Re authentic versus touristy restaurants. After a lot of traveling in the last 30 years both in Europe and Asia, I've come to the conclusion that what I care about in restaurants when I travel is exactly what I look for in the U.S. - good food, plesant atmospher, good service and an appropriate price for what is offered. I've had "authentic" food that was awful and touristy food that was great and vice versa.

I had VERY authentic food in Vietnam in 1991 and 1992 because that's all they had. Same was true in Burma 5 years ago. None of the food was bad but believe me I have had far better food at some of the restaurants in the Oriental which are obviously touristy.

On the other hand, the best food I had in Rajasthan was made in a village while we were on a camel safari (just the two of us and a guide).

Kuranosuke...as to your question of where I have been hiding...well...I've been here. I read the posts four days a week although I don't always answer them. It depends on the topic. So, I cashed in 60,000 frequent flyer miles week before last and went to my P.O.Box yesterday and found my ticket to Singapore/Bangkok for August. Can't wait to get out of here. Was last in BK/Singapore last August 2004. I used to be able to fly L.A.-Singapore and Bangkok-L.A. for $1200. But now it keeps popping up at around $2200. to fly into one country and out of another. So, that's why I cashed in the miles since it doesn't cost anymore miles to fly into one country and out of another one. Then I went on line at Singapore Air and bought a one-way special between Singapore and Bangkok for about $170. So, Kuranosuke, if you get there...to Singapore...before I do and find anymore great restaurants let me know. If I beat you there, I'll let you know. I love eating in Singapore. The food is consistantly good! Take care. Happy Travels!

To Didibobi...April in Bangkok is hell hot. I'm not one for sweating over a meal either although I am used to living in a hot climate. Even here, at home, in the hell hot heat, I eat inside in air conditioning and look out the window at the outdoor diners sweating to death. Happy Travels!

I totally agree with glorialf...I'm looking for great tasting food...authentic or not...touristy or not...Happy Travels!

Yes, I agree. Good food, pleasant atmosphere, good service and an appropriate price for what is offered - maybe I should have just said good Thai food, not necessarily "authentic." Just was looking for some other restaurants that people have found that are not necessarily written about in the usual books or web sites. I've certainly found over the years that the best restaurants (in U.S. & elsewhere) are most often not the "famous" ones that have been reviewed everywhere. As for Italian food in Thailand, just a personal matter for us. We have great Italian food all around us (CT), but the Thai restaurants in our area are just ok - not like Guenmai has in L.A. I'm sure. We like a change in pace from what we have at home, and we didn't get tired of Thai food when we were in Thailand. So many different flavors and variety!

As I stated previously, the food at Spice Market is awful, just awful. As far as Baan Kanitha, the food was mediocre, it was overpriced, and it was filled with tourists with guide books-not my idea of a great dining experience, good food or no- same goes for Dalat Indochine-both restaurants located along a soi tourist restaurant row.

But there are great restaurants at good hotels that are neither overly touristy nor non-authentic, and I definitely include Salathip at the Shangri-La for that - just a magical experience all the way around. The seafood buffet at the Oriental is good food, and not "touristy"-you don't see a sea of guidebooks there, and as far as the Marriott Resort goes, most people probably wouldn't be caught dead at the Trader Vic's, since it is an American chain restaurant, however, it has great ambience, good food, and Thai businessmen show up there all the time in the private dining rooms for lunches and dinner, so does that mean it's authentic and not overly-touristy? Well, yes, to my mind!

There IS such a thing as tourist restaurants, with overpriced mediocre food, and there is also such a thing as foreign chain restaurants or hotel restaurants that somehow manage to fit in with the culture, so it really has nothing to do with the fact that a restaurant is located within a hotel-it is the combination of food, cultural mix (very important!) and ambience that are the key factors that make a restaurant authentic and non-touristy, IMO.

touristy restaurants in bkk....i feel that the seafood market may fall into that category....i have stayed away from it in the past but will definately try it this trip---lunch only...we will see....i agree that famous restaurants have peaked by the time you hear about them---some are just plain bad....often they have an unforgetable view or site however so food is secondary....

still wondering where bed fits in???

Spygirl -- I completely agree about Spice Market and Baan Khanitha. Didn't like them at all nor did I like Seafood Market. Have never been to Dalat Indochine. Actually when you eat in the Oriental restaurants such as Lord Jim, Normandie or China House you see more locals (rich ones) than tourists. I think the restaurants that tend not to be great are the ones that get tour groups rather than individuals.

why is everyone panning baan khanitha....??? last year it got such raves....we had a wonderful lunch at the soi 23 one, and a terrible experience on luang suan for dinner---in fact i left in a huff--the manager ran out to our car wanting to know how he could make it better????....maybe every negetive comment has been based on luang suan ....??

happy traveling:
OK it's up to you to solve this dilema about Baan Khanitha. It will be your first assignment, report back asap :)

and i will follow up with a report in late june

Considering the heat in April which of the 30+ resturants mentioned which would you recommend for authentic fare, Thai, Italian, Contintental that are well AIR-CONDITIONED and are $50 for 2 persons-not buffets- for dinner.

almost all of the restaurants mentioned with a few exceptions would be $50 or less---exceptions: normandie, thalitha (Penn), anginelli, jesters...all probably would be less than $75 except maybe normandie...

all will be well air conditioned except for outside locations....

my favoirite italian would have to be biscotti at about $50 without wine....thai would have to be harmonique at $25...jesters would be my favorite for asian fusion but more than $50....i love crepes and co for its uniqueness at about $25

If you want an outstanding Chinese meal in a lovely setting you could also try China House in the Oriental. The Peking Duck is fabuloous and it will be well within your price range.

gloria is right the china house is very nice...

Hi,
Here's our "trip report" in the form of pictures of the restaurants we had visited in Bangkok in May. The heat weighed us down and our plans proved to be more ambitious than we had energy for. We did not make it to all the restaurants that we had wanted to. Very often, it was just "let's stop by somewhere convenient". Still, we had such a good time.

Here are the restaurants we managed to sample:
The Loft@Central Chitlom
Bed Supper Club
Lord Jim's Sunday brunch@the Oriental
Le Dalat Indochine
Biscotti @ Four Seasons
China House @the Oriental
Jim Thompson House cafe
Author's Lounge @the Oriental

Check out:
http://www.wongngravrok.com/2005ASIA/

My mouth is still watering......

thanks for the great pics. i also went to the china house. beautiful restaurant, and great dim sum. but i've had better peking duck. great staff and service. would go there again, but skip the duck.

didn't see the lord jim pics. never been there, so wanted to see what the spread looks like. was it good? how much was it?

did you get a chance to eat singapore laksa?

Dim Sum at the Penn is the better value.
When we were in BKK we looked at the China House but their prices we thought were quite high. However the Dim Sum at the Penn was quite a deal considering this is a 5 star hotel. Only the tea was a bit high- otherwise the dim sum and the service was outstanding.

Click here to see pictures from the buffet line in Lord Jim's@The Oriental.

http://www.thailandfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14120

The buffet was quite good, and inexpensive considering the spread and what we are used to paying in Europe.

Yes...we did get our share of Singapore Laksa. Yummy!