Where To Eat & Drink In Bangkok: A Chef’s Guide
Located off Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End, Speedboat Bar is the fourth restaurant from chef Luke Farrell. Labelled a ‘Bangkok Chinatown restaurant and bar’, Speedboat offers Chinese dishes infused with unmistakable Thai flavours, and one thing is certain – this menu doesn’t hold back on the heat. Beyond the stellar food, Speedboat has also garnered attention as a late-night venue, with an eclectic cocktail and shots menu featuring drinks such as ‘Start Your Engines’ and ‘Magic Inhaler’ – the kind of concoctions that will get you well on your way for a night out.
Farrell’s London restaurants are an amalgamation of his deep-rooted passion and appreciation for Southeast Asian flavours, cultivated through over 15 years of travel in the region, learning and building an understanding of the nuances of various cooking styles. Tottenham Court Road’s Plaza Khao Gaeng pays homage to Southern Thai cuisine, while Bebek!Bebek! in Battersea Power Station draws inspiration from the lively street food scene of Indonesia. At Speedboat, Farrell’s time living in Thailand’s capital comes to life, aiming to transport diners to the bustling streets of Bangkok’s Chinatown.
For those lucky enough to be planning a trip to Bangkok, Farrell has compiled his Service95 chef’s guide on where to eat in Bangkok, featuring everything from fine dining to street-food stalls in the city. Discover his favourite culinary hotspots and late-night hangouts below…
The Local Food Spots To Try In Bangkok…
- The Area Around Chulalongkorn University – It’s a vibrant place to enjoy some traditional food or the latest craze.
- Jeh O Chula – The restaurant will have a queue around the block worth joining – order the Jumbo Tom Yum Mama noodles.
- Pa Nee Kung Chae Nam Pla – This spot has a vibrant selection of oysters and prawns, ‘cooked’ in a lime chilli and garlic dressing with a shower of crispy shallots. Great with an ice-cold beer.
- Forgo The Seafood Buffets – Rice soup or salad is real Bangkok food, seafood gently dipped in a simmering stock. A second branch of Khao Tom Plaa Kimpo has the most variety.
- Dessert Restaurants – Thai people go nuts for them. Chinese crullers with pandan cream, or giant mounds of ice with glistening syrups and toppings. Try จูนปัง ขนมปัง-นมสด.
Where To Eat Casual Food In Bangkok…
- Jack’s Bar – the menu inspired a lot of the dishes at my restaurant Speedboat Bar, you might even spot some of the chefs wearing our shirts.
- Bangkok Bold – Thai people eat at the mall often, and they are not to be overlooked as part of the culinary landscape. I have long admired Chef Nhoi Ouypornchaisakul’s cooking at her restaurant Bangkok Bold.
Bangkok’s Best Fine-Dining Restaurants…
- Samrub Samrub Thai – The menus change with the seasons, and are inspired by ancient cookbooks and the team’s frequent trips to tiny fishing villages, jungles and beyond.
- Wana Yook – Fine dining rather than culinary entertainment, the menu at Wana Yook is a meticulous modern take on ‘khao gaeng’, or curry rice that you find all over Thailand in local canteens.
Where To Eat Traditional Thai Food In Bangkok…
- Puyai Lee – This curry rice joint has a crash of tables all over the street nearby, get there early for catfish belly curry.
- The Originals Mae On’s Curry Over Rice at Saphan Han – On the same theme, this place has the crispiest pork in town that you can have slathered in sweet sauce – and curries to die for.
- For Thai Fishcakes – People love them but a good one is hard to find. This stand opposite the temple has been going for over 100 years.
- Hakka Laemthong Pochana – Bangkok is home to ancient Chinese communities, some of these traditional dishes have been preserved and are hard to find in China. At Hakka Laemthong Pochana, there’s also a Chinese shrine and the kitchen still cooks over charcoal.
- Tang Jai Yoo – For a traditional Chinese feast, a whole suckling pig, complete with flashing LEDs for eyes, is most auspicious.
The After-Dinner Bar To Visit…
Where You’ll Find the Freshest Cooking Ingredients In The City…
- Khlong Toei Market – This central market is the beating heart of Bangkok. Produce comes from all over Thailand into this hub. Early morning is best to go, and ‘Issan Alley’, above the canal at the front, is where you’ll find herbs packed to the rafters, frogs, bee honeycomb and a massive catfish grill.
- Suan Phlu Market – A local market supplying a close-knit Bangkok community.
Bangkok’s Best Late-Night Speakeasies…
- Mojo Bar – Fast becoming the spot for creatives that have made Bangkok their home.
- Wong’s Place – ‘It goes wrong at Wong’s’– luckily, you can slump like a seaside donkey at the 24-hour Malai restaurant in the Malaysia hotel afterwards.
Where To Stay In Bangkok…
- U Sathorn – A calm oasis in a busy city. You can check in at any time, and your check-out time is 24 hours later.
- Baan Vajra – For a boutique experience, Baan Vajra is a Thai family home, with over 100 years of history within.
- Prince Theatre Heritage Stay – A budget-friendly stay in an old cinema, with some famous street food nearby, including Jok Prince.
- The Salil Hotel – A newly opened, reasonably priced riverside hotel with a series of infinity pools facing over the Chao Praya river.
Pia Brynteson is Content Editor at Service95
