East Bound

Probably Bangkok’s coolest Vietnamese restaurant, this counter at The Commons comes covered in skateboarding and crust-punk stickers. Its main claim to fame is the banh mi sandwiches, which take a creative New American direction. Instead of baguettes stuffed with the usual cold cuts, the focus is on warm, stir-fried fillings like juicy, Sriracha-slathered duck—a decadent treat. Round out your meal with on-point summer rolls or a noodle bowl. Bonus: vegetarian options aplenty.

G/F, The Commons, 335/1 Thonglor Soi 17. Open daily 11am-10pm

Available to order on Food Panda

Hanoi House  

This Vietnamese spot shines a light on traditional, simple and wholesome staples—no mashup fusion flavors here. The eight-hour-stewed beef pho is light and fragrant, while the nam nueng (large marinated grilled pork dumplings) taste just right: sweet, salty and juicy, but not dripping with fat. For your carb fix, a plate of Vietnamese fried rice is a must: warm, rich and comforting, with a depth of flavor that hints at curry powder, and a generous topping of shredded pork.

Mahatun Plaza, 888/30-31 Phloen Chit Rd., 095-963-5745. Open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm

Happy Endings  

This funky Vietnamese-themed bar offers straightup takes on banh mi and banh cuon to go with other Thai-leaning dishes. The satisfying beef pho comes with generous slices of beef and a full supporting cast of fresh greens. What’s more, the herb-laden, Asian-inspired drinks (sample names: 100 Dong, The Pink Slip) arguably upstage the food.

1/5 Sala Daeng Soi 1, 080-961-4524. Open Mon-Sat 11am-3pm, 5-11pm; Sun noon-3pm, 5-11pm

Exclusively for Citi credit card members: Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only (excluding set lunch) 01 Aug ‘19 - 31 Jul ‘20

Muine 

This cool and contemporary cafe highlights Vietnamese street food. The various styles of banh mi span classic cold cuts (liver pate, Vietnamese pork sausage and Chinese pork sausage) and charcoal-grilled pork shoulder blade to newer creations like crispy omelet with Sriracha dressing and Oyster Po’ Boy. The crisp-yet-fluffy bread is a step above most of the competition, though flavors are a bit on the sweet side. They also serve other staples like pho, spring rolls and grilled pork with vermicelli alongside rarer items like Vietnamese curry. Don’t miss their Vietnamese-style drip coffee, either.

2/F, Habito, Sukhumvit Soi 77, 092-959-4629. Open daily 11am-9:30pm

Le Dalat 

The centuries-old, restored teak house surrounded by verdant greenery provides a setting unrivaled by other Vietnamese restaurants. Seat yourself in the antique-laden dining room and settle in for faithful renditions of royal Vietnamese recipes. Le Dalat’s classic chao tom, banh cuon and pho can now also be enjoyed at some of the city’s top malls, too.

57 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-259-9593. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-10pm. Other branches: Emporium, EmQuartier. 

Saigon Recipe

Decorated with a beautiful collection of vividly colored Hoi An lanterns, communist propaganda posters and wooden cabinets, this restaurant is more than just a pretty picture. The menu covers classic dishes from the southern and central parts of the country, like the must-try fried shrimp spring rolls and silky banh cuon (steamed rice crepes stuffed with tasty ground pork, minced shrimp and wood ear mushrooms).

Piman 49 Complex, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-662-6311. Open Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 5-10pm; Sat-Sun 11am-9:30pm 

Vietnamese & More  

This hidden favorite serves incredible banh mi sandwiches with succulent xui mai meatballs in tomato sauce. The pho symbolizes all that’s good about the place, with its rich and hearty broth evidence of lengthy hours simmering.

Rompo Mansion, 99/9-11 Thang Rotfai Khao-Saipaknam Rd., 089-890-4890. Open Tue-Sun 11am-2pm, 5-9:30pm

Available to order on Food Panda

Exclusively for Citi credit card members: Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary deep fried banana valued THB 65 when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 10 Jul ‘19 - 30 Jun ‘20

Tonkin Annam

This reinvigorated shop-house in Tha Tien takes a deep-dive into Vietnamese cuisine, serving up lesser-known, region-specific dishes you won’t often find in Bangkok. The two stories are a modern take on shabby chic: faux peeling walls and unassuming artwork that add up to a low-key yet stylish ambience. Highlights include the bun bo Hue, a noodle soup made to a family recipe that’s richer and heavier than pho, or the banh cuon, silky rice crepes stuffed with ground pork and plentiful chives.

69 Maharaj Rd., 093-469-2969. Open Wed-Mon 11am-10pm 

Put on your stretchy pants, forget about the macros and tuck in to BK Best Eats 2019. This is the Bangkok dining that ignores fancy restaurants and 10-course tasting menus and goes straight for the comfort food—steaming bowls of fat-rich ramen, triple-decker burgers, all-you-can-eat dim sum buffets with an extra helping of pork buns. In other words, the stuff most of us eat out, most of the time.

Download your PDF copy of the guide here.