We will never run out of things to eat in Bangkok. Period.

This gluttons paradise is home to a smorgasbord of scrumptious grub that we wouldn’t mind getting fat for. From cooling husks of coconut ice cream to fiery bowls of Thai green curry, Bangkok hands down has some of the best food that we have ever tasted.

Whether it’s your first time stepping foot into this food heaven or if you’re a frequent traveller to Bangkok, we have here a guide of local food and snacks to give you some ideas on what you need to try on your next trip to the land of smiles.

BOAT NOODLES 

There are few things as addictive as boat noodles and we love the satisfying feeling of stacking all those finished bowls up high. The great thing about boat noodles is that because the portions are all so small and cheap, you get to try a variety of different broths and noodles till your heart’s content without feeling a pinch in your wallet.

Where to get it: Lung Prathunam Boat Noodles, Kin Tiew Kan, Baan Kuay Tiew Ruathong, Doy Kuay Teow Reua Boat Noodles

COCONUT ICE CREAM 

The Bangkok heat can get pretty unbearable at times and that’s why we love indulging ourselves in some Thai coconut ice-cream to cool ourselves down. We absolutely love the rich coconut cream base and we like to garnish our ice creams a sprinkling of peanuts, fruits, and candies.

 Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Hua Mum Night Market, Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream

CHARCOAL CREPES 

Choose to have your crepes savoury or sweet—we had our charcoal crepe with sliced bananas. You are likely to find crepes in most night markets of Bangkok as it is a common snack you can find even on the streets itself.

Where to get it: Rot Fai Market Ratchada

Photo Credit: erikhasoewito

CRISPY PANCAKES (KHANOM BUANG) 

Khanom buang is a must-eat snack when you are in Thailand. It’s a Thai-style crepe that looks like a crunchy taco. It’s made with rice flour and stuffed with sweet meringue or savoury cream. Toppings vary from egg yolk threads to shredded coconut or chopped shrimp.

Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Rot Fai Market Ratchada 

DUCK RICE/NOODLES 

If you love duck, we insist that you try the Thai’s rendition of duck noodles and rice. We prefer it over Singapore’s any day and we love how their version features more tender and succulent cuts of duck.

Where to get it: Buay Pochana, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Pondtip Pratunam, Tung Sui Heng Pochana

Photo Credit: feebz9210

FRIED BUGS

This one isn’t for the faint-hearted (and that includes us). If you’re a brave soul who loves trying out new things, we recommend that you have a go at some fried bugs. Bangkok is one of the few places in the world that dishes out these critters like delicacies and you can often get your hands on some at most of the night markets there.

Where to get it: Rot Fai Market Ratchada, Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, Khao San Road, Soi Cowboy, Klong Toey Market

FRIED QUAIL EGGS 

Fried quail eggs are one of our favourite street snacks in Bangkok. They taste great, albeit extremely simple. The special seasoning used is a sauce that elevates the savoury taste. The egg is also usually not fully cooked, so the yolk bursts once you bite into it.

Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Chinatown, Ramkhamhaeng University Night Market, Hua Mak

LENG SAAP 

Leng Saap essentially translates to ‘Spicy Pork Bone Soup’ and it basically consists of giant portions of pork ribs and spine that are generously doused in a rich and addictively spicy broth as well as plenty of lime, coriander and chilli. We’ve tried the one at Golden Mile Tower back in Singapore and were instantly hooked, and we pleased to say that the ones here in Bangkok taste even better.

Where to get it: Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, Rot Fai Market Ratchada

MANGO STICKY RICE

The vast abundance of street food might be a tad too overwhelming for first-timers to Thailand, but one will never go wrong with this classic Thai dessert. Made with coconut milk, fresh mangoes and sticky glutinous rice, this dessert is a delightful contrast of sweet and saltiness.

Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Talad Neon Night Market, Rot Fai Market Ratchada, Mae Varee Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango, Boonsap Thai Desserts, Muhammad Roddee, Je Meaw Sukhumvit 38

OLIVE RICE 

If you’re tired of plain white rice, why not try some of Thailands olive rice? We love how the rice has an aromatic olive flavour that pairs well with whatever dish it is served with it. It also tastes great eaten on its own!

Where to get it: Street outside Union Mall, Sanguan Sri Restaurant

PAD THAI

It would be a crime to come to Bangkok and not have tried the pad Thai here. This classic stir-fried noodle dish is chock full of different flavours from all its various components such as the nuttiness from the peanuts to the sweetness of the prawns and chilli. It isn’t hard to see why it’s so popular amongst both locals and tourists alike!

Where to get it: Thipsamai, Baan Phad Thai, Pad Thai Mae Am

PAN-FRIED SQUID EGGS 

Squid eggs do sound a little intimidating to people who have never tried them before but we promise you that they taste way better than they sound! Most places serve them in two ways: deep-fried or pan-fried. We prefer the deep-fried version which is first coated with batter for a crispy outer layer, before being deep-fried in hot oil and then drizzled with a tangy green chilli sauce for extra oomph.

Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Rot Fai Market Ratchada 

PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE (KHAO OP SAPPAROT) 

Nothing beats an iconic plate of pineapple fried rice and this well-loved Thai dish features fluffy Jasmine rice cooked with juicy pineapple chunks. Some places even serve up the dish in a hollowed-out pineapple which makes for a great photo opportunity for the gram.

Where to get it: Ko Eay Ko Kafaa, Tealicious Cafe

PORK TROTTERS RICE (KHAO KAA MOO) 

Whenever we are in Bangkok, we love to indulge ourselves in a sinful plate of pork trotters rice. Here, outrageously tender chunks of braised pork trotters lie atop a bed of white rice and then doused in a generous amount of braising gravy. We honestly wouldn’t mind getting a heart attack for this dish.

Where to get it: Bamee Sawang, Khao Kha Moo Truk Sung

Photo Credit: linhlengkeng

SALTED GRILLED FISH 

The Thai’s prepare their salted fish very differently from the Chinese. Here, they coat the entire fish in a layer of salt while discarding the skin. This interesting technique helps to preserve the moisture of the fishes flesh during the grilling process, keeping it nice, moist and chock full of flavour.

Where to get it: Rot Fai Market Ratchada, Pa Porn Pla Phao, Talad Neon

SOM TUM

For the uninitiated, som tum is essentially Thai-style green papaya salad. There are many roadside stalls selling fresh som tum that is prepared to order. Unripened green papaya is shredded and mixed with chilli, sugar, garlic, lime, fish sauce, tomatoes and several other ingredients to produce a spicy-sour taste that will have you lingering for more.

Where to get it: B-Story Cafe, MBK Mall, Chatuchak Weekend Market

THAI CHICKEN RICE 

While Thai-style chicken rice is somewhat similar to Singapore’s, the chicken is much drier and the rice is a little less oily. Many stalls specialise in both fried and steamed chicken rice and we sometimes have a hard time choosing between the two. We love the chilli sauce that accompanies the dish and it provides anything that is dunked into it with a savoury and fiery touch that packs a punch.

Where to get it: Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice, Kuang Heng, Kaiton Pratunam Chicken Rice

THAI ICED MILK TEA

To combat the sweltering heat, we love to get ourselves a cup of satisfyingly cooling Thai iced milk tea. Renditions of this popular drink can be found in many places around the world but nothing beats going back to the original. While the drink may get too cloyingly sweet at times, we still can’t help but slurp it down because it’s just so addictive.

Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Khao San Road, Rot Fai Market Ratchada, Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin 

THAI GREEN CURRY 

We love how creamy yet fiery a good bowl of Thai green curry is. The green chillies used give the dish its murky green colour and this is further enhanced with basil leaves and lemongrass. If you can’t take spicy food, be warned that this dish might be a bit too much for you.

Where to get it: Krua Apsorn, Methavalai Sorndaeng, The Sixth

THAI FISH CAKE 

Thai fish cakes are one of our favourite snacks in Bangkok and we love how they are easily available.  If you are lucky, these fish cakes will be freshly deep-fried in front of you, so you can have it piping hot with a generous drizzle of Thai sweet chilli sauce.

Where to get it: Pratunam Market, Chatuchak Weekend Market

THAI-STYLE OMELETTE 

There is something very addictive about Thai-style omelettes that make us prefer it to any other omelette out there. For some unbeknownst reason, the omelettes in Bangkok are the fluffiest and sweetest. Pair it with some rice and Thai green chilli sauce and you’ve got yourself a simple yet satisfying meal that’ll substantially fill you up.

Where to get it: Chatuchak Weekend Market, The Sixth, Raan Jay Fai, Nhong Rim Klong

TOM YUM KOONG 

Common but oh-so-addictive, a hearty bowl of tom yum koong is an ideal centrepiece for meals with large groups of people. The dish is creamy, spicy and tangy all at once and we could easily just eat it doused over a plate of rice without anything else.

Where to get it: The Sixth, The Place 168, Pee Aor

WANTON NOODLES 

If you love Singapore’s wanton noodles, you may wanna give the Thai version a try. Here, springy egg noodles are tossed in oil, soya sauce and chilli, accompanied with greens, small dumplings and slices of honeyed pork. We admittedly can’t decide if we prefer the Thai or Singapore rendition!

Where to get it: Sukhumvit Soi 38, Bamee Sawang, Nai Meng Ba Mee Poo, Odean Noodle

It is no secret that Bangkok is a night market paradise that has something for everyone. Even if you aren’t a diehard shopaholic, Bangkok’s night market scene has everything from food to entertainment to services, making it a versatile destination that should be at the top of everyone’s itinerary.

While many people tend to patronise the more common markets such as Chatuchak Weekend Market, Pratunam Market and Palladium Night Market, Bangkok is home to a plethora of other night markets that are less explored and frequented by tourists.

For the full local experience and significantly smaller crowds, here is a list of 11 less known night markets in Bangkok that you can visit on your next trip to the land of smiles.

CAMP VINTAGE FLEA MARKET

If you want to pop some tags but you only have 20 dollars in your pocket, you can head on over to Camp Vintage Flea Market to go thrift shopping. Not only is this place a vintage paradise, but it is also a very artsy spot to snap some great photos for the gram. We also love how they decorate the place with repurposed planes and other air crafts to go with the vintage theme.

The Camp Vintage Flea Market
482 Kamphaeng Phet Soi 1, Bangkok, Thailand
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.45pm

CHANG CHUI BANGKOK PLANE MARKET 

The term ‘”chui” refers to being disorganised in the Thai language but do not be deceived by its name—the huge lifestyle space is a one-stop destination for everything art-related. Think fashion apparel stalls, concept cafes, food trucks and a vintage cinema for the film buffs. There even is an old aeroplane right smack in the middle of ChangChui market—yes, that is how massive this night market is.

460/8 Sirindhorn Road
Bangpld, Bangkok
10700 Thailand
Tel: +66 81817 2888
Tue to Sun: 4pm – 11pm

HUAI KHWANG NIGHT MARKET 

Huai Khwang Night Market is just a short walk away from Huai Khwang MRT station, which makes it very convenient and accessible. Do not expect rows of tented stalls like what you usually see at night markets in Bangkok; the stalls here are mostly located within buildings along a long winding road and to us, it seemed more like a row of shophouses that function like night market stalls.

Soi Pracha Rat Bamphen
Khwaeng Din Daeng, Din Daeng
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 24-hours

HUA MUM NIGHT MARKET 

Hua Mum Night Market is considered a hidden gem because most foreigners probably don’t know about it nor wouldn’t discover it on their own—and evidently, that is its main draw. This under-the-radar localised market is not as congested as the other popular tourist attractions and you can shop for absolutely everything such as handcrafted handbags, customised keyrings as well as trendy apparel.

They are also famous for their Seafood Hunks who will provide you with some live entertainment as you enjoy your seafood!

11 Kaset-Nawamin Rd
Lat Phrao, Bangkok 10230
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 12am

INDY NIGHT MARKET DAO KHANONG 

Indy Night Market is heavily frequented by the locals and while it is pretty far out from central Bangkok, the place is well worth the trip down! As the market is catered mostly to the locals, things here are also significantly cheaper as compared to other night markets out there.

Suk Sawat Road
Khwaeng Chom Thong, Khet Chom Thong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10150
Daily: 6pm – 12am

Photo Credit: agentdeclan

LIAB DUAN NIGHT MARKET 

Liab Duan Night Market is a massive, overflowing market that is a shopaholics paradise for both men and women alike. Aside from that, they even sell pet accessories, homeware and collectables. Do keep a lookout for the massive transformers that are standing in the middle of the market; it makes for a pretty cool picture for the gram!

Thanon Rarm Intra
Khwaeng Tha Raeng
Khet Bang Khen, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10220
Daily: 6pm to 1am

Photo Credit: Hirolink43

MALI MARKET 

Mali Market is more catered to kids and kids at heart. Here, you’ll be able to find old school games and rides that’ll bring you back to your childhood days. Aside from that, they have the usual stalls that sell clothes, accessories and food, making it an all-rounded market that your whole family will love.

111 Moo 5 Pak Kret 39 Pak Kret District
Nonthaburi 11120
Daily: 5pm – 12am

Photo Credit: Bangkok Info Guide 

PATPONG NIGHT MARKET 

Patpong Night Market has made a name for itself with its sheer number of counterfeit goods. The night market is jam-packed with tourists and visitors so do be prepared for some massive crowds! It is important to note that the bazaar is located in a red-light district, hence it isn’t necessarily the most children-friendly area.

Phat Pong 2 Alley
Khwaeng Suriya Wong, Khet Bang Rak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 1am
Sun: 6pm – 12am

RAMKHAMHAENG NIGHT MARKET 

For all you broke university students who are in Bangkok for a holiday, we suggest that you pay a visit to Ramkhamhaeng University Night Market to get a feel of how the local university students shop. As the market is catered mostly to youths, you can expect some super cheap bargains as well as clothes, accessories and shoes that are tailored to a younger crowd.

2345/1 Ramkhamhaeng Road
Khwaeng Hua Mak, Khet Bang Kapi
Bangkok, Thailand 10240
Thu to Tue: 4pm – 11pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)

SAI TAI MAI CENTER NIGHT MARKET 

Sai Tai Mai is another night market that only the locals know about and everything here is dirt cheap. The sprawling space will keep you occupied for hours and there is plenty to see, do and buy for people of all ages. The market is a little inaccessible by public transport so you’ll need to take a Grab or taxi down.

8 Borommaratchachonnani Road
Khwaeng Chim Phli, Khet Taling Chan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10170, Thailand
Daily: 6pm – 2am

TALAD ROT FAI SRINAKARIN NIGHT MARKET 

Rot Fai Market (Srinakarin) is a dream come true for shopaholics and it is one of the biggest night markets in Bangkok. There are thousands of shops here and we promise you that you will not have enough time to cover all the vendors in one night. It will take plenty of stamina to strike off this attraction in your list but hey, they don’t call shopping Singapore’s national sport for nothing!

Srinakarin Road Soi 51
Srinagarindra 51 Alley
Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
Mon to Wed: Closed
Thu to Sat: 4pm – 1am
Sun: 4pm – 12am

If you’re planning to make a trip to Bangkok and you’re still clueless on how to fill your itinerary up, why not pay a visit to Bangkok’s bustling Chinatown?

Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, is a culturally rich area that’s packed with plenty of history, stunning architecture and of course, food. It’s the perfect place to check out if you want to learn and experience the way Thai and Chinese cultures have intermingled and co-existed in Bangkok for years.

The streets here are lined with a plethora of food vendors, temples, monuments and locals going about their daily lives and there is always something happening at any point in time. This can make it quite overwhelming for first-time visitors so if you are worried about being swept away and lost in this hectic enclave, you can refer to this guide for some ideas.

Photo Credit: dumtok 

GOLDEN BUDDHA TEMPLE (WAT TRAMIT TEMPLE) 

Wat Tramit houses the largest golden Buddha in the world and this breathtaking monument that stands at 3m tall sits majestically on an altar surrounded by traditional Thai golden arches. From the top of Wat Tramit, you also get a fantastic view of the ornate Chinatown Gate that is just a stone throws away. There is also a museum in the temple that teaches you about the history of Yaowarat and how it came about.

661 Charoen Krung Road
Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 89 002 2700
Daily: 8am – 5pm

Photo Credit: beyond.frontiers 

CHINATOWN GATE

Standing tall and proud in the middle of Chinatown is the Chinatown Gate, an ornate ceremonial gate that sits on a large traffic island at Yaowarat Road. Constructed in 1999, the gate was built to symbolise the loyalty of the Chinese community to King Bhumibol of Thailand and it was opened just in time to celebrate the King’s 60th birthday on the Throne.

Photo Credit: yaizamartinezrodriguez

KUAN YIM SHRINE

Kuan Yim Shrine is one of Yaowarat’s most vibrant attractions and it features a 900-year-old statue of Guan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Throngs of both locals and tourists alike come here to pray, especially during the holiday season, and the place is always filled with smoke and incense.

606 The King’s Birthday Celebration Arch
Yaowarat Road
Bangkok, 10100
Tel: +66 91 769 0824

HAVE BRUNCH AT LHONG TONG CAFE

This eclectic, cosy eatery is popular for their dim sum as well as their very interesting interior; both of which are incredibly Instagram-worthy. The common thing about quirkily designed eateries is that they usually have pretty subpar food. This isn’t the case for Lhong Tou Cafe; we never thought that we would ever have some of the best dim sum of our lives in Bangkok and the dim sum here puts some of the ones we’ve tried in Hong Kong to shame!

538 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 935 6499
Daily: 8am – 10pm

Photo Credit: drewparrett

TALAT KAO (CHINATOWN OLD MARKET) 

Talat Kao is a 200-year old open-air market in the heart of Chinatown and here, you can watch the locals go about their daily lives as they go marketing for fruits and vegetables and trade items with one another. Foodies can also fill their bellies with plenty of scrumptious street food that is readily available at every turn. We recommend trying their Chinese food; there is no better place to try it than in Chinatown!

Soi Lat Krabang 5, Lat Krabang
Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Tel: +66 99 383 0304

Photo Credit: gerdaaboushanab 

SAMPENG MARKET 

This long, narrow street is a wholesalers idea of paradise. Expect rows of stalls selling a mish-mash of random items like fabrics, clothes and electronics for dirt cheap prices. If you bulk buy, you can get an even larger bargain so you can come here with some friends for even better deals!

96 Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong
Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Daily: 9am – 6pm

Photo Credit: ambshencho

PAK KHLONG MARKET (FLOWER MARKET) 

Skip the night markets and check out Bangkok’s famous flower market instead. If you love flowers or colourful sights, this is the perfect place to admire the spectacle of colours and to snap some pretty shots for the gram. Here, you also can witness both locals and tourists purchasing gorgeous, fresh flowers for whatever purpose.

Chak Phet Road, near the Memorial Bridge or Saphan Phut Chao Phraya pier
Daily: 24-hours

HAVE DINNER AT NAI EK ROLL NOODLES 

Situated at the heart of Chinatown, Nai Ek Roll Noodle is a humble stall that specialises in —you guessed it — roll noodles, as well as some of the crispiest deep-fried pork we’ve ever tried. The food here is so good that they’ve even earned themselves a place in the Michelin Guide

442 Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
+66 2 226 4651
Daily: 7.30am – 1.30am

ENJOY YAOWARATS FAMOUS TOASTED BUNS

Yaowarat Toasted Bread sees perpetual long queues on the daily made up of both locals and tourists. What makes the bread here stand out from anywhere else is its filling; each perfectly toasted and buttered bun comes generously chock full of a filling of your choice and they have sinfully good options such as condensed milk and sankaya.

Yaowarat Road
Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 0677
Sun, Tue to Fri: 6.30pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)

EXPLORE THE STREETS OF YAOWARAT AT NIGHT 

The streets of Yaowarat are undoubtedly exciting in the day, but the entire place truly comes alive when the sun goes down. Watch the various street food vendors slowly set up their stalls and see the bright lights come on, illuminating the streets with a soothing neon glow. The place looks very different at night and you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different area altogether.

Photo Credit: cassidyfowler 

HAVE DRINKS AT ENJOY THE VIEW AT SKY VIEW 360° ROOFTOP BAR OF GRAND CHINA HOTEL 

End of the hectic day with a chill session of drinks and a magnificent view at Sky View 360°. This gorgeous restaurant that is perched atop Grand China Hotel provides diners with a breathtakingly beautiful 360° overview of Chinatown and Chao Phraya River. Here, they have an international-style menu that has something for everyone as well as fizzy cocktails and ice-cool drinks.

215 Yaowarat Road
Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 9977
Daily: 7am – 12am

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/10/yaowarat-day-guide-bangkok/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/09/pondtip-pratunam/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/09/pondtip-pratunam/#comments Tue, 17 Sep 2019 23:09:14 +0000 Melissa Teo https://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=187425 Continue reading →]]>

While we love Singapore’s duck rice, we admittedly prefer Bangkok’s duck rice a tad bit more. We don’t know how they do it but most of the ducks that we have tried here have turned out more succulent and tender as compared to the ones that we have had in Singapore.

While there aren’t as many stalls in Bangkok that sell duck rice as there are that sell chicken rice, we know a handful of good ones to recommend to you. One of them would be Pondtip Pratunam, a humble stall that sells an array of scrumptious Thai food which includes duck noodles and rice.

Conveniently located right smack in the middle of busy Pratunam, Pondtip Pratunam is the perfect pitstop for ravenous shopaholics who need a mid-shopping perk-me-up.

We recommend getting the Soya Duck Rice (60 baht) which comes with succulent duck slices atop a mound of white rice and a side of blood pudding and chilli sauce.

What we love about the duck here is how it is so outrageously moist and tender despite being cooked for such a long period of time. In similar cases, the duck usually ends up dry and tough, so having such well-cooked duck is certainly refreshing.

We also recommend dunking the duck into the provided chilli for an extra spicy kick. To be honest, we don’t feel that the duck needs any more enhancement as it already is good on its own but if you love to have your food with a little spice, you definitely need to try the duck with their chilli.

Our absolute favourite dish here would hands down be the Stewed Duck Rice (80 baht) which features a massive stewed duck leg accompanied with white rice, pudding blood and their signature chilli.

The duck meat here is the definition of fall-off-the-bone as it was so easy for us to tear off strips of meat due to the duck flesh being so tender. We find the duck in this dish significantly more succulent and flavourful than the one we had for soya duck rice and each bite was packed full of umami.

If you’re a duck lover who happens to be popping by Pratunam area, please try the duck here! If you aren’t a fan of rice, they also have a few noodle dishes on their menu for you to choose from.

Pondtip Pratunam 
922, 924 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 650 4023
Daily: 6am – 8pm

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/09/pondtip-pratunam/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/09/grand-palace-bangkok/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/09/grand-palace-bangkok/#comments Mon, 16 Sep 2019 01:00:33 +0000 Melissa Teo https://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=186825 Continue reading →]]>

While Bangkok is well-known for its shopping and food scene, it also boasts an incredibly rich and unique history. If you want to immerse yourself in Bangkok’s beautiful culture but you don’t know where to start, one of the places that you need to add to your  Bangkok itinerary is the Grand Palace.

Located in the old city of Bangkok on the banks of the famous Chao Phraya river, this majestic, sacred landmark is nothing short of breathtaking. We recommend that you visit this along with other famous sites such as Wat Arun and Wat Pho, which are all a short distance from each other.

Before embarking on your journey, please note that there is a very strict dress code that you need to adhere to or you will not be able to enter the palace grounds. If you are not dressed properly, you will not be allowed to enter the palace and you may have to purchase clothes to change into onsite.

Men are expected to wear long pants with shirts that have sleeves. Women, on the other hand, should be modestly dressed in clothing that covers the shoulders and legs. Covered shoes are recommended but if you want to wear sandals, it is advisable to wear socks with them.

When we visited the temple, the temple was filled with throngs of people and it was very crowded, so for those of you who hate crowds, do take note of this before you visit the place.

Entry tickets cost 500 baht per person.

WAT PHRA KAEW (THE TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA) 

The Grand Palace houses Wat Phra Kaew, which translates to ‘The Temple Of The Emerald Buddha’. This is one of the most sacred places in the whole of Thailand and the small Buddha statue that resides in the temple is believed to be more than 2000 years old. The Buddha was created in India and has been moved a number of times before it was re-discovered in 1434 in a temple in Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand.

Despite being called The Emerald Buddha, the Buddha is actually made from green jade. The robes of the buddha are also changed according to the seasons by His Majesty the King of Thailand.

Do take note that guests are not allowed to take photos of The Emerald Buddha within the temple or you will be fined.

GORGEOUS ARCHITECTURE 

What we love the most about the Grand Palace is its stunning and intricate architecture. We could honestly spend a whole day here just admiring the detailed handiwork of these breathtaking structures and it is just surreal thinking of how the people in the past had managed to construct these beauties with limited tools and machinery.

Feel free to take a few snapshots with the gorgeous architecture as a memento but do take note that as the palace grounds are usually very crowded, it can be quite hard to do so without having someone wander into your shot.

EXPLORE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY 

The palace grounds are massive and it is pretty easy to get lost while you explore the place. We ourselves ended up going in circles before finding our way out of the grounds. However, take this chance to properly explore every inch of the palace. Every wrong turn led us to something interesting like detailed murals, majestic statues and gold speckled structures.

ROYAL RECEPTION HALLS 

On the way out, do pay a visit to the grand Royal Reception Halls where important ceremonial occasions like coronations are held at. The Royal Reception Halls also houses the Dusit Hall, the antique throne as well as a museum that has information on the restoration of the Grand Palace as well as numerous Buddha images.

The Grand Palace 
Na Phra Lan Road
Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 623 5500
Daily: 8.30am – 3.30pm

Bangkok is a shopaholics paradise and we love how this city has a plethora of shopping spots to satiate our never-ending love for shopping.

If you’re sick of the usual touristy markets like Chatuchak and Talad Neon, you can try paying a visit to Huai Khwang Night Market. This market is less frequented by tourists so you get to shop like a local and have a different night market experience altogether.

Huai Khwang Night Market is just a short walk away from Huai Khwang MRT station, which makes it very convenient and accessible.

Do not expect rows and rows of tented stalls like what you usually see at night markets in Bangkok; the stalls here are mostly located within buildings along a long winding road and to us, it seemed more like a row of shophouses that function like night market stalls.

Here, you can find different stalls selling a variety of things such as clothes, accessories, shoes, beauty products and random knick-knacks. You can also get your hair and nails done at one of the many beauty salons that line the streets.

Take a break from all that shopping by indulging in some scrumptious food. Huai Khwang Night Market is home to plenty of both street stalls and restaurants that are open till the wee hours of the morning, so you’ll always have something to satisfy your hunger.

While it is an interesting place to check out if you have time, we don’t feel like it is a must-visit unless you want to experience what a more local market feels like. It has everything that your usual night market has and we honestly did not find this as exciting as the other night markets we have visited.

If you don’t have much time and you only can visit one or two markets, we recommend that you check out Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin or Hua Mum Night Market instead.

Huai Khwang Night Market 
Soi Pracha Rat Bamphen
Khwaeng Din Daeng, Din Daeng
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 24-hours

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/09/hwai-kwang-night-market/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/07/lhong-tou-cafe/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/07/lhong-tou-cafe/#comments Sun, 28 Jul 2019 16:12:15 +0000 Melissa Teo https://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=186645 Continue reading →]]>

If you’re in Bangkok and are on the hunt for eateries that not only have a smorgasbord of delicious food but also a unique layout, this is one place that you should add to your list.

Situated right smack in the middle of Yaowarat—Bangkok’s Chinatown—is Lhong Tou Cafe. This eclectic, cosy eatery is popular for their dim sum as well as their very interesting interior; both of which are incredibly Instagram-worthy.

The common thing about quirkily designed eateries is that they usually have pretty subpar food. This isn’t the case for Lhong Tou Cafe; we never thought that we would ever have some of the best dim sum of our lives in Bangkok and the dim sum here puts some of the ones we’ve tried in Hong Kong to shame!

We’ve attempted to come to Lhong Tou Cafe twice and the very first time we did, we found ourselves stuck in the middle of a 2-hour queue which we left within 10-minutes. This time around, we went at an odd hour of 4pm and it had been raining as well, so we managed to skip the crowds and snag ourselves a table pretty quick.

What we absolutely love about this place is the design of the seating area. Here, wooden panels and metal pipes are strategically placed to form a double-decker structure where people can choose to either sit on the top level or at the cubbies at the bottom when they take their queue ticket.

We also love how the entire place was also filled with plenty of lush greenery, giving the entire space a lovely botanical touch.

We started off with a plate of Lhong Tou Shumai where 3 very plump dumplings were doused in a delightfully sweet and savoury sauce. The dumplings were filled with a generous amount of meat that was chock full of umami and the meat to skin ratio was perfect.

Next up, we had the Thai Tea Bun (which features a fluffy, fragrant bun that comes chock full of satisfyingly good Thai tea custard. Tear open the bun to reveal its rich, creamy contents and watch in satisfaction as it slowly oozes out of the bun. The custard here tastes remarkably like actual Thai tea and we highly recommend this dish to anyone who is a huge fan of the drink.

Salted egg lovers will be happy to know that Lhong Tou Cafe has a menu item that resembles the popular salted egg yolk buns that we have here in Singapore. What makes Lhong Tou Cafe’s Egg Lava Bun so different (and better) is its exterior. Instead of a soft, pillowy bun, the lava is encased in a flaky, crispy pastry that provides the dish with plenty more bite and flavour.

Break open the bun to let out all its sinfully good contents; the egg lava here is both salty and sweet at the same time with a distinctive salted egg taste. Coupled with its pastry exterior, we can safely say that this is one of the best salted egg items that we have ever eaten in our lives and we will undoubtedly be back for it the next time we are in Bangkok.

The most adorable and unique item out of the lot was the Shitake Mushroom Bun. This bun looks like a carbon copy of an actual mushroom and what makes it even better is its earthy shitake mushroom filling. Our only gripe with this one is that we wish that there had been more filling because it was so good!

All in all, we highly recommend this place and you definitely need to check it out the next time you’re in Bangkok.

Lhong Tou Cafe
538 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 935 6499
Daily: 8am – 10pm

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/07/lhong-tou-cafe/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/03/corgi-in-the-garden-bangkok/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/03/corgi-in-the-garden-bangkok/#comments Thu, 07 Mar 2019 03:44:30 +0000 Melissa Teo https://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=177192 Continue reading →]]>

Bangkok is known to be home to a plethora of animal cafes that house all kinds of adorable critters. There’s a husky cafe, a cafe with a resident racoon and the list goes on. Well, there’s one that hasn’t yet blown up all over the internet and that is none other than Corgi In The Garden.

Short-legged, pouty-faced and fluffy, these little pups will have even the toughest human overflowing with happiness. The next time you plan a trip to Bangkok, be sure to include this cafe in your itinerary.

The cafe houses 12 insanely adorable and affectionate corgis who are very eager to meet new people. They even have cute names such as Porkchop, Bean, Salmon and Babycorn!

The entrance fee for each person is 250 Baht (S$10.65), which is pretty affordable considering that you also get a free drink along with it. The cafe also serves up a variety of snacks, drinks and ice cream for those of you who are feeling a little peckish.

Do note that visitors are not allowed to just walk in as and when they like it. To pay a visit, you have to drop by the cafe at specific time slots that last an hour each. This is to ensure that the corgis get regular breaks and are not too stressed out.

Time Slots: 
Morning slot — 10.30am (on weekends only)
Noon slot — 12.30pm
Afternoon slot — 2.30pm
Evening slot — 4.30pm

338/1 Kallapaphruek Road Bang Wa
Phasi Charoen, Bangkok 10160, Thailand
Tue to Fri: 12.30pm – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 6pm
(Closed on Mondays)