Tell them 'mai phet' (not spicy) upfront. 'Phet nit noi' means a little. 'Phet mak' = very spicy. Servers will give you tourist-level spice if you say nothing.

🍜Shared dishes, Thai-style

Thai meals are family-style. Order 2–3 dishes for 2 people with rice. Don't order individual dishes expecting a full plate.

💳Cash vs card

Street food and local spots: cash only. Malls and hotels: card OK. 1,000 baht bills not always broken at street stalls — carry 20–100 baht notes.

🕐Peak hours

Bangkok lunch rush is 12–1:30pm, dinner 6:30–8pm. Arrive 15 min before for top spots. Most good street food closes by 9pm.

🪑No reservations (mostly)

Most local places don't take reservations. High-end spots do — book through their website or Line app. Walk-in wait at popular spots is 15–30 min.

🐾Street dogs at stalls

Normal to see dogs near street stalls. They're generally harmless and fed by vendors. Don't worry — the food prep area stays clean.

Find Bangkok restaurants by Trust Score →

🍺 Bangkok drinks guide — beer, craft & spirits

🐘

Chang Beer

Lager · ABV 5%

฿55–65 (7-Eleven) / ฿100–160 (bar)

Light, crisp, slightly sweet. Best cold on ice.

Thailand's best-selling beer. Logo is twin elephants.

💡 Chang means 'elephant.' Classic ฿65 convenience store cold Chang = Thai experience.

🦁

Singha

Lager · ABV 5%

฿60–70 (store) / ฿110–180 (bar)

Slightly hoppier and more bitter than Chang. More refined.

Older brand, more upscale positioning. Lion logo.

💡 Better with Thai spicy food — the bitterness cuts through chili heat.

🐆

Leo Beer

Lager · ABV 5%

฿45–55 (store) / ฿90–130 (bar)

Budget-friendly. Lighter than Chang/Singha.

Cheapest of the big three. Leopard logo.

💡 Best value if budget is tight. Most bars stock all three — ask for 'Leo' (local pronunciation: 'Lay-oh').

🍺

Craft Beer Scene

Craft ales, IPAs, stouts · ABV 4–8%

฿180–350/pint

Growing scene. Now rivaling Singapore. IPAs popular.

Notable: Sandport, BrewDog Bangkok, Mikkeller Bangkok, Chatuchak Weekend Brewing

💡 Tap Room Silom (Silom Soi 8) has 20+ taps. Best craft bar: Mikkeller Bangkok (Ekkamai). Thai craft brewery Chitbeer has great Thai-inspired flavors.

🥃

Mekhong Whiskey

Thai cane spirit (technically rice whiskey) · ABV 35%

฿180 (750ml bottle at 7-Eleven)

Herbal, slightly sweet. Mixes well with soda + lime. 'Mekong bucket' is Thai party staple.

Thailand's national spirit since 1941. Soda + lime + ice = standard serve.

💡 Buckets on Khao San Road: Mekhong + soda + Red Bull + ice ≈ ฿120. Pre-mix at 7-Eleven for budget travel.

🌅

What's good right now

Early morning — cafés & breakfast spots open

Morning cafés →Yoga classes →

ℹ️How we rank places▾

Every place is scored on a Trust Score (0–100) based on review volume, rating consistency, recency, and reviewer credibility — not just star average.

90–100 — Elite: Consistently outstanding across hundreds of reviews

75–89 — Trusted: Strong track record, minor inconsistencies

60–74 — Solid: Good overall, worth trying

Below 60 — Caution: Limited data or mixed signals

Full methodology →

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