Lost neighbourhoods and beyond: in search of good grub.
Where you live in Bangkok reflects the kind of foodie you are. This might be a big city, but its many neighbourhoods make it a complicated and intricate setup, especially if you’re on the hunt for quality grub!
Bangkokians will shy away from anything that involves tedious exercise or more than one mode of transport; and yet, if there’s one thing that convinces them to wander beyond their usual stomping grounds, it’s the promise of good food. For local foodies or hungry visitors, here’s a bitchin’ lowdown of foodie hoods that are worth going the extra mile for.
Charoenkrung: Expect block parties and gourmet BBQ, expats chugging Leo beer with hipsters sporting retro tees and fashionably unwashed hair. Most of all, expect badass experimental cocktails, paired with cutting edge Thai cuisine, rustic burgers and fancy meats on sticks. Here is where chefs congregate in dark eateries and dive bars well into the wee hours. It’s also a stone’s throw from the incredible Thai-Chinese street food and BBQ seafood of Yaowarat (Chinatown).
Neighbourhood hits: 80/20, Tropic City, 100 Mahaseth, Jua, Spare Parts, FooJohn Building.
Silom & Sathorn: Office buildings and diplomatic missions sit beside street food vendors, classy rooftop bars, franchise cafes, dated malls and lavish underground haunts. Most of the office crowd crams into rowdy noodle shops and expats frequent pubs at happy hour and bistros on weekends. With many Michelin-starred and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants under its postcode, it also exudes tourist glitz and wannabe glam.
Neighbourhood hits: Indigo French Restaurant, Il Bolognese, Chef Man, Eat Me, Le Du, Bunker, Smalls, Al Saray, Kika Kitchen & Bar, Via Maris.
Honorable Hood Mention: Narathiwat & Yenakart: Old yet charming, this unassuming district could threaten the culinary cachet of nearby Sathorn and Silom.
Neighbourhood hits: Birds, Suhring, J’aime, Eats Payao, Arno’s Butcher & Eatery, Le Cabanon.
Upper Sukhumvit: To the naked eye Sukhumvit Road, the main artery to downtown, appears ugly and anonymous. Behind the endless stretch of concrete hotel facades, however, are Bangkok’s trendiest foodie quarters: Phrom Phong, Thonglor and Ekkamai. You’ll find a concentration of Italian and other European restaurateurs who have formed tightly knit cliques that each has a fiercely loyal following.
Neighbourhood hits: Philippe Restaurant, Enoteca, Funky Lam, Haoma, Peppina, La Bottega, Upstairs Mikkeller, Indus, Canvas, Baan Ice, Supanniga, Nakiya, Tori Tama, Phuket Town, Ra-men Fukuda, Sushi Masato, The Missing Burro.
Honourable Hood Mention: Whithayu & Chitlom: A short trip down Sukhumvit leads to serious people looking for seriously good food.
Neighborhood hits: Lenzi Tuscan Kitchen, Le Bœuf, Smokin’ Pug, Gaggan, Sushi Zo, Ginza Sushi Ichi.
by Samantha Proyrungtong
