Petchsaichon Restaurant

With cool atmosphere mingled with smell of the earth and splashing stream amidst lush greeneries, nature lovers can enjoy a variety of food at Petsaichon Restaurant.

The restaurant’s entrance might not be eye-catching, but you will be fascinated by stunning natural surroundings inside. Petsaichon is the restaurant built on the area of 18-rai property on foot hill near stream branch from Lam Takhong Dam in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Besides the restaurant itself, in the same area are featured banquet room, accommodating up to 1,000 people, private karaoke rooms and lodgings surrounded by refreshing natural environment.

At wooden table under the shady Longan tree, our appertizing meal is started with “Yam Pedsaichon”, spicy salad served in fried-taro Kratong. Next, taste “Gaeng Som Cha-Om Choob Khai Tod”, sour curry with fried egg-dipped cha-om (Acacia Pennata), and “Pla Tabtim Goey Had”, specially selected Tabtim fish with luscious toppings. Finally, finish our fresh delicious dinner with “Tod Man Pla Grai”, mouth-watering fried fish cakes made from Grai fish meat.

Address:

360 Mittrapharp Rd. Pakchong District,Nakornratchasima Province 30130

Tel: +(66) 044-311778 , 313936 , 313023

Style: Thai

Supatra River House

Where can one find a relax dining place to enjoy Thai culinary and the kingdom’s riverside sceneries in an open air terrace?  As a reviewer, I would recommend Supatra River House. It certainly meets all interest, the Grand Palace is in sight, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is not so far off, and the renowned pagoda of the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) next door.  This is an exotic Thai and seafood restaurant on the bank of the Chao Phraya River.

A traditional Thai style house is the former home of Khunying Supatra Singholaga, who was a successful business lady in leading advocate of women’s rights in Thai society.  She also was the founder of the famous Chao Phraya River ferry company. Yes all the express boats we use to commute on the Chao Phraya.  Supatra River House was converted to this magnificent restaurant after many years of closure following her death.  Her eldest daughter khun Supapan has started this a restaurant in 1998.

Pleasant scenery with cool river breezes are the great assesses of restaurant.  To make this an elegant and extravaganza dining, you may arrive in dusk by ferry service from Maharaj ferry pier at Maharaj Road or the hotel pier.  Upon reaching the restaurant, hundreds of red candlelights and classical Thai melody will make your arrival unforgettable.  Moreover, every Friday and Saturday night is devoted to The Patravadi Dinner Theatre.  The theater performs Thai-contemporary style performances created by khun Patravadi Mejudhon, the famous stage performer, screenwriter, theatre director and the younger sister of khun Supatra

This restaurant has three main parts for dining: the Terrace, the open air place overlooking the riverside for your cool breeze evening.  Baan Thai, two-storey house with air condition for your fine dining and also Baan Khun Ying, a good choice for good occasion where you can enjoy your meal and conversation privately.

For the pleasure on you dining table, Supatra River House offers fresh food with best qualities, especially the prawn menu.  The chefs personalize the dishes to suit individual taste whether this is hot and spicy, sour, or sweet.  If you ask me for the recommended menus, I would prefer Fried River Prawn with Tamarind sauce, a fresh prawn dish with savory and sweet taste of tamarind sauce, Red roasted duck curry, a little bit spicy tender duck curry but delicious and don’t forget to try Fried Chicken with cashew nuts.

Address :

266 Soi Wat Rakhang Arunamarin Road Siriraj Bangkoknoi Bangkok 10700

Tel : +662 4110305, +662 4110874, +662 4111449

Gialong Cuisine Restaurant

STYLE: Vietnamese/Thai
Dress code: Smart Casual Reservations: Recommended
ADDRESS: 6th Fl, Central World, Rajdamri Rd, Bangkok Tel: 0-2255-9654, 0-2255-9656

SETTING:
Gialong can be rather difficult to find if you are not a frequent shopper at Central World, so make sure you call in advance for the exact location. The decor is in white and green, and contemporary rather than Thai or Vietnamese in style.

FOOD:
The eclectic menu offers both Vietnamese and Thai favourites, but wise diners will look east to the tastes of Saigon and Hanoi. for a Vietnamese dish, try goong pan oi (prawns wrapped around sugarcane), or yum moo your if you feel like something a little more spicy and Thai. And because Vietnamese fare is so light, there should be enough space for grilled chicken and deep-fried sticky rice, grilled beef wrapped in chaplu leaves, not to mention pho, the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. A basket of fresh vegetables comes with the dishes, while the sauce is replenished once it runs low. Desserts are limited.

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.

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.

B RESTO Restaurant

B Resto Restaurant
STYLE: Thai/Italian
Dress code: Smart Casual
ADDRESS: 27/13 Soi Rangnam, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Tel: 0-2640-1377, 0-2640-1477

SETTING:
The idea is for patrons to come to B Resto andunwind in a casual environment, which explains why there are no tablecloths or fancy cutlery. the restaurant is part of the Baan Rangnam serviced apartment.

FOOD:
The menu includes both Italian and Thai dishes. The innovative Cordon Bleu- trained chef whips up marvellous Italian dishes such as Norwegian salmon with bearnaise sauce on the side and mussels a la provencale. go for duck confit and rucola salad as a main course. Pizza is a must here since B Resto has a specially built oven; the addition of mexican chilli can make an interesting variation. Banana fritters and ice cream as a dessert is a welcome counterpoint to the main courses. kudos to owner Rawiwan Sukhavat for making it her business to oversee the minutest details. her dedication is without question the force behind the high quality of the food and service.

Another Hound By Greyhound Restaurant

Another Hound By Greyhound Restaurant

STYLE: Italian/Thai

Dress code: Smart casual

Reservations: Recommended for lunch, necessary for dinner

ADDRESS:

1st fl, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd, Bangkok 10330 Tel: 0-2129-4409

SETTING:

Another Hound is a smart eatery divided into two separate rooms. The interior is theatrical and sophisticated.

FOOD:

The menu serves a combination of Italian, contemporary Thai and fusion food. To whet your appetite, try fried salmon spring roll served with black vinegar sauce, a good dish to share amongst friends. Other good appetisers include spicy grilled lamb with spicy Thai sauce, and salmon sashimi in spicy hot sauce. The pasta and rice dishes here are excellent, and liver pate and spinach ravioli with basil leaves, green pepper and chillies is a delicious fusion dish. For entrees, not to be missed is fried pepper steak with green mango sauce; the tender steak balances well with the sharp mango sauce. There are also a good selection of sandwiches, salads and vegetarian dishes, and the desserts here are creative and equally mouth-watering.

Anna's Restaurant

Anna's Restaurant

Style: International/Thai

Dress code: Casual but no shorts

Reservations: Necessary

Tel: 0-2632-0619

ADDRESS: 118 Soi Saladaeng, Silom, Bangkok 10500

SETTING:

Pale yellow walls, black-and-white photographs of old Bangkok in gilded frames and white tablecloths highlight an airy, light and uplifting restaurant.

FOOD:

Good Thai and international food are on offer here. Marinated salmon salad tossed with lettuce, capers, black olives and dill-mustard sauce includes a nice roll of cold fish with lots of lettuce, onions and baby cherry tomatoes in a mild oil-based dressing. Tao hu tord is tofu lightly fried with chives and a sweet sauce. Grilled salmon fillet with panaeng curry is excellent with its sweet, smooth curry sauce, alongside boiled cauliflower, broccoli and carrot. Stir-fried kale with shiitake mushroom in oyster sauce is nice. The Thai choices are extensive and include attractive curries, noodles and coconut-based recipes combined with chicken, shellfish and other delights, while the international menu is mostly pork and fish dishes.

Bangkok Street Food

Food stalls on the streets of Bangkok can look a little intimidating to foreigners, but they provide convenient, delicious and cheap meals to the locals. Wherever you go in the city, these food stalls are plentiful and very often you will find a high concentration of them in particularly busy areas. Some street vendors operate in groups, often in local markets, which means you can go to the same place every night and have a different choice of meal. Some even open around the clock. The main attractions usually include a noodles stall, a made-to-order food stall, and 'curry on rice' stall.

Knowing what's what is essential when eating from food stalls. You should be able to figure out what kind of food a particular stall is selling by observing the ingredients in the glass display window and the way they're being prepared. There are many kinds of noodle stalls available; chicken noodles, duck noodles, egg noodles with wonton and 'moo daeng' (red barbequed pork), beef and meat ball noodles, 'yen ta four' (noodles in red soy bean paste with fish ball, squid and morning glory) - the list is endless. The noodles themselves come in different sizes and shapes too.

Noodles: what to choose from

Deciding what kind of noodles you want can be a daunting task as choices are so plentiful.

Sen Yai (rice river noodle): a wide flat noodle made from white rice flour

Sen Mii (rice vermicelli): a small wiry looking rice flour noodle

Sen Lek: a medium flat rice flour noodle (the same kind used in pad thai)

Bah Mii: an egg and wheat flour noodle (yellow in colour)

Woon Sen (glass noodle): a thin, wiry, transparent soya bean flour noodle

Gieow (wonton): boiled minced pork wrapped in yellow dough

Once you have a favourite kind of noodle in mind, the next step is to make a decision whether to have 'naam' (with soup) with it, or 'haeng' (dry). Now it's time to choose what meat you want in your noodles. Just look at the display and see what is on offer. The price varies from 20 to 50 baht and you can have it 'pi sed' (extra) by adding five more baht.

Now you have a bowl of noodles before you, you can start eating right away or add the condiments to spice it up a little. The condiments, aka the 'four flavours', are sugar, dried ground chili, vinegar with chili, fish sauce and/or ground peanuts. Adding sugar to noodles may be something of a novelty to you, but it's your chance to be experimental. Remember to taste the food before 'four-flavouring' it!

It's not just about rice

As you probably know, rice is to Thais what bread is to Westerners. It's usually eaten with different kinds of side dishes. 'kaao laad kaeng' (curry on rice) stalls are probably the cheapest and quickest place to eat. A wide range of different items on display can be chosen. Here, the ordering process is less tricky than with the noodles, because all you need to do is pointing to whatever you want. The price is also logical; the more items you order, the more you have to pay.

Another good place to eat at is 'made-to-order' food stalls.

Basically, whatever you want, they will cook it for you. Most of these places don't provide a menu (and if they do, it will most likely be in Thai), but they all serve the same kind of food. Some of the most popular dsihes are 'kaao pad' (fried rice), 'pad kaprao' (stir-fried meat with holy basil leaves), 'kai jiaow' (Thai-style omelette) and 'moo kratium prik thai' (stir-fried pork in garlic and pepper).

Other food stalls are also worth checking out. Try 'kaao mun kai' (rice and steamed chicken), 'pad thai' (stir-fried rice noodles), 'hoi todd' (oyster omelette), sweet roti, 'moo satay (grilled pork on a stick) and traditional Thai desserts. The rest is up to you to explore!

Siam Paragon Food Hall

Siam Paragon Food Hall

Given the fact that Siam Paragon has proclaimed itself as the 'Pride of Bangkok', its Food Hall accordingly lives up to the hype. Covering a good half of the mall's huge ground floor, the Food Hall is divided into three different zones: Food Hall Food Court, Food Hall Gallery, and Food Hall Take Home.

Food Hall Food Court is arranged in a crescent-like fashion with a sizeable aquarium standing in the middle (a sneak preview perhaps of the much larger tank one level down at Siam Ocean World?). Taking a walk around here is an experience in itself, and determining what to have for lunch is nothing less than a daunting task you're faced with.

A quick browse along the bend reveals an astonishing array of nothing else but food and more food. The first joint serves 'Isaan' (Northeastern Thai) food to the soundtrack of mortar and pestle colliding into one another, yielding a pleasant result: a mouth-watering 'som tum' (spicy papaya salad). Don't miss the fragrant 'moo satay' (grilled pork kebab, marinated in a yellow curry sauce and served with peanut sauce). If you want an easy start, try healthy boiled rice along with a variety of toppings. All kinds of noodles - be it Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Italian - are also readily available.

Further away from the Food Court is the Food Hall Gallery, a slightly more up-scale food venue with a chic setting and a cornucopia of culinary delights. The procedure here is just a tad different because, upon entering the venue, you'll be given a card to be used like a credit card. Food Hall Gallery offers only the best of local and international cuisines all in one place.

Cake, anyone?

Nobody would be able to resist the Food Hall Take Home section. You're drawn in by the kaleidoscope of colours, shapes and sizes of cakes on display. Highly recommended is the 'kanom kui chai', steamed paper-thin dough stuffed with Chinese chive, bamboo shoot, and dried shrimps, eaten with tangy black sauce. Fruit smoothies and Italian gelato parlours abound as well as pastry shops, whose irresistible aroma of freshly baked patisseries tantalizes everyone walking by. Favourite Thai desserts like 'look choob' (mung bean paste in miniature fruit shapes) and sticky rice with mango are big favourites. Before you leave, don't forget to visit the promotional area, where food-related events are held regularly. Recently featured were the tastiest 'pad thai' (stir-fried noodle) you'll ever taste, and grilled shellfish straight from Hokkaido, Japan.

Siam Center

In keeping with the young and sprightly theme of the place, Siam Center has positioned its food hall perfectly likeable to the young and trendy shoppers who flock there en masse. 'Food for Fun' (f) is a funky place that even features it own DJ booth...

Food for Fun

If you want to eat in a clean and cheerful atmosphere, eat well and not pay the earth for it, this is a great option. The bright orange and white interior and casual, spacious seating make this a happy place that fills up quickly. There are stalls selling huge helpings of quality fare at excellent prices. Some of the cuisines represented include Japanese, Korean, Thai, Northeastern (Thai), Chinese and Italian. There are also fresh fruit juices, shakes and smoothies to quench your thirst, and ice-cream, gelato and yoghurt to put the seal of approval on an enjoyable meal.

There's a vegetarian stall with five different cooked meals, as well as a standard menu - all of which reasonably priced. Overall, there is a fantastic array of good, cheap and scrumptious food to choose from, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Throw in a DJ booth from where an in-house radio station broadcasts groovy sounds all day long, and you have the perfect spot to fill up that empty gap during a shopping spree.