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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
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Where (and What) to Eat in Bangkok, High and Low: 11 Must-Visit Thai Restaurants

  • January 1, 2023
  • Brad A. Johnson
From the street to fine-dining, Bangkok might be my favorite city in the world for food. It helps, of course, that Thai cuisine is one of my favorite things of all time. My partner and I recently spent two weeks in Bangkok, where we ate Thai food daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner — every meal but one (more on that one later). Thanks to great planning, a little help from a local chef and an unsurmountable traffic jam that resulted in a last-minute dinner change, we ate very, very well. Every one of these places was absolutely excellent. 
80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Rambutan with prawn and peanut at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Grilled pork at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Squid with mangosteen and chili at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Grilled wagyu at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Grilled frog at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Red curry at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Vegetables with fried quail eggs at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Coconut, guava and honey at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Thai ice cream at 80/20 restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

80/20

This was our most expensive splurge. Chef Andrew Martin’s menu was also the most avant-garde on this list. The restaurant’s name is a reference its commitment to source at least 80 percent of ingredients locally, or at the very least from Thailand, with a focus also on Thai techniques. The other 20 percent draws from outside inspiration. You’ll need to reserve months in advance for this. The highlight: squid with mangosteen. 8020bkk.com


Sardines on toast at Aksorn in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Aksorn in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Pork meatball with star fruit at Aksorn in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Crab, coconut, chili and vermicelli at Aksorn in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Red curry with salted beef at Aksorn in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Aksorn in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Aksorn

Chef David Thompson is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on Thai cuisine. Few others have studied the country’s foodways as intensely as him. He has written two of the most definitive books on Thai cuisine. And at Aksorn, his menus are an ode to the cookbooks of those who came before him. You’ll need to reserve weeks in advance for this. The highlight: red curry. aksornbkk.com


Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Miang kham at Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Tom yum with river prawn at Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Kor moo yang at Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Green curry at Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The Sukhothai Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Celadon

Long before Bangkok became one of the world’s greatest food cities, Celadon reigned as one of Bangkok’s most luxurious Thai restaurants and one of the last adherents of royal Thai cuisine. The restaurant has evolved in recent years, but one thing has not changed: the food here is really, really good. The highlight: miang kham. sukhothai.com/bangkok/en/dining/restaurant-celadon


Beef-fat fried rice at Co Limited in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Co Limited at Sindhorn Village in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Papaya salad at Co Limited in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Crying tiger at Co Limited in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Co Limited

Trendy, fun and absolutely delicious. This place serves all the Thai classics. It’s packed every night with locals, seldom a tourist in sight. The crying tiger here is an Australian wagyu tomahawk ribeye. The highlight: Beef-fat fried rice. instagram.com/colimited


Scallop with lemongrass and passionfruit at Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Miang kham at Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Crispy fish cake with coconut at Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Kaffir lime granita at Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Beef tenderloin kua kling at Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Coconut and banana at Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Flourish

After cooking Thai food in Switzerland at the lavish Bürgenstock resort (and at Hua Hin’s famed Chiva-Som resort before that), chef Chatsorn Pratoomma returned home to Bangkok in 2022 to head up Flourish at the Sindhorn Kempinski, where she introduced a terrific six-course Thai tasting menu in the fall. The highlight: Crispy fish cake with coconut and roe. kempinski.com/en/sindhorn-hotel


Mackerel pla salad bite at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Paste restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Mung bean wafer, prawn tomalley, coconut, persimmon, lime leaf & salted egg yolk at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Paste restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Banana blossom and oyster salad at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Watermelon rind soup with sea bass at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Pomelo salad with grilled river prawn at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Penang curry with beef cheek and water chestnut at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Smoked coconut noodles at Paste Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Paste

This Michelin-starred restaurant from chefs Bee Satongun and Jason Bailey is one of Bangkok’s original breakout stars of modern Thai cuisine. A grand, multi-hour affair, lunch here is leisurely and lovely. The food tastes more French than Thai. Nevertheless, everything is absolutely delicious. The highlight: Prawns and pomelo. pastebangkok.com


Beef pad kra pow at Phed Mark in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Phed Mark in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Beef pad kra pow at Phed Mark in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Phed Mark 

Born of the wildly popular YouTube channel of Mark Wiens, this 20-seat bolthole tucked beneath the skytrain tracks serves one thing: pad kra pow with fried duck eggs. And this is seriously some of the best pad kra pow you’ll ever eat. But heed this critical warning: The “medium” spice level here would qualify as EXTRA-EXTRA-SPICY just about anywhere else. Every dish at Phed Mark is a surreal endorphin experience. The highlight: beef pad kra pow. (Cash only)


Papaya salad at Phra Nakhon at Capella Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The riverside terrace at Phra Nakhon at Capella Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Southern-style crab curry at Phra Nakhon at Capella Bangkok (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Phra Nakhon

Phra Nakhon opened at the posh Capella Bangkok mid-pandemic when international tourism was shut down, so the restaurant’s early customers (who are now loyal regulars) were entirely local. It’s an elite clientele that demands authentic Thai flavors and expects nothing less than perfection, which is exactly what chef Kannika Jitsangworn delivers. It’d be wise to reserve at least a week in advance. The highlight: Crab curry. capellabangkok.com


Pad thai with grilled river prawn at Rongsi Pochana in Sindhorn Village, Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Spicy naked shrimp at Rongsi Pochana in Sindhorn Village, Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Razor clams at Rongsi Pochana in Sindhorn Village, Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Rongsi Pochana

In the same Sindhorn Village complex as Co-Limited, next door to the Sindhorn Kempinsky hotel, this Thai seafood grill is excellent — and thronged every night of the week with a loyal, locals-only crowd. Reserve at least a day or two in advance. The highlight: pad Thai. instagram.com/rongsipochana


Sai Oua at Thai Niyum in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Pineapple salad at Thai Niyum in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Kua kling at Thai Niyum in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Thai Niyum in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Thai Niyom

You really just need to know two things about the menu here. First, nobody asks how spicy you want it. They serve it the way they serve it, which usually means VERY SPICY, and that’s exactly how you want the pineapple salad to come. Second, no matter what else you order, get the sausage called sai oua. Theirs is as good as you’ll ever find. The highlight: sai oua.  instagram.com/thainiyombkk


Bamboo salad at Ting Larbped in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Chicken wings on the fire at Ting Larbped in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Papaya salad at Ting Larbped in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Spicy shrimp salad at Ting Larbped in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Ting Larbped sidewalk restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Ting Larbped

No way would I have found this place without the help of chef Kannika of Phra Nakhon. (I’ll be writing more about Ting Larbped and Phra Nakhon for OLTRE, the new luxury travel magazine I’m editing for the Global Travel Collection and Internova Travel Group.) You won’t find this place on TripAdvisor or Google Maps, and they don’t have any social media channels. It’s basically unsearchable. The restaurant operates entirely outdoors on the sidewalk, and the food is absolutely outstanding. The highlight: shrimp salad. 

For more travel inspiration and photos, I invite you to follow me and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, James Beard Awards, World Food Media Awards, Food Photographer of the Year Awards, Society of Features Journalism Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as Editorial Director of the new luxury consumer travel magazine of the Global Travel Collection (launching Spring 2023).

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My sincerest thanks to the North American Travel Journalists Awards!⁠ 128 19
Hey, OC. FYI in case you missed it, @ryegoods has opened a new location on Red Hill in Tustin, just down the street from Flight/Mess Hall. Same incredible breads and pastries as the original on the peninsula. No lines here, plus a huge seating area. #sourdough #pastries #coffee #orangecounty 331 9
One more post from our lovely stay at @fstokyo. Delicious lunch at @maisonmarunouchi, the casual sibling to @sezannetokyo. Excellent all around. And clearly popular with Tokyo's ladies who lunch: the clientele during our visit, almost entirely women. Quite the see-and-be-seen crowd. 66 1
I’m not sure which I liked better about the @fstokyo, the valet greeter and escort from the train station, the view of the trains from our room, or the super comfy pajamas. Excellent service all around. #Tokyo #Japan #hoteljunkie 83 3
I think @sezannetokyo ⁠has a #footfetish, and I’m ok with that. Truly fantastic lunch. Impeccable service. ⁠ 64 2
We had a really fun "Lost in Translation" moment at @meatman_roppongi. Google Translate failed hilariously. Delicious meat/fat overload anyway. Great staff, charming hospitality. Lots of sake. Thank you, @fstokyo for securing the reservation! #Tokyo #Roppongi #sake 77 1
Brad A. Johnson
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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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