We all know that Bangkok’s food scene has to be seen to be believed (heck; that’s half the reason why we moved here), and we believe that some of the city’s best grub can be found in the many brilliant restaurants in Thonglor.
Thonglor, mostly focused around the Sukhumvit 55 monolith and its many subsois, is an absolute haven for foodies.
Whether you want Thai street food, an American breakfast, Italian pasta, Japanese sushi, Argentinian steak, Korean bibimbap – you get the picture. There’s not many mainstream cuisines that aren’t represented in this trendy Bangkok neighbourhood.
Everyone’s got their favourite Thonglor restaurants, and we think it’s about time we showed you ours.
Let’s take it away…
Our top Thonglor restaurants
1. Smith
Nose to tail restaurant
1/8 Sukhumvit Soi 49
“Eton Mess”, via Facebook/Smith
Smith was one of the first Thonglor restaurants to jump onto the offal trend that has taken the Western world by storm of late, with its nose-to-tail international menu. Ingredients are fresh and flavourful and execution is creative and fun, with artful, fine dining presentation skills.
The meaty dishes are real stand-outs, in particular the beef tartar and hanger steak, with the terrines equally tasty. Creative cocktails are also on the menu with unique recipes for special occasions (shout out to the Christmas gluhwein) and presentations by international mixologists not unheard of.
2. Bo.Lan
Thai restaurant
24 Sukhumvit Soi 53
Via Facebook/Bo.Lan
Bo.Lan is routinely referred to as one of the best Thai restaurants in Bangkok, and it’s certainly one of the masterpieces of the Thonglor restaurant scene. Yes, it’s Thai food; but this is Thai food with an exquisite fine dining twist, served up in a 5 or 6 course menu, depending upon your sensibilities.
The ingredients take centre stage at this Thonglor restaurant and are seriously fresh to death; many of the vegetables are home-grown in the garden. They’ve also got a fantastic array of cocktails on offer. Again, you’ll probably need to book as you’ll be competing for tables with locals, expats and in-the-know foodie tourists.
3. La Bottega Di Luca
Italian restaurant
Terrace 49, Sukhumvit Soi 49
La Bottega Di Luca is commonly recognised as one of the best Italian restaurants in Bangkok, and is a much-cherished Thonglor establishment. The food is European fine dining and La Bottega has the atmosphere (and prices) to match – all dark wood, buzzy murmuring and wine swilling.
As well as weekly rotating specials, the à la Carte menu is full to bursting with classic signature dishes, fresh pastas, meat grills and delicate fish mains. A couple of highlights are the slow-cooked Mediterranean giant octopus and the beef fillet with Castelmagno cheese sauce.
4. Little Beast
French & American restaurant
44/9-10 Thonglor Soi 10, Sukhumvit 55
This gastropub-cum-fusion restaurant is one of the most underrated restaurants in Thonglor, serving up innovative incarnations of French and American-style food, with occasional flashes of nose-to-tail eating. They also have some delicious cocktails on offer and a monthly Chinese sunday brunch, abundant in dim sum and Chinese classics; not to be missed if you fancy an alternative fancy breakfast once in a while.
Little Beast was included in the Louis Vuitton Bangkok City Guide and it’s not hard to see why. The interiors are lushly chic in Art Deco, while the tapas-style sharing dishes ensure that this restaurants is one of the trendiest places to be seen eating in Thonglor.
5. Soul Food Mahanakorn
Thai restaurant
56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55
Soul Food is a firm favourite among the Thai restaurants in Thonglor with locals, expats and tourists alike (read: you should probably book a table!). The food is straight-up delicious: there’s no fannying around with any pretension that sometimes characterises some of the more hipster establishments found in this neighbourhood. The short-but-sweet menu is stuffed with firm favourites and less well known dishes that are well worth your time.
Another highlight at Soul Food is the cocktail menu: full of innovative creations that are delicately balanced enough to sit alongside the robust flavours present in the food. The bonus is reasonable prices across the board; something occasionally difficult to locate in the Thonglor restaurant scene.
6. Game Over Lounge
Burger restaurant
1000/39 Liberty Plaza, Sukhumvit Soi 55
We’ve talked about our love for Game Over Lounge before so we won’t wax too lyrical on it, but suffice to say that Daniel Thaiger’s INSANE burgers plus the thickest, creamiest milkshakes and decadent truffle fries are just too good to pass up on if you’re looking for gaming and grub in Thonglor.
Our top burger pick on offer is the Mr Steve – essentially, a sexed-up BLT – although we’ve got great things to say about the plain old Thaiger Burger and even the Grilled Cheese too. Enjoyed over a game of Scrabble and you can’t really go wrong of an evening.
7. Phuket Town
Thai restaurant
160/8 Thonglor Soi 8, Sukhumvit Soi 55
While northern Thai and Isaan cuisine is abundant at this end of town, Phuket Town is one of the stand-out Thonglor restaurants serving up southern Thai cuisine. The seafood here is predictably delicious with the curries creamy and spices full in flavour. They’re not reinventing the wheel at Phuket Town, but you’re in safe hands when it comes to authentic and delicious food for a reasonable price.
Unlike many of the restaurants in Thonglor that have tried to cultivate a quasi-hipster or artistic vibe, the atmosphere at Phuket Town is pure fun: all bright colours, stuffed pineapple and cutesy wall art.
8. Broccoli Revolution
Vegan restaurant
899 Sukhumvit Soi 49
There’s a nice handful of vegan restaurants in Bangkok and Broccoli Revolution, on the corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 49, is one of the best. As well as a juice bar serving up a wide array of juices and smoothies for your delectation, they’ve got a great selection of vegan sides, mains, desserts and appetisers on offer. We’re not vegan but we love it here: the food is that good.
They’ve got some really delicious permanent dishes on offer – the charcoal quinoa burger and Vietnamese pho are particular favourites – as well as a number of ‘special edition’ plates introduced throughout the year on particular occasions.
9. Supanniga Eating Room
Thai restaurant
160/11 Sukhumvit 55
Pa Nang Nue Lai, via Facebook/Supanniga Eating Room
Supanniga is yet another of the brilliant Thai restaurants in Thonglor, but it offers something different in its sophisticated take on robust Thai dining. BK Magazine ventured that “it could well be the best Thai restaurant in town at the moment”, and we don’t think they’re too far off piste with that statement.
The chefs’ passion is evident in the delicious food and the recipes passed down through the generations to their current iteration. There’s no pretension here – just wonderful ingredients cooked with love and pride and a host of dishes not easy to find in the tourist hotspots of Bangkok.
What’s your pick for the best Thonglor restaurants?
