We all heard that great Thai food can be found in the most humble shophouse or even by the side of the road. If you’ve come a long way and want to treat yourself to something more sophisticated, here are some great Thai restaurants in Bangkok. Some of these restaurants have hefty prices, but keep in mind that this is a whole dining experience, with service, ambiance, and other small touches that distinguish the great from the good. Most importantly, these restaurants allow you to experience the true flavors of Thailand, all prepared by the most renowned Thai chefs. It’s more than just food; it’s about cuisine.
Do you want to know where the best Thai restaurants in Bangkok are? Thailand’s vibrant capital city is home to thousands of restaurants and food stalls, making it difficult to decide where to eat.
The best Thai restaurants in Bangkok are:
Soei Restaurant
The location of this legendary Bangkok restaurant may have changed, but the flavors have not. Chef and owner P’Soei, known for his fiery specialties, personally approves each dish. If you’re looking for a uniquely Thai dish, make a reservation for the Fried Mackerel Cheeks. Consider a plate of crispy, deep-fried fish heads slathered in garlic and salt and ready to be dipped into a fiery chili sauce. Traditional curries and other seafood delights, such as Spicy Grilled Shrimp Salad and Thai Ceviche Prawns in a unique mix of fish sauce and wasabi, are also on the menu.
Pochana 55
Pochana 55 serves some of the best Thai-Chinese food in Bangkok, with dishes cooked over tall flames that pack a powerful punch. This Sukhumvit street-side eatery has been open for two decades and is open until the early morning hours. Don’t pass up the Duck Pad Krapow, which features succulent chunks of meat fried in garlic and chili and topped with a heaping mound of fried holy basil leaves. Cowslip Creeper Flowers with Egg and Noodles, as well as Fried Beef with Black Pepper in a rich gravy, are other signature dishes.
Pe Aor
If you like Tom Yum, Pee Aor is the place to go, with over 20 different varieties ranging in price from 60 to 1,200 THB. This is Bangkok’s best Thai restaurant for seafood tom yum, with fresh seafood ingredients like mussels, prawns, lobster, and squid. The premium Lobster and the Gang comes in a large bowl full of creamy soup laced with rice noodles, rock lobster, squid, mussels, prawns, and eggs. The 60 THB Tom Yum Noodles with Fresh Water Prawns and the 150 THB Fried Noodles with Tom Yum Flavored Seafood are both less expensive options.
Somsak Pu Ob
Somsak Pu Ob in Bangkok serves the best-steamed crabs and prawns with glass noodles and deserves a high ranking in this article. This unassuming street stall has several rows of tables and is very popular, so arrive early to avoid the lines. Watch as seafood is pulled from buckets and cooked in front of your eyes before being served with a heaping pile of glass noodles drenched in a secret soy-garlic sauce and garnished with spring onions. The Roasted Shrimp is our favorite dish, but there’s also a tasty Roe Crab on the menu. Order a pile of boiled cockles or mussels to dip in the complimentary seafood sauce for a snack. They have four different locations, ranging from street food restaurants to air-conditioned eateries.
Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu
The Tom Yum Goong is the star dish at this family-run street stall near Khao San Road. This dish is made with a steaming broth seasoned with kaffir lime leaves, chilies, lemongrass, and freshwater prawns. Enjoy all of the creamy, buttery flavors with a hint of sour lime alongside juicy prawns. Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad and strong Garlic Prawns are two other standouts on the menu. Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu is listed in our article about the best tom yum in Bangkok for obvious reasons.
Jae Oh
Jae Oh is a Michelin-starred restaurant near the National Stadium BTS station. People queue outside the simple Chinese-Thai restaurant to enjoy a plate of Mamma Tom Yum Seafood. This is the ultimate Thai comfort food, a colorful tom yum soup with Mamma instant noodles and tasty seafood; the pork ball version is also available. The Spicy Salmon Salad and crispy Battered Shrimp with Tofu in a sweet sauce are also standouts.
Herehai Restaurant
Many of the restaurants mentioned in this article have the same food philosophy: take traditional Thai dishes to the next level by using high-quality ingredients and perfecting the recipe over time. It’s easier said than done, but success is guaranteed if you hit the right spot. Herehai is on a mission to serve the best crab-fried rice in Thailand, and we think they’ve succeeded. Their signature Insane Crab Fried Rice (340 THB) is an incredibly flavorful fried rice with an absurd amount of peeled crab. This plate of delectableness is easily shared by two people; however, for larger groups, there is an XL size available for 990 THB and can be shared by at least five people. The Stir-Fried Mantis Shrimp with Garlic & Pepper, on the other hand, wowed us (360 THB). The stir-fried prawns are perfectly cooked and topped with a slightly sweetened crispy garlic crumble. Every dish is accompanied by a spicy seafood dipping sauce to amp up the heat. Herehai in Ekkemai is a must-visit if you’re looking for next-level Thai seafood dishes.
Kor Panich
Do you like sweet things? Then make your way to Kor Panich for Thailand’s most famous dessert: Mango Sticky Rice. Order a plate of ripe sweet mango with sticky rice drizzled in coconut milk and sprinkled with crunchy mung beans. Kor Panich has been in operation for over 80 years and is said to be popular with Thai royalty: the family recipe was apparently passed down by a relative who worked in the palace kitchen. If you want to try something new, you can pair the sticky rice with Thai custard or even dried fish.
Ruepoh Seafood
Ruepoh is a seafood restaurant in Udom Suk, with the first branch of this family-run business opening forty years ago. Ruepoh Seafood, located in Udom Suk, first opened its doors in 2017. The restaurant is built inside a shipping container, giving it a unique atmosphere. The menu is limited, but the seafood served is simply incredible. The Stir-Fried Mix Seafood with Pepper, Coriander, and Exotic Herbs (250 THB), Fluffy Catfish with Green Mango Salad (150 THB), and Grilled River Prawn (150 THB) are absolute highlights (999 THB). With perfectly cooked seafood, expect plenty of spices and chilies. All of these reasonably priced seafood dishes are freshly prepared and delivered daily from Chonburi. Ruepoh Seafood is one of our favorite local Thai seafood restaurants in Bangkok because of its authentically spiced, highly flavorful, and impressive fresh seafood at a reasonable price.
Sanguansri Restaurant
Sanguan Sri, established in the 1970s and set by Lumpini Park, is another of Bangkok’s Michelin-endorsed delights. Many consider this to be Bangkok’s best Thai restaurant for Thai Green Curry, which can be ordered with chicken or, on Thursdays, with beef. Enjoy the tender meat cubes swimming in a green curry sauce flavored with kaffir lime, basil, and cumin. The Blanched Pork with Peanut Sauce and Morning Glory, as well as the Crunchy Fried Fish with Chili Paste, are also popular. Sanguansri is also listed in our article about the best curries in Bangkok for obvious reasons.
Final Thoughts on Bangkok Food
Bangkok has so much amazing food that this list only scratches the surface. But I hope it sparks some ideas and steers you in the right direction.
