Best Local Thai Restaurants in Bangkok

There’s a huge genre of restaurants in Bangkok that fit somewhere in the middle of street food and sit down restaurants.

Some call them shophouse restaurants and others call them local Thai restaurants. Whatever you want to call them, these are not at all fancy, but you also don’t have to normally suck in bus fumes, and I think they are the location of some of the best food gems in the entire city.

• Yong Lee – They add some serious passion to their family recipes at Yong Lee. The food is a mixed bag of Thai and Chinese and even some random Western influence on the menu, and the restaurant is a true throwback in time. Everything is amazingly tasty. What to eat: Pla Kapong Pad Prik Dam (ปลากะพงผัดพริกตำ), Beef Tongue Stew
• Lan Thung Khao Tom Hua Pla (ร้านตี้งข้าวต้มหัวปลา (ตลาดพลู) - This shophouse is one of my choices for best restaurants in Bangkok for their amazing Thai Chinese food. What to eat: Pla kahpung neung manao (ปลากะพงนึ่งมะนาว), Water mimosa (pad pak gachet ผัดผักกะเฉด) – Also try 55 Pochana restaurant.
• Ran Gaeng Pa Sriyan (ร้านแกงป่า ศรีย่าน) – Of all the restaurants in Bangkok I’ve eaten at, this one probably serves the overall most spicy food. The food is on fire, and it’s unbelievably good! What to eat: Thai jungle curry (gaeng pa แกงป่า), Nok Sab Pad Kee Mao (นกสับผัดขี้เมา)
• Rod Ded Isan restaurant (ร้านอีสานรสเด็ด) – Right across the street from King Power shopping center, this old shop Isaan food restaurant consistently serves delicious food, and their yam woon sen (glass noodle salad), I think is the best in Bangkok. What to eat: Mungbean noodle salad (yam woon sen ยำวุ้นเส้น), som tam, tom yum
• 55 Pochana (ห้าสิบห้าโภชนา) – For greasy meaty Thai Chinese food, this longstanding classic restaurant always satisfies. I’m sure they use plenty of pork lard, because the food is that good! What to eat: Dok kajon pad kai (ดอกขจรนผัดไข่), Bpet krob pad kra pao (เป็ดกรอบผัดกระเพรา), Pla pad prik tai dam (ปลาผัดพริกไทยดำ)
• P’Aor (ร้านพี่อ้อ) – The tom yum soup here is so incredibly rich and flavorful that it’s almost unbelievable. They make a rare dish of tom yum soup with noodles. What to eat: Kuay Teow Tom Yum Goong Nam Khon (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำกุ้งน้ำข้น), Ba Mee Yok Neau Ob (บะหมี่หยกเนื้ออบ)
• Khao Tum Bpet Jay Oy (ข้าวต้มเป็ด เจ๊โอว) – Everything they do is beyond delicious at this Suan Luang hot spot. What to eat: Gai Song Kreung ไก่ทรงเครื่อง, roasted fish, pork satay,
• Lan Luam Dtai (ร้านรวมใต้) – For southern Thai food, I think this is the best restaurant in Bangkok, and I’m addicted to southern Thai food! What to eat: Goong Pad Sataw (กุ้งผัดสะตอ), Gaeng Kee Lek (แกงขี้เหล็ก), Kua Kling Moo (คั่วกลิ้งหมู)
• Tho Po Channa (โต๋วโภชนา) – When a restaurant is only open for a few hours per day, you know it’s one of the top restaurants in Bangkok. This place is a little far and hard to find, buy they serve outstanding food. What to eat: Goong tod gratiam (กุ้งทอดกระเทียม), Pla chon tod lard prik (ปลาช่อนทอดราดพริก)
• Som Tam Boo Maa Restaurant (ส้มตำปูม้า) – I ate here a lot when I first moved to Thailand, and it’s still my go-to restaurant when I’m ready for an incredibly satisfying Isaan meal. What to eat: Pla pao (ปลาเผา), Nam tok pla chon tod (น้ำตกปลาช่อนทอด), Larb pla duk (ลาบปลาดุก)
• Gold Bay Leaves - This former hotel chef now has his own local restaurant and he does both delicious Thai and even Western food. What to eat: Pad makua muang (stir fried purple eggplant ผัดมะเขือม่วง), Panang fettuccine, Neau yang (grilled beef เนื้อย่าง), cheesy spinach.