Morning Place

When the chef-owner’s family runs a wholesale seafood business, you can guarantee that her menu will be based on great fish and shellfish dishes, with enough choices to keep everyone happy – and at prices that keep everyone returning. Don’t miss the steamed sea bass with lime, or the stir-fried squid with salted egg. It’s a huge operation with four dining areas, but it’s run with reassuringly calm efficiency. Even with all this space, arrive early on weekends to avoid a long wait.

Four times in a decade, this Thai restaurant changed locations before finally opening on the chef-owner’s land in Nakhon Pathom. Each time, regulars followed along for its flavoursome local dishes, including some, like stir-fried sesbania with shrimp paste, that cannot be found elsewhere. The current digs are in an open-air pavilion on a country lane with tranquil lotus pond views. Try the stir-fried pork loin with jaew sauce and the spicy mackerel soup with madan fruit.

With its blue-framed windows, green façade and bright blue door, this welcoming place instantly makes an impression. Inside, raw cement walls and a wooden ceiling make for an industrial yet relaxing vibe. The food, made using fresh ingredients from the northeast, boasts Isan flavours – the som tam and grilled meats are boldly seasoned and well-executed. Generous portions are ideal for sharing, and spice levels can be tailored to your liking.

Nusara pairs refined cooking with a mesmerising view of Wat Pho, best admired from the softly lit rooftop. Olive-green interiors with gold accents set a quietly elegant tone. The journey begins with welcome bites, before guests descend to the main dining room. Highlights include a stellar Thai Wagyu stir-fry with holy basil and a delicate quartet of regional relishes – each dish telling its own story. One of Bangkok's most intimate Thai dining experiences.

This gem of a place serves fresh seafood with Thai flavours, featuring house-made curry and chilli paste. Order in advance or call to check availability. Try the stir-fried crab with bird's eye chilli or the non-spicy stir-fried squid with curry powder.

This homely spot celebrates seldom-seen Phetchaburi traditions, favouring meat over fish and using prime local produce in time-honoured recipes. The palm-shoot curry, simmered in freshly pressed coconut milk and crowned with smoky grilled pork, whispers sweetness beneath its mellow heat. River prawn, flash-fried and dusted with sea salt, stays springy yet yielding, its coriander-garlic crunch begging for jasmine rice. An honest taste of central Thailand.

This hidden gem, tucked away in a Bangkok alley since 1999, excels in fish ball noodle soup. They offer fresh, umami-rich fish balls, al dente noodles, and a savoury, aromatic broth. Optional toppings like cheese and poached egg, along with large servings and ample condiments, provide great taste and value.