[2022] Bangkok, Thailand

We first had their snacks delivered by our friend during our isolation on the first day of this trip and now we went to their dine-in restaurant to have a proper meal of Grilled Pork Balls and Boat Noodle Soup. The pork balls came with a tinge of spice from the sauce that was coated on it but the heat builds up slowly in your mouth. The boat noodle soup is their signature dish and it was clearly justified in this bowl as the pork slices were cooked till tender and the winning factor was that broth which was flavourful and needs no further condiments.
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✨ ทองสมิทธ์ ThongSmith
📍 Siam Paragon FL.G, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

Amongst the dishes that we have ordered, most were new to us and that really impressed us a lot. What was great is that at KHAO (Ekkamai), the menu is based on ala carte orders, which you can then order a few dishes to share among friends and family. For our appetizer, we got the Thodmun Hin Granite (310 THB), which might be a modern-traditional snack of deep-fried prawn and squid cakes, presented in a black granite colour, and served with plum and mango sauce.

The Gang Jued Bai Horapa Gub Moo Bacho (280 THB) is a light soupy dish of Thai basil leaves with minced pork and glass noodles’ balls while the Gang Moo Thepho (250 THB) is for diners who prefer more heavy flavoured tastes. As written in the menu, the Gang Moo Thepho is a rare Thai pork curry with added coconut milk and cooked with morning glory. To have something more familiar, we had the Pad Thai (320 THB), which is nicely fried with each strand of rice noodles having a charred aroma. The one dish that made the dining experience memorable was the Kanom Inthanin Lae Yokmanee Bai Toey (250 THB) of green pandan dumpling in coconut milk and pandan tapioca flour pearls. The balance of textures and sweetness made this dessert dish stunning. With so many dishes in the menu, it is almost impossible to complete them in a single trip, hence, we must come back again to try out their other unique Thai dishes.
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✨ KHAO (Ekkamai)
📍 15 Ekkamai 10 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khlongtun Nua, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

There’s always a saying why messy foods are always ugly delicious. These toasted buns got viral a few years back when they were just a roadside stall along the streets of Bangkok’s Chinatown. The original stall is still there and commands a long snacking queue even up to this day but here’s a relatively hidden secret that you can get them easily. They actually have opened a takeaway outlet in the basement of Siam Paragon, selling at the same price and variety. If you are staying around the Siam area, this is a faster and more convenient way to get these toasted buns without having to brave the huge crowds and traffic in Yaowarat.

Ordering is simple, you just get one of the order sheets and note down the quantity and flavours that you wish to purchase. The buns are then toasted fresh upon order and filled generously with the filling of choice. The three flavours that I will recommend will be the pandan custard, milk and chocolate with the milk being the best for me as it has the condensed milk texture and flavour. After trying the ones from Siam Paragon and having ate from the original stall, there is some slight differences in terms of the “toastiness” and aroma of the buns as I vaguely remember that they are using a charcoal grill there versus the induction ones in the shopping mall. However, it is only a slight taste difference and everything is still very much enjoyable.
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✨ Yaowarat Toasted Buns
📍 452 ถ. เยาวราช Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

Housed in an old-school coffee shop, it has that rustic nostalgic feel the moment you step foot into the shop. Their menu is kept relatively simple with the toasted bread with homemade coconut jam kaya dip and the breakfast for champions that comes with eggs, ham, sausages and bacon. I am not sure if this is an authentic Thai breakfast because the breakfast plates seems more western to me and even after coming here a few times, I still don’t get the hype about it. To me, it is just comfort morning food that I would crave once in awhile but will not for every single holiday trip.
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✨ On Lok Yun
📍 72 Charoen Krung Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

It is hard for you to get hungry as every turn and corner is a restaurant or food cart. One such restaurant is Nai Ek Roll Noodle, one of two famous kway chap in Yaowarat, and both even are in the Michelin guide. If you have not had Thai style kway chap before, it is basically rice noodles that have been rolled up and cooked in a peppery porky broth that comes with crispy pork belly and pig innards added into it. A side dish or complement to the kway chap is the stewed pork trotter with rice and preserved vegetables which is another must-order when you are there.
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✨ Nai Ek Roll Noodle
📍 442 ซอย 9 Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

Located in the premium Siam Paragon mall, the place is decked out in a very modern cafe concept, with the lineup of beverages and food conceptualised by the chefs. You can expect food like the Gaggan Chicken Tikka Masala Burger (360 THB) and Currywurst & Ketchup (240 THB), both we enjoyed thoroughly. The huge chicken thigh that is battered and paired with the tikka masala spices is very hearty and balanced with the pickled onions. The currywurst is a classic Berlin street food and the version here comes with a smoky ketchup sauce with thick cut fries.
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✨ CDGRE
📍 G15, G Floor, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

The food and restaurant is somewhat of a Nakhon Kitchen that you would expect in Singapore; family friendly, a good lineup of dishes in the menu and prices are very affordable. We ordered a few dishes, some the familiar Issan kind and a southern sour curry Gaeng Som with Cha Om Kai, which was kinda underwhelming and I had better versions of this elsewhere. If you are looking for a fuss free meal with friends and family, this is probably a place that you can consider.
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✨ Inter Restaurant
📍 2599 Phatthanakan Rd, Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

It is somewhat similar to our yong tau foo but their version is made with a fermented soybean paste which resulted in the pink hue in the broth. Each bowl contains the kway teow noodle with coagulated pig’s blood, squid, fish balls, crispy wanton and morning glory among other ingredients in it.

Nai Uan Yentafo is one of the more popular brands, with several outlets in the city and was even mentioned in the Michelin guide. Will I come back again for this yentafo? My verdict was that I was not the biggest fan of it, probably too familiar with our own local version of yong tau foo, and couldn’t really accept the taste and ingredients in it. Nonetheless, if you wish to try something unique and different, this is a noodle dish that fits the criteria.
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✨ Nai Uan Yentafo
📍 41 Soi Nawa, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

This is probably one of the best, if not the numero uno, of all mango sticky rice. You can either takeaway or eat it there but you have to be lucky to get a seat as there is only 1-2 tables outside the shop. If you can eat it immediately , you will truly savour the freshly made steamed glutinous rice topped with the thick coconut milk and paired with the ultra sweet cut mangoes. Truly an experience from finding the shop, getting in queue and hopefully you can get in your order, and eating it straightaway.
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✨ Kor Panich Sticky Rice ข้าวเหนียว ก​.พานิช
📍 431 433 Thanon Tanao, San Chao Pho Sua, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

I can hardly find a decent dirty matcha here in Bangkok, but Craftsman Roastery manages to brew them perfectly. They have a limited selection of bakes to go with your beverages which you can speak to the barista to recommend one to suit the flavour profile of the coffee. Just to share that this is just a pop-up cafe located inside the Bumrungnukulkit Priting House for now and I am not sure how long they will be here for, but the next time I am back in Bangkok, I am sure to hunt down their café if they have shifted away from this current location.
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✨ Craftsman Roastery
📍 83 Bamrung Mueang Rd, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
🍴 [Self-Funded]

That is what we did for one of the evenings by having supper at Jeh O Chula, an immensely popular late night street food in town that at times you have to queue for at least two hours before you get a table.

Fortunately, we bought the express pass voucher from Klook prior to that, and the voucher also comes with a set meal of food. Hence, we are able to skip the queue and got a table within 10 minutes upon reaching the stipulated time indicated on the voucher. We got the Set B ($30.39) which comes with a small pot of Jeh O’s Famous Mama Tom Yum with mixed seafood, eggs and pork meatballs in it, Jeh O’s Signature Crispy Pork Belly, Yum Salmon of salmon sashimi in a sour spicy Thai sauce and a plate of stir-fried morning glory. The set is more than enough to feed 2-3 pax and you can order more when you in the restaurant, so that is a trick to get your table without braving the queues.

The highlight of the meal has got to be the Mama Tom Yum pot, a pool of comfort food in a creamy spicy broth that you cannot get enough of. Is this worth an air ticket to come to Bangkok for? I would say a resounding yes; the other tom yum mama in Singapore just didn’t have the x-factor and taste that Jeh O Chula brings to the table. The use of fresh seafood, huge meatballs and that addictive broth makes it a killer combination.
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✨ Jeh O Chula
📍 113 Khwaeng Rong Muang, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330
🍴 [Self-Funded]

Kuay Jab in Thailand is not the kind of braised rice noodles that we are familiar with in Singapore, but it is a Thai Chinese creation of rolled rice noodles served in a savoury peppery broth that you eat with a metal spoon. The bowl also contains pork innards and crispy pork belly that you can also get as a separate additional order because who doesn’t like more crispy pork belly? The crispy skin with the fatty portion and lean meat on the pork belly has the nice level of saltiness that you can eat it on its own or dip it in some dark sweet sauce for a flavour contrast.
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✨ Kuay Jab Mr. Joe
📍 313/7 Soi Chan 42-44, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120
🍴 [Self-Funded]