Even though street Thai food is phenomenal!
Street food might be an obvious go-to (phenomenal!!) but these five restaurants are not to be missed. Especially if you’re craving for real deal Thai flavors.
When it comes to THE most classic restaurant in Bangkok, there’s only one name that comes to mind: Blue Elephant. Chef Nooror Somany Steppe is not only one of the best chefs in Thailand, but she’s also the Mama Bear of modernizing Thai cuisine. The restaurant often attracts worldwide celebrities and diplomats. Even U.S. Presidents have frequented her restaurant. Today, she creates new Thai dishes using Royal Project, a non-profit organization conducted by Patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand. It aims to solve problems of poverty and opium production by promoting alternative crops in Thailand.
Voted as one of the best restaurants in Bangkok, Le Du (which means “season” in Thai) focuses on modern-Thai cuisine. They utilize seasonal ingredients to foster the philosophy that Thai produce is one of the best in the world, even when it has been undervalued in the past.
Insider Tip! The restaurant offers a 4-course or 6-course tasting menu. If your party has 5+ people, then you all need to have the same kind of tasting menu for sustaining harmony throughout the meal. Kids are advised to order via a la carte menu.
Another celebrity chef in Thailand, Chef Pongtawat “Ian” Chalermkittichai began pushing a food cart through Bangkok’s streets. After a culinary scholarship and working in Sydney’s kitchens, he now has a cooking show in Thailand and founded the Issaya Siamese Club. The restaurant is the perfect combination of fabulosity and comfort. The garden is a perfect example of farm-to-table if you’re a foodie who looks for this type of restaurant.
Insider Tip! You want to order the Mussuman Curry Lamb Shank (Mussuman Gae) and Jasmine Flower Flan (Kanom Dok Mali), the “broken basket” dessert. The location is a bit out of the way, but it’s worth it especially if you liked eating at Blue Elephant.
If you’ve ever had really good Thai food in Paris, you were probably at Madame Shawn. After a successful franchise in the City of Light, the owners decided to open one in the capital of Thailand. With so much competition around every corner, how did it become a traveler’s favorite so soon? Simple: great food, accessible pricing, and the ambiance is cozy cool. This is a great place to have fantastic Thai food where you’re not sitting on the side of the street, and you’re not breaking the bank either.
If you’ve done your research, then you’ve probably seen Supanniga Eating Room on several must-eat lists. It serves up traditional Thai food that isn’t too expensive but not dirt cheap (there aren’t any street vendors here). The ambiance is very chillax, and the food is always made with the freshest ingredients. You certainly won’t need to dress up for this place, but get ready to be wildly impressed without feeling pretentious.
Insider’s Tip! You want to order the pork with Guttiferae tree leaves (Moo Cha Muang), and crab meat with chili paste (Prik Khai Pu).
