Guenmai

I can't remember a lot of the restaurants that I have eaten at in Bangkok over the many years. However, one eatery that I always drop into is the Erawan Tearoom. It's directly above the Erawan Shrine, in the heart of town.

After a day of hitting the malls in the area, I always drop by there to relax, have a variety of dishes, have a glass of their delicious lime juice, and usually read a magazine that I've picked up at a bookstore. Whenever my Thai friend is with me, we also always drop by there for a light bite to eat. It's kind of a tradition that's gone on for years.

Since I stay in serviced apartments, I cook a lot as I hate being restaurant dependent. But, since I'm a lunch person, my Thai friend and I will drop in to different places for lunch on the weekends. I've never been big on dinner as I don't like to eat late and then go to bed.

http://www.erawanbangkok.com/tearoom.php

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/eat/4-t...a-shops-477552

I'm one for tearooms and light food. Here's a short list.

Happy Travels!

rayong

Carol, Via Vai has a new look (at least for me) and an agressive effort in place to draw happy hour customers. Quite a crowd there on my visit last month. Agree about the pizza.

simpsonc510

Guenmai, are we sisters? haha... I also HATE to eat a big evening meal and then go to bed. I like to eat 'more' at lunch and then walk it off. I, too, stay in serviced apts but I don't use the kitchen for cooking very often.

DH and I tried that tea room last year. It was really nice. Very busy place!

Rayong, curious about the 'new' look at Via Vai? It was a new look for me when the White Bar was added on the front side of the bldg a year or so ago. I like the open air dining, when the weather allows. Via Vai provides the live music for the outside diners at Monsoon!! Would love to see Via Vai get more business. They have been around in that same location for a number of years.

rayong

Carol, I was referring to the addition of the white bar in front. I remember it the original way. True about the business not being consistant? But Monsoon seems to pull in customers every night.

Guenmai

"simpsonc510 on Sep 16, 12 at 3:48am
Guenmai, are we sisters? haha... I also HATE to eat a big evening meal and then go to bed. I like to eat 'more' at lunch and then walk it off. I, too, stay in serviced apts but I don't use the kitchen for cooking very often."

I've always been a lunch person. You probably remember when we ate in B.H. at Panini Cafe that I ate my big meal at that hour and then I was finished for the rest of the day.

Happy Travels!

Kathie

Gaggan, being molecular cuisine, is certainly not for everyone. El Bulli, where the Gaggan chef apprenticed, also got mixed reviews from "the best in the world" to "you call that food?"

simpsonc510

Guenmai, yes I do remember that. We are also 'sisters' in that we are 'bag ladies' (purses AND luggage...haha).

So, are you planning a trip to BKK or is it still in the air?
I'll be there for 10 days in October, if you are coming at that time.

Carol

rayong

Carol, what are your oct dates?

simpsonc510

Arriving Oct 23 (late) and departing Nov 2.

rayong

Thanks, working now on my dates.

Brownmarsh12

I'll echo everyone else and say that yes, you can get whatever fast food you want in Bangkok. You can also go to restaurants that cater to tourists and order sandwiches, burgers, spaghetti, tex-mex, pizza, fries.....you name it.

But really, going to Thailand without trying the local food? That's just wrong. In my opinion Thai cuisine is the very best on the planet, and for many, myself included, its THE highlight of the country. Maybe start with something simple, like Phad Thai (noodle dish), move on to some stir fried veggie/meat dishes, and work your way up to the more spicy and flavor intensive curries. Many tourist restaurants will have menus with pictures and explanations of spice levels etc.. and it's a good place to try new dishes. And the street food...I could live for months just on street food in Bangkok. Don't be scared of it, if you can see them cooking it, then it's usually safe to eat.

BillT

When we go to Bangkok I like to eat Thai but the wife does not like Thai- its not "wrong" its just that she has different tastes. There are many foods that I do not eat- nothing "wrong" about those foods I just have different tastes as well. So we wind up eatig what we both like or find a venue where we can each enjoy the foods we like- its part of what makes a successful marriage!

BillT

We both like Indonesian food but found it difficult to find such food in Bangkok. The only place that comes up on line is in the food court at MBK. Has anyone found other places that serve Inionesian food?

MichaelBKK

BillT, there was place called Bumbu just off Sathorn close to the Surasak station. I never ate there but it's on my list. I'm hardly ever in that neighborhood. Bumbu served Indonesian and Malaysian food. The thing is, I have this sneaking suspicion that it's not there anymore.

Foods from other parts of Southeast Asia are surprisingly under-represented in Bangkok.

mediakzar

Two Thai restaurants that I would recommend.

You should have lunch at Krua Apsorn and consider ordering ahead to make sure to be able to get the stuffed chicken wings, which they frequently run out of. Everything we’ve eaten on multiple visits there has been good but other favorites (of ours) are the shrimp & lotus stem yellow curry, Thai omelet with crab meat, grilled river prawns and for sure finish with coconut ice cream, which is really more of a sorbet.

The other place in Bangkok that we dream about going back to is the Pud Thai restaurant Thip Samai. It is impossible to say where to find “the best Pud Thai in Bangkok” but there are some who say this is the place. The food there is so good and so cheap, that we usually try to eat there on our first night upon arriving in Bangkok as we know we’re going to want to go back again.

More detail on these places can be found at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/thailan.../bangkok-2012/

rhkkmk

med---can you tell us where these places are located??

mediakzar

Thipsamai
313 Th Maha Chai | Banglamphu, Bangkok, Thailand
0 2221 6280

Krua Apsorn
169 Dinsor Bawornniwes Pranakron Bangkok
Tel : 0-2668-8788

Here is the addresses in Thai:
Thipsamai / ทิพย์สมัย
ที่อยู่: 313 ถ.มหาไชย สำราษราษฎร์ พระนคร กรุงเทพฯ 10200
โทรศัพท์ : (662) 221-6280

Krua Apsorn
บวรนิเวศ
พระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร 10200 Thailand
02-6688788

mediakzar

I probably should have added that both of these restaurants are in or near the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok convenient to the wonderfully quirky Phranakom-Nornlen boutique hotel; where we like to stay. Both are less than a $2 cab ride from there.

The locals call Thipsamai: "Pra-doo-PEE Pad Thai" referring to the nearby ghost gate of the Old City Wall.

The owner and chef of Krua Apsorn is Paa (“Auntie”) Daeng who formerly cooked for the mother and older sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the much loved reigning monarch of Thailand. The clientele seems a combination of local businessmen and well heeled lady shoppers with the occasional tourist mixed in.

Guenmai

"simpsonc510 on Sep 17, 12 at 8:47am
Guenmai, yes I do remember that. We are also 'sisters' in that we are 'bag ladies' (purses AND luggage...haha).

So, are you planning a trip to BKK or is it still in the air?
I'll be there for 10 days in October, if you are coming at that time."

I'm always planning in my head. I have found an unserviced apartment for a month rental, if I can get there for that long. I've recently been on e-mail with the owner. However, I never know whether I'm going anywhere until I'm actually on the plane. That's just the way it is with parents way up in age. Although, I'm constantly checking flights, I can't even think of booking one until around the end of November, for more than likely January/February.

Happy Travels!