If you’ve been wondering about all those bowls of great soup and noodles you saw on our Instagram page, here is a bit about what we ate in Bangkok.
It’s been years since we’ve been to Thailand and we were beyond thrilled to find that the food was as extraordinary as we remembered….and as inexpensive.
We began our quest to eat all the food on day one. We arrived in the morning this time around so our hotel room at New Siam II wasn’t ready. After a quick wander to the river and around the block to show Dave & Anne the lay of the land and it was time for lunch.
We grabbed a table at the first place we came to that looked appealing. We didn’t catch the name and never made a second visit having decided to never eat at the same restaurant twice. We wanted to try to experience as many local eateries as possible, a decision that proved delicious.
Already melting in the sultry Bangkok heat we quickly ordered large Chang beers before diving into the menu. I honestly am not even sure what the others ordered as my bowl of steaming heaven arrived first. There were big chunks of firm tofu, slightly wilted bok choy, and small pork meatballs floating in what was perhaps the best broth I have ever eaten. It was complex with no single discernible flavor profile. It was, quite simply, transformative.
Someday I will return to Bangkok to order that dish once again. If I can find the restaurant,
In the four days that followed we ate our way through our neighborhood and beyond. Our grandest eating adventure was surely our 4-hour food tour with A Chef’s Tour which deserves a post all its own so keep an eye out for that.
Dozens of bowls of extraordinary soup and street noodles were consumed as well as the international favorites; pizza and tacos. Tacos? In Bangkok? Yes indeed. Surprisingly enough, one of the best taco plates I’ve ever eaten was the spicy shrimp tacos at Alley Cat Resto Bar, set on the quiet end of Khoa San just behind our hotel.
Where did we eat in Bangkok? Everything we ate was tasty, fresh, and inexpensive but there were two memorable highlights in addition to my shrimp taco at Alley Cat.
Maesalong Croissant
What’s not to love? Maesalong was just a couple of doors down from our hotel and made sure to start our day off to a great start. Two orders of egg and cheese breakfast croissants, one sweet treat, and my choice of tomato, mozzarella, and arugula. Heaven on a plate accompanied with delicious iced cappuccinos. In addition, they have a variety of packaged pastries and cookies to go.
Khun Daeng Vietnamese Noodle
After several days of wandering by long lines in front of this noodle restaurant, we were finally able to score a table on our last day in Bangkok. Khun Daeng is no secret for those in the know and the hype was real.
Run by a delightful Vietnamese gentleman, the service was efficient and the food fantastic. There are just a few basic items and we all ordered the Vietnamese Noodle Normal along with an order of spring rolls and a spicy pork salad. The bill came to 300 TBT for our group, or a whopping $8, an unbelievable value.
We also appreciated the true hospitality despite the language barrier. When the owner spotted me adding some of the basil garnish to my pork salad he brought me a big plate of fresh basil with a smile.
One surprisingly delightful evening found us seated on Khao San at a restaurant whose name we didn’t make note of. But, the people watching was superb, the white wine and cocktails refreshing, and the pizza tasty making for a wonderful re-entry into life lived out in the streets. The perfect introduction for Dave & Anne to this wonderful country.
Our time in Bangkok included much more than just food. Next up a trip back to the Grand Palace.