Using the Guide

Bilingual Listings

Bangkok’s 150 best restaurants, as well as those in the upcountry areas, are listed alphabetically. The name and address of each restaurant are also written in Thai, for use if you are taking a taxi.

Type of Cuisine/Specialities

Each restaurant has specified the type of cuisine it serves and has nominated a selection of house specialities. These dishes are normally served daily, although their availability may be subject to periodic menu changes and seasonal variations.

Map Reference

The majority of the Bangkok restaurants are located in three districts: Silom, Sukhumvit, and Petchburi. Maps of these areas have been included. To find a restaurant on the map, note the map reference number listed in the box by the review. The restaurants are pinpointed on each map in alphabetical order: S1 indicates that the restaurant is number 1 on the Silom map; SU1 is number 1 on the Sukhumvit map; and P1 is number 1 on the Petchburi map.

Dress Code

An indication of suitable attire at each restaurant is listed.

Set Meals/Buffets

Many restaurants serve set meals as well as a la carte and buffets are also frequently offered.

Vegetarian Dishes

Most restaurants in Bangkok offer a selection of non-meat dishes. We have indicated in each case how extensive the vegetarian listing is, but it should be noted by those who avoid eating any animal products that fats and fish extracts may have been used in the cooking. When visiting a restaurant, to be sure of ordering food with no animal content, request aharn jay. This is a term used by Thai Buddhist vegetarians and is universally understood by waiters and chefs.

Use of MSG

Monosodium glutamate, more usually known in Thailand by the brand name Ajinomoto, is used in many Asian cuisines. The information on MSG in our listing is provided by the restaurants themselves and we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

No Smoking

It is illegal to smoke in an air-conditioned restaurant. Smoking, however, is allowed in open-air areas and some restaurants do provide tables outside for smokers.

Credit Cards

The credit cards accepted by each restaurant are listed in the box. Abbreviations used are as follows:

Ratings

The best restaurants have been rated in four key areas: food, wine, service and price. Each restaurant was reviewed anonymously during the compilation of this guide. The final ratings were decided upon from the reviewer’s report plus the general recommendations of our editorial panel. Ratings are displayed at the bottom of each review through the use of symbols. Food, wine and service are rated on a scale of one to 10, while price is rated on a scale of one to four.

Rating	Food	Wine	Service
The very best	9–10	9–10	9–10
Excellent	7–8	7–8	7–8
Very good	5–6	5–6	5–6
Good	3–4	3–4	3–4
Fair	1–2	1–2	1–2

Price

Very expensive (more than 1,500 baht per person)
Expensive (1,000-1,500 baht per person)
Moderate (500-1,000 baht per person)
Inexpensive (less than 500 baht per person)