Casual Thai Restaurants Around Sukhumvit
Delicious Thai restaurants aren’t difficult to find around Sukhumvit;
This is a huge area of downtown Bangkok, with most of tasty and easily-accessible dining options stretching from Nana (Sukhumvit Soi 4) through to Ekkamai (Sukhumvit Soi 63).
With this handy list of casual Thai restaurants in Sukhumvit you do exactly that; all have been picked for their popularity, quality of food, value-for-money and convenient location.
MOST BOOKED HOTELS
Baa Ga Din
Sukhumvit 31 - Phrom Phong
Baa Ga Din is a great new restaurant in Bangkok that labels itself as ‘modern Thai street food’, but don’t go there expecting 10-baht pork skewers and noodle soup. This is more ‘conceptual’ than ‘modern’; the result is what happens when you take accomplished chefs and ask them to rework street food ingredients: the power and the spice is still there, but the plating and execution will no doubt surprise you. Add this adventurous style of dining together with a relaxed environment, fruity and herbal cocktails and a fantastic wine list for a fun night out with your gang.
Opening Hours: 18:00-23:00 (closed on Tuesday)
BTS: Phrom Phong
Address: Sukhumvit Soi 31, Phrom Phong
Tel: +66 (0)2 662 3813
Sabai Jai Gai Yang
Sukhumvit 63 – Ekkamai
You’ll need to take a taxi up Ekkamai Road (Sukhumvit 63) to get here, but Sabai Jai Gai Yang is pretty easy to find and has a very long menu of Central and Northeastern Thai dishes all at budget prices. Their signature in their name – Gai Yang (grilled chicken) – is excellently done and comes with a chili dip packed full of flavor. Other dishes priced between 100-200 baht include grilled liver, larb pork salad, som tam, while bigger dish like tom yam talay and grilled fish are between 200-400 baht. Their air-conditioned room is a bit stale compared to the livelier outdoor seating, but you won’t leave smelling of barbeque smoke after the night’s feast. They have several karaoke rooms too in case you fancy some after-dinner entertainment.
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 24:00
Location: Ekkamai Soi 1, Sukhumvit Road
Prai Raya Phuket Cuisine
Sukhumvit 8 - Nana
One of the best Thai restaurants around Sukhumvit delivering authentic flavours happens to be one of the most expensive on our list, although prices are kept sensible compared to other newbies doing a modern twists on Thai classics. Prai Raya’s roots lie in Phuket, with some 20 years of experience in serving in refined southern Thai classics on the popular tourist island. You can expect much of the same thing at this newer Bangkok outpost, with must-tries like moo horng (southern-style pork belly), yellow curry with crab and noodles, and nam prik (chili dip) with fresh vegetables. Dishes start at around 200 baht with seafood mains costing quite a bit more. Find the stunning Sino-Portuguese mansion just off Sukhumvit 8 (Nana). Prai Raya, 59 Sukhumvit Soi 8, Bangkok
Opening Hours: 10:30-22:30 daily
Location: +66(0)2 253 5556
Ruan Songnaree
Sukhumvit 33 – Phrom Phong
Finding the right balance between elaborate presentation and authentic flavours, Ruan Songnaree is an old favourite of ours, walking distance from the BTS Skytrain. Classics like tom yam koong, green chicken curry, koong sher nam pla (raw shrimp in chilli and lime) and mussamun can’t be faulted, while there are also more adventurous creations on the menu like tapas-style pork with orange, chicken curry majestically served in a scooped-out pumpkin and the satisfyingly-sweet crispy noodles and shrimp. Décor is typically Thai and with prices per dish at 120-400 baht, Ruan Songnaree is a good bet if you’re around the Phrom Phong area and have some guests to impress.
Opening Hours: 11.00am – midnight, 7-days a week
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 33 7/4-5, Bangkok
Tel: +66 26622804
Khua Kling + Pak Sod
Sukhumvit 55 – Thonglor
Amongst the swarms of Thonglor’s upscale ‘restobars’ serving modern bistro and Thai fusion food sits this refreshingly modest and authentic local joint. Khua Kling + Pak Sod is tucked down a narrow lane of Thonglor soi 5, with its garage style entrance and Thai-only sign making it all the more difficult to locate. But it’s really worth the effort. Specialties come from the south of Thailand, such as the tangy gaeng luang (yellow curry), kua kling (young pork ribs in a sweet and spicy sauce) and bai liang pai kai (fried vegetables leaves with egg). Most dishes are under the 200 baht price mark, meaning you can order multiple dishes and dig in – particularly good for larger groups.
Opening Hours: 11:30 to 21:30 – Daily
Location: 98/1 Soi Thonglor 5, Sukhumvit 55 Rd
Tel: +662 185-3977
Tor Um Tum
Sukhumvit 61 – Ekkamai
There’s plenty of trendy hole-in-the-wall style Isaan restaurants in Bangkok, but few are more conveniently placed than Tor Um Tum, just two minutes’ walk from the steps of Ekkamai BTS. We really like how bold they go on flavour, but be warned: I asked for my som tam Thai ‘ped nit noi’ (a little spicy) and it almost blew my head off. Dishes that use dried chili rather than fresh ones are more gentle on the palate, like their vibrant laab salad, nam tok nuea and tom yam soup. Plates are small but cheap (mostly under 100 baht). The ‘Tor Um Tum’ sign is in Thai, so look out for the circular ‘61 bar & Bistro’ sign instead.
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:30
Location: Sukhumvit 61, Bangkok
Tel: 02 714 3798
55 Pochana
Sukhumvit Road - Thonglor
Post-party favourite ‘55 Pochana’ has been feeding hungry clubbers for decades, staying open late most nights until gone 03:00. Located right on Sukhumvit Road metres from the Thonglor BTS, Pochana 55 specialises in oyster omelette (it’s oily, but really good), tom yam soup and hot iron platters which are delivered to your table with a choice of pork, chicken or beef with a spicy dipping sauce. The initial rush is at 17:00 when they open to feed the rush-hour flow, then get busy again later in the evening.
Opening Hours: 17:00-03:00
Location: 1087-1093 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: +66(0)2 391 2021
Suk 11
Sukhumvit Soi 11 – Nana
This higgledy-piggeldy and rather charming hostel offers one of the best value night’s sleep to be found on Sukhumvit’s famous Soi 11. If you’re not staying here, then we recommend popping into their equally charming restaurant on the ground floor, which is spread out in and around the entrance to the hostel. It’s a decent option for a tasty, low-key Thai meal with a couple of beers before you hit the nearby bars and clubs; don’t expect every dish to impress, as we feel Suk 11 do sometimes hold off a bit on the seasoning to appease western palates.
Opening Hours: 17:00-24:00 daily
Location: 1/13 Sukhumvit 11, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0)2 253 5927
Cabbages and Condoms
Sukhumvit Soi 12 – Nana
This oddly named restaurant started out as part of a campaign by visionary philanthropist Doctor Mechai Viravaidya to promote birth control, and has become an established attraction in the Bangkok dining circuit with its imaginative menu and free condoms. A multitude of crepes and tasty fillings feature on the menu, best enjoyed on the cushioned porch. Alternatively the menu is laden with classic Mediterranean dishes including tsatsiki and numerous pasta dishes. Profits support family planning and anti-AIDS projects throughout Thailand.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Location: Sukhumvit soi 12
Tel: + 66 (0)2 252 7349
Suda
Sukhumvit Road – Asoke
If you’re looking for authentic Thai flavours, Suda restaurant by Asoke BTS is sadly not the best place in Bangkok. If, however, you find yourself in the city centre and need a quick, cheap and easy meal, then Suda fits the bill. Surrounded by hotels and not too far away from Terminal 21, Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy, Suda relies on a predominantly tourist customer base, which is probably why they hold off on flavour. That said, you can add your own sugar, fish sauce and chili to makes things more interesting. Most standard dishes are about 100 baht a pop.
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00
Location: 6 Sukhumvit Rd, Asoke, Bangkok (opposite Terminal 21)
Tel: +66(0)2 2522597
