Dining in Bangkok

Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on October 14th, 2011 filed in Dining and wining

Thai cuisine is famed throughout the world for its diverse flavours and its use of fresh ingredients. As is to be expected Bangkok is a great place to sample Thai cooking and has an abundance of top-class restaurants, hole-in-the-wall shops, food markets and vendors’ carts which offer gourmet dining experiences. Three of Thailand’s signature dishes are spicy shrimp soup (tom yam gung), spicy papaya salad (som tam) and Thai style fried noodles (pad Thai).

Pad Thai and som tam can be found almost anywhere in the city, look for shops with a large wok with noodles frying or a glass cabinet with shreds of green papaya in it. Although som tam is readily available, Siriwan Hoi Tod on Prachathipatai Road and Som Tam Nua on Siam Square’s Soi 5 come highly recommended. Pad Thai is primarily street food, but those wishing to enjoy it in a more ambient environment could try Thipsamai Maha Chai Road in Banglamphu or one of the eateries on sois off Sukhumvit Road.

Bolan, Sukhumvit Soi 26, and Lemongrass, Sukhumvit Soi 24, are among the countless Bangkok restaurants that serve up tom yam gung. This soup dish exemplifies Thai cuisine with lemongrass, chillies, lime juice and kaffir lime leaves all contributing to its spicy and sour taste.