minced pork salad), kor moo yang(roasted pieces of pork) and kai yang (roasted chicken) are ubiquitous dishes in Bangkok thanks to the large population of migrant workers in this region. All dishes go well with kao niew (sticky rice) and maybe you can wash it down with a glass of the sharp local brew - Sangsom rum