Hotel restaurants usually include a meat/potatoes place like an American/Continental food style place. French and Italian places are all over the place. There is an Outback Steakhouse in one of the malls at Central. You will have no trouble finding something they like. Something they might enjoy is one of the nicer hotel buffet dinners...a little bit of everything.

There is a TGIF Friday's near Patpong. My husband and I spent a very homesick Thanksgiving there one year (1998). I think it's still there.
I recommend you look at the websites of your favorite chain restaurants and see if they have any International locations in Thailand.

there are not so many of the quality chains... there are some sizzlers (one in the marriott mini mall), some TGIF's....some pizza huts, tons of mcdonalds, burger kings, kentucky fired chicken and the like, but that is not what you were looking for....to my knowledge you will not find any olive gardens or the like----thank god...

the eating prices are so reasonable that you can go to a quality italian place for instance for not much more than a chain place in usa and you will have real food.....not fast frozen and re-constituted food like in chains in usa....

they will not have a problem finding plenty to eat in bangkok....maybe outside it can be a problem....in phuket it is good too and chiang mai to some degree, plus pattaya, but elsewhere forget it....

as said above there are tons of wonderful italien places as well as other cuisines...

there are a few new steak houses....one in the four seasons hotel, one in the jw marriott hotel to name a couple....

TGI where. I have yet to see one. I can actually now by an awesome blossom.

there are sizzlers in MBK, siam mall, and many other locations

outback is in discovery mall

black canyon coffe offers some good cheep fusion style pasta, and they have also have beef and tuna steak dishes that cost only 129 baht for a big plate.

or you can go try one of the dozens of German, irish or british put, most have meat and potatoes.

There's also a Tony Roma around the Nai Lert building.

welll, you got some tips from the others...i'll add some -

Toni Roma's - On Sukumvit (Between Soi 3 and 5)
Sizzler - You have one in the WTC, one near patpong (Int he "California Gym" Building and one in Siam Center near the bridge to Discovery.
If you also want some good stakes -
Niel's Tavern - Soi Ruam Rudee and also branch in Asok.

And yes, you'll find more BK, KFC, MC'd, Pizza Hut (OR the better local version - "The Pizza Company") here in Bangkok than you'll find them in NY...

Enkoy your meal...

Embarrassed? I admire your honesty in asking the question. But seems it has been taken on the chin by so many here who obviously think it's just fine to go to another country and eat Madonalds.

What a shame that they are so unadventurous. But maybe they'll see the light!!

Happy travels.

there used to be a tgif in ploenochit center across from jw marriott

Thank you all. My traveling companions will be very glad to hear they can have some good old American "cuisine" if they have the urge. But trust me -- I will try to steer them in the other direction whenever possible...

While I like Thai food after a couple of days I am looking for something different. Good replies above so I will only add a few favourites.

Crepes and Co (Sol 12 Sukhumvit Road) serves a range of various crepes, has great desserts, a good coffee and nice baskets of mixed breads. You can either eat inside or on the outdoor terrace. It's a very popular spot with visitors and a sunday hangout for expats.

Bourbon St Restaurant & Bar (Sol 22 Sukhumvit) - famous for Louisiana style cajun/creole dishes, barbeque baby back ribs (the best in town, chicken charcol grilled steaks and beef brisket. Although the food is excellent it is located in the sleazy area of Washington Square.


Bamrungrad Hospital - believe it or not but this well known hospital has one of the best restaurants around serving not only great Italian food but also very good steak, veal and fish dishes. Not cheap but of excellent quality and service.

many local thai restaurants offer "AMERICAN FRIED RICE" it's basically fried rice with ketchup and sliced hot dogs. yummy, not!....
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Eating western food when travailing in thailand is not that bad an idiea. . IF you eat too much thai food you may loose the feeling in the tip of your tongue as has happened to me. then again I rarely say "may phrik" = no chili.

Tony Roma's in Emporium Shopping center on the top floor in the food court section. There's Sizzler in the Siam center Shopping Center right where the inside bridge connects Siam Center to Siam Discovery Center. Take the skytrain and get off at the Siam station and it's right there. Happy Travels!

Oh, and there's the very famous,"Bourbon Street" off of Sukhumvit around soi 22, if I remember correctly. A friend has been eating there almost ever since they opened...over a decade ago. Happy Travels!

The only major criticism(s) I have about the Marriott Resort and Spa has to do with their in-house, American chain restaurants....Benihaha and Jaded Vics.

i agree but they are always full....the thais love them....it sells