5 best Thai restaurants in Thonglor you need to check out

Thonglor has no shortage – absolutely none – of unique eats and delightfully concocted drinks. The area has long been one of Bangkok’s hippest districts for a dine out and a night out, thanks to its repertoire of sleek bars and sophisticated restaurants.

And as you may already notice, Thai restaurants — and vendors – are basically crammed into almost every inch of Bangkok’s streets. Due to the progressive and innovative culinary movement, Thai cuisine has been getting a big-time upgrade through both presentation and taste. As for the result, authentic Thai food has become more of a scarce find. So, finding legit Thai restaurants is actually not that easy a task.

But if you happen to be in Thonglor and find yourself looking for the perfect, authentic Thai restaurant to dine in, we are here to show you just the right spots you will be sure to fall in love with. Here’s our list of 5 must-try Thai eateries you need to saunter on over to.

Featured image credit: R-HAAN; hero image credit: Unsplash/Caroline Attwood

Bo.lan

Featured in the far-famed Netflix’s food series Chef’s Table, Bo.lan is an authentically traditional Thai restaurant that sources its ingredients from local farmers across the country. Helmed by two chefs, Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones, the name Bo.lan came from parts of their names and it is also actually a play on Thai word “ancient”. And just like the name suggests, this Thonglor Michelin-starred restaurant (also listed as ‘Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019’, #19), serves up old-school, all-made-from-scratch Thai dishes that are whipped up using locally-sourced ingredients. Want full-on spicy and pungent Thai fare? Here’s the restaurant that does not compromise on the heat.

Bo.lan, 24 Soi Sukhumvit 53, Klongtonnua, Bangkok, +662 260 2962
Open: Tue-Sun, 6-10:30 pm for dinner; Sat-Sun, 12-2 pm for lunch.

Baan Ice

Meet another restaurant that is making their Southern pungent mark on the Thonglor district, Baan Ice. The venue couldn’t be more delightful with its selection of drool-inducing signatures like Grandma’s Khanom Jeen, (rice noodle with fish curry) (THB 120), Grandpa’s Khao Yam (THB 160), which is a herby rice salad and Kaeng Tai Pla, or Fish Stomach Curry (THB 160) that is a staple for Southern folks. The food here is perfectly perfumed with Southern charm that makes flying to the South for the food unnecessary.

Baan Ice, Somerset Building, 115 Sukhumvit Soi 55, Bangkok, +662 381 6441
Open: Mon-Sun, 11 am-10 pm.

R-HAAN

There’s no denying, fusion Thai food has become slightly cliché in Bangkok’s gastronomic scene. So if you’re someone who is after authentic Thai tastes, R-HAAN is a fine-dining Thai restaurant, welcoming you to gorge on their handcrafted, long-lost recipes you can hardly find anywhere else. Situated within Soi Sukhumvit 53, the Michelin-awarded restaurant offers a contemporary Thai-style spot with a well-rounded offering of traditional Thai dishes made from seasonal slash local ingredients. The menu here comes in different courses, with each set featuring dishes that deliver pure deliciousness.

R-HAAN, 131 Soi Sukhumvit 53 (Pai Dee Ma Dee), Klongtun Nua, Bangkok, +6695 141 5524
Open: Mon-Sun, 6-11 pm for dinner and Sat-Sun, 11 am-2:30 pm for lunch.

Soul Food Mahanakorn

Soul Food Mahanakorn offers up an extensive list of soulful Thai food like Isaan and Chiang Mai Sausages with Nahm Prik Num (THB 280), Southern Thai Fried Chicken (THB 220) and Tiger Prawn Satay (THB 300), where the Thai crustaceans get marinated overnight in Malaysian spices and coconut milk. Aside from the heart-warming, satisfying food, the venue also makes mean Thai-inspired cocktails like Jai Yen Yen (THB 250), which means calm down in Thai. It’s a blend of Beefeater Gin, cucumber, lime and ginger ale that will calm you right down from Thailand’s hot heat with a brightness, as the name suggests.

Soul Food Mahanakorn, 56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Soi Thong Lor), Bangkok, +662 714 7708

Open: Mon-Sun, 5:30-11 pm for dinner; Sat-Sun, 11:30 am-3:30 pm for lunch.

Phuket Town

Southern cuisine is known for its ability to lighten up the palates thanks to its piquancy and aromatic essence from spices and herbs. But why fly to the South when you have Phuket Town Restaurant in Thonglor to satisfy your Southern food cravings. Tuck into the Stir-Fried String Bean in Shrimp Paste (THB 120), Red Curry with Parkia Timoriana (Southern vegetable) with Pork or Shrimp (THB 220) and Deep-fried Pork Belly with Salt and Garlic. Hop to it if you love good, umami-packed cuisine.

Phuket Town Restaurant, 126/2 Soi Thonglor 4, Sukhumvit Road, +662 714 9402
Open: Mon-Sun, 11 am-10:30 pm