Southern Thai cuisine can sometimes be tricky to find in Bangkok. But the unique style distinguished by international influences and maritime status makes this a favorite of fine diners and casual foodies alike.

 

This top 10 includes picks from BK's Top Tables at Anantara Siam Bangkok earlier this year, sponsored by UOB, supported by alcohol partners Gulp, Campari, and TAP. With southern Thai you'll find some of the best restaurants in town as well as some newly opened gems. View the full Top Tables 2023 list here. 

 

Ranked No.3 in BK’s Top Tables 2023, Sorn is no stranger to high praise. Fresh off retaining their two Michelin stars earlier this month, this spot remains one of the hardest venues to book in Bangkok. Its Southern Thai cuisine is done in a way no one else can. The 20-course menu takes regional favorites to new heights without sacrificing the heat and homey feel of old-school comfort food. 

 

 

 

The southern Thai restaurant that put chef Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri on the map still serves fiery, authentic recipes from the family vault—now at seven branches, no less. Think ultrasavory gaeng tai pla (fish stomach curry), gaeng luang (yellow curry with black-banded trevally) that hits you with waves of heat, and stir-fried sator (stink beans) made with produce fresh from Nakhon Si Thammarat. 

 

 

A mainstay in Bangkok’s southern cuisine restaurant scene, Khua Kling Pak Sod serves up traditional Southern Thai dishes from family recipes. As the name suggests, their khua kling (stir-fried spicy southern dry curry with minced pork) is the star of the show. Other classics such as khanom jean and braised pork belly, sator pad kapi goong (stir fried stinky beans, prawn and shrimp paste), and stir fried melinjo leaves are favored by regulars and visitors alike.

 

 

Propped up in a swanky building in Chinatown, the new Southern Thai restaurant Phukej earned its moniker from an ancient spelling of the province, using a “j” instead of the “t”. Hinting at their old school specialties influenced by Chinese and Malay cuisines, the spot serves up high end street food ranging from grilled Australian wagyu skewers and Hokkaido scallops in charcoal cups to the lychee and rose flavored granita aiyu jelly.

 

 

Sixteen years ago, Jaidee Shrimp established their family style farm-to-table restaurant, sourcing ingredients from the fishermen of Surat Thani. Shrimp-based dishes are all the rage here; khua kling, which is typically prepared with minced pork or chicken, is swapped out for their plump shrimp. Sought after southern Thai classics like tom khlong pla krapong (sweet and sour soup with seabass) and gaeng leung pla krapong (spicy yellow curry with seabass) can be discovered here. 

 

 

Secluded in Phahon Yothin, this fine dining southern restaurant is a little oasis lush with greenery and an emerald pond. Rern is Southern Thai for “home” and their seasonal cuisine reflects the diversity of the region. Its offerings range from go-to breakfast pa tongko (deep fried dough sticks) served with hot tea and special custard, lon poo (rich umami flower crab stew) inspired by Krabi’s emerald pool, and cobia choo-chee (an intense coconut milk base red curry).

 

 

This family-run spot has been around for over a decade. Known for their faithful recipes and fiery dishes, head straight for their freshly made Nakhon Sri Thammarat-style khanom jean (rice noodles) set topped with a choice of coconut milk red curry, fish curry, chili, and fermented fish innards. The simple glass walls and outdoor area makes for a casual dining spot for southern Thai food lovers.

23 Pradit Manutham Rd, 02-578-118, Open daily 10am-9pm
 

Passed down from grandmother to grandson, this third-generation restaurant is rich with history and produce that is mainly sourced from Chumphon. Their curry paste is made in-house and the mackerel is fished from the Gulf of Thailand. Try out the miang pla kraben waan (sliced ray filling served alongside betel leaves) and the tom kati hua maprao (coconut milk soup with prawns).

 

 

Phuket Town rests in an old wooden building, made increasingly atmospheric with Chinese interior design and mural paintings of beaches and cityscapes. A one-stop-shop for all things related to Southern Thai cuisine, especially classic Phuket dishes, this restaurant serves up kai thod kamin (fried chicken with turmeric), moo hong ( braised garlic pork belly hot pot) and khanom bee ko moi, a local dessert made up of black sticky rice, mangoes, ice cream and drenched in coconut milk.