Top 10 Authentic Thai Restaurants in Bangkok


 

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For the many people visiting Thailand due to a predilection for Asian cuisine and its exotic themes of food preparation and presentation, the very word ‘Bangkok‘ elicits itself as a synonym for food on a variety of different levels. This does include varying levels in terms of setting, price, and quality; and perhaps to some extent ‘authenticity’; so our first dilemma is to find a suitable standpoint or broad view from which to address the context of ‘authentic’ that we will be tapping into here.

So do you want authentic street food? Would you prefer Southern countryside or Northern-style? How about the infamous ‘Isaan’ food of the rural, agricultural regions?

It’s safe to say that most people are familiar with the ‘authentic’ local Thai restaurant in their own town with its stunning and exotic-looking ‘Thai’ décor and traditionally-dressed waiting staff with exceedingly good manners; but that’s only one, obvious interpretation of ‘authentic Thai’ to suit all.

We hope to bring to your attention here some different perspectives that resulted from mixing the words Thai, restaurant, and authentic together in the context of right now, in no particular order, to put out some more ideas about eating options  when you are out and about in the pulsating, humid, chaotic, alluring, and slightly edgy city of Bangkok.

There is a readily-accessible, expanding transport system that will enable you to cover a fairly expansive range of the city without resorting to taxis and the like, namely the BTS ‘Skytrain’ system and the MRT underground system. This is the absolute best and quickest way to avoid the congestion and access most of the places or areas within this guide. The places listed as worth visiting in this guide are all accessible to some degree by either method.

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1. Larb Phed Nongkhai

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This is a particular kind of Thai restaurant beloved by many locals. Nothing fancy about the décor – in fact it is situated on the street, next to a busy road in front of a mechanic spare parts shop that operates in the daytime. Hence you won’t find many places like this until after around 5-6pm, and then they spring up and come to life as night falls. And this is as ‘authentic’ as it gets in Bangkok, at least in terms of grass-roots, tried-and-tested local ‘eat like a Thai’ establishments.

The fayre in a place like this is straightforward, no frills, authentic Isaan and Thai food, ordered from an extensive menu that may have English on it to some degree. The plastic chairs and inexpensive cutlery keep down the price, and all the traditional North-Eastern favourites are on the menu, including gai yang, somtum and grilled pork neck with sticky rice.

The prices in this kind of restaurant are very low compared to some of the more upmarket establishments further into the city covered here, and the food is great value, one of the reasons why you will find it packed pretty much every night, but also due to the fact that the meals are delicious.

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What to order: fried crispy duck beaks, somtum, larb, kor moo yang (grilled pork neck)
Price range: 50-350 baht per dish
When: evenings 6-11pm
Where:  24, Chatuchak, 10900 Phanyothin
How to get there: BTS Pahonyothin 24

2. Pa Yak Boat Noodles (Gwer Teow Rua)

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Gwer Teow Rua, or in English ‘Boat Noodles’, are so called due to the fact that originally they would have been sold along canals, from  floating boats. Most of them are now located on land, however, and they can be found easily around the Victory Monument area of Bangkok. This is the actual centre point of Bangkok, in Geographical terms, and is renowned as being the place to find authentic and original Boat Noodles, with an impressive array of vendors to choose from being located here.

You may find yourself spoilt for choice in fact when looking for these noodles in the Victory Monument area as there is such a plethora of stalls selling boat noodles. Although this particular shop is one of many, it will often be frequented and recommended by locals, and has a few stand-out features over some of the others such as air conditioning and smart-looking staff in orange uniforms. As this is not necessarily a ‘tourist’ restaurant, the menu is likely to be in Thai which is not uncommon in Bangkok, but there will be someone who can deal with your requirements.

You may be initially surprised at the seemingly low cost but the portions are very small, and you will see by observing the locals that quite often bowl after bowl, at least five on average, will be continuously ordered and consumed until the customer is satiated. A bowl is usually just 10 baht, and there are around four or five variations of dish.

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What to order: Tom Yum
Price range: 10 baht per bowl
When: 11am – 9pm
Where: Victory Monument, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400
How to get there: BTS Victory Monument

3. Bo Lan

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Long-considered as one of the best in Bangkok, Bo Lan is a surprisingly authentic and relaxing establishment off the main road that takes you away from the nearby hustle and bustle of the busy streets of Bangkok. With a beautiful small garden, this modern, upmarket place serves mainly what might be considered traditional Thai cooking.

The restaurant specialises in sets, and the name ‘Bo Lan Balance’, gives some indication as to how the courses are put together. This would be an option for those not totally sure on how or what to order with Thai Cuisine and covers starters, soups, mains and desserts. The food here is eloquently presented, hence the seemingly elevated price range.

What to order: Traditional Thai Fayre and/or sets
Price range: Medium – High
When: Thursday–Sunday from midday to 2.30pm, dinner: Wednesday – Saturday from 6pm till late (last order 10.30pm) (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Where: 24 Soi Sukhumvit 53 (Soi Pai dee ma dee), Khlong Tan Nua, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
How to get there: BTS Thonglor.

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4. Cabbages and Condoms

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Cabbages and Condoms is a restaurant with a theme. The issue highlighted by the theme is condom use, with all the relevant information related to the restaurant’s history and purpose in relation to this worthwhile cause being displayed downstairs.  And free condoms are given (to adults) at the end of the meal!

This is a nice-looking, well laid-out, large restaurant with two floors, situated just about a hundred metres off the main Sukhumvit Road. It is a good place to start for those fairly new to Thai food, and some of the profits go the restaurant’s promoted cause.

A reasonable and impressive selection is included in the menu, which contains an array of standard Thai fayre along with other slightly more adventurous dishes for those already having acquired the palate for it.

What to order: Deep-fried catfish salad with mango dressing or yellow crab curry
Price range: Fair to medium
When: Daily from 11am to midnight
Where: 10 Sukhumvit Soi 12, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
How to get there:  BTS Nana

5. Ong Thong Khao Soy

Ong Thong restaurant comes from the north of Thailand and has had a branch in Bangkok for a few years or so. Known for the speciality Northern dish ‘Khao Soi’, along with a host of other favourites, the restaurant is popular as a low- to-mid-range eatery in terms of price.

This is a reasonably modern-looking establishment with two storeys, located in the burgeoning Ari area of the city. Prices are also fair, and the deliciously rich and spicy noodle dish Khao Soi is a real treat for those able to withstand the sometimes ferocious spicy-ness found in many Thai dishes.

What to order: Khao soy
Price range: 69 baht up
When: 5pm-9pm
Where: 17 Phahonyothin Soi 7, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400
How to get there: BTS Ari

6. Som Tum Der

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This is a place with much of a local feel, even though the restaurant actually has other branches in Asia and even in America! The cuisine features mainly the authentic North-Eastern ‘Isaan’ variety popular with many people in Bangkok.

A ‘local’ feel  yes, although this restaurant is air-conditioned and comfortable, with a beautifully-crafted interior in the NE style, and the menu is extensive with more than 20 varieties of the infamous ‘somtum’ dish, which, for those less familiar with its charms, is a spicy, sweet, and sour salad made largely with raw papaya that has not yet matured.  Somtum is one of the ‘must try’ dishes of Thai food, and here is as good a place as any to sample its exotic delights.

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What to order: Tum pla tu khao mun, Marinated raw pork sausages, Spicy Isan pork cartilage soup
Price range: Reasonable – 50 to 120 baht
When: 11:00 – 14:30 (Lunch); 16:30 – 22:30 (Dinner)
Where: 5/5 Sala Daeng Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok
How to get there: BTS Silom Line or MRT Blue Line, alight at Sala Daeng station.

7. Jay Fai

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This is one of those restaurants with a character behind it, as the owner/chef Jay Fai has been doing the cooking here for more than 50 years. During that time she has established certain specialities, namely ‘Phad Kee Mau’ (drunken noodles), alongside other varieties of noodle and other delights such as crab omelette.

The restaurant is open-air and the dishes are quite expensive by comparison but this is largely due to the cook’s reputation. You can watch the food being cooked and many people consider that they are witnessing a master at work as they wait in anticipation for the creation of their order.

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What to order: Fried drunken noodles; Crab omelette; Stir-fried noodles
Price range: 200 to 800 baht
When: 4pm-1am
Where: 327 Maha Chai Road, Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
How to get there:  Take the Khlong Saen Saep canal boat to Phanfa Lilat station, exit towards Ratchadamnoen and make a left on Maha Chai Road. Or take a taxi.

8. Sabai Jai Gai Yang

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Another ‘Isaan’-themed restaurant, ‘Sabai Jai Gai Yang’ has been around for a while and survived recent re-development in the area that was the end of many other establishments.

‘Gai Yang’ (grilled or barbecued chicken) is another massive favourite from the Isaan range and can be found on many a street corner, although some of these vendors should probably be avoided. The price will definitely be higher here but that’s the reputation and possibly location kicking in. Obviously this is the signature dish but there are a host of other treats available on the menu, which does have English and even pictures.

What to order: Gai yang, Moo yang, Crispy roti with condensed milk and chocolate ice cream
Price range: 60 to 200 baht ($1.73 to $5.77)
When: 10am-midnight
Where: Sukhumvit 63 Road (Ekkamai), Bangkok
How to get there: 10-minute walk from Ekkamai station

9. P’ Aor

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Anyone worth their salt knows that it simply would not be Bangkok without experiencing the signature Thai dish ‘Tom Yum Goong’ (spicy, sour soup with king prawns). This dish can be widely-found, with varying degrees of taste and authenticity, but P’Aor’s  is another of Bangkok’s ‘tried-and-tested’ eateries both in terms of price and reputation, often termed one of the best local restaurants for its tom yum and range of seafood.

Like it or love it – this dish packs a punch in terms of taste and ingredients including lemongrass, chili, limes and a variety of herbs to add a healthy tonic. And this is a good place to find a good bowl of it without having to go too far off the beaten track.

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What to order: Lobster tom yum, Crab sauce rice, Shrimp popia
Price range: 60 to 1000+ baht
When: 10:00 – 22:00 (Daily except Monday)
Where: 68/51 Soi Petchaburi 5, Petchaburi Road, Bangkok

10. Sorn

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The popular Sorn restaurant in Bangkok is a fine establishment set in a 90-year-old house and renowned for its authentic Sothern Thai Fayre.  The menu is extensive, with colourful, vibrant and yes, you guessed it – spicy dishes, using traditional recipes from the southern region. The décor is also inspired by Southern themes with tropical backdrops.

The food here is hardly what could be termed the ‘fast’ variety, with dishes carefully-prepared and slow-cooked in traditional ways, using ingredients from well-known sources down in the South. This establishment is popular with locals so booking is recommended.

What to order: gaeng tai pla, gaeng som
Price range:   2900 baht up for 5-course set
WHEN: 6-11PM
Where: 56 Sukhumvit 26 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Tan, Khet Khlong Toei, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
How to get there:  BTS Phrom Pong

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