Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FOOD COURTS
The Siam Square area is home to many of Bangkok's malls, which means that it's also home to more than its
share of mall-based food courts. They're a great way to dip your toe in the sea of Thai food as they're generally
cheap, clean, air-conditioned and have English-language menus. At most, paying is done by exchanging cash for
vouchers or a temporary credit card at one of several counters; your change is refunded at the same desk.
mains 35-150B; 10am-10pm; ; National Stadium exit 4) The granddaddy of the genre offers
loads of vendors selling dishes from virtually every corner of Thailand and beyond. Standouts include a good ve-
getarian food stall (C8) and a decent Isan food vendor (C22).
35-500B; 10am-10pm; ; Siam exits 3 & 5) The perpetually busy Gourmet Paradise unites interna-
tional fast-food chains, domestic restaurants and food-court-style stalls, with a particular emphasis on the sweet
stuff.
30-200B; 10am-10pm; ; Siam exit 1) The city's newest food court has a good mix of Thai and
international (mostly Asian) outlets, all in an open, contemporary-feeling locale. We particularly enjoyed the
Thai-Muslim dishes at the stall called 'Curry Rice'.
; Chit Lom exit 9 to Sky Walk) The selections here are not going to inspire you to move east, but they are
abundant and cheap, and representative of the kind of 'fast food' Thais enjoy eating.
10am-9pm; ; Chit Lom exit 5) This department store pioneered the concept of the upscale food court,
and mock-ups of the various Indian, Italian, Japanese and other international cuisines aid in the decision-making
process.
Ratchathewi
TIDA ESARN$
(1/2-5 Th Rang Nam; mains 60-250B; 10.30am-10.30pm; Victory Monument exit 2)
Tida Esarn sells
country-style Thai food in a decidedly urban setting. Appropriately, foreigners provide the
bulk of the restaurant's customers, but the kitchen still insists on serving full-flavoured
Isan-style dishes such as
su
́
p no
̀
r ma
́
i,
a tart salad of shredded bamboo.
NORTHEASTERN THAI
MALLIKA RESTAURANT$$
SOUTHERN THAI