Roaming Thonglor – Mama Do suki restaurant at Marketplace on Thonglor

Located on the 2nd floor

There is a new restaurant at the Marketplace on Thonglor that has opened to rave reviews.  It’s located in the space that used to house a Vietnamese Restaurant.  In many ways, it’s no different than other suki restaurants in town, except it offers you the choice of three soups, the standard clear soup and then two other soups that can only be described as spicy and extra-spicy.  These “hotter” choices are the way to go as can be attested by the customers almost without except ordering the tastier of the three selections.  I found the clear soup somewhat bland although it got better as you added more ingredients.  The other two have big time tastes that don’t need anything to make them taste better.

The meats and vegetables are standard fare and are simply excuses to taste the great soup.  One warning.  You can not order rice as it is not on the menu.  However, there are a number of noodles that you can order.

It you’re scratching your head trying to locate Marketplace, think Top Supermarket.

Seafood Restaurants in Bangkok

Seafood Market Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 24

I am partial to two large-scale seafood restaurants in Bangkok.  Sure there are lots of very good restaurants in Bangkok that serve seafood but these two are very satisfying.  The Seafood Market on Sukhumvit Soi 24 is known for its HUGE selection of seafood.  The supermarket style display is about 50 meters long.  The last time I ate dinner there we chose from a large selection of live seafood including crab, fish, and prawns.  In fact, the fish was so fresh it just about jumped into our grocery cart.

More fish

The eating experience is two stepped.  You go to the seafood counter with staff who wheel a grocery cart.  You make the rounds, select the evening’s meal and then proceed to the checkout counter where you pay for the food.  From there the food is brought to your table where the waiter suggests how the food can be cooked.

That night we had grilled river prawns that were very large.   Three were enough for the four of us.  We also had two types of crab, the steamed blue crabs whose flesh is very delicate and the Sri Lankan mud crab, whose meaty texture stands up to the “black pepper” style stir fry.  We also had stir-fried clams with mint and crab fried rice.

The dinner was skillfully prepared and highly satisfying.  It should be mentioned that the aquatic decor of the restaurant contributed to the pleasure of the dinner.  Always something to look at.  It should be noted that this restaurant runs a bit expensive so be prepared.  However the cost is well worth it.

A sign to recall

The open air kitchen

Somboon Seafood Restaurants cater to families.   The restaurants don’t have the scale of the Seafood Market Restaurant.  Some of the branches are large but at the same time more intimate.  And the seafood can be just as good although the menu is not as large.  Moreover, Somboon is relatively inexpensive in comparison.  I am talking about a comparable dinner that may cost 1/3 of the cost of dinner at the Seafood Market.  It is worth a visit although the atmosphere is not quite as interesting.  Highly recommended by most guide books

Jakjan – new restaurant on Thonglor at Soi 14

There’s a GREAT restaurant between Soi 12 and 14 that is actually two in one.  Jakjan specializes in claypots and rice plates while River Noodle focuses on boat noodles.  I’ve eaten there four times in a month or so.  (And I was away for two weeks.)  Every dish we had was very good and reasonably priced.  Tonight we had spicy chicken with mint leaves, claypot with Chinese sausage, pork meatball with dipping sauce, moo yang and fried chicken wings in a chili sauce (tasted like buffalo wings).  With two soft drinks, this came to just under 300 baht.

The ambience is low-keyed with light jazz in the background and a decor that is modern casual.  It feels upscale.

I would run not walk to this restaurant and order to your heart’s delight.  You can’t go wrong.

Roaming Thonglor – An An Lao Chinese Restaurant

Waiting for you

Right next to J Avenue (Soi Thonglor at Soi 15) is An An Lao Chinese restaurant.  Their speciality is Beijing Duck however there are a number of other dishes that they offer that is also pretty good.  Included is Gai Betong (Chicken Betong-style) which is steamed chicken accompanied by sliced cucumber in a light soya sauce.  Their steamed fish in oyster sauce is also quite delicious.  The restaurant is a neighborhood favorite with most of the patrons local although you will see a number of Japanese eating there. Highly recommended.

Waiting for the duck

Roaming Bangkok – Log Home Restaurant, Thonglor at Soi 18

Lincoln logs

I’ve been coming to this giant log cabin for ten years.  Back then I used to live on Soi Lang Suan and thought Thonglor was far away.  It really is a restaurant complex with several restaurants and themes.  Besides a pub with a mix of Thai and Japanese food, there is also an “all you can eat” grill, a Japanese Teppanyaki, and a steak restaurant.  I like the “all you can eat” grill as the variety of meats is good.  From NZ beef to salmon to shrimp, on and on.  And right now, there is a special 350 baht per person promotion.  That’s right, 350 baht for all you can eat.  This restaurant is worth your time. And don’t forget to stop for a drink or two and listen to the live music in the pub.

Where's the beef?

Walking to the pub

Hide Away on Thonglor at Soi 10 – Nang Kwak Restaurant

Just the beginning

In the stylish Third Place complex at the corner of Thonglor and Soi 10 is the Nang Kwak Restaurant.  The owner owned the Spaghetti House located at Thonglor and Soi 17.  The restaurant has an intimate feel that takes you miles away from the hustle bustle of that nightmare intersection, Thonglor at Soi 10.

The menu is varied with an emphasis on Western dishes.   It is a large menu with a great selection of pasta dishes  And the prices are very reasonable.  The atmosphere is rather sophisticated, well in keeping with the rest of the Third Place.

It is a large restaurant with a rooftop terrace and music that borders on soft jazz and easy listening.

A “get away from it all” restaurant in the middle of Bangkok!  I would recommend that you run, not walk, as people “discover” this restaurant, it will be crowded.

Come closer

Up on the roof

Gaze

Front row seat

Bangkok – Bharani @ TCDC Restaurant at Emporium

A couple of years ago I discovered a great restaurant at the Emporium.   On the same floor as the cinema.  The restaurant’s menu is mainly Thai food.  For me, the hit of the menu is a “Spanish Rice with mussels, prawns, and chicken”.  It’s actually a paella but in any language, it’s a great dish.  The restaurant is a little hidden which makes its even more attractive.

See Platial map in left sidebar.

Welcome view

Open kitchen at Bharani

Another angle

Roaming Bangkok – Thon Krueng Thai Restaurant on Thonglor

Driving by

This restaurant is a neighborhood favorite.  They have a huge menu.  There is both indoor and outdoor seating.  I prefer the outdoors section because it is quite relaxed.  Thon Krueng caters mainly to Thai and  Japanese expats that live in the area.  It is located on the corner of Thonglor and Soi 13.

See Platial map in left sidebar.

Thon Krueng sign on Thonglor

Rear outdoor seating

Doong Deng Dai Restaurant at Marketplace Thonglor

This last week, I had a chance to eat at Doong Dai Dai Restaurant that is located in the new area at Marketplace.  The restaurant specializes in boat noodle soup (“kwetiauw reua”) but has a good selection of other dishes. I especially like the beef/pork satay and the grilled pork meatballs.  But the boat noodles are the highlight of the menu.  I like the soup spicy with a slight sour vinegar hint and this does not disappoint.  I used to go to a restaurant at Siam Square that served similar boat noodle soup.  That was ten years ago but I have never forgotten the taste.  Bon appetit.

I have set a flag for this restaurant on the map in left sidebar.

Doong Deng Dai Restaurant

“Sabai Jai” Gai Yang Restaurant, Soi Ekamai

I’ve been eating at this restaurant since I moved to Soi Thonglor four years ago.  It is referred to by locals as “Sabai Jai” Isaan Restaurant although it’s current name is Baan Tawan Gai Yang.

It is known for it’s charcoal grilled chicken (gai yang) but is enjoyed by patrons for its other dishes like somtam,  spicy minced pork (lab moo) and grilled pork (moo yang).  The “Thai” dishes are also superb.  My favorite is the fried fish.  And don’t forget the sticky rice.

The ambiance is family oriented and casual.  The crowd is a good mix of Thais and expats.  Many Japanese frequent the restaurant.  The prices are very reasonable.     There are outdoor and indoor (air con) sections.

It is located at the corner of Soi Ekamai and Soi 1.  It is down the street a little bit from Big C.  I have included a marker on the Platial map in the left sidebar.

live fish at chicken restaurant

like a postcard