Bangkok Restaurant tips...places worth trying

[smokie36]

Nice breakfast options there John....for a simpler option Kuppadeli has scrambled eggs on sourdough for I think 200 Baht.....these are the best I've ever had, just cooked and no more and with a generous sprinkle of fresh parmesan.

Heaven...but scrambled eggs need to be at that kinda price!

It comes served with tomato...but I successfully changed that to mushrooms at no extra charge...the more adventurous might try the same with some smoked salmon lol.

[Bantex]

Kiwi Bar & Grill, Sukhumvit, Soi 8. Good western and Thai food. Opens for breakfast and on Sunday's they have a great carvery. Check out their menu online.

[xtof2]

Looking for a sushi joint that is not the typical orgy of mediocre salmon.

Variety, value preferably no s/c. Central BKK MRT/BTS.

I like Isao on Soi 31 Sukhumvit. The rainbow is pretty good!

I agree> Isao is a great place with some quite creative maki. But sometimes, particularly on weekends, you may wait for 30 minutes to get a seat.

In the mood for love on Ekkamai has also superb sushi in a very nice setting. A bit expensive however.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Nice appetizer...

But where's the real breakfast???

[zxzoomy]

The French restaurant on Suan Plu in Sathorn-Rendezvous-is excellent. Lunch is especially good value. I felt a bit guilty eating lunch when it's so hot and had used up so few calories. But we all deserve an occasional treat.

[camble]

La Monita Taqueria in the Plaza near Phloen Chit BTS, also at Siam Paragon. Steak burritos with New Zealand ribeye.

http://www.lamonita.com/

[smokie36]

La Monita Taqueria in the Plaza near Phloen Chit BTS, also at Siam Paragon. Steak burritos with New Zealand ribeye.

http://www.lamonita.com/

The Matahun Plaza outlet is far better from a price perspective.

I like the pork carnitas tacos....make sure it has the avocado....I think the Paragon spot doesn't serve that either despite the higher price!

[smokie36]

Nice appetizer...

PS0387.jpg

But where's the real breakfast???

My gf said no tomato and got almost double the portion of scrambled egg. I dunno what to say beyond that.....lol!

[smokie36]

Hot Rod on Ekkamai is a great place doing Thai style tapas dishes....one or two OK dishes and some simply outstanding.

The wings there were great....I had three portions all to myself.

[Familyonthemove]

Looking for a sushi joint that is not the typical orgy of mediocre salmon.

Variety, value preferably no s/c. Central BKK MRT/BTS.

I like Sushi oo in Mercury Ville next to BTS Chidlom. Always busy so has a lively atmosphere, and the fruit beers are .... erm ..... fruity.

But this may be where you had your orgy?

[smokie36]

EATDustry has a decent breakfast selection John...sometimes good deals then on Eatigo as well.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Two suggestions for anyone posting restaurant recommendations here:

1. If you're going to recommend some place, at least give some explanation of WHY, what's good about the place or what makes it different from everything else in its class.

2. If you're going to recommend some place, please give some idea of its pricing -- for a typical entree, per person, per couple or whatever.

Without those kind of details, just tossing out names alone doesn't really give anyone much useful information.

[Thainess]

I've been pretty good at avoiding hotel restaurants for 30 years. They used to add ++ hotel charges and service before there was VAT. That was 5% + 5%.

These days, if ordinary restaurants are charging 10% service + 7% VAT, that's simply not honest. The prices on the menu should be the prices you pay after dessert. You may tip, too, of course.

My fave? For a fancy night out, Enoteca. Without doubt, the best Italian in Bangkok and prices to reflect that. Check the owner's terrific homemade wine cellar!

Homemade wine? Hahaha, no thanks... Must be undrinkable, as well as being illegal.

[Thainess]

I've been pretty good at avoiding hotel restaurants for 30 years. They used to add ++ hotel charges and service before there was VAT. That was 5% + 5%.

These days, if ordinary restaurants are charging 10% service + 7% VAT, that's simply not honest. The prices on the menu should be the prices you pay after dessert. You may tip, too, of course.

My fave? For a fancy night out, Enoteca. Without doubt, the best Italian in Bangkok and prices to reflect that. Check the owner's terrific homemade wine cellar!

Homemade wine? Hahaha, no thanks... Must be undrinkable, as well as being illegal.

[smokie36]

Two suggestions for anyone posting restaurant recommendations here:

1. If you're going to recommend some place, at least give some explanation of WHY, what's good about the place or what makes it different from everything else in its class.

2. If you're going to recommend some place, please give some idea of its pricing -- for a typical entree, per person, per couple or whatever.

Without those kind of details, just tossing out names alone doesn't really give anyone much useful information.

Well I will try....but times they are a changin'....a recommendation from me should have you all clamoring for your phones to book a table!

Isao is around 450 for a set of sushi...sashimi can run as expensive as you like of course.

Hot Rod has Thai fusion tapas dishes around 200-300 Baht each....but careful use of the Eatigo app can cut that down considerably....I found it very good value and we were able to try lots of new and quite different dishes.

Another place I like is Chu at the Exchange Tower in Asoke....anything chocolate here is good as are the breakfasts...the Sloanes chorizo sausage dish is excellent, but I especially like the pulled pork burger at around 280 Baht....late afternoon...again Eatigo 50% often.

I like a bargain.

[bergen]

Bourbon St. is one of my favs. It was enjoyable when located in Washington Sq., and are still going strong in Ekkamai/Suk. soi 63 . Good Cajun/Creole food, cold beers, and decent wines. Price for a main dish is around 300 to 500 baht.

[melvinmelvin]

Baan Klang Naam, at the very end of soi 14 Rama 3

its riverside on the East bank

Thai style rest., they do VERY decent seafood and its fresh fresh fresh (which is rare in BKK unless you go to 5 star hotels)

has OK wines, and even that the joint is Thai style you can actually buy a drink (G&T for example) without buying the whole bottle

mostly Thai clientele, some farang

not expensive, accepts credit cards

opens at 11 am if I remember correctly

Edited May 15, 2016 by melvinmelvin

[smokie36]

Food porn you say?

OK scallops volcano at Isao to start....




A few pics from Charcoal at Fraser Suites on Soi 11....this is the "taster menu" for 1000 Baht.







It's good food...but better value Sunday lunchtime for the buffet...I think it's 850++ still.

Edited May 15, 2016 by smokie36

[melvinmelvin]

if you are in for Spanish Paellas there is a rest. in soi 20 Sukhumvit

forgot the name but easy to find;

walk down the soi from Sukh, pass Bei Otto on your left hand side, continue, down the soi,

the joint is on your left hand after 100-200 meters, its on/in the ground floor of a hotel building

nice Spanish rest. have tested the paellas twice, good!

[Merylhighground]

I'll put in a shout for a place on the outskirts near the odd numbered exit of Udomsuk BTS.

It is a basic Thai style 'Ahaan Dtahm Sang' place with metal tables outside. I can't for the life of me remember the name but it has no English sign, nor do I recall a Thai sign, the wife doesn't know either but you can't miss it.

We stopped there one Sunday evening before coming back from town as the missis needed the bog. I had a beer and she had some grub which she raved about, a rare thing with grub from a basic place....

From there it was a nice easy hop home in a cab without having to wrestle with the taxi vultures in Lower Suk.

I went back alone a few times as it was a perfect place for a bit of 'people watching' and when the crumpet all came by at hometime (5-7 pm) it was a veritable feast for the eyes.

After 7PM to hop on the BTS to more 'interesting' places was for me, the work of a moment.

The staff are very nice, friendly and not yet suffering from 'Farang Fatigue' (an increasingly rare thing in BKK).

Little English spoken but they make an effort but if you know your basics you'll be fine. The waiting lasses are friendly and the male staff are too, more so, if you help 'mark their cards' on the football pools thing they play.

To find it exit Udomsuk BTS on the odd number side heading towards Soi 101 and it's right there at the foot of the stairs. It's worth a trip out if you want to escape the tourist traps of Lower Suk.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

if you are in for Spanish Paellas there is a rest. in soi 20 Sukhumvit

forgot the name but easy to find;

walk down the soi from Sukh, pass Bei Otto on your left hand side, continue, down the soi,

the joint is on your left hand after 100-200 meters, its on/in the ground floor of a hotel building

nice Spanish rest. have tested the paellas twice, good!

I'm guessing this is the place you're talking about:

Taberna JAMON JAMON

9/1 Sukhumvit Road., Soi Sukhumvit 20

Seems to get pretty good reviews.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293916-d7205025-Reviews-Taberna_JAMON_JAMON-Bangkok.html

What kind of price for their paellas? And, if you've ever had the ones they serve as Tapas Cafe, any sense for comparing the two?

Edited May 15, 2016 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

For my go to Dago, though, Pala Pizza, on Sukhumvit street level at the interface of BTS and MRT. Lovely and original food, think fresh artichokes. Excellent pies and a nice little deli section for your olives and cheeses. I think their secret is the mix of flour. Two-thirds Thai hard wheat flour and one-third European durum wheat for both bread and pizza dough.

Love Pala also... Their pork sausage calzone at something under 200b has to be one of the best meal deals in town, not to mention very delicious.

Usually, lots of choices for your pastas, including whole wheat and gluten free (for an extra charge).

And they make their own bread, which I find utterly delicious. They don't sell it in loaves. But it's cooked in big circular rings. And if you like, they'll cut you slices of it by weight. Really good stuff.

The only downside for me there is their choice of dining chairs, tall thin legged ones that always seem like they're on the verge of falling over or collapsing. Not the most comfortable choice.

Just some added/updated info re Pala Pizza at Asoke BTS.

--Their pork sausage and mushroom calzone is 170b+, and fills the plate.

--Since my prior visits, they've now replaced their old, somewhat unstable high chairs with much more comfortable & stable but still-high seating.

--And, they seem to be one of the few actual sit-down restaurants around downtown BKK that doesn't add on a 10% service charge, just the 7% VAT.

I had their calzone for lunch the other day, and it was its normal version, although, the chef that day pretty much overbaked mine to the point of being quite hard on the outside crust.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Hot Rod on Ekkamai is a great place doing Thai style tapas dishes....one or two OK dishes and some simply outstanding.

The wings there were great....I had three portions all to myself.

Smokie, I've never heard of that place... Can you fill in the blanks a bit in terms of its actual location, setting, prices, etc?

[melvinmelvin]

if you are in for Spanish Paellas there is a rest. in soi 20 Sukhumvit

forgot the name but easy to find;

walk down the soi from Sukh, pass Bei Otto on your left hand side, continue, down the soi,

the joint is on your left hand after 100-200 meters, its on/in the ground floor of a hotel building

nice Spanish rest. have tested the paellas twice, good!

I'm guessing this is the place you're talking about:

Taberna JAMON JAMON

9/1 Sukhumvit Road., Soi Sukhumvit 20

Seems to get pretty good reviews.

What kind of price for their paellas? And, if you've ever had the ones they serve as Tapas Cafe, any sense for comparing the two?

would think so, no photo in your link so a bit har to tell, but can hardly be more than 1 Spanish joint in soi 20

not cheap, 1000 and bit for the paella, and it was not large, but it was good

have never tried the tapas

[smokie36]

Hot Rod on Ekkamai is a great place doing Thai style tapas dishes....one or two OK dishes and some simply outstanding.

The wings there were great....I had three portions all to myself.

Smokie, I've never heard of that place... Can you fill in the blanks a bit in terms of its actual location, setting, prices, etc?

It's near the Sukhumvit end of Ekkamai on the left so close to Soi 3 I think from memory.

There is a bar next door designed by the same guy who did Iron Fairies....very pleasant.

Anyway Hot Rod has a square bar with seats around it...dishes are Thai basically but done tapas style with a few European twists...the prices were from 100-300 Baht and the food very good indeed.

We used Eatigo and got 50% off the food...really at that level of pricing a total bargain.

The beef dish was good...the chicken wings the best I've had in a long while.

They have a website John if you need further directions....definitely different and deserving of a visit!

[SoiBiker]

It's nowhere near soi 3. It's in the Park Lane mall, across from soi 2. Nice place - the cocktails are good too.

[smokie36]

It's nowhere near soi 3. It's in the Park Lane mall, across from soi 2. Nice place - the cocktails are good too.

Two...three....all the same to me

Thanks for the correction SoiBiker!

[DM07]

Okay...here we go:

for "fingerfood" and burgers, try The Smoking Pug on Surawong (close to the Tawana Hotel)

for "up- class Thai", try the Ruen Urai. A small gem in a small soi off Surawong (actually part of the Rose Hotel)

for a nice open air and Thai- experience, try the Sortrel on Narathiwas.

for a quick lunch or a -surprisingly good- pizza, try Madrid on Patpong 1

for Tapas, try Spanish@4, at Silom Soi 4

for German food, try G's, also on Silom Soi 4

...I guess, I have it covered!

Oh...for cheap, good Thai-food, try the restaurant with the brick oven, near Narathiwas 24...I don't know the name, sorry!

[camble]

Just some added/updated info re Pala Pizza at Asoke BTS.

If you stop by at around 11:40 PM you can frequently get what they have left for take-away for half-price, since they close at midnight.

[katana]

Don't know if the Sky High restaurant on Ratchadamnoen Rd is still open, but it's worth a visit if you're in that area.