WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT IN BANGKOK

Som Tam (spicy papaya salad)

Granted, I enjoy hyperbole, but when it comes to Bangkok’s food scene, I can’t find an exageration to do it justice.  Bangkok is bursting with fabulous food. North, south, east, west, up, down, all around, Bangkok is stacked, jam-packed, overloaded and overflowing with good places to eat. The choices are nothing short of overwhelming.

Pad Thai (fried rice noodles)

Kai Med Ma Muang (stir-fried chicken with cashews)

As knowing where to begin exploring the feast is a task beyond the average tourist, I asked the lovely Vimolpatra Tunganaga for help.

Vimolpatra lives in Bangkok, comes from a Thai restaurant family and works for The Crown Property Bureau, the agency responsible for managing the personal wealth of the King of Thailand and his immediate family, so she knows the ins and outs of all things Bangkok, particularly its food.

Vimolpatra suggests the following three restaurant chains, because, she says, each has multiple locations, is reasonably priced and serves high-quality Thai (and fusion) foods that are popular with both Thais and faràngs (“foreigners”).

Popular Thai appetizers: shrimp cakes, spring rolls and satay.

KALPAPRUEK

This independently owned chain has several branches with the three most popular being:

the original Kalpapruek Restaurant Silom: 27, Pramuan Rd., Suriyawong, Bang Rak;

and

Kalpapruek on First, on the 1st floor of the Emporium shopping complex;

and

Ghang Keow Wan (green curry)

Ging Kalpapruek in the Siam Paragon shopping center.

GREYHOUND CAFÉ

Tourist can find this popular restaurant in eight different locations including:

the original on the second floor of the Emporium shopping complex;

at the Siam Paragon shopping center;

and on the ground floor of the Siam Centre.

Khao Neow Ma Muong (coconut sticky rice with mango)

SEEFAH RESTAURANT

One of the oldest restaurants in Bangkok, Seefah boasts about 20 branches that are still family owned and operated.

A good choice for tourists is one of the earliest Seefah’s at the Siam location, No. 434-440, Siam Square, Soi 9, Rama 1 Rd.

Recipes:

PAD THAI

CHICKEN SATAY