At the top of any Bangkok visitor’s to-do list is one simple task: eat as much as possible! The Thai capital has gained international recognition as one of the world’s best cities for eating, and welcomes millions of hungry tourists each year. While much fanfare is given to legendary eating areas like Chinatown and the many markets that dot the city, one neighborhood, in particular, has seen its foodie stock rise over recent years. We are of course talking about Silom, where affordable restaurants serving up some of the city’s tastiest dishes are making this pocket of the city a food Mecca.
Business travelers in the area can take advantage of some of the top-rated restaurants in Silom that are featured in the Michelin Guide for Bangkok. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites that are only a few minutes away from Triple Two Silom.
Somtum Der
Nestled into Silom’s Sala Daeng sub-neighborhood, Somtum Der serves up mouth-watering Isan dishes at shockingly affordable prices. Isan is the name of Northeastern Thailand, and its cuisine is highlighted by the heavy use of Thai chilies, grilled meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other pungent and flavor-dense spices. Isan food is extremely popular in Bangkok, however, few places pack the same flavor and heat as Somtum Der for the same value.
Somtum Der’s no-frills interior design puts all the focus on the food. Their signature dish, from which they derive their name, is spicy Thai papaya salad, or Som Tum. Traditional Som Tum balances fresh and juicy papaya with a citrus blast of lime and the mild heat of a smattering of Thai chilis. Though true to its name, Somtum Der has over 10 different types of Som Tum on the menu! Adventurous guests can opt to add more chilis to their dishes for a true Isan food experience.
As its popularity and reputation for cooking up top-quality Isan food has grown, so has Somtum Der’s business. In addition to opening a new branch in Thong Lor, Somtum Der now operates overseas branches in New York, Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh City, and more.
Baan Somtum
Boasting over 29 different types of Som Tum, Baan Somtum is lower-Silom’s home for authentic Isan food. The large, family-style seating and settings mimic those of a traditional Isan family meal where plates of grilled meats and fresh salads are artfully arranged amongst bowls of spicy and sour soup.
Baan Somtum’s large menu extends beyond papaya salad to include a range of grilled chicken, beef, and pork, a variety of Larb and Nam Tok dishes, and entire steamed or fried fish. At Baan Somtum, you come for the food but stay for the authentic experience.
San Yod
Since 1962, San Yod has been a staple of Thai-Cantonese cuisine for the Bang Rak neighborhood. What started as a small noodle shop servicing the Cantonese community has now blossomed into a multi-branch favorite for Thais and foreigners alike. Its original branch in Bang Rak is one of the best value noodle restaurants in Silom.
San Yod’s famous marinated roast duck attracts hungry customers from across the city, as do the mounds of fluffy egg noodles and its thick, authentic Cantonese gravy. While San Yod has grown in size and scale, it has never failed to put its food and legendary flavor first.
Somboon Pochana
Also known as Somboon Seafood, this famous seafood restaurant first made a name for itself for its fried crab curry, so much so that the restaurant playfully notes that a meal at Somboon Pochana without the fried crab curry does not count as a true meal at Somboon Pochana.
The original Somboon Pochana restaurant in Silom can serve up to 200 guests at a time, yet there are still queues to get in! Since opening its doors in 1969, it has become a world-renowned seafood restaurant and is often among the first stops for many on a culinary journey through Bangkok. Even with all their success and growth, Somboon Pochana stays true to its roots by being one of the most affordable restaurants in Silom.
