Coffee Beans By Dao Restaurant

STYLE: Thai/International

Dress code: Casual

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS:

20/12-15 Ruamrudee Village, Soi Ruamrudee, Bangkok 10330 Tel: 0-2254-7780, 0-2254-7117

SETTING:

This Thai-style brasserie located in Ruamrudee Village has a relaxed family dining atmosphere with seating on three floors.

FOOD:

A heavenly selection of Thai and Western dishes is served in large portions perfect for sharing. For appetisers, try the grilled pita bread with garlic and parmesan cheese, one of the house specialities.

Nachos filled with creamed cheese is also highly recommended. The salads here are all excellent for either main courses or sharing as a starter. Particularly good is Japanese seafood salad with a wonderful sesame and soysauce dressing. Freshly grilled salmon salad with balsamic dressing is the perfect main course for those on a low-carb diet. For something Thai, try dry sukiyaki with shrimps, or green curry with beef and served with roti. Coffee Bean's pastries are legendary, and Oreo cheesecake and strawberry cheesecake are the best.

Charm Thai Restaurant

Charm Thai Restaurant


STYLE: Thai

Dress code: Smart/casual

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS:

HOLIDAY INN BANGKOK, 971 PLOENCHIT ROAD, BANGKOK 10330 Tel: 0-2656-1555

SETTING:

This contemporary Thai restaurant exudes relaxation from the light-coloured wood furniture. The open kitchen lends a lively feel as chefs dexterously prepare the dishes. Things can get hectic on days when there is a business conference though.

FOOD:

It is a modern-looking Thai restaurant that emphasises traditional Thai food. The menu is extensive with appetisers, Thai salads, meat and seafood, soups, curries, vegetables, rice dishes, noodles and Thai desserts and ice creams. There are pictures of chillies that indicate three levels of spiciness, with vegetarian options available for some dishes. To taste a little bit of everything, try platter of assorted Thai appetisers comprising chicken satay, prawns and enoki mushrooms in rice paper roll, deep-fried shrimp cakes and deep-fried golden bags with chicken and shrimp. A popular dish is fried prawns with lemongrass, with huge and fresh whole prawns so tasty that one piece is not enough. Red coconut curry with duck is also flavourful and meaty, and goes really well with rice. Stir-fried broccoli, black mushrooms and sweet chilli paste is enhanced by the addition of the spicy paste. For a refreshing dessert, try mango and tamarind sorbets, or a traditional Thai sweet.

Celadon Restaurant

Celadon Restaurant

STYLE: Thai

Dress code: Smart/casual

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS:

Sukhothai Hotel, 13/3 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120

Tel: 0-2344-8888

SETTING:

Designed by American-based Ed Tuttle, the hotel has won countless awards for its interiors. Following a refurbishment, Celadon exudes a simple yet luxury Thai ambience. Thai salas surrounded by lotus ponds, exotic cutlery and stylishly-outfitted waiters make the place exquisite to dine in.

FOOD:

Once named the Best Restaurant in Bangkok for the finest Thai food by Travel & Leisure magazine, one can surely expect no less than best quality ingredients. A favourite place among foreigners, any orders taken from Thai natives at Celadon will tacitly be made hotter with more chilli in the dish than ones ordered by westerners. For starters, khong waang Celadon provides diners five samplers of exotic Thai delicacies. Poo nim krob yum som-o is a variation of a favourite dish, substituting fried soft-shell crab for shrimp. If you are a curry person, try gaeng phed ped yang; the red duck curry combines both the sweet taste of fruits and spicy flavours of herbs. Highly recommended is pla samlee thod jim samunprai; the fried fish with herb dipping sauce goes superbly with rice. Leave some space for sticky rice with mango, the best dessert to end a Thai meal.

Buritara Restaurant

Buritara Restaurant

STYLE: Thai/International

Dress code: Smart casual

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS:

762/2 Rama III Rd, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 0-2682-9457-8

SETTING:

Outdoor and indoor seating on the river in very hip, yet casual surroundings. Great at sundown.

FOOD:

The food is excellent and made to go with friends and drink. And that is what Buritara is really all about. There are of course the usual Thai suspects to be found at any gathering of friends, but there are also some interesting concoctions hard to find anywhere else. Spicy fresh female crab egg salad is not for the tender of palate, but is recommended here. Fresh oysters, New Zealand mussels, prawns and a plethora of Thai and Western fish creations also lend a heavy hand to the menu. There are also stir-fried dishes in the Thai and Chinese style. The huge menu accommodates Western dishes as well. Duck breast with caramelised red onions and marmalade is superb.

Blue Elephant Restaurant

Blue Elephant Restaurant

STYLE: Thai/Indian

Dress code: Smart casual

Reservations: Recommended for lunch, necessary for dinner

ADDRESS:

233 South Sathorn Rd, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 0-2673-9353-8

SETTING:

Housed in a century-old building, visiting Blue Elephant is like a journey back in time.

FOOD:

Traditional Thai cuisine is enhanced with a twist of fusion to suit Western tastes as well as to appeal to local diners. As a starter, house speciality pearl of Blue Elephant is a must-try, comprising a selection of satay, prawns and fish cakes with a selection of sauces. Foie gras with tamarind sauce should not be missed, the coupling of tamarind with seared goose liver indicative of the restaurant's innovative approach to Thai cuisine. Fresh lime sea bass with a whole fresh fish flavoured with lemongrass, fresh lime juice and crushed chilli, or bamboo fish, a sea bass fillet grilled in a bamboo case, stand out in the seafood selection. The more adventurous diner will be rewarded by trying running crocodile, stir-fried spicy crocodile meat with chilli, basil, fresh peppercorns and palm heart.

Basil Restaurant

Basil Restaurant

STYLE: Thai

Dress code: Casual but no shorts

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS:

SHERATON GRANDE SUKHUMVIT, 250 SUKHUMVIT ROAD, BANGKOK 10110 Tel: 0-2649-8366

SETTING:

Hip, stylish designing makes this small, modern restaurant the place to unwind amid a colour scheme of white, black and golden. One wall displays Thai lacquerware. Dining tables include hammered-chrome tabletops. Big plants and a wood floor lend simplicity to the ambience.

FOOD:

Delicious and the very best in creative, brilliant preparation. Som tam ruam goong yang is a wonderful salad with lots of nuts and grilled prawns, plus green papaya, banana blossoms, coconut palm hearts and green apples. Yum pak sod is a refreshing bowl of cashews, chilli, wing beans, banana blossoms, acadia shoots, aubergine and pomelo in a piquant mix amid pieces of fried prawns. Poh pia sod anamai is very good and brings fresh spring rolls packing tofu, mushrooms, sprouts and pumpkin next to a small, shredded omelette. Chicken curry is truly fantastic with slices of boneless meat bestowing a nice flavour thanks to a southern-style recipe and a mild, curry sauce. Sliced snow fish curry is equally magnificent and served with cucumber pickles. For dessert, go for kanom ruam which is a plate of mixed sweets for two and includes mango slices, cubes of coconut and pumpkin, plus a wedge of durian cake.

Ban Chiang Restaurant

Ban Chiang Restaurant

STYLE: Thai

Dress code: Smart/casual

Reservations: Recommended for dinner

ADDRESS:

14 Soi Sriviang, Surasak Road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 0-2236-7045, 0-2266-6994

SETTING:

A charming, fading wooden two-storey house from the 50s set in a lush garden. A folksy, cosy room is filled with dusty knick-knacks while the largely western diners appreciatively tuck in at marble-top tables et with elephant-patterned tablecloths. Outdoor dining is also available.

FOOD:

The menu provides a good range of traditional Thai cuisine together with some inspired personal creations with fragrant curries and aroma-rich nods to other Asian cuisines. As Ban Chiang is quite popular among westerners most offerings are mild, so do not be shy about specifying your spice level. Minced chicken wrapped in Chinese kale is a delicious start: the chicken is tasty, the kale fresh, but the presentation is ordinary. Salted prawns with garlic and white pepper is a signature dish, and is tasty and quite original in its preparation. Sauteed crab claws in Madras curry and green onions disappoints, with little curry evident but sundried white fish served with mango dip is delicious, surprisingly light and aromatic. Sauteed salted fish with Chinese kale is quite good, the kale sharp and fresh, and the spicing interesting. Banana fritters with coconut ice cream is a great finish, the batter light, the bananas sweet and tasty, and the ice cream scrumptious and fresh.

Tamarind Restaurant

Tamarind Restaurant

STYLE: Vegetarian

Dress code: Smart/casual

Reservations: R ecommended

ADDRESS:

27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 20, Bangkok 10110 Tel: 0-2663-7421

SETTING:

Tamarind Cafe has been operating for over two years and continues to receive compliments on its stylish interior design and innovative dishes, all of which make this restaurant-cum-gallery a must place to visit.

FOOD:

The restaurant is popular with both vegetarians and meat-eaters. The menu is very creative, stylish and delicious with a combination of east and west cuisine. Sylvie Bruzeau and Luka Wong, the owners, are always around to greet and make recommendations. For starters, try crispy mushroom with a spicy sauce, or bean bean salad, the latter a signature dish of black, red and white beans with fresh coriander in a spicy lime dressing which is healthy and full of fibre. For tofu lovers, highly recommended is Albondigas, balls of tofu, nuts and vegetables coated with sesame seeds and served with a roasted red pepper sauce. For a main course, try the famous dish of creative sushi, a selection of four types of sushi rolls: mango and homemade pesto; cheese,dill and basil; crispy baby corn, mushroom and Thai basil; and miso-grilled vegetables. Another favourite is wild mushroom steak; this dish is topped with pepper sauce and served with garlic brown rice and vegetables. There is a long list of desserts, including yummy banana almond fritters.

Govinda Restaurant

Govinda Restaurant

Located in: Sukhumvit - Bangkok

STYLE: Vegetarian/Italian

Dress code: Smart casual

Reservations: Recommended for dinner

ADDRESS: 6/5-6/6 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok 10110 Tel: 0-2663-4970

SETTING:

Soft reds and a gentle white adorn the walls, reflecting the candlelight to create a homey, romantic feeling.

FOOD:

This is an immaculate example of vegetarian food in all its organic, healthy and flavourful splendour, and should feature as a frequent place to eat simply for purity's sake, though the food is a strong attraction no matter what your regular diet. Speciale salad drapes very thin slices of cheese over a bed of dark green rocket, punctuated with cherry tomatoes, avocado, mozzarella and parmesan. Arlecchino salad is equally fine and groups together lettuce, tomato, ricotta cheese, broccoli and olives into a satisfying bowl. Baked eggplant or melanzane parmigiana is delicious and lighly spiced, flashing its bountiful mozzarella. Spinach gnocchi is chewy with a gentle sauce and includes zucchini and artichoke, while providing a very light meal. Plenty of other choices lure, and they also boast egg-free home-made pasta.

Anotai Restaurant

STYLE: Vegetarian

Dress code: Casual

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS: 976/17 Soi Rama 9 Hospital, Bangkok 10320 Tel: 0-2641-5366-70

SETTING

Bamboo along the walls and windows provides a tropical feel to this two-storey restaurant.

FOOD

An interesting menu that features wonderful and unique vegetarian dishes brimming with flavour. Nori-wrapped tofu, with wasabi mayo dip, brings a big box of soft cubes wrapped in tiny edible blankets of seaweed with a wasabi and mayonnaise dressing that is tangy, and highly recommended. "Certified organic" vegetable salad with miso dressing offers a fascinating, nutty-flavoured sauce for a salad which also includes apple slices and pine nuts amid rocket and other leaves. Thai green curry with vegetables and tofu is a big bowl with pea eggplant, baby squash, mushroom and tofu. Fried rice with vegetables, chilli and basil presents tofu, string beans, kale and peas in an impressive pile. Go for cold blueberry cheese cake, or orange and pumpkin cake, both of which are very good.

Baan Klang Nam Restaurant

STYLE: Seafood

Dress code: No

Reservations: Necessary

ADDRESS: 288 Rama III Soi 14, Bangkhlo, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 0-2292-0175, 0-2292-2037

SETTING

An atmospheric, large clapboard house with a wooden pier over the Chao Phraya River offers a relaxed and friendly eating environment for small and large groups alike.

FOOD

The food is authentic and delicious, ideally suited to the mainly al fresco setting right on the river. The menu helpfully includes pictorial representations of the dishes to assist foreign diners with their menu selections. Although the essence of simplicity, the house speciality crispy noodles should not be missed; it is well prepared here. A visit would not be complete without sampling fried crab with black pepper, but be prepared to attack this dish handson, the sense of touch enhancing the taste of crab meat infused with spicy black pepper. Needless to say, fish is in abundance. Try steamed goby with soysauce, perfectly fresh and succulent. Meat lovers will also enjoy fried ostrich with black pepper and baked goose legs with noodles. And for the adventurous, the menu also extends to exotic sounding snakehead fish, duck's tongue soup and goosewebs. A limited dessert menu includes sticky rice with mango.

Baan Khanitha Restaurant

Located in Sathorn - Bangkok

STYLE: Thai

Dress code: Smart casual

Reservations: Recommended

ADDRESS: 69 South Sathorn Rd, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 0-2675-4200-1

SETTING:

Located in a grand, converted Thai house, this restaurant is decorated with antique furniture and numerous paintings.

FOOD:

The extensive menu lists all the popular Thai dishes, as well as a wide selection of seafood, reflecting the diversity of Thai cuisine. Spicy pomelo salad has a refreshing sweetness and is served with prawn and chicken, while wing bean salad is flavoursome though somewhat on the dry side. Another mouth-watering temptation is chicken wrapped in pandanus leaf. Seafood specialities include stir-fried soft-shell crab with tamarind sauce. Grilled cotton fish served with Thai herbs is also an interesting choice; a curry helps to complement this dry dish. Another signature item, stir-fried river prawns with curry powder is also a popular choice. If there is still room, complete the meal with traditional mango and sticky rice or water chestnuts in syrup with coconut milk.