Sour, tangy and packed full of heat, there are few things out there as satisfying as a bowl of spicy tom yum goong.
This classic Thai dish is a hot favourite amongst both locals and tourists alike and it is a must-try item whenever you visit the land of smiles. We love how the dish can be eaten on its own or be used as a centrepiece for meals with a group of friend, making it a versatile option for any occasion.
While tom yum goong can commonly be found in most parts of Bangkok, some places do the dish better than others. With that, here is a guide to some of our favourite tom yum spots in Bangkok.
Inter Thai Food is a humble, unpretentious restaurant that specialises in dishing out homely and authentic Thai dishes at very affordable prices. Their tom yum soup is some of the best that we have ever had in Bangkok and it has just the right amount of spice to it without being too overwhelming. We also like how despite the price point, they are very generous with their serving sizes.
9 Rama I Road
Pathum Wan District
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +65 +66 2 251 4689
Daily: 11am – 9pm
We went straight for the classic Tom Yum Kung (THB90, S$3.60) at MBK food court. ‘Kung’ means prawns, and we were sure delighted to see so many huge and plump river prawns in the soup, alongside mushrooms and lemongrass. Have it with a bowl of steamed white rice and you are set.
Pee Aor Tom Yum is famous for their 999 baht Lobster Tom Yum Goong Noodles. This massive bowl of goodness is enough to feed two to three ravenous people and each serving comes with a generous amount of premium ingredients such as lobsters and crabs. We also love the tangy and spicy broth which is packed full of flavour and incredibly addictive.
68, Soi Phetchaburi 5
Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi
Bangkok 10400
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Located just a short walk away from the famous Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, The Sixth is a cosy and hip little cafe that is run by a young couple. They specialise in wholesome and soulful Thai food which includes bowls of hearty tom yum goong. The tom yum here is tangy, sweet, creamy and spicy all at once and just a small spoonful of this packs a mighty punch; just the way we like it!
Maha Rat Road
Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 316 6890
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 5pm
(Closed on Sundays)
The Place 168 is a humble Thai restaurant tucked away at a rundown building near Pratunam Market. The small shop has a pretty extensive menu filled with authentic Thai dishes but they are most famous for their gargantuan bowls of Tom Yum Koong Soup. At just 195 baht, each colossal bowl of this piping hot goodness comes brimming with ingredients such as pork belly, squid, prawns, meatballs, spring onions, two runny eggs and lime slices atop a bed of instant noodles.
1/49 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 657 0880
Daily: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sansab is a comfortable restaurant that sits on level 4 of Siam Paragon and it is popular for its Instagram-worthy Tom Yum UFO. The dish is essentially a steamboat that features a giant pot of tom yum surrounded by four separate pockets of ingredients such as cheese, corn, quail eggs and seaweed soup. The tom yum itself is decently spicy and has a nice amount of sweetness to it from the seafood.
Terminal 21 Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 108 0821
JEH O CHULA
Jeh O Chula is a popular supper spot in Bangkok that became a social media hit with their instagrammable pots of Tom Yum Mama. The queues for this can be as long as 2 hours but we promise you that it is well worth the wait. Each Tom Yum Mama features instant noodles, shrimp, squid, pork balls, ground pork and two eggs doused in a spicy, tangy tom yum soup.
Banthat Thong Road
113 Charat Muang Road, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 64 118 5888
Daily: 5:30pm – 2am
T&K SEAFOOD
Located in the heart of Yaowarat is T&K Seafood, a humble eatery that has an extensive menu filled with seafood dishes prepared Thai-style. Their tom yum goong is sweet, spicy and tangy all at once and we love how the seafood adds an extra depth of flavour to the dish. Do expect long queues for this popular seafood spot!
49 51 Phadung Dao Road
Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 223 4519
Daily: 4pm – 2am