Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [128]
ISO (Map; 0 2253 0123; www.swissotel.com; Swissotel Nai Lert Park, 2 Th Withayu, Ploenchit; per minute 5B; 11.30am-2pm Mon-Fri) Bangkok’s biggest eaters have been raving about the Swissotel Nai Lert Park’s international buffet that costs 5B per minute. Clock in (we’re not speaking figuratively here) and enjoy everything from sushi to sweets.
Lord Jim (Map; 0 2655 9900; Mandarin Oriental, Soi 38, Th Charoen Krung, Riverside; 1500B; noon-2pm Mon-Sat, 11am-3pm Sun) Even if you can’t afford to stay at the Oriental Hotel, you should save up for the hotel’s riverside seafood buffet.
Marriott Café (Map; 0 2656 7700; ground fl, JW Marriott, 4 Soi 2, Th Sukhumvit; 11am-3pm) American-style abundance fills the buffet tables with fresh oysters, seafood, pasta and international nibbles at its daily buffet. There are also activities for children.
Rang Mahal (Map; 0 2261 7100; 26th fl, Rembrandt Hotel, 19 Soi 20, Th Sukhumvit; 848B; 11am-2.30pm Sun) Couple views from this restaurant’s 26th floor with an all-Indian buffet, and you have one of the most popular Sunday destinations for Bangkok’s South Asian expat community.
Sunday Jazzy Brunch (Map; 0 2649 8353; 1st fl, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Th Sukhumvit; 1850B; 11.30am-3pm Sun) If you require more than just victuals, then consider the Sheraton’s Sunday brunch, which unites all the hotel’s restaurant outlets to a theme of live jazz.
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NEW SRI FAH
Map Thai-Chinese $$
0 2258 2649; www.newsrifa33.com; 12/19-21 Soi 33, Th Sukhumvit; mains 80-450B; 5pm-3am; Phrom Phong exit 5
This former Chinatown shophouse restaurant, originally opened in 1955, has relocated to a tight but classy location in new Bangkok. Just about anything from the Thai-Chinese seafood-heavy menu is bound to satisfy, but we particularly love the stir-fried minced pork with salted black olive, and the stir-fried water mimosa.
IMOYA
Map Japanese $
0 2663 5185; 3rd fl, Terminal Shop Cabin, 2/17-19 Soi 24, Th Sukhumvit; mains 40-150B; 6pm-midnight; Phrom Phong exit 4
Temporarily set aside thoughts of Bangkok and whisk yourself back to 1950s Tokyo. A visit to this well-hidden Japanese restaurant, with its antique ads, wood panelling and wall of sake bottles, is like taking a trip in a time machine. Even the prices of the better-than-decent Eastern-style pub grub haven’t caught up with modern times.
BOON TONG KIAT SINGAPORE HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE
Map Singaporean $
0 2390 2508; 440/5 Soi 55, Th Sukhumvit; mains 60-100B; 10am-10pm; Thong Lo exit 3 & taxi
The unofficial national dish of Singapore is treated with holy reverence at this humble eatery. After taking in the exceedingly detailed and ambitious chicken rice manifesto written on the walls, order a plate of the restaurant’s namesake and witness how a dish can be so simple, yet so delicious. And while you’re there you’d be daft not to order rojak, the spicy/sour fruit ‘salad’, which is referred to here tongue-in-cheek as ‘Singapore Som Tam’.
BHARANI CUISINE (SANSAB BOAT NOODLE)
Map Thai $
0 2664 4454; Soi 23, Th Sukhumvit; mains 35-200B; 10am-10pm; Sukhumvit exit 2; Asok exit 3
This cozy Thai restaurant dabbles in a bit of everything, from ox tongue stew to rice fried with shrimp paste, but the real reason to come is for the rich, meaty ‘boat noodles’ – so called because they used to be sold from boats plying the klorng of Ayuthaya.
SOI 38 NIGHT MARKET
Map Thai-Chinese $
Soi 38, Th Sukhumvit; mains 30-60B; 8pm-3am; Thong Lo exit 4
It’s not the best street food in town by a long shot, but after a hard night of clubbing on Sukhumvit, you can be forgiven for believing so. If you’re going sober, stick to the knot of ‘famous’ vendors tucked into an alley on the right-hand side as you enter the street; the flame-fried pàt tai and herbal fish ball noodles are musts.
THONGLEE
Map Thai $
0 2258 1983; Soi 20, Th Sukhumvit; mains 50-100B; 9am-8pm,