Bangkok’s best restaurants are all here, and this list is always updated.
Bangkok has a restaurant problem: too many excellent places to eat and not enough meals in a trip to get through them all. We’ve been eating my way through this city for years, and we still have a running list of places we haven’t made it back to.
This is not a list of the fanciest restaurants in Bangkok, nor is it a list of every Michelin-starred tasting menu in the city. This is the list we send friends to, the spots we keep returning to, and the restaurants that best represent Bangkok’s food scene. Thai home cooking, regional specialities, the brunch that changed how we think about weekends, and one excellent taqueria that has no business being this good in Southeast Asia.
There’s something here for every meal, every mood, and every kind of group.
Best Restaurants in Bangkok by Category
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Best For | Michelin? | Price (per person) |
| Sri Trat | Eastern Thai | Date night, groups | Bib Gourmand | 500–800฿ |
| Khua Kling Pak Sod | Southern Thai | Spice lovers, groups | Bib Gourmand | 400–700฿ |
| The Local by Oamthong | Regional Thai | Special occasions | Bib Gourmand | 600–1,000฿ |
| White Flower | Bakery & casual Thai | Casual, breakfast | No | 200–400฿ |
| Arun Thai Cuisine by See Fah | Classic Thai | Riverfront dining, romantic | No | 600–1,200฿ |
| Roast at The Commons | All-day brunch | Brunch, groups | No | 400–700฿ |
| Anya Authentic Thai Cuisine | Royal/traditional Thai | Foodie explorers, tourists | TAT Must Taste | 300–600฿ |
| Ros’niyom | Thai street food | Quick meals, families | No | 200–400฿ |
| Tookpak Convent Road | Southern Thai | Casual dinner, solo | No | 300–500฿ |
| Taling Pling | Classic Thai | First-timers, families | No | 300–600฿ |
| Kub Kao Kub Pla | Thai seafood | Families, groups | No | 400–800฿ |
| La Monita Taqueria | Mexican | Date night, expat craving | No | 400–700฿ |
| Phed Mark by Mark Wiens | Thai street food (kra pao) | Casual, solo, groups | No | 100–200฿ |
| Baan Ying | Thai home cooking | Families, all-day dining | No | 300–600฿ |
| Sam Lor | Modern Thai | Date night, groups | No | 500–900฿ |
| Baan Khanitha | Classic/royal Thai | Special occasions | Michelin Plate | 800–1,200฿ |
| Baan Som Tum | Isaan / som tum | Groups, casual | No | 350–550฿ |
| Charm Eatery and Bar | Thai-Italian | Brunch, after-work drinks | No | 500฿+ |
| Ega Bangkok | Isaan / 4-region Thai | Foodie groups, wine lovers | No | 400–700฿ |
| Krua Apsorn | Home-style Thai | Comfort food, lunch | Bib Gourmand | 350–550฿ |
| Madam Som Tum | Isaan / som tum | Quick lunch | No | 150–300฿ |
| Song Viet at Song Wat | Vietnamese | Casual dinner, atmosphere | No | 250–450฿ |
| Supanniga Eating Room | Eastern Thai | Crab lovers, sunset dining | Michelin Selected | 500–800฿ |
Sri Trat Restaurant & Bar
Best for: Date night · Groups · Anyone who thinks they know Thai food
Michelin: Bib Gourmand (multiple consecutive years)
Neighbourhood: Sukhumvit Soi 33, near BTS Phrom Phong
Reservations: Strongly recommended, they fill quickly every evening
Address: 90 Sukhumvit Soi 33, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana
There is a floor-to-ceiling mural of a Thai beauty queen on the back wall of Sri Trat, and it belongs to the owner’s mother, a former Miss Trat.
Sri Trat specialises in the food of Trat province, a coastal region in eastern Thailand bordering Cambodia. It is seafood-forward, herb-heavy, and vastly different from the central Thai food that most visitors encounter. Ingredients like aromatic Siam cardamom, wild betel leaves, and fresh kapi shrimp paste are imported directly from Trat.
The must-order is the stir-fried chicken thigh with Siam cardamom. Herbaceous, aromatic, and punchy without relying on chilli heat. The pan-fried pork and salted mackerel patty is another highlight; rich, savoury, and exactly the kind of dish that earns a restaurant a Michelin listing. Stir-fried glass noodles with pork and cha-om herb round things out beautifully if you’re eating family-style.
Spice note: The food here is herbal and complex, rather than incendiary. Accessible to heat-sensitive diners.
Budget: ~500฿ per person for a full meal with shared dishes.
Opening hours: 11am to 8:30pm daily.
Khua Kling Pak Sod
Best for: Spice lovers · Groups · Southern Thai food initiation
Michelin: Bib Gourmand (since 2017)
Neighbourhood: Thonglor, near Ekkamai
Reservations: Essential; call ahead or it’s a queue
Address: 98/1 Soi Pai Di Ma Di Klang, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana (Thonglor branch)
The name refers to the restaurant’s signature dish: khua kling, a dry-fried curry paste with minced pork that is unapologetically, ferociously Southern Thai. This is not a restaurant that apologises for spice. If you want a gentle introduction to Thai food, go to Taling Pling. If you want your palate properly challenged, come here.
Founded by a family from Chumphon in Southern Thailand, who use grandmother’s recipes, Khua Kling Pak Sod is one of the few places in Bangkok that genuinely commit to the Southern tradition. The dining room is modest, tucked into a quiet alley off Thonglor, but the food has been drawing both locals and savvy visitors since long before the Michelin listing.
The khua kling moo sab (minced pork dry curry) is mandatory. So is the gaeng luang, a fiery yellow curry with young coconut shoots and fresh fish. The crab omelette is one of the better versions in the city. For something to temper the heat, the moo hong (braised pork in a sweet Southern-style sauce) is slow-cooked and quietly brilliant.
Spice note: Southern Thai food is genuinely hot. Even on request otherwise, some dishes can be spicy. Order the moo hong or morning glory to give your mouth a break.
Budget: ~500฿ per person for a full sharing spread.
Opening hours: 11am to 9:30pm (lunch and dinner service).
The Local by Oamthong Thai Cuisine
Best for: Special occasions · Fine(ish) dining without the fine dining prices · Foodie groups
Michelin: Bib Gourmand for nine consecutive years
Neighbourhood: Sukhumvit Soi 23, near BTS Asoke
Reservations: Recommended
Address: 32–32/1 Sukhumvit Soi 23, Klongtoei
The Local is a colonial-style property that feels less like a restaurant and more like an estate where someone’s aunt has been cooking generational recipes for fifty years. The main dining room has thick wicker chairs, teak furniture, and murals that make you feel like you’ve stepped back into an earlier Bangkok.
The food is built around secret family recipes sourced from every region of Thailand. You will find dishes here that you may have never encountered before, executed with a consistency that nine consecutive years of Michelin recognition confirms.
The Michelin inspectors specifically recommend the deep-fried sea bass: deboned, served in large slices, with an intense sweet-and-sour sauce that’s more complex than cloying. We recommend the prawns in tamarind sauce, and the Northern-style Laarb (this is drier than the original version and served with pork crackling). Staff are attentive and will help you navigate the menu if you ask.
Spice note: Generally moderate. Dishes span all four regions of Thailand; some are spicy, many are not.
Budget: ~700–900฿ per person for a full meal. Outstanding value for the quality.
Opening hours: 11:30am to 10:30pm daily.
White Flower Cafe
Best for: Casual breakfast · Quick lunch · Exploring the old town
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Multiple locations
Reservations: Not required
White Flower started as a bakery and has quietly become one of Bangkok’s most consistently recommended spots for a casual, unhurried meal. The Block28 Samyan café is the most photogenic of the three locations; clean, bright, warm-toned, and extremely Instagram-friendly without making you feel like you’re eating inside a content set.
The food is approachable Thai café cooking: rice dishes, noodles, soft drinks and cakes. Everything is freshly made, consistently good, and priced reasonably. The cakes have drawn particular praise; light-textured, modestly sweet, and well above the café average.
If you are spending a morning in the old town or near Siam Square and need a comfortable spot to sit without the chaos of a food court, White Flower is exactly that.
Spice note: Mild to moderate. Suitable for heat-averse eaters.
Budget: ~150–300฿ per person.
Opening hours: Varies by location, check Google Maps for the branch nearest you.
Arun Thai Cuisine by See Fah
Best for: Romantic dinner · Visitors wanting a proper Thai restaurant experience
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Grand Centre Point Ratchadamri
Reservations: Recommended for dinner
Arun Thai is named after the founder’s beloved grandmother, Arunsri Rachjaibun, who built the family’s reputation for meticulous home-style Bangkok cooking. The menu is built around her recipes: dishes made for occasions, cooked with seasonal ingredients, and plated with care.
The food spans the full breadth of central Thai cuisine. Tom Yum Goong is a reliable highlightl properly sourced and prepared with real care. However, we can stop eating the King Prawns in Yellow Curry. It’s perfectly moorish and keeps us going back. The lamb dishes are less expected and worth trying. The Pad Thai and stir-fried morning glory are both benchmark versions, but the cabbage in fish sauce takes the trophy.
Spice note: Moderate. Staff can adjust heat levels on request.
Budget: ~500–900฿ per person.
Opening hours: Lunch and dinner daily.
Roast at The Commons, Thonglor
Best for: Weekend brunch · Groups with mixed tastes · An afternoon that doesn’t end
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: The Commons, Thonglor Soi 17, near BTS Thong Lo
Reservations: Strongly recommended on weekends, it gets full by 10am
Address: Level 4 (Top Yard), The Commons, 335 Thonglor Soi 17
When Roast opened in 2011, it effectively invented the Bangkok brunch scene as we know it. The menu is all-day café with serious execution: the truffle alfredo (handmade tagliatelle, mushrooms, crispy bacon, parmesan) is the dish people return for specifically.
The pancake stack here has become a Bangkok icon. The build-your-own brunch option, choose your eggs, your protein, your sides, means the table of six with wildly different tastes can all leave happy.
The coffee uses Roots beans, one of Bangkok’s most respected roasters, brewed in-house. The espresso latte (with espresso ice cubes) is the smart order for a hot Bangkok morning. They also offer a selection of wines and cocktails.
Note: The walk from BTS Thong Lo is about 1.4km. Take a Grab Bike for 40–50฿ rather than arriving sweaty.
Best time to visit: Weekdays, arriving before noon. Weekend mornings are beautiful but expect to wait for a seat.
Budget: ~400–600฿ per person for brunch and coffee.
Opening hours: Mon to Thu 10am–11pm, Fri to Sat 9am–11pm, Sun 9am–10pm.
Check out other Bangkok Cafes here, if you’re intending on cafe hoping!
Anya Authentic Thai Cuisine
Best for: Foodie explorers · Tourists who want to go deeper than pad thai · Royal Thai cuisine
Michelin: None (TAT Must Taste designation, Top 10 Fine Dining in Thailand by Lifestyle Asia)
Neighbourhood: Phra Nakhon (Old Town), near MRT Sam Yot
Reservations: Recommended
Address: 35 Bamrungmuang Road, San Chao Pho Sua, Phra Nakhon
If you thought you knew Thai food, Anya will politely challenge that assumption. This restaurant specialises in rare and ancient Thai dishes once served to royalty and since largely forgotten by Bangkok’s restaurant scene.
The standout is Khao Chae Savoey: fragrant, chilled jasmine rice served in cool, jasmine-scented water, accompanied by an extraordinary array of side dishes. Think caramelised minced fish, peppers stuffed with chicken and shrimp, pickled radish, and stuffed red onion. This is a seasonal dish.
The mee grob (crispy noodles) follows an Anya-exclusive recipe. The snacks are exceptional: moo sarong (pork balls wrapped in crispy noodles), goong hom sabai (whole prawns in crispy flat noodles), and ma hor chon thong (pork mince on pineapple) are all worth ordering before you even reach the mains.
The location, in the old town near the Ministry of Interior, is convenient for combining with a visit to Wat Pho or the Grand Palace. Come by public transport as parking is limited.
Spice note: Generally moderate. Many dishes here are subtle and refined rather than hot.
Budget: ~300–500฿ per person.
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8:30am–10:30pm, Sat 10:30am–10:30pm, closed Sunday.
Ros’niyom
Best for: No-fuss, authentic Thai · Quick lunch · Families · Mall dining done well
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Central World, EmQuartier, Siam, IconSiam, Silom
Reservations: Not required (though peak times can mean a queue)
Multiple locations
Ros’niyom is the chain restaurant popular with Bangkok expats.
The aesthetic is street food elevated into an air-conditioned space. The menu reads like a very good hawker stall, with dishes laid out by category: noodles, rice plates, soups, stir-fries. The khao kluk kapi (shrimp paste fried rice with a full array of sides) is the signature here. The crab fried rice and tom yum variations are reliable across branches. The pork skewers with sticky rice are outstanding and our personal favourite.
The green and blue interiors are cheerful without being jarring. Service is functional rather than warm, but it moves quickly.
Best location: The EmQuartier branch for accessibility; the Central World branch for atmosphere.
Budget: ~250–400฿ per person.
Opening hours: Varies by location, generally 10am–10pm daily.
Tookpak (Convent Road)
Best for: Casual dinner · Southern-ish Thai in Silom
Michelin: None (4.9 Google rating, frequently cited in Michelin-adjacent round-ups)
Neighbourhood: Convent Road and Stadium One branches
Reservations: Book via Line @TOOKPAK
Address: 44/15 Convent Road, Silom (Convent Road branch)
We fell into eating at Tookpak one afternoon while walking around Silom, and we’ve gone back twice since.
The kitchen leans into Southern Thai flavours, combining the herbaceous, punchy flavours of the South with commonly loved dishes in Bangkok. The Tom Yum here is notably different: fresher, lighter in colour, cleaner in flavour than the heavy-handed tourist versions.
The crab omelette is remarkable. What we really loved here were the corn fritters. While simple and unassuming, this was done very well and made the perfect pair to the curries and soups that we’d ordered.
Spice note: Moderate, leaning toward the bold.
Budget: ~350–500฿ per person.
Opening hours: 10:30am–10pm
Taling Pling
Best for: First visit to Bangkok · Families · Impressing overseas guests reliably
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Sukhumvit Soi 34 (standalone house, our favourite), Siam Paragon, Silom Baan Arc, and others
Reservations: Recommended for the Sukhumvit Soi 34 house; walk-in at mall branches
Taling Pling is where Bangkok residents take people who’ve never eaten Thai food before and need to be won over permanently. The restaurant has been operating since 1992.
Across its now-extensive network of branches, the Sukhumvit Soi 34 location is the one worth seeking out specifically. Housed in a renovated Thai house with a garden, koi pond, and tuk-tuk service to the main road after dinner, it’s the full experience rather than the mall version.
The food is slightly sweeter in profile than the more regional specialist restaurants on this list, which makes it universally approachable. The massaman curry is a reliable highlight. The pomelo salad is light and gorgeous.
Spice note: Mild to moderate
Budget: ~350–600฿ per person.
Opening hours: Varies by branch; Soi 34 typically 11am–10pm.
Kub Kao Kub Pla
Best for: Thai seafood feasts · Families · Groups who want variety
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Central World, Siam Paragon, Terminal 21 Asoke, Central Embassy, IconSiam among others
Reservations: Recommended for Central World, especially weekend lunch
Multiple Locations inside several malls
The name translates approximately to “eat rice, eat fish”. Kub Kao Kub Pla is a chain that consistently exceeds expectations for a shopping-mall seafood restaurant. It is regularly packed with Thai families, which is always a good sign.
The crab fried rice is the signature: generous crab meat, good wok breath, with just the right hint of heat. The tom yum goong (here served with huge fresh prawns) is a must. The pla tod kamin (deep-fried fish with turmeric) is worth ordering at least once. The stir-fried morning glory arrives bright and properly seasoned.
We’d also recommend the Fermented Pork Sausage Salad with Deep Fried Rice, and the Deep-Fried Crab Balls
Peak lunch and dinner times attract queues; arriving just before noon or just before 6 pm gets you in quickly.
Spice note: Moderate; the kitchen will adjust on request.
Budget: ~500฿ per person for a full meal.
Opening hours: Most branches 10am–9:30pm daily.
La Monita Taqueria
Best for: When you desperately need Mexican food · Expat groups · Lively weeknight dinner
Michelin: None (Ctrip Gourmet List; 16 consecutive years of awards)
Neighbourhood: Ploenchit (main branch at Mahatun Plaza), EmQuartier (Helix Quartier 7th floor)
Reservations: Recommended for dinner
Address: 888/25-26 Mahatun Plaza, Ploenchit Road
Here is the truth about La Monita: Bangkok has no business having a taqueria this good. And yet…
Opened by two foodies with a mission to bring genuine California-inspired Mexican food to Southeast Asia, La Monita has been running for over sixteen years and still draws queues.
The quesa-birria tacos with crispy cheese, consomé for dipping, tender braised beef are the most recent reason people seek the place out. The salsa bar, with its rotating selection of house-made sauces from very spicy to gently sweet, is the detail that lifts the whole experience.
The margaritas are strong and well-priced and an absolute must for anyone who enjoys this cocktail. The carne asada quesadilla is the reliable order if you are new here.
Best time to visit: Weeknight dinner, weekends get busy and the energy tips from lively to hectic.
Budget: ~500–700฿ per person including drinks.
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11am–11pm, Sat to Sun 10am–11pm (brunch menu until 3pm on weekends).
Phed Mark by Mark Wiens
Best for: The best pad kra pao in Bangkok · Solo dining · No-frills street food
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Orchard area/Pratunam
Reservations: Not applicable; queue and order
We have a full review of Phed Mark here.
The short version: Mark Wiens, the YouTube-famous food traveller with millions of subscribers, opened his own restaurant. The pad kra pao (holy basil stir fry) here is the best we’ve had in Bangkok. The holy basil is fragrant and properly wok-charred, the meat is juicy, and the fried egg achieves the necessary crispy edge without becoming rubbery. The heat level is adjustable, but the kitchen doesn’t hold back by default.
The venue is casual and loud, the crowd is a mix of tourists and locals who know, and the whole experience takes about 45 minutes including the queue.
Spice note: Adjust on order.
Budget: ~100–200฿ per person.
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm
Baan Ying
Best for: Families · Relaxed group dinners · Thai home cooking across all tastes
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Central World, Terminal 21, One Bangkok, Siam Kitty, and more
Reservations: Recommended for larger groups, especially weekend evenings
Multiple locations in malls.
Baan Ying started with nine tables in Siam Square in 1999. Auntie Ying’s philosophy was straightforward: cook food for the table the way you’d cook for family.
The food is described as “Thai-mom cuisine”. Comforting, generously portioned, and exceptionally consistent across branches. The spicy lime steamed sea bass is the dish most frequently called out in reviews. The crab omelette is also a signature, though portions of crab can vary by branch and visit. The mango sticky rice dessert is one of the better versions you will find in Bangkok.
Also try the fermented pork sausage noodles; it’s excellent.
Spice note: The kitchen can do mild to very spicy
Budget: ~350–600฿ per person.
Opening hours: 10am–9pm (most branches).
Sam Lor
Best for: A proper Bangkok night out · Groups · Modern Thai with creative touches
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Bangkok
Reservations: Absolutely yes
Sam Lor has its own review here.
Sam Lor is the restaurant we keep coming back to when we want to remember why Bangkok’s food scene is genuinely one of the most exciting in the world. The food is rooted in Thai tradition but not enslaved to it. Think familiar ingredients, unexpected combinations, careful execution.
It is the kind of place that works for a birthday dinner, a first date, or a table of friends who want to drink, eat a lot, and stay late.
Baan Khanitha
Best for: Special occasions · Visitors wanting a true Bangkok fine-dining institution
Michelin: Michelin Plate (Thailand’s first standalone Thai fine-dining restaurant outside a hotel, opened 1993)
Neighbourhood: Sathorn (flagship), Sukhumvit Soi 23, plus a dining cruise on the Chao Phraya
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Founded by Khanitha Akaranitikul in 1993, this Bangkok restaurant was the first in the city to prove that a serious Thai fine-dining experience didn’t have to be housed in a hotel. Decades later, it remains one of the city’s benchmark addresses for elegant, classic Thai cooking, with organic vegetables sourced from the restaurant’s own farm in Khao Yai.
The menu changes with the seasons, but the chor muang (purple dumplings shaped like flowers, filled with minced chicken and a delicate curry spice) is the dish to seek out specifically.
In the hottest months, Baan Khanitha also serves khao chae, the royal Mon-tradition chilled rice dish soaked in jasmine-scented water and served with an elaborate spread of condiments. It is a genuinely seasonal treat and worth timing a visit around if you’re here between March and May. The cocktail menu is innovative, and seamlessly blends location flavours into classic cocktails.
Spice note: Refined rather than fiery, central Thai in flavours
Budget: ~800–1,200฿ per person.
Opening hours: Vary by branch; check the specific Sathorn or Sukhumvit 23 location.
Baan Som Tum
Best for: Som tum exploration · Groups who want to taste the full range of Isaan salads
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Sathorn, Sukhumvit, Bang Rak and more
Reservations: Not typically required, though weekend evenings can mean a short wait
If your only experience of som tum is the standard green papaya salad, Baan Som Tum exists to expand your understanding considerably. This is a restaurant built entirely around the breadth of Isaan salad-making. Diners can find sweet, sour, fermented, and combined versions that most visitors to Bangkok never encounter.
The waxy corn som tum is the dish to ask for specifically. This is a less common variation using young corn that brings a sweetness and crunch that plays beautifully against the usual lime-and-chili base. The laab moo thod (crispy fried pork laab) is the other standout: all the classic laab seasoning of toasted rice powder, herbs, and chili, but with the textural payoff of a crisp fry rather than the usual soft minced format. Grilled pork neck and sticky rice round out a meal built for sharing.
Spice note: Ask for your preferred heat level, as the default skews properly spicy.
Budget: ~350–550฿ per person.
Opening hours: Varies by branch, generally late morning through evening.
Charm Eatery and Bar
Best for: Weekend brunch without the crowds · After-work drinks · CBD-adjacent dining
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Sathorn Soi 10–12, with a second outlet
Reservations: Recommended for dinner, especially Thursday to Saturday
Address: 124 Soi Sathorn 12, Silom, Bang Rak
Charm delivers both excellent food and cocktails. Chef-owner Rompho Phothisoontorn (also behind the long-running Mazzaro) built the menu around his grandmother’s heirloom recipes filtered through Le Cordon Bleu training.
The laab moo thod here is, by reputation, just as good as Baan Som Tum’s. It’s crisp, well-seasoned, and a genuinely different texture experience from standard laab. The “mother-in-law eggs” (kai mae yai, a Thai take on slow-cooked sweet-savoury eggs in a tamarind-forward sauce) is a conversation-starter dish worth ordering for the table. The prawns in tamarind sauce are another highlight. Beyond the Thai menu, Charm leans into a Thai-Italian crossover with dishes like krapow pizza.
Being close to the CBD makes Charm a smart, less-crowded weekend brunch option. The Sathorn office crowd that fills it on weekday evenings tends to be elsewhere on Saturday and Sunday mornings, leaving the restaurant noticeably calmer. They have weekend brunch set meals and sometimes, one-for-one Aperol Spritzs.
Spice note: Moderate to spicy, particularly on the laab and tamarind dishes.
Budget: ~500฿+ per person.
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 12pm–2pm, 5pm–12am; Sat to Sun 12pm–12am.
Ega Bangkok
Best for: Isaan food with real conviction · Wine and cakes
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Sathorn Soi 12, and others including Songwat
Reservations: Recommended, especially evenings and weekends
Ega draws together dishes from all four regions of Thailand under one roof, served in a space that looks more like a stylish neighbourhood haunt. Looking for a well-curated Bottega wine selection and a cake counter? Ega has that, too.
The Isaan dishes here are what Ega earns its reputation for. The som tum pla raa (papaya salad made with fermented fish sauce) is an experience. The fermented fish sauce is an acquired taste, so proceed with caution.
For something gentler, the squid in black ink, stir-fried pork with shrimp paste, and spicy gourami salad are all well-regarded entry points into the menu’s breadth.
The combination of serious Isaan cooking, a proper wine list, and excellent desserts is rare in Bangkok, and it’s what makes Ega worth the trip.
Spice note: The som tum pla raa is genuinely fiery and pungent; approach with appropriate respect.
Budget: ~400–700฿ per person.
Opening hours: Check current hours via their social channels, as they can shift seasonally.
Krua Apsorn
Best for: Comforting, old-school Thai cooking · Soups you won’t find elsewhere
Michelin: Bib Gourmand (8+ consecutive years)
Neighbourhood: Dinso Road (near Democracy Monument) and Samsen Road (Dusit), with smaller mall outposts
Reservations: Recommended, particularly for lunch
Family-run for more than two decades, Krua Apson has held Michelin Bib Gourmand status for eight consecutive years and counting.
The fluffy crab omelette is light, generously filled with real crab, with a sauce that elevates rather than masks. But it’s the soups that genuinely set Krua Apsorn apart. The kind of clear, herby, perfectly balanced soups that used to be standard in Bangkok homes are now rare even in Thai households, let alone restaurants.
Order whichever soup is on the day’s menu and you are tasting something most younger Bangkok residents rarely get at home anymore. The yellow curry with lotus stems and shrimp, sour and bright, is another standout worth specifically seeking out.
The Dinso Road location, within walking distance of Democracy Monument and Khao San Road, is the more tourist-accessible branch. The original Samsen Road location in Dusit has a slightly more loca feel.
Spice note: Balanced rather than aggressive
Budget: ~350–550฿ per person.
Opening hours: Roughly 10:30am–7:30pm; the Dinso branch is closed on Sundays.
Madam Somtum
Best for: Quick, satisfying meals · Working-crowd energy · Som tum variety without the formality
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Ploenchit, near Lumphini
Reservations: Not typically needed, though arriving a few minutes before noon helps you beat the office lunch rush
Address: 888/14 Phloen Chit Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan
Tucked just off the chaos of the Ploenchit and Nana area, Madam Somtum has an extensive som tum range, spanning the more familiar Thai-style version through to bolder regional variations.
The tom yum is sour, hot, and well-seasoned rather than gentler tourist-adjusted versions. The Thai omelette comes recommended specifically for its lightness, and the laarb carries the same confident, seasoned profile that defines the rest of the menu. Note that the restaurant runs cash-only, and English menus are available but staff English can be limited; Google Translate earns its keep here.
Arrive close to opening or just before noon if you want to beat the lunch crowd; by 12:30pm on a weekday the small space fills with Ploenchit office workers who know exactly what they’re there for.
Spice note: Specify your preferred level when ordering.
Budget: ~150–300฿ per person.
Opening hours: Check current hours; popular lunch window runs from late morning.
Song Viet at Song Wat
Best for: An authentic Vietnamese meal · Exploring Songwat
Michelin: None
Neighbourhood: Song Wat Road/Chinatown
Reservations: Not typically required
Song Viet at Song Wat is a modern-twist on Vietnamese street food restaurant set inside a beautifully restored space. It comes complete with low traditional Vietnamese stool seating that makes the whole experience feel transporting rather than staged.
The roasted pork banh mi is made with a proper French baguette, traditional pâté and cold cuts. Beyond the banh mi, the restaurant serves nem nuong (grilled pork skewers from Nha Trang, served with a homemade dipping sauce and crispy rice paper for wrapping) and banh mi chao, a Vietnamese take on a sizzling egg pan dish loaded with pâté and pork. They have a very large Vietnamese menu, so diners will be spoiled for choice.
Spice note: Mild to moderate by Vietnamese cuisine standards
Budget: ~250–450฿ per person.
Opening hours: Weekdays 11am–10pm, weekends 10am–10pm.
Supanniga Eating Room
Best for: Crab dishes · Sunset views at the Tha Tien branch
Michelin: Michelin-recognised across multiple branches (Bib Gourmand / Michelin Selected, since 2018)
Neighbourhood: Three locations — Thonglor (Sukhumvit 55), Sathorn 10, and Tha Tien (riverside, facing Wat Arun)
Reservations: Strongly recommended, especially for a riverside table at Tha Tien around sunset
Crab is the reason most people come here, despite the wide menu. The crab dishes here are loaded with lump meat, and the gaeng bai cha plu (a rich red curry with crab meat and betel leaf) is a standout.
For dessert, the Thai milk tea panna cotta is the dish that’s caught our hearts in a jelly mould. Try this for balanced sweetness with a real Thai tea flavour coming through rather than something diluted for international palates. The hor mok (Thai steamed crab curry custard) is another order worth making.
The Tha Tien branch, facing the river with Wat Arun directly across the water, is the one worth booking for sunset. The Sathorn and Thonglor branches are more convenient for a weeknight dinner without the river-view premium.
Spice note: Generally moderate, with some spicy dishes (the crab curry runs hot). Ask if unsure.
Budget: ~500–800฿ per person, more at Tha Tien for the view premium.
Opening hours: Vary by branch; book ahead for Tha Tien, particularly around sunset.
A Few More Notes Before You Go
On Michelin: Bangkok’s Bib Gourmand list is particularly useful because it identifies excellent food at reasonable prices — Sri Trat, Khua Kling Pak Sod, and The Local by Oamthong all hold this designation. Starred restaurants (Sorn, Le Du, Potong) are exceptional and worth researching separately if fine dining is on the agenda.
On reservations: Bangkok restaurants at the quality end fill up fast, particularly on Thursday to Saturday evenings. For Sri Trat, Sam Lor, The Local, Khua Kling Pak Sod, and La Monita especially, book in advance or arrive early.
On timing: The dinner window in Bangkok opens earlier than most visitors expect. Many Thais eat dinner from 6pm, and the better restaurants fill from 7pm onward. A 6pm reservation at a popular spot will often mean a relaxed meal; an 8pm walk-in is ambitious.
On neighbourhoods: Most of this list clusters around Thonglor/Ekkamai and Sukhumvit. The Old Town options (Anya, White Flower, Sam Lor) are worth combining with a temple visit. Silom is best for Tookpak and the nearby bar scene afterwards.
This list is updated regularly. Last updated June 2026. Know a Bangkok restaurant that belongs here? Tell us in the comments.
For our complete Bangkok guide, head to the Bangkok Food Guide page. And if you are looking for the best cafes in Bangkok or the best bars in Bangkok, we have those covered too.