Where to eat tasty, authentic, moderately priced Thai food in Bangkok
Thailand is obviously the best place in the world to sample Thai food. There are many great Thai restaurants in Bangkok from small shophouse establishments to some of the highest rated in Asia. We share our favorite local restaurants with you, where you will find tasty, authenic Thai food at friendly prices.
Queen of Curry is a small cosy Thai restaurant in Bangkok. It’s a few minutes walk from Saphan Taksin BTS Station & Bangkok’s top riverside hotels. Despite it’s name it’s not just a curry restaurant but serves up a wide selection of tasty Thai dishes. The restaurant has a Thai Select certificate from the government, which is only given to restaurants promoting authentic cuisine from Thailand.
Queen of Curry
The extensive menu includes curries, spicy salads, rice dishes, seafood & more. When ordering you will be asked how spicy you would like your food. They can prepare it for you as spicy (phet), medium spicy or non-spicy. Over two visits we sampled Tom Yam Kung, Penang Curry, Larb Kai (Spicy Minced Chicken & Herbs), Yam Neua (Spicy Beef Salad), Yam Talay (Spicy Seafood Salad), Fried Morning Glory, & Somtam Thai (Papaya Salad). Everything was delicious and spiced as ordered. Portions were good and everything was served in a reasonable time. The staff speak decent English and will help you with ordering.
The mid-priced menu starts at 90 baht. Most dishes are in the 140-250 baht range. Tom Yam Kung & Curries are 190 baht. Big beers go for 110-130 baht.
There is both inside (air-conditioned) & outside seating, on a terrace. The customers are a mix of locals, expats and discerning tourists. The restaurant sells it’s own brand of curry paste. There are five, Red, Yellow, Green, Penang, & Massaman. One jar is 95 baht or five for 450 baht.
If you’re staing in the Silom/Riverside area, Queen of Curry is a good choice for lovers of reasonably priced, quality Thai cuisine.
The following hotels are a short walk or taxi ride from Queen of Curry. Shangari-La, Peninsula, Oriental, Lebua, Sheraton, Chatrium, Ramada, Pullman, Furama, Hilton, Holiday Inn & Novotel.
Location: Charoen Krung Road Soi 50, Bangrak, Bangkok.
District: Bangrak
Opening Hours: 10.00-22.00 (last orders by 21.30)
BTS: Saphan Taksin (Exit 3). Turn left on to Charoen Krung Road. Soi 50 is just past Robinson Department Store.
Map
Cabbages and Condoms is a world-famous Thai restaurant in Bangkok serving authentic cuisine. The theme of the restaurant is condoms with the purpose being to promote safe sex, family planning, and AIDS prevention through community development programs which are partly funded by the restaurant’s profits.
Cabbages & Condoms
The owner of the restaurant was once a government health minister who is famous for introducing family planning programs and promoting condom use among Thai people in the early 90’s. The restaurant’s decor features life-size mannequin’s dressed in a variety of costumes made from condoms.
The Mannequins
The main dining area has a lovely setting in an open-air garden complete with trees decorated with fairy lights and featuring a synthetic waterfall. There is an open-air terrace on the upper floor with views over the garden as well as an indoor air-conditioned dining room. At one end of the garden is an indoor bar called the Captain Condom. There is also nightly live traditional Thai music in the garden.
The extensive menu features a full range of Thai dishes including soups, curries, spicy salads, and seafood as well as a small vegetarian menu. Much of the produce is grown on the restaurants own farm. The food is excellent quality with the spice level just right to give authentic flavors without being overly spicy for people not used to eating Thai cuisine. Mains are all in the 190-470-baht range, while cocktails are 230 baht, beers from 110 baht and wine 220 glass/ 1490 bottle. Tax and service (17%) will be added to the bill.
Check the menu: https://cabbagesandcondomsbkk.com/
As you enter the restaurant there is a large handicraft shop selling products from all over Thailand made by local village communities. Proceeds from the shop go towards funding development programs and social activities run by the restaurant foundation. There is a broad range of interesting products at reasonable prices including ceramics, candles, Thai silk products, clothes, scarves, and bags as well as products featuring or made from condoms including condom flowers and key rings. There are also free condoms available at the exit in two sizes.
The Souvenir Shop
Cabbages & Condoms is usually busy and you would be wise to make a reservation if you want a nice table in the garden after 20.00. The restaurant is popular with expats and tourists as well as the locals. It’s slightly more expensive than some places in the vicinity but is worth it for the high-quality food, atmosphere, and a pleasant setting. If it’s your first visit to Thailand this is an excellent restaurant to break in your taste buds and even if it’s not your first visit this is one restaurant you shouldn’t miss.
Reservations: Call 02 229 4610
The restaurant is a short walk down Sukhumvit Soi 12 and only 5 minutes from the BTS & MRT.
Location: Sukhumvit Road Soi 12, Bangkok.
District: Sukhumvit
Opening Hours: 11.00-23.00
BTS Asoke (exit 2), MRT Sukhumvit (exit 3).
Map
Hemlock is a small shop house Thai restaurant in Bangkok, on Phra Athit Road in the Khaosan Road area. The plain white interior decor features art on the walls, a small rock garden with a palm tree and an upright piano. There is also an upstairs dining area though it lacks the character of the ground floor space. The restaurant tends to attract more discerning expats and travelers looking for above-average food.
Hemlock Art Restaurant
The extensive menu features traditional classic Thai dishes as well as many rare “ancient” dishes that you don’t see on many menus. As well as the usual meat and seafood choices you will find some oddities such as crocodile and ostrich. Many of the dishes on the menu are available as vegetarian versions. The vegetarian version is towards the back of the menu.
Prices are inexpensive with most dishes in the 100-250 range while beers start at 90 baht and there is a good wine choice. A couple of dishes to try here are the spicy mango salad (vegetarian version) in a chili & peanut sauce and the spicy banana flower salad both of which you don’t see on too many menus and are both delicious.
small and cozy
If you come to dine here, be adventurous and spend a bit of time studying the menu. Hemlock is busy most nights but you don’t usually have to wait long for a table. After dining the surrounding Phra Athit Road area offers some nice chilled out bars with live jazz and acoustic music in contrast to the rowdier nightlife on Khaosan Road.
Location: 56 Phra Athit Road, Banglamphu, Bangkok.
District: Khaosan
Opening Hours: 17.00-24.00 Monday-Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
Getting There: A 5-minute walk from Khaosan Road.
Map
Vientiane Kitchen is a Thai restaurant in Bangkok. It’s on Sukhumvit Soi 36 and specializes in Lao and North-Eastern Thai (Isaan) food. The restaurant is in a large traditional style thatched roof barn.
Vientiane Kitchen
The interior features traditional decor with large bench tables with chairs in front of a stage and a mezzanine floor featuring traditional floor cushion seating with low tables. There is a nightly show (19.30-22.00) featuring a live band, dancers, and singers performing Morlam style Isaan music and folk dance. All the performers and waiting staff wear traditional Lao style clothing. The entertainment is genuine fun and audience participation in the dances and on-stage games is encouraged.
The Lao-Isaan food menu is extensive and authentic featuring popular dishes such as grilled chicken, papaya salad, larb, Isaan style curries and soups, grilled fish, grilled meats and sticky rice as well as more exotic dishes such as fried frog, ant’s eggs, and buffalo tongue. Don’t expect to find Pad Thai or Tom Yam Kung here.
Spicy Isan Food
The food is spicy though the waitress will ask you how spicy you would like it. The prices are slightly above average for an Isaan restaurant but are excellent value if you factor in the entertainment, setting, and atmosphere. Dishes range from 90-390 baht, with large beers starting at 120 baht. Beer Lao is also available. There is a 17% service and VAT charge added to the bill.
Check the menu or make a reservation: https://www.vientiane-kitchenbkk.com/
Service is good and the staff is helpful in explaining things on the menu. The customers are a mix of locals who come for the music and food as well as expats and tourists. The restaurant is often labeled as being touristy though this is wide of the mark as really, it’s just an unpretentious fun place to taste authentic Lao style food and experience a bit of North Eastern style culture. Vientiane Kitchen is a 5-minute walk from BTS Thong Lo station.
Location: 8 Sukhumvit Road Soi 36, Bangkok.
District: Sukhumvit/Thonglor
Opening Hours: 18.00-24.00 daily.
Getting There: BTS Thong Lo (exit 2).
Map
Somtam Nua is a popular authentic Isaan cafe-style restaurant in Siam Square opposite Siam Paragon. The large menu is purely Isaan style food with the usual range of spicy salads, soups, and grilled and fried meat and fish.
Larb Kai
The food is inexpensive with dishes costing 60-150 baht. The portions are average size and the way to go is to order several dishes to share.
Papaya Salad
Alcohol is available with beers at 100 baht. Somtam Nua is nearly always busy often with a line of people outside so you may have to wait for a table during popular hours. The customers are mainly locals but are also popular with Asian tourists.
Somtam Nua
Location: 392/14 Siam Square Soi 5, Rama 1 road, Bangkok.
District: Ratchaprasong
Opening Hours: 10.45-21.30 daily.
Somtam Nua
BTS Siam (exit 4)
Map
Madame Musur is a cozy, relaxing Thai restaurant in Bangkok. It’s on Rambuttri Road in the Khaosan Road area and specializes in Northern Thai Cuisine.
Madame Musur
The restaurant’s decor is Northern Thai Lanna style furnished with rattan sofas, chairs, and batik artwork and lamps. The back half of the restaurant features a low table area with cushioned floor seating and low sofas while the front half has conventional wooden tables and chairs and an outdoor terrace.
The Northern style food is tasty and authentic featuring classic Northern dishes such as Khao Soi, Sai, Ua, Larb Moo, Nam Prik, and Kanom Jeen as well as Thai favorites Phad Thai, Khao Phad, Phad Krapow, Curries, and Somtum. Vegetarian food is also available.
Prices are reasonable with dishes from 100-150 baht, beers 70-120 and cocktails at 120 baht. The bar also serves Northern style spirits such as Ma Jai Dam. There is a live DJ in the evenings spinning chill-out tunes and the restaurant opens early for breakfasts.
Madame Musur is popular with travelers and is one of the best places to eat, drink and relax in the Khaosan area. There is also a smaller second branch on Samsen Soi 2.
Location: 41 Soi Rambuttri, Banglamphu, Bangkok.
District: Khaosan
Opening Hours: 08.00-24.00
Getting There: Walk: Turn on to lower Rambuttri Road from Chakrabongse Road. Madame Musur is on your right shortly after Rambuttri veers to the left.
Location 2: 76 Samsen 2 alley, Samsen Road, Banglamphu, Bangkok.
District: Khaosan
Opening Hours: 09.00-24.00
Getting There: Walk: From Khaosan Road, walk up Chakrabongse Road crossing the bridge at the intersection on to Samsen Road. Turn right into Soi 2 and Madame Musur is on the corner of the first alley on the left.
Map
Somtam Der is a popular authentic northern Isaan style Thai restaurant in Bangkok. It’s on Soi Sala Daeng in the Silom district and is run by a native of Isaan.
Somtam Der
The restaurants signature dish is Somtum with 20 variations on the menu along with usual Isaan favorites such as larb, grilled/fried chicken, pork and beef, spicy salads, soups, noodles, steamed dishes and a choice of desserts. The portions are medium size and it’s a good idea to order several dishes to share tapas-style. The menu features pictures of all the dishes. The dishes are spicy so don’t forget to ask for your food medium spicy if you’re not used to spicy food. There are downstairs and upstairs tables as well as a small terrace outside.
Check the menu: http://www.somtumder.com/menu_papaya.html
Papaya Salad at Somtam Der
Larb Kung
There is a range of herbal drinks available as well as Beer Laos. The prices are reasonable, and good value for money with dishes in the 60-120 baht range. Service is quick, efficient and friendly. The restaurant is a short walk from Silom Road.
Somtam Der
Location: 5/5 Soi Saladaeng, Silom Road, Bangkok.
District: Silom
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11.00-14.30, 16.30-22.30.
Getting There: BTS Sala Daeng Station (exit 4). MRT Silom Station (exit 2).
Map
Hai Somtam Convent is a famous Isaan restaurant on Convent road in the Silom area of Bangkok. The restaurant is pretty plain with an open-air ground floor and an air-conditioned upper floor featuring white tables and stools. All the food preparation takes place at the front of the restaurant.
Somtam Thai, Kai Yaang & Sticky Rice
The fare is purely Isaan with the usual papaya salad, Kai Yaang, larb, sticky rice and more but its excellent quality and cheap. There is an English menu and the service is fast. A meal of grilled chicken, Somtam and sticky rice will set you back 150 baht with beers starting at 70 baht. The clientele is mostly local office workers.
Check the menu: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hai-Somtam-Convent/161591607211151
Somtam Convent
Location: 2/4-5 Convent Road, Silom, Bangkok.
District: Silom
Opening Hours: 10.00-21.00 Monday-Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
Getting There: BTS Sala Daeng (exit 2). MRT Si Lom (exit 2).
Map
River Vibe is a rooftop bar & Thai restaurant in Bangkok. It’s in the Talad Noi area of Chinatown. The location is superb, on the 8th floor of the River View Guest House. The panoramic river views are wonderful
River Vibe
The restaurant area is roofed though there is an upper open-air deck accessed via a spiral staircase though it’s closed during bad weather. It’s best to make a reservation if you want one of the tables with the best river views.
The Amazing View!
The Thai food menu is moderately priced with mains starting at 120 baht, beers from 80 baht and cocktails from 150 baht. The Pomelo (Som-oh) & Prawn spicy salad is a dish you don’t find too often and is worth trying if you haven’t already. We can also recommend the curries, tom yam, and larb.
The crowd is a mixture of locals, expats, and tourists. Getting to River Vibe is an adventure as you need to find your way through narrow streets and alleys filled with old shophouses and scrap metal yards though there are several signposts to help you find the way once you reach Soi Wanit 2. When you arrive at the guest house, take the lift to the 8th floor.
Table Reservations …. Call 02 234 2078
Location: River View Guest House, 768 Soi Panurangsi, Songwad Road, Bangkok.
District: Chinatown
Opening Hours: 07.30-23.00
Getting There: Taxi, Chao Phraya Express Boat to Marine Pier, walk up the alley and turn left into Soi Wanit 2 and then left again into Soi Panurangsi and follow the street to the end.
Map
Sala Rattanakosin is a scenic riverside restaurant overlooking the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun and is one of Bangkok’s most popular romantic dining venues. There is a candlelit outside wooden deck on the ground floor which extends over the river. There is also an air-conditioned dining room on the first floor. Both have great views of Wat Arun.
The Deck at Sala Rattanakosin
The menu features mostly authentic Thai classics with a selection of international dishes often with a Mediterranean influence. There are only a few vegetarian options. Try the Yam Gai Gati, a delicious spicy salad made from hand-shredded chicken breast poached in coconut and red chili paste with a dressing of lemongrass, mint, coriander, and cashew nuts. We also tried the Tikka Grilled Salmon with raita & Popadum & the Isan Sausage Platter. Both were also delicious.
Most main dishes range from 300-600 baht with beer starting at 160 baht, spirits at 200 baht, cocktails & wine from 290 baht. Wine by the bottle starts at 1900 baht. Tax & service (17%) are added to all bills. Making a reservation is essential if you want a table with an unobstructed view of Wat Arun.
There is also a comfortable rooftop bar accessible via a spiral staircase. It’s a good place for after dinner drinks with some great cocktails. Sala Rattanakosin is located on Soi Tha Tien, an alley lined with old Chinese shop houses off Maharat road opposite Wat Pho.
Check the menu here …. http://salaresorts.com/rattanakosin/dine/eatery-and-bar/
To make a reservation call 02 622 1388 or email [email protected]
Location: Sala Rattanakosin Hotel, Soi Tha Tien, 39 Maharat Road, Bangkok.
District: Rattanakosin
Opening Hours: 07.00-22.30
Getting There: Taxi, Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Tien Pier.
Map
Tealicious is a small shophouse Thai restaurant in Bangkok, at the Bangrak end of Silom Road. It serves authentic Thai dishes in a homely setting. The interior is air-conditioned and there is an outdoor terrace. Tealicious is conveniently located near the riverside and several popular hotels.
Tealicious
The menu is extensive with a large selection of Thai favorites and some western food. I tried the Penang Curry & Somtam Thai both of which were excellent and spiced to my liking. It’s best to indicate how spicy you like your food. Prices are mid-range but that’s normal for the area. Most dishes are in the 120-250 baht category. Large beers are 120-140 baht.
The following hotels are a short walk or taxi ride from the restaurant. Shangari-La, Peninsula, Oriental, Lebua, Sheraton, Chatrium, Ramada, Pullman, Furama, Hilton, Holiday Inn & Novotel.
Specials on the board
Location: Soi Charoen Krung 49, Silom, Bangkok.
District: Silom/Riverside
Opening Hours: 12.00-23.00. Closed on Wednesdays.
BTS: Saphan Taksin Station. Turn left on to Charoen Krung Road. Cross the road at the intersection with Silom Road. Turn right on to Soi 49. First right into the alley. Tealicious is next to the Silk Suite Hotel.
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Baan Archarn also known as Baan Ajarn is a small family run pub-style restaurant on Soi Rangnam. It’s near the King Power Duty-Free Complex and a short taxi ride from Ratchaprasong. The interior is small and cozy sporting an old antique pub-style decor.
Baan Ajarn
The menu is authentic classic Thai cuisine with an extensive menu of spicy salads, curries, soups, stir-fries, and seafood. Prices are inexpensive with most main course dishes except seafood in the 100-150-baht range. The food is tasty, and excellent quality served in good-sized portions and excellent value for money. There is a full bar service with large beers from 100 baht. There is occasional live music.
The clientele is mostly locals, expats, and tourists from nearby hotels such as the Pullman and Century Park. The restaurant is at the Ratchaprarop road end of Soi Rangnam making it easily accessible by taxi from downtown Bangkok. The nearest BTS station is Victory Monument at the other end of Soi Rangnam about a 10-minute walk.
Check the menu: https://www.facebook.com/baanaj/
Baan Ajarn Thai Restaurant
Baan Archarn is an excellent place to eat if you are staying at a nearby hotel. It’s a short walk from Century Park, Pullman Bangkok, Hotel de Bangkok& the Royal View.
Location: 107/7-8 Soi Rangnam, Phaya Thai, Bangkok.
District: Phaya Thai
Opening Hours: 11.00-23.00
Getting There: BTS Victory Monument (exit 2). Turn left into Soi Rangnam. Baan Archarn is a 10-minute walk on the left.
Map
Doi is a small Thai restaurant in Bangkok, on Sukhumvit Soi 12 serving authentic Doi Chang coffee and a good choice of smoothies. There is also a large food menu featuring excellent authentic Northern and North-Eastern Thai food at inexpensive prices.
Doi Thai Restaurant
Beer is 100 baht for a big bottle. Doi is open all day serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a nice outdoor terrace.
Location: 5/1-3 Sukhumvit Soi 12
District: Sukhumvit
Opening Hours: 09.00-22.00
Getting There: BTS Asoke (exit 2), MRT Sukhumvit (exit 3).
Map
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