Bangkok’s Best Eating Options

Thailand’s capital Bangkok never ceases to surprise the newcomers. There are so many street food vendors serving food not worse than that of professional chefs. Street food professionals are famous for their wok and grill dishes. Visitors can find restaurants and food carts almost everywhere: near shopping malls, markets, cinemas, and entertainment complexes. We have found the best places where you can try the most delicious Thai food.

Plunge into Taste

Thai cuisine has always been famous for its unusual combinations of foods and bright flavours. If to mention real hits, these are Phad Thai noodles, traditional Thai Gai Yang grilled chicken, Larb meat salad with spices, not to forget fish and seafood. And this is only a little of Thai culinary wealth. Since Bangkok is an international city, here you can find not only Thai food. It seems that a pinch, a tablespoon or even a cup of all the world tastes were mixed in this melting pot with Thai flavours resulting in something completely new and fascinating.

Bangkok has long been known as a real Mecca for gourmets and even the famous Michelin guide noted this. Michelin experts have visited Thailand and Bangkok since 2013 carefully studying their restaurants. The Thai capital was the last Asian metropolis, which has long awaited approval of the international gastronomic leader. With the publication in 2017 of the first Michelin guide to the Thai capital, Bangkok’s culinary scene experienced the starfall: 3 restaurants got their two Michelin stars and 14 restaurants acquired their first stars. (переклад вище) Many restaurants and their chefs are still waiting for their awards, although, in our opinion, they deserved them long ago.

Seasonal Fusion

Le Du seems to be a French word but actually it comes from the word “season” in Thai. Categorizing its cuisine is a bit difficult. The restaurant defines its style as modern Thai cuisine, although their dishes are more like fusion. Chef Ton is a rising star of gastronomy, whose name is well-known to gourmets. You will find his dishes to be really amazing. All dishes on the menu seem to be familiar Thai dishes, but in the end you will be served with something completely special.

The menu here is a short but intriguing list, with each ingredient listed. Some of them excite curiosity, others even may confuse you. We recommend to take a tasting set. You will not cease to be surprised from the very first starter… Everything is incredibly tasty! Try the surprising banana cake ice cream. Here again, don’t picture banana cakes the way you know them: this is fresh creamy texture with a touch of crispy caramel. We could continue trying to describe the food here, but it is better to come and try it by yourself to satisfy your gastronomic curiosity.
Average bill: THB 1,700

Soul Food

Soul Food Mahanakorn restaurant has no stars yet but has already been mentioned in the Michelin Guide. There are all prerequisites for this: the atmosphere, excellent local food, and cocktails (perhaps the most unusual in the city). They serve real hits of Thai cuisine without adapting them to European taste: that is, the most original Thai food including banana flower salad, fried duck with a dozen of spices, chicken in banana-coconut sauce, pork with cashews, chili, coconut, and tamarind jam.

Cocktails in Soul Food are one of the main attractions. When creating the bar menu, the owner consulted with the famous bartender Marcus Bernaler. All recipes are based on local ingredients: chili pepper, lemongrass, Thai exotic fruit. Don’t miss the chance to try their coconut mojito! Drinks are served on the ground floor and a narrow staircase leads to a hall decorated with old photos of Bangkok. Soul Food is really “eating with some soul.” The restaurant takes pride in sourcing quality ingredients from local suppliers as well as in the interior: comfortable but not overloaded with decor so that you can really relax and enjoy the food. We recommend Crispy Papaya Salad: strips of crunchy green papaya with prawns and peanuts. You can have it all day, every day.
Average bill: THB 200-800

Molecular Creativity

For the last three years, Gaggan has been voted No.1 in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Michelin experts awarded it two stars. Set in a stunning whitewashed colonial-style house hidden in a quiet lane, the restaurant offers a rather minimalistic design: dominant white and beige with bright blobs of colored pillows.

To get here, you have to book a table in advance: both floors of the restaurant are always full of gourmets who are ready to wait for the molecular Indian cuisine created by the owner and chef Gaggan Anand. Prior to opening Gaggan, Anand worked at the three Michelin star molecular gastronomy restaurant elBulli in Spain, cooked for Bill Clinton, and can compete in skill with many top chefs.

Not sure what to order? 75% of visitors order a tasting menu consisting of 7 dishes for the first time. Molecular alchemy fans recommend Tandoor Aloo: potatoes stuffed with dried figs and baked in a clay oven. It is served with chicken decorated with coriander foam. We can’t but mention oyster pickled in Indian spices with foie gras ice cream.
Average bill: THB 4,900

At Height

Long before Mezzaluna got its two Michelin stars, food bloggers wrote about the restaurant and gourmets provided the following feedback on Tripadvisor: “Michelin-starred restaurants service”. So, the expected stars awarded to the restaurants were really well-earned. The Japanese chef presents his creative mix of French and Thai cuisine!

Chef Ryuki Kawasaki works in the open kitchen so that visitors can watch the whole process. After waiters describe the dishes, you will certainly wish to try all they have on the menu. Glazed soy salad is served here with foie gras in smoky consommé and marinated Scotch langoustine with lemongrass. Beef ribs are grilled on white charcoal and served with Perigord truffle. Already want to try? The can read you a mini-lecture about cocktails here. You can enjoy your dinner accompanied by classical music and a breathtaking view of the mountain and the Chao Praya river from the height of the 65th floor of the Lebua hotel. The restaurant looks like it was created for romantic dinners.
Average bill: THB 2,700.

Michelin Street Style

Jay Fai is unlike an expensive restaurant. In fact, it is a simple street-side dining in Bangkok without air conditioning and wifi. But it turned out to be in the top on Tripadvisor with hundreds of glowing reviews about its food. This small restaurant with a tiny kitchen was awarded one Michelin star among other 14 restaurants last year. Jay Fai (a nickname of its owner, whose real name is Supinya Junsuta) is its queen, goddess, and chef.

This eccentric 70-years-old lady has been cooking here for the last 40 years and wears ski goggles to protect her eyes while cooking. Locals call her Aunty Fai and love her seafood specialties and hand made noodles. Yes, her unforgettable crab omelet is the most expensive in Bangkok and costs 800 baht. On the other hand, there is nothing to be surprised with as we pay for the dish quality, popularity, and taste. (переклад вище) Here you can find lots of other stunning food, e.g. Raad Nar shrimps served with noodles and thick sauce or Tom Yam seafood soup. Even other chefs visit this place and call it the hallmark. The kitchen opens quite late, at 3 pm, but it closes at 2 am. The restaurant is open every day but Saturday when Aunty Fai has a day off.
Average bill: THB 550

A Mix of French and Thai Tastes

The menu of J’aime restaurant was created by Jean-Michel Lorain, two Michelin stars owner, who also received his well-deserves star in Thailand. (переклад вище) While thinking what to choose from the menu, appreciate the refined atmosphere and do not forget to raise your eyes up to see the grand piano attached to the ceiling.

Not all Asian people love French cuisine as they think that sauces interfere with the taste of the products. But definitely not in this case. Be sure you will enjoy not only the taste but also the service. Do not miss the chance to order steamed sea bass served with julienne, foie gras, duck confit, and “Napoleon” frog legs. Forget everything you knew as you will get a piece of culinary art with unexpected combinations of tastes and textures like a crispy pumpkin cake with parsley, garlic and paprika! We recommend to try lobster bisque, incredibly delicious seafood soup, as a main course. At J’aime restaurant they serve not only dinner but also lunch. Besides, they serve brunches every last Friday of the month.
Average bill: about THB 2,000