Thailand - Bangkok - 2024

Disclaimer, this chapter is about food and almost only food, we are here for 11 days to eat our way through this incredible city, if you’re not that much into Thai food or not even curious about the best cuisine in the world, we suggest you skip to the next chapter

The train arrives in Bangkok at 6.50am, we then catch the metro to a station near the Royal Palace and then another tuk tuk to the New Siam 3 Guesthouse. We have stayed here a few times and we know the deal. We can only check in at 12pm, so we go out for breakfast and reacquaint ourselves with this city that we love so much and know so well. We walk around my favourite capital city and we realise that we can navigate Bangkok much better than Rio, Niteroi, Perth or even Coimbra, after all it’s our 14th time in this city, all of them jam-packed with eating and sightseeing. This time there’s no need for sightseeing as we’re here for 11 days just for the food and the vibe. Of course we immediately go back to the Hong Kong Noodles Restaurant, one of our favourites and then have an evening Pad Thai & Pad Kra-Pow meal in Khao San Rd. After 3 days we have to move to the Erawan House guesthouse as our place is full. Erawan is also an old favourite as we’ve stayed there many times, it needs an upgrade but for old times sake we enjoy our stay. It’s been boiling hot here as usual, 35 degrees, 39 real feel but nothing can keep us away from Thai food, move over Vietnam as there’s a new kid on the block, Thai food is back as our number one favourite, followed closely by Vietnamese.

We visit the shopping centre precinct just to be reminded how fabulous the shopping experience is in this city, and I’m not a shopper. There’s something for everybody, from high end to craft to cheap stuff, fakes, souvenirs, you name it, Bangkok is where you shop. We interrupt our food pilgrimage for a visit to one of the best open markets in Asia. Chatuchak Market is on Saturdays & Sundays all day and should not be missed even if you’re not buying anything. If you’re around Khao San Road, you can catch the number 3 bus and it will take you all the way there. To return, use the pedestrian crossing and wait for the same bus on the other side of the road, easy. There’s also plenty of great food available at the market, don’t miss it, seriously. On the way home we go back to the Michelin Guide Krua Apsorn Restaurant as nothing should get in the way of me and the best crab omelette on the planet, you can obviously try other dishes but the crab omelette is a must. We also go to the Michelin Guide Polo Fried Chicken Restaurant for the best ever, you guessed it, fried chicken with crispy garlic, also highly recommended together with their som tam (green papaya salad).

We once again move hotels for the last 6 nights, to the New Siam II, busy, nice mid-range place with a pool and a perfect location as they give us a great deal as walk-ins. Next day back at the Hong Kong Noodle Restaurant we have more fantastic dim sum, including the best deep fried tofu skin stuffed with crabmeat ever, and we’ve had a few in our lifetime. Another day, another perfect lunch, this time at Yada Kitchen in Khao San Road, Pad Prik Gaeng (stir fried pork in red curry paste & steamed rice) and Pad See-Ew pork (thick rice noodles with pork), both for just 60 baht each, absolutely amazing, an unbelievable little place. And of course along the way we stop for BBQ pork buns & siu mai skewers from the lady with the big steamers just outside the supermarket on Phra Arthit Road, open from 9am to 5pm. Again, one might think we’re focusing too much on food and one might be absolutely bloody right, we were here 5 years ago for another food adventure and apparently 10 days wasn’t enough, so we’re back for another 11 days of food bliss.

Another day, another quest for fabulous food, this time, Mr Joe, a little joint also in the Michelin Guide serving crispy fried pork belly and some dim sum on the side, spectacular. We then go to Tuang Dim Sum, a Bangkok institution and have one of our best dim sum experiences ever, giving our Hong Kong fabulous dim sum lunches a run for their money, we strongly recommend you give it a shot, the 15 bus will take you almost there and back.

Our days in Bangkok are flying by, so much to eat, so little time, so, after another fabulous Thai Massage (Nancy Massage & Beauty, 300 baht for 1 hour, highly recommended, mean it), we are faced with a new dilemma, A. Do we continue exploring new eateries or B. Do we go back to the places we trust and love? I know, tough one but we choose B and go happily revisiting our favourite places on this trip. Anyway, time flies and after 11 absolutely jam-packed days and a deeper dive into Thai cuisine, kicking and screaming, it’s time to say ciao Bangkok, thanks for the food, fun and small acts of kindness. Bangkok is not only my favourite capital city in the world but also the only capital city in the world that gets better every time you visit, without losing its soul, we will be back for sure.

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