HK Noodle (short for Hong Kong Noodle) has established itself for several things. If you want something that is cheap enough, fast enough, tasty enough, convenient, and satisfying on just about every count, then it is worth a stopover. This popular noodle and dim sum joint, in a colored cartoon building opposite the main railway station is a great place to pop in before a long train ride. The noodles, thick, thin, egg, or in many other styles, are all good, either served with broth or dry. Order one of these and you won't quite be filled up, which is fine, as there are many choices of dim sum snacks to try out, best of which are the har gau shrimp dumplings. The menu has many other selections as well, along with drinks such as chrysanthemum or roselle juice, both of which are extremely thirst quenching on a hot day.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: For quick, tasty, and cheap noodles and dim sum, HK Noodle is a good choice.
Dave's expert tip: Take exit 3 out of the MRT Hualamphong Subway station to get here.
With a name like this and a long bar full of bottles being the first thing you see when you walk in, you'd think this would be Bangkok's latest groove bar, which it is, only it's also a lot more. Set to resemble a New York loft a la Bangkok, Party House One, housed in the chic Siam@Siam Design Hotel, combines music (different bands and styles every night), art (projected onto the walls), and food, which might be the best part of it all, as the restaurant features a superb international buffet, offered both at lunch and dinner, with a fabulous array of cold cuts, hot dishes, sushi, and much more. In addition to the buffet there are also a la carte choices, ranging from the great Australian beef carpaccio to the bruschetta of buffalo mozzarella sandwiches, or even making your own pasta creation. There's definitely a party to be had here.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: for a great buffet to go along with music and drinks, you can't top Party House One
Dave's expert tip: The lunch buffet is great value and preferable for those who want a quiet meal, as there is music and the happening bar at night.
MK Restaurant has branches all over Bangkok, and this one in the MBK Maboonkrong Mall is just as up to standard as all the rest. While franchise and chain restaurants in Bangkok usually cannot come close to what is out on the street and independent, MK remains very popular with locals and is always a good choice if you're hungry and don't know where to go. The top seller here is the sukiyaki hot pots that most groups can be seen digging into, however those in the know go for the truly outstanding roast duck and roast pork dishes that come with several types of gravy and sauce, and really are mouthwatering. The dim sum items are also extremely good, especially the har gau shrimp dumplings. MK restaurants are squeaky clean, the service is prompt and cheerful, and the prices fair as well, so there really isn't much more one could ask for.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: For great roast duck, dim sum, and cheap prices, MK is always a good bet.
Dave's expert tip: Best to get here via the BTS skytrain National Stadium station, and use the skywalk entrance into MBK, next to Tokyo Department Store.
Niche is Siam Kempinski Hotel's latest gourmet food lovers offering. The homey cafe was designed by interior design company Leo Inter and has a very laid back inviting feel, with an open kitchen and both indoor seating and some comfy outdoor booths to snuggle into. The food here ranges from gourmet burgers to pizzas whipped up from scratch. There is a comprehensive sandwich station and all of the preparations here are made with high end ingredients and plenty of care. While the food is top notch, the prices high, and the Siam Kempinski one of Bangkok's most elegant hotels, the vibe in Niche is very relaxed and easy going, a place for casual wear and chilling out with friends or a good book. In addition to the a la carte lunch and dinners, Niche also is the place for buffet breakfasts for both hotel guests and visitors.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: for gourmet sandwiches in a chilled out environment, Niche is the place to go in this part of town.
Dave's expert tip: To get here most easily, take the BTS skytrain to the Siam station and then walk through the Siam Paragon Mall to the back, where there is an entrance straight into the Siam Kempinski Hotel.
Where else can you eat Thai and international food surrounding by the most expensive real estate in the city and pay less than 100 baht? This gem in the basement of the Siam Paragon Mall is packed at all hours and deservedly so. After shopping in the gorgeous neighboring Gourmet Market, most folks are hungry, and this food court offers dozens of different stalls serving up every Thai dish under the sun, as well as tons of other dishes enough to satisfy every palate. Things are run like any Thai food court here, on a coupon system. You go to a central cashier, buy whatever amount of coupons you like, and then go hop from counter to counter looking for whatever you like. Whatever you don't spend you can get back from the coupon counter at the end of your meal. From noodles to baked goods to curries to Japanese, you can find just about anything here, at just slightly higher than street vendor prices, and the people watching and air conditioning make it one of the better deals in town.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: For great selection and cheap prices, the Siam Paragon food court is a sure bet.
Dave's expert tip: lunchtime, between 12-1 can get particularly crazy in here, as all the employees come to eat, so try to time your visit around this hour. The Siam BTS Skytrain station gives direct access into Siam Paragon.
While Isaan restaurants serving spicy northeastern Thai cuisine are a dime a dozen in Bangkok, there aren't that many good ones to be found around the National Stadium and Siam area. One notable exception is Som Tam Nua, a place that has gained a bit of a cult like status due to their tasty food, hordes of students and youngsters who line up to sample their inexpensive dishes, and because they have a menu that has dozens of different types of som tam (papaya salad) to opt for. While those who tend to not venture into fermented fish paste territory stick with the som tam Thai, there are many possibilities to choose from. The fried chicken here is excellent, as is the larb moo pork salad. Get a couple of baskets of sticky rice that traditionally are served with this type of food, and join the crowds.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: for the best selection of som tam in the area, Som Tam Nua is the winner.
Dave's expert tip: To get here take the BTS Skytrain to Siam, and walk down Soi 5 where you will surely find a line of hungry diners waiting.
While the food doesn't quite rank with a lot of other upscale Bangkok restaurants, the view here is well worth a visit, or at least come for a glass of wine or mixologist cocktail. The Roof Gastro is located on top of the Siam@Siam Hotel, outside on the roof, and there are superb views of the city and lights all around. The menu is international, plenty of pasta and meat and seafood items to choose from, and the gastro restaurant's big draw is its volcanic stones cooking setup, whereby the dishes are cooked on stone grills that can retain heat for 20 minutes, allowing diners to cook at their tables as well. There is also a Champagne and Wine Bar located up here, affording the great view without having to fork out for the rather overpriced dinner options.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: For rooftop view dinners around National Stadium, The Roof Gastro is a top choice.
Dave's expert tip: Take the skytrain to National Stadium and walk over to Siam@Siam hotel, and take the lift up to the roof.
When one reviews Japanese restaurants in Bangkok serving the freshest cuts of fish from the Tsukiji Tokyo fish market flown in three times a week, the establishments are almost guaranteed to be in Thong Lor, which has become a bastion of Japan expats. However, YTSB bucks the trend and is a most welcome addition to this part of town; in fact you won't find too many people putting high end sushi and the National Stadium/Ratchathewi area in the same breath. YTSB is chic and elegant, appropriately located in the boutique VIE Hotel. The interior of the restaurant is contemporary Japanese, with plenty of fresh wood, orange lighting, and sake barrels and Japanese art fabrics hung on the walls. There is also an outdoor section, complete with loungers to relax on and take in the city lights. Decor aside, the reason everyone is here is for the superb fresh fish, most notably the otoro fatty tuna sashimi, which practically melts in your mouth. There are a variety of sushi and sashimi platters to choose from including some interesting creations like blue fin tuna and caviar or yellow tail with jalapeño, and plenty of other selections like wood grilled black cod. The menu is extensive, there is plenty of top notch sake to accompany it, and you better have plenty of room on your credit card to foot the bill.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: for the most outstanding sashimi outside of Thong Lor, YTSB is not to be missed.
Dave's expert tip: Take the BTS Skytrain to the Ratchathewi station to get here; you will find the VIE just outside on the southeast exit.
The classic European brasserie in the elegant Siam Kempinski Hotel serves one of Bangkok's most noted breakfast buffets and then continues with lunch and dinner. The decor here is fine European, with polished marble floors and velvet armchairs highlighting the spacious dining room, but the main reason to come here is to partake in the fabulous food. The finest ingredients are used here for all meals and especially the seafood is some of the best you'll encounter at a Bangkok buffet spread. There are also high end cold cuts, a great salad bar, and the dessert table is laden with cakes, ice cream, candies, and a knockout chocolate fountain. While the buffet is the main reason to come here along with it being the best value, don't hesitate to try some a la carte offerings as well.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: for outstanding buffet, Brasserie Europa's is the best you will find in these parts.
Dave's expert tip: Sunday brunch here is great value, and visitors can even use the swimming pool, making it easy to spend the afternoon here.
It might be more like going to a magic show than a restaurant when you see what comes out of the kitchen at Sra Bua. Modeled on the award winning Kiin Kiin restaurant in Denmark, run by chef Henrik Yde-Andersen and Lertchai Treetawatchaiwong, a Thai engineer-cum- gastronomist, Sra Bua sets out to overwhelm its patrons with dishes of amazing taste, texture, and presentation. The tasting menus here are the way to go, offering a gastronomic road trip through all the best of Thai cuisine. The dishes don't look anything like what you are used to in Thai restaurants, yet all the flavors have been preserved and enhanced to the utmost. The tom yum soup is served as a broth with prawn noodles accompanied by a bowl of the ingredients like galangal and lemongrass which have been made into cold foams and powders. Mix the two together and you get one of the most amazing renditions of the dish you will ever experience. Another signature dish is frozen red curry with lobster, in which the red curry has been made into frozen ice cream and is served topped with lychee foam and comes on a plate that is smoked with liquid nitrogen. Mango and sticky rice for dessert comes disguised as a cotton candy ball, which explodes when syrup is poured over it, revealing the mango inside. Food presentation and taste doesn't get better than this, and Sra Bua is truly a Bangkok experience not to be missed.
Recommended for Restaurants near National Stadium because: For bizarre, amazing, and knockout cuisine, molecular Sra Bua dazzles.
Dave's expert tip: reservations are essential and dinner is not cheap, running 2700 baht for a tasting menu. Get here by taking the BTS Skytrain to Siam, then walking through the Siam Paragon Mall following the signs for the Siam Kempinski.