Local Thai delights are a dime a dozen in Bangkok and there is always something to eat at every turn. While we love our pad thai and tom yum soup, we thought that it would be interesting to try something that belonged to a completely different era for a change.

Tucked away along a street at Pratunam is Gong Tong, a charming and quirky cafe that dishes out themed homemade dishes that revolve around different historical periods of Thailand.

You can choose either à la carte options or sets. They have a really thick and extensive menu for you to flip through and we were thoroughly spoilt for choice.

While the prices here are on the steeper end, we can assure you that it is well worth every cent.

After much deliberation, we finally settled on the Rattanakosin Niyom set (255 baht) which comes with a bowl of Chicken Mussaman Curry, Stir-fried Sweet Peas, a plate of rice and Toddy Palm Fruit in Scented Syrup.

We absolutely loved the Chicken Mussaman Curry which featured superbly tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken that was doused in a mildly spicy and full-bodied gravy. Slather the provided rice in all that umami-filled gravy and eat it with the chicken for a flavour bomb that’ll keep you hooked to your very last bite.

We initially thought that there would be nothing special about the Stir-fried Sweet Peas but boy, were we wrong!

Despite being stir-fried, the dish was not very oily and the vegetables still remained surprisingly crisp and crunchy. The sweet peas added a subtle sweetness to the overall dish as well as a lightness that was a good contrast to the bold flavours of the curry.

We ended off our sumptuous feast with a bowl of cooling Toddy Palm Fruit in Scented Syrup which certainly helped to combat Bangkok’s sweltering heat.

Gong Tong 
Thanon Phaya Thai
Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 879 0149

Read: Bangkok food guides on the best places to discover in the city.

 
Daily: 10am – 8.30pm

Cheap clothes, countless night markets and tuk-tuk rides through the streets of Bangkok definitely sounds like a good idea for a short trip away from our little red dot.

But picturesque views, clear waters and magnificent historical buildings await us in many other cities that Thailand is home to. While Bangkok is a go-to destination for plenty of good reasons, there is so much more to explore in Thailand—beach destinations, hiking trails and even rural provinces are just a few to name.

Here are 5 alternative destinations to explore on your next trip to Thailand if you’ve had enough of endless shopping and eating in Bangkok!

PHUKET

Home to many of Thailand’s most popular beaches and regarded by many travellers all over the world as a ‘Paradise on Earth’, Phuket is definitely an ideal destination if you’re in need of a relaxing getaway where you can simply unwind.

Make it a point to check out Phuket FantaSea, a one-of-its-kind cultural theme park featuring shows, restaurants and a shopping street that represents the Thai culture.

Photo Credit: allpointseast

BURIRAM

Directly translating to ‘City of Happiness’, Buriram is one of Thailand’s most unexplored provinces with just 30,000 people living there.

It is one of Thailand’s smallest provincial capital cities and one that is full of sandstone sanctuaries of ancient Khmer culture and other remnants of the Khmer civilization—something culture junkies will surely appreciate.

Photo Credit: Ren Fuller

PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA

Dubbed as Thailand’s hidden archaeological gem, Ayutthaya used to be the world’s largest city 300 years ago. While this breathtaking city might no longer be the world’s largest, its rich history makes it a spectacular place to explore for cultural history buffs.

Check out Ayutthaya Historical Park, where the ruins of the old city are now being held alongside palaces, Buddhist temples, monasteries and statues on an island between 3 rivers.

KHAO YAI

Quite possibly Thailand’s most whimsical city, Khao Yai comes highly recommended by us as a travel destination no matter if you’re going as a couple, family trip or just a solo adventurer.

Situated just a 3-hour drive away from Bangkok, Khao Yai is known to be Thailand’s ‘Little Europe’ for their gorgeous, pastel-coloured Italian-themed neighbourhoods. The beautiful city is also home to Thailand’s third-biggest National Park, Khao Yai National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

KRABI

White-sand beaches, clear waters and picturesque sceneries, Krabi is the perfect places for a getaway filled with lots of fun be it for couples or families with kids. There are countless activities you can do there—hit the waves on a banana boat, soak in nature’s own jacuzzi or go rock climbing!

If neither Krabi nor Phuket tickles your fancy because they might seem too ‘touristy’, fret not for there are dozens of other beach destinations in Thailand including Ko Samui, Surin Islands, Phang Nga Bay and Hua Hin beach!

In Bangkok, our easy way around that is to dive into their endless choices of street food. Watching it being cooked before you and sampling it is almost like taking in history and culture in the most tantalising way possible.

Capture the action on your cam and keep photo mementoes of what’s delicious and pretty with the help of our curated list of what’s good for Instagram.

Here are 15 street food in Bangkok that you have to try.

BBQ SQUID

You’ll get an umami bite into squid flesh and ink when you get squid grilled over hot coals. Spot them alongside grilled prawns and a variety of fish. These usually come with dips like the very spicy and sour “nam prik noom” sauce which is Northern Thai green chilli.

THAI COCONUT ICE-CREAM

The Bangkok heat can be a challenge. Thai coconut ice-cream helps cool you off with its rich coconut cream base instead of the usual cow’s milk. Choose from a sprinkling of peanuts, fruits, and candies. Some are served sandwiched in a hot dog bun too.

Read: 5 Bangkok-style coconut ice creams in Singapore you have to try.

THAI PULLED MILK TEA

Ready your phones to film down how the locals prepare traditional Thai milk tea. The drink is “pulled” by pouring a brew of sweetened tea and milk from one jug to the other to cool it to create a rich and frothy drink.

CHEESE TOASTIE

Anything filled, topped, stuffed or covered in cheese gets popular fast though some are easily ahead. Cheese toasties are obviously one of them. Take a photo or boomerang of that stretchy cheese-pull to garner all those likes on the gram.

Photo Credit: travelvui

KANOM KROK BAI TOEY

Like most Thai street foods, kanom krok bai toey tastes best fresh off the skillet. It’s an aromatic muffin-like snack made of flour, coconut sugar, and pandan leaf extract. This small and adorable sweetmeat is chewy and fluffy without tasting too sweet.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

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.

Photo Credit:  Miss Mina

KHANOM KORK (COCONUT PUDDING PANCAKES)

Another cutesy traditional snack to try in Bangkok is khanom krok which is a spherical Thai sweet rice cake that is made of coconut cream and rice flour. Modern renditions add on toppings like corn, taro, and spring onions. Enjoy yours piping hot!

Photo Credit: foodielifee__

MANGO STICKY RICE WITH ICE-CREAM 

No trip to Thailand is complete without one of its incredible desserts and mango sticky rice is the perennial local favourite. Try it contained in a cute cup and with extra scoops of ice-cream on top. It makes the dessert more decadent while taking away some of the Bangkok heat.

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Photo Credit: mitzeemee (top), localtinglexie (bottom)

RAINBOW MANGO STICKY RICE

Another variation of mango sticky rice that would up your Instagram game would be one that comes colourful in a choice of seven shades. Try the flavours: pandan (green), turmeric (yellow), rose (red), buttery pea (purple), pink (strawberry), orange (orange), and blueberries (blue).

ROLLED ICE-CREAM

Don’t get ice-cream the same old way—be it in a tub or a cone. if you’re looking for a way to hack your frozen dairy, the ice-cream roll is simple, novel, and genius. Scoops of ice-cream are mushed up with squashed fruit and made into little dairy tortillas that are rolled up into wraps and covered in sprinkles.

ROTI GLUAY

Roti gluay doesn’t really have Thai origins but locals still love the fried banana pancake regardless. The preparation is almost a performance with skilful hands working the ingredients speedily. A crisp blanket of dough contains creamy slivers of banana with egg. It’s chopped into smaller pieces and served with a  heavy drizzle of sweetened condensed milk.

CHEESE FRIES

Gooey melted cheese sauce slathered on fries is nothing new but it sure makes us salivate just by looking. It’s a rewarding snack when you are looking for something to keep your tummy satisfied while exploring Bangkok’s night markets.

ROTI SAI MAI

You might catch sight of children walking around with the dreamy colours of roti sai mai in hand. This is a candy floss crepe that’s a Thai dessert with an Indian influence. “Sai mai” literally means silk rope which is threads of crunchy sugar that are wrapped in roti which, in this case, is a steaming pandan-scented crepe.

TAIYAKI

Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake and usually comes with extremely generous fillings. There are flavours like durian, red bean paste, and as you can see, cheese.  Pull your taiyaki apart for that photogenic cheese pull which does not lose out to the cheese toastie.

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WATERMELON SMOOTHIE

Smoothies here can be elaborate. The most common is a photogenic watermelon smoothie scooped into a watermelon husk to drink with cubes of watermelon as toppings. Venture around and you might come by stalls that also sell rock melon and pineapple variations too.

Read our Bangkok guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

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)