I often hear people say that Thai food is one of the best cuisines in the world and with the handful of recognitions given by the highly selective and prestigious Michelin Guide to some of Bangkok’s restaurants, it is safe to say that the city is not just a travel destination but a gastronomic must-stop too.
But contrary to the expensive fine dining stereotype that the guide has established in its earlier years, Michelin-approved restaurants in the city are not only limited to formal dining but also include affordable roadside eateries and street food, making up the category, Bib Gourmand, which rates dining spots for its affordability and food quality.
Hence, as a naturally curious person drawn to affirming and rejecting societal standards, I made sure to try a few of these acclaimed restaurants and find out myself if their food offerings are worth Michelin Guide’s hype.
DISCLAIMER: This post hasn’t been updated in a while. For the latest price updates, I highly encourage to check each restaurant.
Check out this handy Bangkok travel guide for must-see tourist spots in the city and tips for first-time visitors!
Thipsamai
- Main branch: 313-315 Maha Chai Rd, Khwaeng Samran RatKhet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
- Operating hours: 9:00AM-12:00AM, daily except Tuesdays
- Other locations: Putamonthon Sai 4, King Power Complex, ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, Siam Royal International
One of the few places I was very excited to try on our trip and the first Bib Gourmand restaurant we visited, Thipsamai received its Michelin recognition in 2017 and ever since has become a stop for foodies traveling through Bangkok.
Similar to a few restaurants found in this list, Thipsamai has several branches in the city including one in Siam Paragon where we first had a taste of their famous and signature Pad Thai with River Prawns Wrapped in Omelet (THB169). But if you want to experience the actual place where Michelin inspectors first visited the eatery, you can also queue up in line to visit their Pratoopee store along Maha Chai Road. But, word of advice, the place is a tourist magnet and waiting for your turn to get a seat may take time.
Probably because of my sweet palate, I really liked the sweetness that dominated in the place’s pad thai followed by the defining spiciness of the dish and then the perfect mix of different bursts of flavors coming from its herbs. The egg covering the noodles provides a familiar taste while its rice noodles have a smooth texture brought by the shrimp oil accompanying it. The prawns that came along with it were like cherries at the top of a cake, finishing the serving with a seafood taste.
Although there were a few moments when I felt umay (feeling of getting more than enough) as we call it in Tagalog while delving into the serving, the complimentary salad provided a fresh taste making one reach back again to this traditional Thai street food.
Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu
- Main branch: 115/5 Dinso Road, Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
- Operating hours: 10:00AM-12:00AM, daily
- Other locations: 430 2 Soi Siam Square 10 Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Another contender vying for the best pad thai in town, industry-renowned Thai chef Andy Yang brings his culinary expertise to the common man with the inclusion of Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu in the city’s list of restaurants with Bib Gourmand.
With his Dinsor Road branch first earning the attention of Michelin inspectors in 2019, the place has become known for its take on the traditional pad thai highlighting crispy Berkshire pork slices as toppings to this savory Thai dish paired with skillful wok-cooking. Aside from its Rattanakosin location, the restaurant also has a store in Siam Square where we tried their Pad Thai Kode Kaak Moo (THB160).
Contrary to Thipsamai’s dominantly sweet take, Pad Thai Fa Ta Lu offers a savory and salty approach to the traditional Thai street food which is evident in the dark sauce that oozes out of the dish. The crispy pork and tofu slices, beansprouts and crushed peanuts that come with the serving surprisingly match well with the flavorful taste and texture of the food. Although, interestingly, their pad thai lacks that distinct spiciness which I didn’t notice during my experience.
Personally, I think the place’s take on pad thai is good and delectable but, as a person with a sweet tooth, I prefer Thipsamai’s over this one.
Kor Panich
- Address: 431-433 Tanao Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
- Operating hours: 7:00AM-6:00PM, daily
One wrong look and you might miss the humble store of Kor Panich and their Michelin-approved mango sticky rice located along Tanao Road near The Grand Palace area.
This fuss-free dessert shop has been serving patrons since 1932 and has passed on the family’s signature recipe from one generation to another retaining its food quality and eventually earning the nods of Michelin inspectors in 2019. However, despite this recognition and, eventually, popularity among foodies and tourists, the shophouse has kept its simplicity with only one counter to take in orders and a small number of plastic stools lined up along its storefront catering to dining customers.
Honestly, I was initially hesitant to try Kor Panich as their store is located far from our destinations in our itinerary and I perceived their must-try dish as too expensive for a dessert. But I was so glad too that I didn’t listen to the inner voice inside my head as their serving of Mango Sticky Rice (THB125) certainly did not disappoint when I tried it.
Firstly, the place’s serving of mango is indeed sweet (though not as sweet as Philippine ones) which matched nicely when paired with the texture and taste of its complementing soft and chewy sticky rice sweetened by the coconut milk topping it. The hot temperature of the sweet rice is an indicator too that the dessert is prepared and served fresh from the kitchen daily. The serving also comes with a small packet of crunchy roasted beans which certainly elevated the dessert’s texture and taste but, at the same time, downgraded my experience due to its non-environment-friendly use of plastic. But overall, Kor Panich deserves recognition for having the best mango sticky rice in Bangkok.
Polo Fried Chicken (Soi Polo)
- Address: 137/1-3 Soi Sanamkhli, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
- Operating hours: 7:00AM-8:30PM, daily except Mondays
Another family-owned eatery that made it to the cut of Bangkok’s Bib Gourmand restaurants is Polo Fried Chicken located in the neighborhood of Lumphini. Similar to the previous Kor Panich, this dining spot has been serving Thais for over 50 years now by three generations and has first garnered its prestigious Michelin recognition in 2019. The main star of the place is their golden-brown Deep-Fried Chicken (THB130/half; THB260/whole) which both locals and foreigners flock to in the place.
The fact that the dining spot serves a very common fare to customers made me both curious and skeptical about trying this place—I mean, what makes a fried chicken special among others? But as it turns out, Polo Fried Chicken has its take that made me realize the reason why it stands out among the rest.
The experience starts from the moment the chicken is served in front of you. The aroma of that familiar smell of fried chicken lingers in your nostrils making you want to dive into the food and taste it in your tongue. Once you grab your spoon and fork to cut through the meat, its golden-brown skin makes a crispy sound which is further amplified by the crackling of fried garlic that tops the dish. And when you finally cut a portion of the chicken and put it in your mouth, your taste buds are treated with a flavorful crunchy chicken skin with a balanced saltiness and soft and tender meat that is easy to chew. In other words, it’s delicious that you can either eat it as is or dip it into the sweet and spicy or spicy sauces that are available in the place.
The fuss-free ambiance and serving of the dish is also a thumbs up for me as it gives an authentic homey vibe that makes you feel as if you’re one of the locals.
Jeh o
- 113 Soi Charat Muang, Rong Muang, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
- Operating hours: 4:30PM-12:00AM, daily
If there is one dish that distinctly identifies Thai food, it would be Tom Yum and its signature mix of spicy and sour taste. And if you’re looking for the place to get the best one in town, head on to Jeh O for a Michelin-approved dining experience.
A family-run eatery that has been serving Bangkokians for more than 50 years now, Jeh O first earned its Bib Gourmand award in 2018 and has become a go-to spot for both locals and foreigners looking for late-night grubs. Contrary to most dining spots on this list, Jeh O opens late in the afternoon and serves patrons until the early morning hours.
The star of the place is their MAMA OHO (starts at THB220) which is only served after 11PM and boasts a large bowl of MAMA tom yum noodles in a creamy orange soup topped with a generous serving of toppings of your choice. But aside from this, Michelin inspectors also recommend trying their fried tofu with crispy garlic, boiled rice with duck and crispy pork.
As much as I would like to describe the taste of their must-try tom yum noodles, we weren’t able to drop by the place since we ran out of slots. But if you don’t want to be like us and are keen to try Jeh O, you can also walk in and queue up in line to experience their dishes.
Jay Fai
- 327 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
- Operating hours: 9:00AM-7:30PM, Wednesday-Saturday
A bonus suggestion since it is not a Bib Gourmand but rather a one-starred restaurant and the only street food stall in Bangkok that has received an award from Michelin Guide is Jay Fai and her famous crab omelette.
Located along Maha Chai Road, Jay Fai which refers to the nickname of its owner and sole chef, Supinya Junsuta, has been operating since the 1980s and has been a local favorite for its wok-cooked street food. Its recognition from Michelin in 2018 further signifies top quality in the grubs served in the place and amplified its patronage with its storefront regularly waking up to a line of hungry customers hoping to get a taste of Jay Fai’s masterpieces.
Must-try dish in the place is their Crab Meat Omelette (THB1400) which is known for its crispy and golden-brown appearance boasting excellent quality crab meat filling and Phad-kee-mao Talay (THB800-THB1000) which is a stir-fried noodle made from a mix of seafood, chilli, basil leaves and coconut palm covered in a hot and spicy sauce.
Like Jeh O, we also weren’t able to try Jay Fai due to the anticipation of long waiting times and too pricey dishes but if you don’t mind these, I highly suggest getting up early to be the first few customers to try the restaurant’s beloved dishes or book this Bangkok city tour with a Jay Fai table reservation included to save more time.
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