THAILAND
Where We Eat
From Bangkok’s back-alley skewers to Michelin-starred temples of tasting menus, Thailand delivers one of the most dynamic food cultures in the world. It’s a country where fiery street noodles hold just as much reverence as slow-cooked jungle curries, and where every region tells its story through herbs, heat, and ritual. We’ve curated a shortlist of the most memorable, design-forward, and deeply flavorful dining experiences across the country—some elegant, some electric, all unmistakably Thai. This isn’t a roundup of every “must-try” dish. It’s a Hala-coded map of where we actually want to eat.
Breakfast And Brunch
Carrot Coffee
Image courtesy of Wanderlog
Chiang Mai
Price: $$
Location: ร้าน Carrot Coffee CNX เลขที่ 42/1 , 42/2 42/3 Ratchamanka Rd Soi 7, พระสิงห์ Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Vibe: Design-forward, Japanese-influenced, mellow
Must order: Japanese-style tamago sando and iced matcha latte
Need to know: Closed on Wednesdays; seating is limited, and it’s worth arriving early for fresh pastries and terrace spots.
With a minimalist interior, curated playlists, and third-wave coffee to rival any global capital, Carrot is one of Chiang Mai’s most stylish morning stops. Set in a calming concrete-and-wood space on a quiet side street, it’s beloved by digital creatives and design lovers for its aesthetic sensibility and specialty menu. Expect Japanese-style sandos, creamy omelettes, seasonal fruits, and wildly good pastries—all served with hand-poured coffee or matcha.
Brekkie Organic Cafe
Image courtesy of Brekkie Cafe
Bangkok
Price: $$
Location: Bangkok, Thailand (Sukhumvit Soi 39)
Vibe: Wellness-driven, Bali-inspired, leafy-modern
Must order: Superfood acai bowl and truffle mushroom toast
Need to know: Offers gluten-free, vegan, and keto options; delivery and takeaway available via Grab.
This Bangkok favorite blends health-forward fare with tropical cool, serving nutrient-dense breakfast and brunch dishes in a light-filled corner space in leafy Sukhumvit. Everything from the turmeric quinoa bowls to the smoked salmon benedict is as Instagrammable as it is nourishing. The drinks menu includes house-made kombucha, adaptogen lattes, and cold-pressed juices, making it a regular stop for the city’s wellness crowd. Brekkie feels like Bali-meets-Bangkok.
Rustic And Blue
Image courtesy of Rustic And Blue
Phuket
Price: $$
Location: 95, Viset Road, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130, Thailand
Vibe: Bohemian, lush garden, slow brunch
Must order: Farm eggs benedict and lavender honey latte
Need to know: They host occasional weekend pop-ups and themed brunch events, especially during peak season.
Rustic and Blue feels like a beach getaway with a hyper-local twist. Their brunch menu is centered around farm-to-table ingredients sourced from nearby producers, including free-range eggs, heirloom greens, and artisanal breads. The space has a rustic-luxe vibe, with fairy lights, hanging plants, and plenty of outdoor seating. Portions are generous, presentation is flawless, and the whole experience has a relaxed yet elevated feel.
Lunch And Dinner
Samrub Samrub Thai
Image courtesy of Samrub Samrub Thai
Bangkok
Price: $$$$
Location: 39/11 Yommarat Alley, Si Lom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Vibe: Intimate, innovative, heritage-driven
Must order: The full tasting menu (it changes often)
Need to know: The chefs take time to explain each dish to diners, making it feel more like a dinner party than a restaurant. This spot is frequently listed in Asia’s 50 Best.
With just a few tables, a nightly tasting menu, and a chef who trained under David Thompson, Samrub Samrub Thai redefines what modern Thai fine dining can be. Tucked into a modest building in Bangkok’s old town, it offers a rare, intimate glimpse into royal and regional Thai recipes you won't find elsewhere. It's not just a dinner—it’s a lesson in Thai culinary heritage, technique, and creativity. A must for serious food lovers.
Sorn
Image courtesy of Sorn
Bangkok
Price: $$$$
Location: 56 Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Vibe: Formal, storytelling-driven, elevated
Must order: You can’t order a la carte—opt into the full tasting menu
Need to know: The waitlist is long and bookings open monthly, usually selling out in minutes. It’s one of the highest-ranked restaurants in all of Thailand and a must-do for culinary travelers.
Sorn is the Michelin two-star restaurant that changed the conversation around southern Thai food. Located in a traditional Thai house in Bangkok, it brings the fiery, fragrant, and intensely layered flavors of Thailand’s south into the realm of haute cuisine. Each course arrives with personal stories from the chef’s upbringing, using rare ingredients and time-intensive techniques you won’t experience elsewhere. The experience is deeply rooted in culture yet plated with precision and elegance.
Raan Jay Fai
Image courtesy of Raan Jay Fai
Bangkok
Price: $$$
Location: 327 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Vibe: Iconic, old-school, theatrical
Must order: Crab omelette
Need to know: Bookings are now available online, but walk-ins often wait 2+ hours. The vibe is casual, but the prices reflect her global reputation.
Raan Jay Fai earned a Michelin star cooking with a single wok in her goggles and lipstick, and became a global name after her feature on Netflix’s Street Food. Her famed crab omelette is more burrito than breakfast: golden, charred, and packed with massive hunks of fresh crab meat. You’ll wait hours and pay handsomely, but there's no other street food experience like it. Jay Fai herself still cooks every dish, often with a line of tourists and foodies snapping photos through the open-air kitchen. This is street food at its most legendary.
One Chun
Image courtesy of One Chun
Phuket
Price: $$
Location: 48, 1 Thep Krasattri Rd, Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Vibe: Local favorite, heritage comfort
Must order: Crab yellow curry with rice noodles
Need to know: Popular with Phuket residents, so it stays busy. Service is quick, but there can be a short wait during dinner hours. The old-school tile floors and vintage posters make it feel like a step back in time.
This Phuket institution serves some of the island's best southern Thai comfort food in a laid-back colonial shophouse. It’s not fancy, but it’s beloved by locals and known for balancing bold, spicy dishes with cozy, nostalgic vibes. Think crab curry, stir-fried pork belly, and sweet-and-sour shrimp soup served with steaming jasmine rice. The kind of place where families linger and tables fill fast. You’ll eat incredibly well for a fraction of the cost of Bangkok fine dining.
Lay Lao
Image courtesy of Michelin Guides
Bangkok
Price: $$
Location: 65 Phahon Yothin 7, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Vibe: Stylish local hangout, modern Isaan
Must order: Grilled pork neck with nam jim jaew
Need to know: It’s walk-in friendly and very popular on weekends. Come early or be ready to wait. Portions are generous and best shared family-style.
For something casual but unforgettable, Lay Lao Ari serves fiery Isaan dishes in a sleek, urban-chic setting in Bangkok. Their grilled pork neck, som tam (papaya salad), and sticky rice are the stuff of local legend, and the seafood options (including the grilled river prawns) are next level. It bridges the gap between everyday Thai eating and culinary craftsmanship, without trying to be fancy. Come hungry and don’t be afraid of spice.
Desserts And Sweets
After You
Image courtesy of After You Dessert
Bangkok
Price: $
Location: Multiple locations across Bangkok
Vibe: Casual, cult-favorite, always packed
Must order: Shibuya honey toast with extra butter
Need to know: The original branch at J Avenue Thonglor is the most iconic and often has the longest wait—go early or opt for the EmQuartier or Siam Paragon locations if you want something quicker.
With lines out the door nearly every evening, After You is a modern dessert institution in Bangkok. Famous for its thick, buttery Shibuya honey toasts, seasonal mango specials, and inventive Thai-Japanese fusion sweets, the café has become a go-to for locals, tourists, and food critics alike. Whether you go for the original toast, a kakigori, or a Thai tea bingsu, you’re guaranteed something decadent. Open late and always buzzing, it’s a guilty pleasure done right.
Kor Panich
Image courtesy of Michelin Guides
Bangkok
Price: $
Location: 431-433 Tanao Road, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
Vibe: Humble, nostalgic, legendary sweet tooth haven
Must order: Humble, nostalgic, legendary sweet tooth haven
Need to know: Only open during mango season (April–June usually); expect a line; cash only; best early morning to beat heat and crowd.
One of Bangkok’s most iconic shops, Kor Panich has been perfecting mango sticky rice since 1932. Their Nam Dok Mai mangoes arrive in season and are always paired with coconut cream so rich it’s intoxicating. Simple setup, legendary line-ups, and zero pretension—just bliss.
Mae Udom
Image courtesy of Time Out
Bangkok
Price: $
Location: 66 Dinso Rd, Wat Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Vibe: Nostalgic, heritage-rich, delightfully simple
Must order: Thong yip, ruam mit, and mango sticky rice when mangoes are ripe
Need to know: Only operates during daytime hours; not fancy interiors, very local; best for authentic Thai-style desserts, not fusion or Instagram lighting.
Mae Udom quietly holds court on Rattanakosin Road, dishing traditional Thai desserts in a weathered but charming storefront. Its strength is in tradition—the recipes for sweets like thong yip, thong yod, and ruam mit are basically unchanged in decades. Each bite feels like stepping into a Thai dessert memoir.
