Granted, I enjoy hyperbole, but when it comes to Bangkok’s food scene, I can’t find an exageration to do it justice.  Bangkok is bursting with fabulous food. North, south, east, west, up, down, all around, Bangkok is stacked, jam-packed, overloaded and overflowing with good places to eat. The choices are nothing short of overwhelming.

As knowing where to begin exploring the feast is a task beyond the average tourist, I asked the lovely Vimolpatra Tunganaga for help.

Vimolpatra lives in Bangkok, comes from a Thai restaurant family and works for The Crown Property Bureau, the agency responsible for managing the personal wealth of the King of Thailand and his immediate family, so she knows the ins and outs of all things Bangkok, particularly its food.

Vimolpatra suggests the following three restaurant chains, because, she says, each has multiple locations, is reasonably priced and serves high-quality Thai (and fusion) foods that are popular with both Thais and faràngs (“foreigners”).

KALPAPRUEK

This independently owned chain has several branches with the three most popular being:

the original Kalpapruek Restaurant Silom: 27, Pramuan Rd., Suriyawong, Bang Rak;

and

Kalpapruek on First, on the 1^st floor of the Emporium shopping complex;

and

Ging Kalpapruek in the Siam Paragon shopping center.

GREYHOUND CAFÉ

Tourist can find this popular restaurant in eight different locations including:

the original on the second floor of the Emporium shopping complex;

at the Siam Paragon shopping center;

and on the ground floor of the Siam Centre.

SEEFAH RESTAURANT

One of the oldest restaurants in Bangkok, Seefah boasts about 20 branches that are still family owned and operated.

A good choice for tourists is one of the earliest Seefah’s at the Siam location, No. 434-440, Siam Square, Soi 9, Rama 1 Rd.

Recipes:

PAD THAI

CHICKEN SATAY