Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BANGKOK'S BEST BITES
David Thompson is a Michelin-starred chef and a best-selling author; he's also head chef at Bangkok restaurant
nahm (
Click here
).
Classic Bangkok-Style Dishes
I like some of the dishes in Chinatown, whether it be the oyster place I adore, Nai Mong Hoi Thod (
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)
,
or whether it be noodles with fish dumplings or with roast duck;
Ъoo pat pong gàriì
(crab fried with curry
powder), when done well, is bloody delicious and accessible. And
pàt tai
- well, you can't really escape from
the cliché, however delicious it might be.
Best Food 'Hood
It depends on what I'm looking for. Chinatown, for smoked duck or noodles. But if you want to eat Thai food,
you need to go to the markets. Bangkok still has some remnants of the city or villages that it was. For Muslim
food you can go down near the Oriental Hotel (Haroon village), or for Portuguese cakes, you can go to Santa
Cruz.
Favourite Restaurant
It changes all the time. I like Krua Apsorn (
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)
. It's local. It's good. It's unreformed. It's not too pre-
cious. They cook for Thais, they feed Thais and it is Thai.
Best Market
Of course, Or Tor Kor Market (
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). Even though it's sanitised, its soul has not been expunged from it as
it's modernised. There's some great stuff there.
Best Eating Advice for a First-Time Visitor
Just bloody well eat it - don't think about it - just eat it. It's so unlikely you'll get sick, but you will kick your-
self for not actually just diving in. Go to places that look busiest, because they're busy for a reason. And a bit of
food poisoning, well that adds local colour, doesn't it?
Lonely Planet's Top Choices
nahm
Upscale Thai that's worth every baht.
Eat Me
Modern, international dining in a gallery setting.
Krua Apsorn
Rich central Thai fare in a homely setting.
Jay Fai
Decades-old shophouse serving flash-fried masterpieces.
MBK Food Island
Cheap, cheerful and tasty: Bangkok's best food court.