Bangkok: A City That Conquered Me with Its Flavors

Before my first trip to Bangkok, a friend asked me, "Why are you going there?" I answered almost without thinking: "To eat." Yes, not to see the Grand Palace, not to experience a ladyboy show, and certainly not for shopping—I just wanted to eat. This thought had been circling in my mind for a whole year. It wasn't until the gap between job changes at the start of the year that I finally made up my mind, bought a plane ticket, and put the Bangkok trip on my schedule.

Three days, a total cost of about 6,000 RMB per person (excluding shopping)—round-trip airfare was a bit over 2,000, the hotel was under 2,000, and the 2,000 Thai baht I exchanged was nearly spent to the last coin. Looking back, the core of this trip was just one word: eating. From Michelin-level creative cuisine to the smoky charm of street stalls, to desserts that were utterly irresistible, Bangkok completely won me over with its flavors.

A Surprise from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants: Eat Me

A week after I bought my plane ticket, the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants was released, and Thailand claimed nine spots. What a coincidence—how could I miss out? After combining recommendations from friends and considering reservation difficulty, I eventually chose Eat Me.

The name, honestly, is pretty amusing. It doesn't serve traditional Thai food but instead offers boundaryless creative cuisine with Thai local flavors blended in. If you go in the evening, you absolutely have to try their cocktails—they're outstanding. Unfortunately, my friend and I don't have a high tolerance for alcohol, so we could only take small sips.

We booked a dinner reservation for 5:00 PM, thinking we could finish early and still grab a late-night snack. When we arrived, there were hardly any other guests—it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The menu changes with the seasons, and there are no set meals; everything is à la carte. We ordered mixed shellfish, lemongrass chicken, pork ribs, asparagus, and a black chocolate chili ice cream. For cocktails, we blindly picked a recommended one.

Honestly, the bread basket was a bit disappointing—hard and cold, and the accompanying dip didn't suit my taste either. But dipping it into the thick broth from the mixed shellfish turned out to be surprisingly delicious. What amazed me most was the lemongrass chicken—the meat was tender and smooth, with just the right amount of lemongrass fragrance, not too overpowering. The mixed shellfish was also very fresh. The recommended cocktail was so good that my friend's face turned as red as an apple. As for the black chocolate chili ice cream, I initially thought it would be some kind of bizarre creation, but the spiciness was actually refreshing and helped cut through the richness.

Practical Info: Reservations must be made in advance on their official website. You'll receive a confirmation email, and no prepayment is required. Average cost is about 300–400 RMB per person, not including alcohol.

The Smoky Charm of Chinatown: Lek and Rut's Curry Crab

Coming to Bangkok without eating curry crab is like not coming at all. The famous restaurants Somboon Seafood and Nara in the Siam商圈 (Siam shopping district) have big reputations, but apparently, they're so crowded with tourists that you have to queue. So I did my homework in advance and chose this spot in Chinatown.

When I got there, I realized that the so-called "restaurant" was just a street stall. At night, Chinatown is a dazzling blur of neon lights, with Chinese characters floating past your eyes. Stalls set up tables and chairs right on the street, bursting with smoky energy and packed with people. It's easy to walk right past this place if you're not careful, but thankfully Google Maps had accurate directions and saved me.

Curry crab was a must, of course, and we had to order a serving of black pepper shrimp too. For vegetables, we went with morning glory (water spinach)—the safest bet. Since we weren't drinking, coconuts were the perfect beverage. The dipping sauce they gave us was full of Southeast Asian flavor and seriously spicy; I took one taste and immediately backed off.

Compared to the random place I'd eaten at in Paragon (Siam Paragon mall) the day before, the curry crab here was much more authentic. It was still a bit sweet for my taste, but the curry flavor was very rich. The only thing was that the amount of crab felt a little skimpy. Every single black pepper shrimp was plump and fresh, with a very strong black pepper kick—there were probably only five or six in a serving. Because we couldn't stop staring at the grilled squid on the next table, we ordered a portion of that too—the skin was slightly charred and dry, the inside was springy and tender, and it was a perfect match with either the spicy dipping sauce or the curry. In the end, we were so full that we wasted half of it. Places like this are definitely better with more people; two people can only sample so many dishes.

Practical Info: I was originally a bit dismissive of Chinatown—I always thought places covered in Chinese characters were likely to be tourist traps. But this meal changed my mind. The flavors were so satisfying that even though I was stuffed, I wanted to keep eating. So, Bangkok's Chinatown is worth a visit.

Western Food Amidst Greenery: Bitterman

I'd seen this place mentioned in several travelogues, and a colleague also recommended it. From Siam, you take the BTS to a station and then have to walk a bit. Following the navigation, I ended up walking through a small alley that was under construction. Part of the road had no shade at all, and I got pretty sunburned.

But when I reached the entrance, it was all worth it. A restaurant surrounded by greenery—a courtyard, a glasshouse, green plants everywhere you looked. Dried flowers and leaves were placed on the tables, giving the place a vibrant, lively feel. Bitterman is a Western restaurant, with the menu divided into categories like appetizers and main courses. We ordered a Cobb salad, sausages, a steak, along with coffee and a mango smoothie.

That coffee with tonic water tasted similar to one I'd had in Hangzhou before—perfect for the hot summer weather. The chicken on the Cobb salad was lightly grilled but not dry. My favorite part was the crispy, crunchy bacon bits—I love bacon in any form. The dish I still can't forget was the one paired with crispy toasted bread; dipped in the red sauce, it was absolutely incredible. The black pepper sausage itself, on the other hand, was just average. The steak was a bit disappointing—it wasn't expensive, so the meat quality was inherently ordinary—but the asparagus and potato wedges were a joy to eat.

Practical Info: Bangkok has many restaurants hidden away in alleyways, and finding them often requires taking a few detours. But places like Bitterman, with their sunlit rooms and courtyards full of greenery, where you can eat and take photos at the same time, are absolutely worth the effort.

The Best Brunch in Bangkok? I Didn't Get to Try It

Roast is hailed as the best brunch in Bangkok. Unfortunately, due to a scheduling oversight on my part, I arrived in the evening and could only have afternoon tea. Bangkok has two Roast locations—one in the The Commons neighborhood, and the other on the fourth floor of the EM商场 (EM shopping mall). We went to the mall location, and even at 4 or 5 PM, it was still quite busy.

The owner seemed like an Argentina football fan—I almost wanted to high-five him. We chose to sit on the high stools by the entrance, which gave us a perfect view of the barista making drinks behind the counter. The passion fruit and mango smoothie had the passion fruit seeds and ice blended together into a fine slush—it was very satisfying to drink. Roast's bread basket left a good impression on me: the baguette was served warm, and the butter was spread at just the right softness—very thoughtful. As a french fry fanatic, I naturally ordered a plate of fries. Based on my extensive experience with fries, this portion was definitely one to remember. My friend ordered the creamy bacon fettuccine. Since I'm not a fan of creamy flavors, I only took a couple of bites, but if you love cream, you should definitely try it.

Practical Info: The EM mall location is more convenient to get to. The food is good and worth recommending. Hopefully, next time I'll get to try their brunch.

Toby's: A Decent but Unremarkable Brunch

When I was planning my itinerary, I only picked two brunch spots: Toby's and Roast. In the end, for the sake of route continuity, I assigned brunch to Toby's. It's located in Sukhumvit. You take the BTS to a station and then walk about 10 minutes, with almost no shade along the way—very sunny.

It's a popular brunch spot. We were lucky to snag the last empty table when we arrived. There were quite a few Westerners choosing to sit outside, and I could only silently salute them. The brunch set was very generous, including eggs, smoked salmon, avocado, smoked ham, salsa, raspberries, and spinach leaves. It was a rich combination, but nothing particularly stunning—it basically tasted like high-quality ingredients put together. The red sauce mussel pasta was also standard Western restaurant fare. However, I did quite enjoy the combination of espresso and coconut water. It looked a bit odd, but the flavors blended together surprisingly well.

Practical Info: The whole meal, including the service charge, came to about 220 RMB. The price was normal, but the flavors weren't particularly outstanding, and the location isn't convenient. Personally, I don't think it's worth making a special trip for.

Slow Down and Have a Good Cup of Coffee

Room111: A Japanese-Style Café with No Wi-Fi

I originally marked this place on my map because of the pink building next door. It happened to be on my route for the day, so stopping in for a cup of coffee just made sense. After a sudden summer rain shower, the air was pleasantly comfortable. After taking a ton of photos at the pink building next door, I pushed open the door to this café that has no Wi-Fi, a place designed to make life slow down. Raw wood, cement, and greenery—it was full of Japanese style, comfortable and unobtrusive. The sofas were soft, and the lighting was warm and inviting, making it hard to leave. I ordered a coffee called "Eight Black." The Americano I'd had at another place earlier was too harsh, but this cold brew brought me back to the good times of coffee.

Practical Info: This little shop is tucked away in a small alley. Although I went there initially for the pink building, I discovered that it's actually a quiet, comfortable café with great coffee. That's more than enough.

Ink & Lion Cafe: Waffles Better Than the Coffee

The name caught my attention the moment I saw it—it reminded me of a movie called Inkheart. Shops with distinctive names always seem more appealing. After finishing brunch, I walked over. Aside from the sun being a bit too strong, it was a pleasant walk. The café's interior is simple, but the walls are covered with unique artwork and merchandise, which makes the place feel much more vibrant. There were shelves selling cups and coffee beans, but unfortunately, no drip bags. The Affogato had ice cream that wasn't too sweet, and it paired perfectly with the coffee to suit my taste. The cold brew was a bit weak. The biggest surprise, though, was the waffle—how could a café's waffle be this good? It was served piping hot. Watching the butter slowly melt over it, then drizzling a bit of honey—the taste was utterly addictive. I knew it was fattening, but I just couldn't stop eating.

Practical Info: Compared to the coffee, the waffle is more worth recommending. If you're passing by, give it a try.

Factory Coffee BBK: The Best Café in Bangkok

This one was recommended by a colleague. At first, I planned to skip it because its location wasn't along our route. But on the second night, after eating curry crab, I suddenly felt like having a coffee. I checked the route and decided to go. After visiting, I was so glad I made that choice—it was the best café of the entire Bangkok trip. It's two BTS stops from Siam, and then a five-minute walk from the station. The barista was quite handsome and a bit shy. I ordered both the cold brew and the milk brew. They came in bottles, served with a cup and ice. During my few days in Bangkok, I mostly drank cold brew because of the heat, and the flavor was impeccable. In the end, I bought a bag of beans from Northern Thailand. They were excellent too—I regretted not buying two bags. The almond croissant was also good.

Practical Info: Absolutely worth recommending. Strangely enough, the café was almost entirely filled with Koreans. Both the coffee and the pastries are good, and I really liked the coffee beans.

Fill in the Blank: A Quick Stop on the Way

On my way from Ink & Lion to Shugga, I passed by Fill in the Blank and popped in for an Americano. It's a very ordinary café—no pour-over coffee. The first floor is a café, and the second floor is a general store. The biggest gain from this stop was taking a few photos I was really happy with.

Practical Info: The coffee is average. Luckily, the white walls and wooden frames make for good portrait shots. It's not worth a special trip, but it's fine for a quick drink if you're passing by.

The Running Dog Cafe: Fun Name, Average Coffee

I stopped by because the name sounded fun. Here, I encountered one of Bangkok's afternoon downpours—sudden and intense. I quietly watched the raindrops fall, from sparse to dense. Customers sitting in the courtyard scrambled indoors, followed by their little dogs, who ran around inside making friends and finding suitable corners to mark their territory. The café has a nice environment, but the menu is standard—no pour-over. I ordered an iced Americano and an iced latte. They were both bitter and burnt-tasting, so bad it almost made me cry.

Practical Info: The courtyard has a play area for dogs, but it can be a bit awkward when it rains. It's suitable for people who really love dogs.

A Dessert Lover's Paradise

Mae Varee: The Peak of Mango Sticky Rice

Even though various travelogues say you can find good mango sticky rice anywhere in Bangkok, I insisted on finding this place, reputed to be the best in the city. The shop is at an intersection. When you cross the street, you can see a wall covered in mangoes. The owner skillfully packs the sticky rice, with a row of pre-packed portions ready to go—just pay and take them away. A serving of mango sticky rice costs 130 baht and includes one mango, three-colored sticky rice (each with a different balance of sweet and savory), and a bag of coconut cream. Before eating, you pour the coconut cream over it. The sweetness of the mango, the fragrance of the coconut cream, and the chewiness of the sticky rice—at that moment, I felt I should have bought two servings.

Practical Info: Mango lovers will adore this place. I really liked it myself, but since I haven't tried it anywhere else, I can't say for sure it's the best. But it is definitely delicious.

After You Durian: A Blessing for Durian Fans

This is a durian specialty shop under the After You dessert brand. I knew from the start that I had to go. My hotel didn't allow durian to be brought back, so I had to rely on durian popsicles to satisfy my craving. The shop is in the basement level of Siam Paragon and is very popular. The first time I went, I only bought a popsicle to take away. The second time, I ordered the shaved ice—it was so good! When you dig into it, there's durian flesh and sticky rice hidden in the middle. It was pure happiness. A durian popsicle costs 95 baht and is delicious. Durian lovers absolutely cannot miss this.

Practical Info: Highly recommended. If there's a queue, you can just buy a durian popsicle to eat on the go, but the durian sticky rice shaved ice is also worth trying.

Shugga: A Lesson Learned from a Trendy Café

This is a trendy dessert shop. I thought it looked beautiful in other people's photos, but in reality, it was crowded and small, which really dampened the atmosphere. The desserts weren't my style—way too sweet! The drinks, on the other hand, tasted much better by comparison. Conclusion: not recommended. It's actually quite a long walk from the BTS station, and it's not worth the effort.

The Surprises of Random Choices

Beyond the planned destinations, there were also some random choices. One thing I love about Bangkok is that even eating at random places doesn't lead to disappointment. My trip coincided with the World Cup, so I couldn't resist buying a few bottles of the special edition Coca-Cola with national flags. We even made a bet that whoever's team lasted the longest would treat the others, but unfortunately, everyone's team went home early. I passed by a trendy milk tea chain that had already opened in Hangzhou, so I bought a cup. The black tea was simply paired with pearls (boba)—a full cup of pearls felt like it could replace an entire meal. At Siam Center, I randomly picked a shop and ordered a plate of mantis shrimp noodles. The peeled mantis shrimp were so tempting that I couldn't walk away. The sweet, sour, and spicy flavor was addictive, though the portion was a bit small.

Bangkok Beyond Eating: Shopping

I didn't have high expectations for shopping in Bangkok, but Sephora definitely has many makeup brands that aren't available in China, like Tarte, Becca, and Urban Decay—great for makeup enthusiasts. Boots is a good place to buy Thai brands and Tiger Balm patches. The Siam shopping district has many malls. Siam Discovery, Paragon, and EM are relatively high-end and nice to browse. Siam Discovery has a Japanese stationery and lifestyle store called Loft on the upper floor—it's lovely. EM has both fast fashion and high-end brands, along with Boots and Sephora, and there's a Roast downstairs. Paragon has a supermarket and After You Durian in the basement—it's great. Terminal 21 feels like a flea market—things aren't expensive, but the quality is average. If you're short on time, it's not worth a special trip.

I almost forgot to mention: Thann's purple sunscreen (紫苏防晒) is really excellent. Bangkok has several专卖店 (brand stores) in the city. I couldn't find it at Siam Center at first, but the next day, while walking from Sukhumvit to EM, I happened to pass a store that had it in stock. I bought it immediately. The price was about 200 RMB per tube.

King Power duty-free at the airport had a good promotion. There was an offer of 400 baht off for every 4,000 baht spent. I bought a Shiseido Red Vitalizer (红腰子精华) serum and a Burberry foundation, which together came to just over 600 RMB. That's cheaper than buying just the Shiseido serum in Osaka—the foundation felt like it was free. However, you can't go through security too early, so once you're inside, you're very short on time, especially if you need to process a tax refund. My advice: it's much better to buy big-name brands at the airport. You don't need to deal with tax refunds, the stock is quite good, and it's a great deal when there's a promotion.

Final Thoughts

My three-day trip to Bangkok was almost entirely dedicated to eating. From the creative cuisine of an Asia's 50 Best restaurant, to the curry crab at a Chinatown street stall, to Western food surrounded by greenery, to desserts that were simply irresistible—Bangkok told me with its flavors: this city is truly delicious.

If you also want to go to Bangkok to eat and drink, my advice is this: do your homework in advance, but also leave room for random choices. Budget-wise, 6,000 RMB (excluding shopping) is enough to eat very well. For transportation, the BTS is the most convenient option. And most importantly, don't be afraid of making a bad choice—in Bangkok, even eating at random can bring you pleasant surprises.

After all, what could be better than a city that conquers you with its flavors?