Bangkok is one of the premier cities for world-class cuisine.
Bangkok is one of the premier cities for world-class cuisine. In addition to thousands of outstanding Thai restaurants from five-star to street stall, Bangkok features the entire spectrum of international cuisines, a byproduct of its cosmopolitan population. Expatriate Japanese, Indian, German, Italian, French, Lebanese, and people of nearly every other nationality have established authentic eateries throughout the city. Upscale food courts in many shopping plazas provide visitors with a wide selection of outstanding restaurants, and most hotels feature at least one Thai and one international dining establishment. An incipient food-tourism industry has even appeared on the scene; a testament to the outstanding variety and quality of cuisine available in Thailand’s capital city.
Khao San Road:
As one of the epicenters of tourist activity in Bangkok, Khao San Road features a great selection of food, from Thai street food to authentic Middle Eastern and western cuisine. While entrees in Thai restaurants along Khao San Road are hardly authentic -they tend to prepare their food with far less chili than most Thai restaurants do- menus are all in English and the prices are only moderately higher than in everyday Thai restaurants. On the street however, it’s possible to buy common Thai street food, such as fresh fruit, phad thai noodles, spring rolls, and various meats on a stick, all for under $1 US. For novices to Thai cuisine who are fearful for their stomachs, there are also chain branches of American fast food outlets Burger King, McDonalds and Subway, and for those with more refined palettes there are restaurants along nearby Phra Athit Road that serve authentic Thai cuisine to a predominately Thai student crowd.
Silom Road:
The Silom business district around Sala Daeng BTS station may be better known to visitors for the Patpong red-light district and its popular night market. However, Silom features an outstanding collection of Thai and international restaurants, both upscale and casual. In addition to many fine dining restaurants and moderately priced cafes, there are also many international chain restaurants and some of Bangkok’s best street-food dining venues, both on Silom and its side streets, particularly Soi Convent and Soi Sala Daeng.
China Town:
Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, is a one of the top dining neighborhoods in Bangkok, with a range of dining options from some of the cheapest food stalls, including fresh fruit vendors and roasted chestnuts stands, to some of the most expensive Chinese restaurants in the city. Along Yaowarat Road and the mazes of side streets leading away from it you will find dim sum, seafood, and many other Chinese eateries, particularly Cantonese dining establishments.
In nearby Pahurat, just west of Chinatown, there is a large, long-established Indian community that sells Indian cuisine at a number of authentic restaurants.
Siam Square:
In addition to dozens of restaurants of every variety in the Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, and Siam Center shopping malls, the streets of Siam Square contain numerous restaurants serving authentic Thai, Chinese, Italian, and even American food at the city’s only Hard Rock Café.
Sukhumvit Road:
With arguably the highest percentage of hotels in the city it’s hardly surprising that Sukhumvit Road is a literal smorgasbord of dining options. Beginning around Sukhumvit Soi 3 there are many Arab, Middle Eastern, and African restaurants, as well as a number of British and Irish Pubs. Sukhumvit 11 alone features Spanish, Indian, Australian, Italian, German, Mexican, Thai, and even fusion cuisine at the popular Bed Supperclub. Up near Sukhumvit Soi Asoke there are many Korean restaurants, and around Sukhumvit 24 and the Emporium Department store there are many authentic Japanese eateries. After hours, Sukhumvit Road becomes a street-food paradise with vendors lined up along the sidewalk between Sukhumvit 3 and 21, where all variety of Thai food is served until the early morning hours.
Bangkok Riverside:
Both along and upon the Chao Phraya River there are a host of upscale restaurants and authentic Thai restaurants. With some of the most spectacular sunset views in the city, restaurants along the river’s edge range from swanky hotel cafes and outdoor, rooftop dining rooms, to rustic riverside Thai restaurants and seafood specialists with live music. For additional romance, a dinner cruise aboard an old, teak, rice barge or a larger, more festive boat with live music are both popular experiences for enjoying both the river of kings and some outstanding Thai cuisine.
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