The ultimate guide to dining in Bangkok at any budget

The legend. The icon. The dish that has taken the internet by storm. Jeh O Chula’s piquant tom yum mama noodles topped with crispy pork belly, fresh seafood and luscious egg yolks, is well worth the hour-long queue. Other dishes we love at this popular supper joint include the deep-fried lupcheong (chinese sausage), thick slices of raw salmon coated in a sour and spicy Thai sauce as well as the grilled pork jowl salad.

Securing a table might seem confusing to a first-timer so here are our best tips. Head to the men at the table when you first arrive to get a queue number, sit by the roadside stools and listen closely for your number to be called. The wait is much shorter if you come after 10pm on a weekday or if you choose to pre-order a set through Klook.

113 Khwaeng Rong Muang, Khet Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330.

While most Singaporeans head to the wanton mee shop near Platinum for their fix, we’d recommend checking out Bamee Kon Sae Lee instead. Located minutes from Thong Lor BTS, this tiny noodle joint falls along the same stretch as other famed Bangkok eats 55 Pochana and Zaew Noodles. The bowls of handmade egg noodles are small but pack a flavourful punch, and come loaded with roast duck, pork and crab meat. Each table also gets a container filled with freshly fried lard for extra indulgence.

57 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110.

With 12 outlets conveniently located across Bangkok, Thong Smith makes it easy for you to get your boat noodle fix. Compared to other boat noodle joints you’d find on the streets of Bangkok, Thong Smith’s bowls are substantial and packed with all the trimmings. The robust broth is what makes Thong Smith’s version a hit, especially when sprinkled with deep-fried Thai garlic cloves.

Multiple locations including 61 Thong Lo Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

Sure, you’ve had oyster omelettes in Singapore, but we doubt you’ve ever had oyster omelettes quite like the ones at Noi Mong Hoi Thod. This popular Chinatown breakfast joint has been serving up plates of crispy, gooey and oh-so-tasty omelettes with plump oysters for over 30 years. Not a fan of oysters? They also do a version with mussels instead.

539 Phlap Phla Chai Rd, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100.

If duck blood, intestines and gizzards sound like your idea of a great meal then Buay Pochana is the place for you. Their famed duck noodles come packed with all that good stuff as well as a whole braised duck leg that’s stewed for hours till it easily falls apart with a touch of your chopsticks.

318/1 Sukhumvit 55, Thong Lo 10-12, Vadhana, Bangkok 10110

These curry specialists in Bangkok’s historic district of Charoenkrung are constantly dreaming up new ways to bring the heat. Charmgang’s ever-changing menu focuses on traditional Thai flavours remixed with modern techniques. Beyond their excellent curries, you can also expect to find an assortment of Thai salads, relishes and meats kissed by charcoal fire to complete your meal.

14, 35 Nakhon Kasem 5 Alley, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100.

Mother clearly knows best at this upscale yet homey restaurant in the heart of Phrom Phong. Sri Trat showcases rare Eastern Thai recipes passed down from the owner’s mother that are made for sharing. With over 80 dishes on the menu, it can be hard to choose but some of our must-haves are the creamy coconut milk-based herbal crab dip served with a platter of raw Thai vegetables, massaman curry with chicken and unripened durian and stir-fried glass noodles with cha-om.

90 Sukhumvit 33 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

There are two dishes that keep people flocking to Here Hai despite its constant long queue: massive grilled river prawns and crab fried rice chock full of wok hei. Come before 11am if you want to avoid the lunch rush.

112, 1 Ekkamai Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110.

Housed in a grand and stylish estate, The Local offers an escape from the hustle of the city to the culinary charms of Southern Thailand. The restaurant reveals the South’s rich diversity through dishes like a finely-chopped lemongrass salad wrapped with wild betal leaves and Souther-style fish curries that pair perfectly with the two different kinds of rice they serve tableside.

32 32/1 Soi Sukhumvit 23, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

Helmed by German twins Thomas and Mathias Sühring, this restaurant has fast become Bangkok’s premiere dining destination. Since its opening in 2016, Sühring has earned two Michelin stars and a spot on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It’s easy to see why – each dish on its 6 or 9-course tasting menu is perfectly executed with flavours that will stay in your memory long after your trip to Bangkok ends.

10 Soi Yen Akat 3, Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120

Located slightly outside the city centre, Baan Tepa Culinary Space is well worth braving Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams. Here, chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam – the first winner of Top Chef Thailand and former sous chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York – has converted her grandmother’s mansion into a culinary playground where she reimagines classic Thai dishes with modern techniques.

2369 Ramkhamhaeng Rd, Hua Mak, Bang Kapi District, Bangkok 10240

A champion of local ingredients, 100 Mahaseth sources its produce from farmers across Thailand and makes sure nothing goes to waste. The nose-to-tail concept uses all parts of the animal so don’t be surprised to find duck hearts, pig brains and other offal-y good finds on the menu. Don’t miss their signature roasted bone marrow covered in toasted perilla seeds for an added crunch and be sure to make your way upstairs to its sister bar, Mahaniyom, for some post-dinner drinks made with indigenous Thai ingredients.

100 Maha Set Rd, Si Phraya, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

Can’t get a seat at Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn’s award-winning restaurant, Nusara? Here’s a tip, head to its sister restaurant, Lahnyai Nusara instead. The experience is almost identical with signature dishes from Nusara also making an appearance on Lahnyai’s menu. And if we’re completely honest, we might like the interiors of Lanhyai more, with touches of modern opulence to reflect its location within Baan Turtles. The ostentatious building also houses other top restaurants and has plenty of Instagram-worthy backdrops to snap that #OOTD.

31 Suan Phlu 2 Alley, Mahamek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120

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