WHERE TO EAT IN THAILAND: RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS

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The question about where to eat in Thailand It is one of the most you do to us when we talk about this country, something that shows us again how important gastronomy is when we travel and more in a country like this.
And although we understand that there are thousands of options, especially in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, after our second visit to the country of smiles, from which we wrote this Travel Guide to Thailand, we wanted to publish a post in that we briefly review the places to eat in Thailand most recommended, which we have been lucky to try for a month and a half.

With endless possibilities, ranging from street stalls to small restaurants, to the most select restaurants, we believe that being able to enjoy several of them during a trip to Thailand is a unique experience, both for you and your stomach, We are sure, you will not regret it.

So with this in mind, we start with the list of places to eat in Thailand!

Basic tips for eating in Thailand

Although we could say that eating in Thailand does not require very specific advice, we do want to leave some details to make this experience an easier one.

The first thing we want to highlight is that the restaurants we recommend below are only a few options among the thousands that exist. In our case we usually use TripAdvisor and so far we have been great in 90% of cases, so we can only recommend it and encourage you to use it when you are traveling and not just opt for our recommendations on where to eat in Thailand.
In most restaurants they have a menu in English and in many of them photos are included, so you will not have problems when identifying meals. Although that does not take away so that it is interesting, before traveling, read a little about Thai gastronomy to know a little what are your typical dishes and thus have clearer your choices.
In most tourist restaurants you can pay by card, although there are some that do not accept them. If you do not carry cash, it is best to ask before asking for no surprise.
In some areas, such as Phi Phi and Koh Lipe, a 3% surcharge is usually applied for paying by card. If this is the case, they always let you know so you can choose whether or not to do so.
The word to always keep in mind is spicy. In Thailand most dishes have a high level of spicy and this is already standard, so if you do not like it or tolerate it little, it is best to always warn and make it clear that you want it "no spicy". Despite this, in some places, the dish will still have some spicy, but very little.
As with letters, in most tourist places, in restaurants, they speak English, so you won't have problems communicating.
In many restaurants they do not usually include the service, so if you want to leave a tip, you will always be welcome. Although this is not mandatory, 5-10% if the service has been good, they will surely thank you.
Although there are hundreds of options, among all the dishes we have tried in Thai cuisine, we highlight the pad thai, massaman curry, khao soi, panang curry and as a dessert the mango sticky rice. Without forgetting, of course, the impressive fruit shakes, especially the mango and the amazing young coconut that accompanied us practically at all meals.

Pad Thai

Where to eat in Bangkok. Recommended restaurants

One Upon a Time: Located in the Siam area, this restaurant is a real show in which its lounge stands out is an incredible garden in the middle of the city, surrounded by mango and orchid trees.
We ordered a massadam curry and pad thai plus beer and soda for 940THB.
May Kaidee Tanao: Very close to the famous Khao San Road is this vegetarian place, very famous in the city, for its quality and for cooking classes. We ordered an apple pay for 90THB, fried rice with pineapple for 80THB and as a starter a vegetable tempura, plus a coconut and lime juice for 410THB.

May Kaidee Tanao

Suki Jeh Ru Yi: Very close to Hua Lumphoeng Station and Bangkok's Chinatown is this traditional Thai vegetarian restaurant where you probably only find local people eating. There is a wide variety of dishes that imitate both meat and fish as well as countless curry varieties. Prices are approximately 50-80THB per plate and they give you free tea with meals.
We ordered a curry of crab, Spectacular! and a coconut curry plus 2 waters for 150THB. Super recommended!

Suki Jeh Ru Yi

iO Italian Osteria Bangkok: Another of the restaurants where to eat in Thailand It is this, also located in the Siam area, in the Central World shopping center, this Italian restaurant is one of the most recommended in the city and from experience, we can say no without reason. If you like Italian cuisine and especially if you are a little tired of Thai cuisine, we are sure it will be a choice of 10.
We ordered a truffle focaccia, ragout pasta, beer, water and tiramisu for 1140 baths with taxes and services. The price is somewhat higher than Thai standart for this type of restaurants, but it is worth it.

iO Italian Osteria Bangkok

Ethos Vegetarian Restaurant: This is another of Bangkok's most recommended vegetarian restaurants and being located in the Khao San Road area can be a perfect option to get close when you're around.
We ordered a pair of pad thai, pineapple and coconut juice for 450THB. Although it is fine, we believe that the taste is too flat and it would take a little more to be a TOP.
To keep in mind that you can only pay in cash.

Ethos Vegetarian Restaurant

Where to eat in Ayutthaya

Coffee Old City: Known for being Ayutthaya's most recommended restaurant, Coffee Old City is located right in front of the Wat Maha That temple, the most famous in the city so it can be a good option if you want to make a stop in the area .
We recommend eating on the terrace because it has a lot of charm. We ordered a Thai pad, spaghetti with curry and tofu, beer, soda and two coffees for 389THB.
Although the result is good and the food is good, we believe that the taste is not so incredible as to be the first in the city.

Coffee Old City

Where to eat in Sukhothai

Pizza House by Somprasong guesthouse: This pizzeria, located in the new city, is the most recommended restaurant in Sukhothai. They make the pizzas in a wood oven and we have to say that although they do not reach the Italian ones, they are a super recommended option. The price of pizzas is around 200THB.

Pizza House by Somprasong guesthouse

Say Hi Cafe: This is another of the most recommended places to eat in Thailand, located very close to the downtown area of Sukhothai Historical Park. They have a very extensive menu, both of Thai and accidental dishes, in addition to a pastry area and cafeteria.
We ordered a soup, breaded chicken and a fried rice sautéed with shrimp plus coconut juice, soda and two coffees for 337THB. All dishes excellent.
Important to know that you cannot pay by card only in cash.

Say Hi Cafe

Baan Junshine: This is another of Sukhothai's most recommended restaurants. They have a very extensive menu, both of Thai options and some Asian and several Western options. We ordered a soft crab curry, pork curry with rice plus mango juice, beer and mango stickie rice for 877THB. The yellow crab curry, brutal!

Recommended restaurants in Chiang Rai

Jatujak Gallery & Restaurant: This is another recommended restaurant to eat in Thailand. Located very close to the most central area of Chiang Rai, it is also one of the most recommended restaurants in the city, both for its menu and for the decoration and atmosphere of the place.
We ordered two pad thai and chicken satay plus beer, water and dessert for 556THB.
Important to know that you can only pay in cash.

Jatujak Gallery

Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & Bar: With an excellent location, next to the river and a terrace that makes this place one of the most recommended options in the city, the Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House restaurant, Bistro & Bar is without place to doubt a success to eat in Chiang Rai.
We ordered a rice with pineapple and prawns, Australian hamburger, two lemonades and two more brown desserts for 1140THB. Everything great!
The only but What we can find is that it is usually very crowded and it takes a long time both to take the order and after the service.

Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House

Oak & Awe Coffee House: This restaurant located very close to the Chiang Rai market, is one of the most recommended in the city. Located in a small place, of no more than five tables, with a very traditional atmosphere, in which only local people are usually seen, they have a menu with many Thai specialties. We order khao soi, red curry, orange juice, beer and water for 280THB. Really great! We would dare to say that it is here that we have eaten one of the best khao soi in Thailand.

Oak coffee

Kunda Vegan Vegetarian Chiang Rai: This is another of the most recommended places to eat in Thailand. With a completely vegetarian and vegan menu, the Kunda has won first place on TripAdvisor as the best restaurant in Chiang Rai.
In addition to an incredible menu and excellent quality and service, it is located very close to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, making it a perfect option to eat after the visit. We ordered a midi sandwich plus a The Karma Combo, water and dessert for 560THB.

Kunda Vegan Vegetarian Chiang Rai

Recommended restaurants in Chiang Mai and restaurants where to eat in Thailand

Cat House Restaurant: Within the city walls is this small restaurant where you can eat in Thailand, which is also one of the most recommended in the city. They have a fairly tight menu, with breakfasts and house specialties, which are served throughout the day. We ordered a cheese and falafel sandwich with hummus, very good, although the smoothies remain a little flat in flavor.
The total price of the account was 250THB, an amount more than adjusted. Keep in mind that they do not accept cards and you have to pay in cash.

Cat House Restaurant

Chiang Mai Night Market: Especially note the Chiang Mai night market as one of the places to eat in Thailand that you cannot miss. From mid-afternoon, this area of the city begins to liven up and the smell of food to be perfectly noticeable.
You will see that along the entire surface that covers the market, there are several areas in which to eat. We highlight that of the Maya Shopping Center and the area of food trucks in Ploen Ruedee, where various food stalls are concentrated.
Especially recommended Bamboo Restaurant, where they serve some chicken skewers for 100THB, brutal!

Chiang Mai Night Market

Bamboo Restaurant

The FACES Gallery & Gastro Bar: Located next to the famous Clay Studio Coffee In The Garden, this restaurant hidden behind one of the main streets of Chiang Mai and very close to the Silver Temple, is an institution in the city to be located in an incredible environment, sheltered by a garden, which we assure you, you will not want to leave.
During our stay in Chiang Mai we went on several occasions, asking for the first time a crab curry with egg, spicy crab curry, mango soda, beer, mango sticky rice for dessert and two express for 1075THB.
Although in general it is more expensive than other restaurants in the city, honestly both the place and the service and the product are worth trying.
By Hand Pizza Cafe: This restaurant located in the heart of Chiang Mai, in the walled area, is another of the most recommended restaurants to eat in Thailand and one of those that you can not miss in the city.
They have an extensive menu of handmade and baked pizzas and also have a very wide selection of vegetarian and vegan pizzas with prices between 150THB and 250THB.
We ordered an anchovy pizza and a vegetarian white pizza plus 2 waters for 390THB.

By Hand Pizza Cafe

Nimman Social: Very close to the Maya Shopping Center, this restaurant is part of the list of most recommended places in the city where in addition to a hostel, you can find a restaurant, a cafeteria and a typical Chiang Mai place where you they usually concentrate digital nomads.
They have a fairly extensive menu of both Thai and Western food options. We ordered two pad thai, mango juice and water for 337THB.

Nimman Social

Ugo Restaurant & Thai Craft Beer Bar: Located next to the wall, it is the typical restaurant that initially, for its exterior, would not call your attention, despite being among the top 100 in the city for its good opinions.
We ordered the chef's entree dish, for 399THB, plus a massamam curry, coconut smoothie, mint lemonade and two espresso for 800THB.
If you decide to try it, be sure to ask for the massaman curry. We would dare to say that it is one of the most brutal we have tried in Thailand.
You can pay by card although they charge a 3% surcharge.

Ugo Restaurant

Massaman Curry at Ugo Restaurant

Italics & Rise at Akyra Manor Chiang Mai: Located in the area of fashion cafe from Chiang Mai, this Italian is located, which is among some of the best restaurants to eat in Thailand. It has a spectacular design on the inside and a very wide menu, both of Thai and Italian dishes, which we like a lot, especially the truffle pasta that is spectacular.
We ordered a pesto pasta with shrimp, gnocchi with truffle, lemonade, mango juice and tiramisu for 1494THB.
Pasta dishes range between 350THB or so and pizzas about 300THB. Recommended if you want to forget Thai cuisine for a few hours.

Italics Restaurant

LINK Cuisine: Very close to the night market held on Sunday, within the walled area, is this restaurant that is another of the most recommended in the city. It has an interior terrace in a lovely garden and has a fairly large menu, with many Thai and some western dishes. We ordered a pad thai and a crab with mango sauce plus beer and water for 645THB.
The final assessment is that although it is good, we believe that it is not at the level of other restaurants that we have tried in Chiang Mai.
You can pay by card but they apply a 3% surcharge.

LINK Cuisine

Cook With Love: Located inside the wall, this restaurant is one of the ones you recommended. We ordered a panang curry, khao soi, mango juice and soda for 350THB, which we have to confess, we just didn't like it, although we understand that the main problem is not the food, if not the treatment and the service received.
From what we have seen, this restaurant at the time was a small place that, little by little, based on its good gastronomy and service, earned a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Chiang Mai. Over time, they opened another side, larger in which a hotel is also managed. This has led to lower quality of food and service and at least from our perspective, it is not recommended at all, despite being very economical.

Cook With Love

Reform Kafé: Located in the inner area of the wall of Chiang Mai, this vegetarian and vegan restaurant in addition to having a very wide menu, both starters and main dishes, we would say, is one of the best restaurants where to eat in Thailand.
We ordered a vegetarian burger for 160THB and a khao soi 120THB, which we repeated a couple of times during our stay since they are two of the best dishes we have tried during the trip. Brutal!

Reform Kafé

The Barisotel by The Baristro: In recent times in Chiang Mai have fashion stand some coffee shops with a very Instagram decoration, which surprisingly, have also become some of the most recommended in the city.
Although we have seen many recommendations, our first visit to one of them was right at The Barisotel and although we have to say that the cafeteria is fine, if we analyze the whole, we do not believe that it deserves the qualification of “best cafeteria in Chiang Mai ".
For us, the design or the price is not especially remarkable (we pay 380THB for two coffees and a slice of cake), much less the quality of the product, which we believe is the most important thing in these cases. What we would highlight is that it is adapted to work, with plugs on all tables. With all this in mind, we do not believe it is a place to recommend, if it is not that you are going to work.
Also keep in mind that you can only pay in cash.

The Barisotel by The Baristro

Recommended restaurants in Phi Phi

Monster Burger: Considered the second most recommended restaurant in Phi Phi, we would also include it in the most recommended places to eat in Thailand.
With a small place, with no more than 5-6 tables, the main feature is that they only serve hamburgers, which you can make with the products you like the most, choosing from the meat to the type of bread, the ingredients, the sauces ... etc. .
We ordered crab burger with different condiments, one of meat with blue cheese, two portions of potatoes, two beers, a lemonade and water for 970THB. Everything really brutal! Although it is clear that the price is higher than usual in Thailand, if we consider the location and quality, this is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants to eat in Thailand.

Monster burger

P.P. Wang Ta Fu: With the qualification of best restaurant in Phi Phi, this place that mixes a sushi menu with some Thai dishes, is one of the biggest fakes in the history of TripAdvisor.
We ordered several varieties of nigiris and some rolls, which although edible, are not at all of the quality and presentation they should have to be the best restaurant on the island.
After paying, we realize that at each of the tables, they have a sign that says they make a 10% discount for each review on TripAdvisor. At that moment we understood everything, although we had already fallen into the trap.

P.P. Wang Ta Fu

Garlic 1992: Located in one of the best known areas of Phi Phi, this is the perfect option if you want to eat some traditional dish, without great luxuries, but perfectly cooked and at tight prices. We enjoyed a pad thai plus a plate of fresh fish and it was a great experience. We were also lucky to be accompanied by two friends, Ana and Alfredo, who were the ones who discovered this place.
Efe Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant: Located in the center of town, this is an unconventional restaurant, in this area of Thailand, which has many Mediterranean dishes in its menu. We ordered hummus, babaganoush and tuna pizza, plus beer and water for 650THB.
While they are not the best dishes we have tried in this category, both the restaurant, the service and the product, are very good if you want to forget during a day of Thai cuisine.
Keep in mind that you can only pay in cash and do not accept credit card.
Acqua Restaurant Koh Phi Phi: This is another of the most recommended restaurants to eat in Thailand and on the Phi Phi Islands. Located in the center of Tonsai, they have a fairly extensive menu with Italian dishes and sandwich in addition to some dishes of Thai cuisine.
We ordered a plate of pasta, pad thai, beer, coconut smoothie and two expresses for 720THB. Highly recommended!
You can pay by card but it has a 3% surcharge.

Acqua Restaurant Koh Phi Phi

Grand PP Arcade: Within the list of Tonsai's most recommended restaurants is this restaurant with a fairly extensive menu with varieties of different types of cuisine. We ordered some spring rolls, breaded chicken, squid, coconut smoothie and water for 600THB.

Grand PP Arcade

Dow Restaurant: Located in the center of Tonsai, this restaurant has two stores, facing each other, distinguished among them by being vegetarian. We ordered a Thai pad with prawns, hummus with falafel, coconut smoothie and a fruit shake for 390THB.
To be honest, we have to say that at least the dishes that we have tried, are not far from the height of being the number three of TripAdvisor and we would not really repeat.
Aroy Kaffeine: After all the places to eat in Thailand that we are recommending, this would enter our top 10. Located in the center of Tonsai, on the main street, this small place takes maximum care of the product, the service and the presentation, making it one of the most recommended options where to eat in Phi Phi.
We ordered a Thai pad with shrimp, pesto quesadillas, water, beer and two coffees for 809THB. Very recommended!
We repeat for dinner and we can only say that, the desserts are amazing!

Aroy Kaffeine

Recommended restaurants in Koh Lipe

Tropical Café: Considered one of the best places to eat in Koh Lipe this cafeteria-restaurant, it was our usual place to have breakfast the 10 days we were on the island.
They have a very extensive menu, both for breakfast and vegetarian and vegan options and although the prices are quite high for the standard, the quality and service are excellent.
The price of a healthy bowl, yogurt with cereals, cappuccino and American coffee is 580THB.

Tropical coffee

Castaway Restaurant: This is the restaurant of the Castaway Resort Koh Lipe, our accommodation in Koh Lipe for 10 nights, so on several occasions we ate and had dinner.
With an extensive menu that includes Thai and Western options, although the portions are not large and the prices are somewhat high, both for the quality and the location of the restaurant, facing the sea, we believe it is one of the best options for Eat or dine at Koh Lipe.

Castaway Restaurant

Elephant: Of the same owners as Cafe Tropical, this restaurant, located on the main street of Koh Lipe, is the first on the list of TripAdvisor recommendations.
With a very charming place, a very wide menu that includes breakfast, hamburgers, western dishes, salads and many dishes adapted for vegans and vegetarians and a service of 10, this is undoubtedly one of the most recommended restaurants in the island.
We ordered a pizza and a hamburger, more beer, soda and two espresso for 940THB. Water is free.

Elephant

On The Rocks Restaurant at Serendipity: For us, one of the places to eat in Thailand and in Koh Lipe more recommended. With views of heart attack and curries, which have been some of the best we have tried on this trip, this restaurant is undoubtedly one of the successes of the trip.
During our stay in Koh Lipe we went on several occasions, trying different dishes of the menu, of which we highlight the pad Thai with crab and the massaman curry, which were among the best we tried.
In addition to this, the service is super professional, pleasant and attentive.

On The Rocks Restaurant at Serendipity

Where to eat in Thailand

Bombay Indian Restaurant Ko Lipe: Among the first 3 recommended restaurants in Koh Lipe, this Indian restaurant is a great option, we are one of the best Indians we have ever tasted, if it were not for the disorganization at the time of service and practically More than an hour we had to wait to be served, something we saw, was repeated night after night, by the many customers they have and the little service, in addition to the preparation at the time of the dishes.

Bombay Indian Restaurant Ko Lipe

Ten Moons' Restaurant: Located very close to our accommodation, in one of the most beautiful coves of Koh Lipe, this restaurant is known on the island for having a Spanish chef.
We, after the experience, have to say that although it is not bad, it does not meet the quality / price ratio we expected, so we cannot recommend it.

Ten Moons Restaurant

After all the recommendations of places to eat in Thailand, in a very general way and after our experience, we have to say that we have noticed a quite evident change in the quality of service and product between the islands and the rest of Thailand, being the first lowest in both quality and service.
This does not mean that in the islands you can not eat well, but it is true that in general, there are no places with such a good product as in the continental zone.

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Thailand travel guide
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The 5 things to do in Koh Lipe
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