TravelpediaonlineBest Affordable Restaurants in Bangkok – Bangkok is home to numerous excellent restaurants in all price ranges. If you are searching for the most affordable restaurants in Bangkok, your best chance is to eat at Thai restaurants. Moreover, in a city with an abundance of delicious street food and even a Thai restaurant with a Michelin star, it would be a mistake to not take advantage of Bangkok’s nice affordable restaurants.
This post only suggests affordable restaurants with a reputation for serving good Thai cuisine in Bangkok. The majority of the dishes on the menus of these restaurants do not surpass what you can afford. In addition, we strive to propose unique restaurants rather than the typical ones recommended by many.
We cannot disregard the reality that there are some great restaurants that are also reasonably priced. Bangkok is renowned for its amazing cuisine selections, both in terms of flavor and affordability. While many Thais will tell tourists that the cheapest food can be found at specific street sellers, there are also numerous inexpensive restaurants with tables, seats, and a bit of air conditioning.
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What are the Best Affordable Restaurants in Bangkok?
Bangkok cuisine is typically a goldmine, but how can one locate the best affordable restaurants in Bangkok? The best affordable restaurants in Bangkok are both accessible and elusive. In Bangkok, inexpensive cuisine is abundant, but of diverse quality. How can you navigate through the tens of thousands of inexpensive dining establishments to locate the hidden gems?
In reality, the best restaurants in Bangkok are very dependent on your definition. In a food-obsessed city, there are restaurants for every price and taste, but the ideal places to eat require some searching. In Bangkok, dining out is a national sport. Many home kitchens lack ovens and stovetops, while some apartments lack kitchens entirely. Given how easy it is to find cheap food in Bangkok, eating out is frequently cheaper than cooking at home.
Bangkok’s affordable eateries are on every corner of every street, whereas the city’s finest restaurants need a bit more exploring. Bangkok is one of the best places in the world for foodies on a budget. From the greatest Pad Thai in the city to an entire food stalls devoted to vegetarian Thai cuisine, here are our picks for the 20 most affordable restaurants in Bangkok:
1. Bamee Kon Sae Lee
When it comes to affordable restaurants in Bangkok, noodle shops are always a safe pick, as bowls of noodles, with or without broth, are always inexpensive. However, there is a significant difference between an ordinary noodle shop and a renowned shop like Bamee Kon Sae Lee.
Like many of the restaurants described in this article, Bamee Kon Sae Lee is a multi-decade-old family enterprise. Over the years, the recipes have been refined, and now people may enjoy deliciously flavored noodles at an affordable price.
What makes Bamee Kon Sae Lee’s noodles so delicious? This restaurant has perfected both crispy pork and roasted pig and duck. These three ingredients serve as the foundation for many of its recipes. Crispy pork and roasted duck are available as separate dishes, but a typical bowl including one or more of these components is sufficient for many adults.
2. Polo Fried Chicken
Super-crispy fried chicken with delicious meat, topped with fried garlic for umami enrichment. It sounds awesome, right? Polo Fried Chicken is a Bangkok classic when it comes to deep-fried chicken, and has been delivering perhaps the city’s greatest version for decades. The renowned chicken is available in two sizes, either half or whole.
The greasiness and crispiness go perfectly with one of the Thai salads, a combination that the majority of the restaurant’s customers will order. Polo Fried Chicken is the perfect example of a restaurant that has concentrated on one thing, mastered it over the years, and developed a significant customer base in the process. This is indeed one of the best affordable restaurants in Bangkok.
3. Hann Khao Soi Lovers
Hann Khao Soi Lovers, which began as a street vendor near BTS Ari, is one of the many alternatives when it comes to proper Khao Soi in Bangkok. Currently, their specialty as well as other classic Northern Thai curries are offered from an air-conditioned restaurant.
The fact that they did not increase their prices is a plus. The restaurant is located in Ari, where there is a university and other commercial establishments. These students and employees all dine at surrounding restaurants during lunchtime. Hann Khao Soi Lovers is a popular restaurant among locals.
4. Klang Soi
Thai parents and grandparents frequently dine at Klang Soi restaurants. The restaurant is set in an older structure, is beautifully designed, and serves food that is far more unique than that of a typical neighborhood restaurant. Expect families to be well-dressed and spending precious time together over great Thai cuisine on the weekends.
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5. Elefin
This restaurant’s proximity to The Grand Palace and Wat Pho makes it a popular tourist spot. But Elefin is far from a tourist restaurant , as the flavors are authentic, including the spiciness that is characteristic of Thai cuisine. Elefin is able to serve Thai cuisine that passes Western hygienic standards, which is one of the restaurant’s greatest strengths. It is one of the most popular restaurants in this area due to the generous portion sizes and use of high-quality ingredients, all for a reasonable price.
6. Khao Gaeng Jake Puey
For many, dining in the heart of Chinatown’s streets is the ultimate street food experience in Bangkok, and Chinatown is home to a number of street food vendors. Khao Gaeng Jake Puey is the most well-known. At three o’clock in the afternoon, a table and several plastic chairs are set on the pedestrian walkway. On that table are several large pans with various sorts of curry, and from that moment on, residents are lining up to receive a plate of this delectable curry and consume it while seated on one of the plastic chairs.
7. Areesaa Lote Dee
This small restaurant is situated close to Khao San Road, and if you hadn’t heard or read about it, you could easily miss it. You must traverse a narrow alley to reach the seating area where daily, a large number of Thai dine on inexpensive meals. This is one of the best affordable restaurants in Bangkok and due to the restaurant’s popularity, meals are frequently sold out by late afternoon, therefore we recommend arriving early.
8. Pad Thai Thip Samai
Pad Thai Thip Samai is the most popular and well-known Pad Thai restaurant in the city. This is the restaurant that was promoted by the Thai prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram in the 1930s, who stated that the Pad Thai served here is real and invited his international guests here. Pad Thai was designated as Thailand’s “National Dish” because of a rice shortage in the 1930s and a government push to promote Thai nationalism.
Even now, the majority of first-time visitors believe that Thais mostly eat Pad Thai, but it is significantly less popular than one might expect. Nevertheless, dining in one of Thailand’s most popular restaurants is a unique experience. Today, the restaurant has multiple locations, including one in the premium ICONSIAM shopping mall. For an authentic experience, visit the Maha Chai Road branch.
9. Phed Mark
Pad Kra Pao, or as it is known to tourists: Stir-Fry with Holy Basil, is one of the most popular Thai meals among both Thais and tourists, especially expats. Pad Kra Pao is the Thai equivalent of the hamburger since it is ready in minutes and has a garlicky, spicy flavor; it is a dish that every Thai craves at any time of day.
Mark Wiens, a food writer and YouTube star, is an expert on Pad Kra Pao, as you may have observed when watching his immensely successful YouTube show. And in 2019, he launched a little restaurant adjacent to the BTS Ekkemai station where his team served just Pad Kra Pao.
10. 55 Pochana
This restaurant’s decades-long success can be attributed to its limited, yet intriguing menu of distinct dishes. Don’t miss the Duck Pad Krapow, which consists of tender bits of meat fried in garlic and chili and topped with a heap of fried holy basil leaves.
Cowslip Creeper Flowers with Egg and Noodles and Fried Beef with Black Pepper served in a thick sauce are further hallmark dishes. Even if you’ve just returned from a late-night party, you can still have some delicious Thai-Chinese dishes at this restaurant, which is one of its distinguishing characteristics and this makes it one of the best affordable restaurants in Bangkok.
11. Ong Tong Khao Soi
Ong Ton Khao Soi is another affordable restaurant in Bangkok recommended in this article that is well-known for its Khao Soi, as its name suggests. However, there are some unusual, reasonably priced delicacies to sample that are not readily available elsewhere. This delicacy is made from field crabs gathered in the countryside.
12. Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu
Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu offers real Tom Yum soup. This so-called restaurant serves the finest street food. This restaurant on Khao San Road resembles an impromptu, open-air diner. However, you do not visit this location expecting something special. Although the prices on the menu are not necessarily in line with what you would expect to pay for Thai street food, you should be aware that the meals are loaded with huge prawns and other seafood.
13. Somtum Der
You may have believed that Pad Thai is the most popular Thai food, but in actuality, dishes such as Som Tum (papaya salad) are significantly more popular and consumed almost everyday. Papaya salad originates from Laos and Isaan (Northeast Thai region) and is available in numerous variants. Som Tam Thai and Som Tam Pla Ra are the most prevalent variants, however there are many others.
Keep in mind that Som Tam Pla Ra is made with fermented fish, which has a strong flavor that is not always compatible with Western palates. But when it comes to papaya salad, Somtum Der is one of the best locations to go, despite the fact that this salad is available at every Thai restaurant. Somtum Der is recognized in the Michelin Guide and serves high-quality salads that mix perfectly with a variety of meat selections.
14. Pe Aor
The other restaurant described in this article that specializes in Tom Yum soups is Pe Aor, and as stated, the soup is less spicy. After gaining popularity among tourists, the owner of this restaurant was compelled to alter the dish’s recipe since the diners couldn’t tolerate the level of spiciness. The soup is nonetheless spicy by Western standards.
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15. Ginger Farm Kitchen
After its success in Chiang Mai, Ginger Farm Kitchen expanded to Bangkok with multiple locations. This restaurant’s concept is simple and easy, but it’s impressive how well it’s executed: produce your own vegetables and prepare traditional yet inventive Northern Thai dishes. Consequently, you can taste super-delicious, organic cuisine from Northern Thailand.
16. Inter
Inter is a very popular restaurant located near the Siam BTS station. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it offers a vast selection of affordable Thai cuisine in an area where Thai restaurants tend to be somewhat costly. Consequently, this two-story restaurant is frequently full during peak hours with Thai and foreign diners. Despite the large menu, there are a few items that stand out and are frequently ordered by regulars, making it one of the best affordable restaurants in Bangkok that you should try out.
17. Lao Garden
Lao Garden is a nice restaurant in On Nut that specializes in Laotian and Isaan cuisine, which can be quite spicy. Built above a canal and surrounded by vegetation, the restaurant resembles an open-air establishment. This almost gives the impression that you are not in the bustling city of Bangkok. Aside from the meals, Lao Garden is a popular spot for drinking beer with friends.
18. Buay Pochana
Attention, duck-lovers! There is a restaurant in Thonglor that specializes in duck meals of various kinds. The duck at Buay Pochana is much greasier because Thais prefer it this way. Roasted duck is often crisp and nearly lean because the fat is totally cooked out. The Duck Wonton comes with a sweet broth and is another delicious dish.
19. Hia Wan Khao Tom Pla
Hia Wan Khao Tom Pla is a renowned restaurant in Sathorn that specializes in Khao Tom Pla, a fish-flavored rice soup. The highlight of the menu is the Boiled Rice Soup with Red Grouper, which is the restaurant’s signature dish. Another noteworthy dish is the Mung Bean Noodles Baked with Prawns.
These garlicky noodles are paired with huge prawns and a seafood sauce that is suitably peppery for dipping. We believe that Hia Wan Khao Tom Pla deserves a lot more reputation, but perhaps since it is a bit away from tourist places, it does not draw as many foreign visitors.
20. Baan Ice
Baan Ice is a prominent Southern Thai establishment with multiple locations in the city. Although some of the recommended foods may be on the pricier side, there are plenty inexpensive options available. Due to the spicy reputation of Southern Thai food, almost half of the items served here are quite spicy.
The menu at Baan Ice is extensive, but each dish is well-described and accompanied by an authentic picture, which makes deciding much simpler. We recommend Baan Ice’s Dark Pork Knuckle, Pork with Shrimp Paste, and Crispy Pork with Red Curry Paste.
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Final Thoughts
Bangkok has so many restaurants that you may feel overwhelmed by your options. In a city with tens of thousands of Thai restaurants, it might be tough to find the best ones because so many of them are hit or miss. Locals and tourists alike recognize these restaurants as being among the best in Bangkok. If there is one thing Thailand is known for, it is its amazing food as well as the best affordable restaurants in Bangkok.
Bangkok’s culinary prowess must definitely rate among the world’s most delightful, and although a fine dining scene has cropped up in the last decade to appeal to more affluent tourists, there is still plenty to thrill those on a budget. If you haven’t tried fine dining in Bangkok, you should do so immediately. Bangkok is not only renowned for its street food, but it is also home to some of the world’s best restaurants, so those who have been there will completely understand.
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