Bangkok Restaurant Tips by xuessium

Restaurant Name: Ad Makers Pub & Restaurant

Tucked away nicely along Soi Lang Suan (where there is now a whole road of restaurants, both economical & upmarket), you would not have figured that Ad Makers actually serve great Thai dishes. Came here on a recommendation of a local Thai friend and was genuinely blown away by the fantastic food.

Very popular with expats. The outside suggests a more elegant venue than the beer hall-style operation within. There is a good bar, but that seems to be ignored in favour of the many bare wooden tables around the various areas. The food comes from an extensive menu which is predominantly Thai, although there are a few farang (westerner) dishes, including a pig hock, on offer.

Great place to chill-out. Live music starts from 8pm. The music is normally provided by one of the better Bangkok bands playing good covers with a strong rock bias. Possibly only one in the world where you can enjoy great Thai food along with great music!

Open daily (except Sun): 5:30pm - 1:30am (to 2:00am on Fri & Sat)

Favorite Dish: The Thai Hot & Spicy Soup (No, not Tom Yum) really packs a punch with lots of Thai peppers.
The Thai Pandan Leaf Chicken was great as well and so was the (western styled) fried bacon rolled sausages.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 66 (02) 652 0168-9
Address: 51 Soi Lang Suan, Ploenchit Rd
Directions: Between Chidlom and Soi Sarasin.
Other Contact: Fax: 66 (02) 251 2892

Restaurant Name: Sukhothai Hotel's Colonnade

I thought I heard wrong when my friend told me that she was bringing me to the Sukhothai for what she thinks is the best place for desserts in Bangkok. She wasn't kidding.

The Hotel screamed snob appeal the moment we stepped out of the taxi and I was given a tour, courtesy of my friend of course, of her dream hotel. Gosh, such opulence! Such an oasis of calm in a city that was hardly that. I was almost speechless when I finally sat down at a solid well-polished wooden table next to a ceiling-to-floor window facing a magnificent view of 5 stupas glowing seductively in a reflecting pool, with the moon high above the clouds. With a view (and ambience) like that, who cares about dessert?

The desserts by the way after I recovered enough to find myself, as promised, was exquisite. Possibly one of the best I have had. Great touches, professional service, fit for a king sort of ambience - I like it when the chef actually steps out of the kitchen to enquire whether his creation was up to scratch - possibly one of the few occasions I really indulge myself and left my backpacking mode at the door steps.

It seems almost a crushing blow after that you have to return to that more humble thing you call a lodging. So snobbish. So decadent. So satisfying.

Favorite Dish: The lounges serve a selection of hot and cold beverages, cocktails, light snacks and afternoon tea. A Chocolate Buffet is offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Public Holidays from 14.00-18.00. Live entertainment by a classical guitarist every afternoon.

Operating Hours: Open Daily 10.00 - 24.00

Seating Capacity: 40 persons

The menu is always changing. My favourite was the pear and ginger crumble in raspberry sauce.

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 66-23448888
Address: 13/3 South Sathorn Road
Directions: Silom Area
Website: http://www.sukhothai.com/salon.htm
Other Contact: info@sukhothai.com

Restaurant Name: Somboon Seafood Restaurant

My friend in Bangkok took me here twice, simply because it was her favourite seafood restaurant. Took me awhile to dig up the name.....and of course the lovely her helped out!

There're not too much to expect for ambience - when good food is in stake, who cares about ambience?

Twice I was at the Bantadthong Branch - the external, aside for the usual gaudy neon lights just simply does not portray "good food is found here". In fact, the streets of run down shophouses did little to improve appetite!

However, once the food starts arriving on the table, perished your thoughts about run-down shophouses, dirty streets and plain exterior - you won't have time to worry about them!

Favorite Dish: My fave? The fresh succulent oysters!! Lemon are for wimps. You do it the Thai way: Squirt a little Thai lime, add some herbs, squirt in a big wallop of rich and spicy chilli paste and pour the whole damn thing in your mouth. It's heaven served up in a shell!!!

The most famous dish of Somboon is actually its fresh crab fried with curry. Deliciously decadent. Cholesterol loaded. Sinfully out-of-this-world.

Every other dish else were fantastic! The stir-fried mung-bean noodles served up in a crab was my other fave...but really nothing beats those oysters!! Man....

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Theme: Seafood

Address: 169/7-11 Surawong Rd (3 other branches)
Directions: Opposite Peugeot Showroom
Website: http://www.somboonseafood.com/ban_en.html

Restaurant Name: Ban Khun Mae

It's not everyday you get to eat a meal with royal eyes staring down at you. At my table, I have Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit looking at me....in fact, many of her looking at me, as if warning me that wasting food is sinful.

The packed restaurant is adorned with pictures of royalty, both past and present. Yes, I have the entire royal lineage accompanying me as I appreciatingly wolfed down a great meal.

I was here having dinner, a guest of my kind Thai colleagues. The atmosphere is as Nigella Lawson would purred "all deliciousness". The interior is sombre with olive green but not forbidding, brought out to life by the warm caress of spot lights. Heavy sturdy traditional wooden tables and chairs invoke a village cosy feeling. Service was quick, warm and friendly. The air, was enticing. Sultry with the allure of Thai cooking. Sexy.

The food....imagined Nigella dipping her finger into a winking sauce and licking it all unwholesomely pure. Wickedly satisfying.

Favorite Dish: We licked our fingers and slurped our tongues through Tom Yum Goong, Curries and Tangy salads but I must say that the standout dish was the Battered Morning Glory (also called Kangkong/Water Convolulus) served with general sides of minced pork, prawns and greens. I have never seen the dish prepared as such. Extremely intriguing...not to mention, yes, quoting Nigella again, "all beguiling".

NOTE: Generally, this is a slightly more upmarket place for the locals....but for tourists, especially if your currency is strong, it should work out pretty fine for your wallet/purse.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 66-02-658-4112-3
Address: 458/7-9 Siam Square, Soi 8, Rama 1 Rd
Directions: Amidst the maze that is Siam Square.
Website: http://www.bankhunmae.com
Other Contact: Fax: 66-02-2515657

Restaurant Name: MBK Food Courts

The most comfortable way to enjoy the street food of Thailand is here: The food courts of MBK. It's comfortable as there is air-conditioning and yet the prices are economical (to different pockets).

UPDATED 2007:
There are now 2 food courts in MBK.

The 5th floor is now home to a swanky upmarket style food court going by the moniker, The Fifth Food Avenue....selling food in a cold faux restaurant ambience with warm lights, live bands and hey, 2-3 times the price. Balmy. A plate of Pad Thai is now 120 Bahts for example. Here, trash the coupons. They issue a kind of smart card that one gives to the respective food vendor and they add one's order to the card. One can spend up to a maximum of 1000 Baht and need to return the card at the exit where you will pay the respective amount you spent. If one doesn't return the card, they will charge you 1100 Baht.

The more down-to-earth food court is on the 6th floor....sharing space with many boutique shops and flea market stalls. Here, you buy coupons in bundles of 100 Bahts and get your refund for the remainders by the end of the SAME day. It's noisy, messy, but hey, twice the fun but 2-3 times lesser the strain on wallet/purse!

Favorite Dish: 5F: You get a taste of everything. Local, Japanese, Western, Italian, Pizza, Indian, Chinese and hey, there is even a Halal stall selling local and Arabic dishes.

If you like comfort, do not wish to hang around with the locals staring down at you while you struggle with the chopsticks, and just want to place to bum out, try here.

6F: There are stalls selling tasty duck noodles & Thai style "Yong Tau Foo" (noodles served with an assortment of meat and fish items). Also look out for the stalls selling Thai desserts (like steamed Tapioca with coconut milk), Thai Milk Tea, Infusions (like Chrysanthemum, Lemongrass and Barley) and cheap Bird's Nest Brew.

If you love food, nary a care for what others think of you as you wolf down whatever that is in front of you, and just want a place for your bum to park while you eat, try here.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 6F, MBK Centre, 444 Thanon Phayathai, Pathumwan
Directions: On the 6th floor.

Restaurant Name: MK Restaurant

This is a franchise chain and there are many branches littered throughout the city. My colleagues brought me here for dinner. They wanted something light - and so we went for steamboat which is the specialty of the house.

This restaurant is very popular with office workers and families alike. There isn't much in the way for decor (though it wasn't a scrubby place at all; it is afterall a restaurant) and the whole restaurant is always noisy; thick with the sounds of chatter and slurping.

Favorite Dish: The steamboat of course. You cook vegetables, meat (usually pork & chicken) and seafood in a hot pot of soup stock.

My colleagues claimed that the chilli sauce used as dips is a special recipe of the restaurant. It tasted good of course.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Branches throughout Bangkok
Website: http://www.mkrestaurant.com/

Restaurant Name: Kuay Tiew Rua Tha Siam

Kuay Tiew Rua essentially means boat noodles. This is effectively a chain of noodle shop selling boat noodles - you know, the bowls of spicy noodles you will get when you visit the floating markets, albeit in a more comfortable and upmarket atmosphere.

My group went for the branch at the basement of MBK. Decor wise, it wasn't too bad though it was a little too dark. The solid dark wood they used for the tables and chairs gave the restaurant a very sombre feeling.

However, when they started to bring out buckets of unwashed plates and start spilling detergents all over the floor as well as trays of meat and vegetables they obviously are preparing for the next day towards closing time, it really put us off. I have never seen a restaurant do this in all my travels! The whole place looked so unhygienic after a few minutes!

Favorite Dish: Be-warned: While the food is good, it is VERY spicy. My friends commented that their tongue were numbed and the throat parched after the meal.

The spicy liver soup was good as well as the spicy pork noodles.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Basement of MBK Centre

Restaurant Name: Black Canyon Coffee

It has taken me this long to post it up....partly I was being lazy, partly I surmised every visitor to Bangkok must have bumped into the closest Starbucks competitor that I thought I will hop and skip by it unscathed. Besides, like Starbucks, it has its own distractors (just about everything it represents).

Black Canyon (Thailand) Co. Ltd. was established in 1993 to operate restaurants serving food, coffee and drinks under the "Black Canyon Coffee" name and have since expanded the business overseas into a number of countries. Black Canyon also operates kiosks under the "Black Canyon X'press" name in several stations of Bangkok's elevated commuter train system (BTS Skytrain).

You can't walk around Bangkok without encountering one. This is the closest local thing you can get to Starbucks....so if you think you can live without Starbucks for 1 day and like to try the closest local equivalent....look no further.

Favorite Dish: I have only tried the drinks....one time or another (or when I want to hide from the stifling heat).

I can't say they have the best coffee or drinks....but they aren't toxic sludge either. As I said....I like the air-con.....

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Everywhere in the City
Directions: Everywhere in the City
Website: http://www.blackcanyoncoffee.com/

Restaurant Name: I shall call it nameless for now

For 30 Bahts (circa Jul 2006) a bowl - a hot bowl of souped steaming glass noodles with an assortment of ingredients: sliced Char Siew (Chinese style BBQ Pork), fish rolls, pork rolls & dumplings - it was manna for empty growling stomachs.

You can have a choice of thick flat glass noodles, thin flat glass noodles, yellow noodles or rice vermicelli. Quickly cooked in boiling water and then doused with soup and ingredients and served piping hot. All you need to do, if you want, is to add soy sauce, fermented fish sauce, sugar or the standard Thai condiment of dried or picked chillies and it's all ready to be slurped up with gusto!

The stall owner was very eager and very courteous and what finally sold us, to much laughter in my group was that he used Mandarin to address us affectionately.

Don't expect ambience....though on second thought - hmmmm....yes, you DO - the street kind. The floor is grimey, wet and grey. We sat on faded plastic chairs on uneven grounds around a table barely shaded by large umbrellas. (Unfortunate folks will get a lovely tan along with the lunch) But you know what, I like the sound of human interaction amidst a real living setting...this is real eating, albeit with a healthy dose of MSG to go along with the hearty clear soup. HA HA!

Farangs be warned!

Favorite Dish: The glass noodles ala "Yong Tau Hoo" style - 30 Bahts of slurping goodness!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Street Vendors
Directions: Turn right to the first stall after exiting Tha Tien (Tien Pier).
Folks come here to take the ferry crossing to Wat Arun.

Restaurant Name: Canton Kitchen

Opted to go for "zok" or porridge on the last morning in Bangkok since almost everyone else in my group were "overheated". Something light and soothing to ease the stomach and cool the body. Cantonese-style porridge (or congee as it is called in Singapore) seemed like the logical choice.

The restaurant is 2 storeys-high. The ground floor resembled a little of the facade that one gets while eating in one of those local cafes in Hong Kong. Slightly faded photos of the menu hung from the walls - as ugly an eyesore they could be, they were a quick guide to what you may wish to eat! The 2nd storey offers a slightly more modern cafe look. Nothing garish; nothing shocking. Just a place to eat.

You would have to pay after you placed your order. The staff will send your orders to you.

Favorite Dish: Everyone in my group went for porridge/congee but in different ingredient combinations.

I dare say that the congee tasted exactly the same despite using different ingredients. Merely proved that the ingredients were heated quickly with pre-cooked congee. I had the shrimp congee for 40 Bahts (circa Jul 2006) - the congee was smooth, fairly tasty but hardly something you may go ecstatic over. I was rewarded with 2 medium-sized shrimps to go along with a fairly generous amount of ginger shreds.

I will recommend folks to stay away from the rather impotent and fairly acidic cup of coffee (25 Bahts)...tasted like old socks.

The place served noodles and other standard Cantonese style breakfast items as well.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Perimeter of Siam Square.

I don't have the exact address unfortunately.