5 amazing eats in Bangkok

If you’re like me, you don’t book your travel around sightseeing, shopping, or family (sorry, Aunty Jill!). The process of planning, packing, and getting to the airport is driven by one thing: a desire to eat all the foods in a chosen destination.

When deciding where I’d head for my next trip to Asia, I thought about my favourite takeaway food. “Dim Sum?” I thought. “No, that’s not it”. “Perhaps sashimi in Tokyo? But what if my chopstick skills aren’t up to scratch?” As I pondered over what to make for dinner that night, it came to me. I had my pad Thai cooking as I booked my flights to Bangkok!

Whether it’s a stopover, a business trip, or your first trip to Thailand, here are my must-eats in BKK.

1. Ban Khun Mae (Siam Square)

This felt like my most authentic Thai dining experience. When we first walked in, there were musicians playing traditional Thai music, and tables of locals and tourists alike sharing the most incredible-smelling dishes. I let my friend (a Bangkok local) order for us and she did not disappoint!

Try: The chicken in galangal coconut milk soup, fried mushrooms in garlic, and chicken cashew nut stir fry.

2. EatThai Food Hall

Located on the basement level of the Central Embassy Shopping Mall is a wonderland of Thai cuisine. Each station has a theme (Northern, Southern, Seafood, Street Food, etc.), and diners collect a pass upon entry and pay their balance on the way out. Ordering food is a cashless experience, so it’s easy to go a bit crazy – but why wouldn’t you?

Staring through the windows at the market place was just as exciting as eating. It was hard to settle on one dish – so I tried two (for research purposes, of course).

First up was the Street Food, where I picked up some sweet/savoury hard-shell tacos. The excitement of not knowing what was in my Mexican-inspired food vessel was exactly what I needed to get past the jet lag. 10/10 – I recommend these to anybody.

Next was the North Kitchen, where I picked up some khao soi gai. I love spicy food, so a friend recommended I try a Northern-style curry. Have you ever had a meal so good it made you cry from happiness? I have.

3. Dee Lounge

I don’t normally stick around in hotel bars, as I like to get out and see the action, but it was hard to ignore the tunes coming from the live bands every night.

I dropped in for just one drink (happy hour cocktails – need I say more?), but ended up staying for dinner after seeing the table next to me eat theirs #fomo.

On the menu were sai grog e-san (traditional Thai sausage) and som tam Thai (chilli and papaya salad with soft-shell crab). Both dishes blew me away, and I happily munched away while bobbing along to some Fleetwood Mac covers.

4. Café Tartine

I know what you’re thinking and you’re right – there was no Thai on this French-inspired menu.

The thing about Bangkok is that it’s a melting pot for all sorts of cuisines and that’s what makes it so wonderful. For a (brief) moment, I felt like I was in Paris, but then that unforgettable Bangkok heat hit me and I was pleasantly reminded where I was.

My friends and I couldn’t leave without trying some dessert. The lemon meringue pie with a side of vanilla-bean ice cream was exactly what I needed to cool down.

5. Coffee Beans by Dao

It was my final meal in Bangkok and I had a sad realization – I hadn’t had any pad Thai. How did I miss it? It was the meal that got me there, wasn’t it?

Thanks to a recommendation from my colleagues in BKK, I wandered down to Coffee Beans by Dao. Despite the name suggesting it’s a quick coffee shop, I was surprised to find a bustling sit-down restaurant. I instantly flipped my menu to the pad Thai option and excitedly waited for my last Thai meal.

The angels sang as I relished each bite. It was unlike any pad Thai I’d ever had back home, and I’m sure I weirded out the other diners with my wide-eyed smile.

The smile turned to a frown when I got down to my last noodle. I headed back to my hotel to collect my bags and organise a cab to the airport. As I waited for my flight, I tried to process the incredible week I’d had. My fiancé asked, “What was your favourite meal?” and I said, “I’m not sure. I’ll have to figure it out next time” 😉

Book your next trip to Bangkok!