20. Arno's

We said: "The dry-aged beef at this super-cheap price says it all. Would we be willing to make another three-week wait for a table? Probably."

19. Crying Thaiger

We said: "Arguably Bangkok’s best burgers, along with some killer steaks and cocktails, all in a proven party-friendly space—what’s not to love?"

18. Little Bao

We said: "Even in Bangkok, Little Bao is not alone in fetishizing retro Chinese flavors (see Chairman, Bao & Buns, Xiao Chi), but it’s both the most fun and the most rewarding."

17. Peppina

We said: "You’d be equally at place coming here to spend B500 on a pizza and a beer as you would dropping B5,000 on a multi-course feast."

16. Baa Ga Din

We said: "Thitid Tassanakajohn (Le Du, Baan) teams up with American chef Chandler Schultz with the aim of redefining Thai street food. The outcome is a menu that’s familiar but full of surprises."

15. Toby's

We said: "What Toby’s lacks in surprises, it makes up in consistency and pretty plating, the result being a real brunch contender and a safe choice later in the day."

14. Barrio Bonito

We said: "Unlike at other new-wave Mexican openings like Mejico and Touche Hombre, you won’t find too much talk of fancy twists or high-falutin ingredients; just full-flavored Mexican tacos, burritos, ceviche and other antojitos (appetizers)."

13. Char

We said: "French bistro favorites, an elegant space and some of the best views in the area."

12. Smokin' Pug

We said: "Compared to neighboring American barbecue places like Roadhouse, Smokin’ Pug is in a different league—tastier, similarly priced and with infinitely more charm."

11. Baan Phadthai

We said: "Baan Phadthai reminds us of hip young Thai bistros we’ve visited abroad—a dining space riddled with folksy cliches, a menu that dares go beyond just pad Thai, and a youngish, exclusively white clientele."

10. Sushi Masato

We said: "Thanks to the chef's relaxing personality, the experience at Sushi Masato is inviting and conversational, and he doesn't shy away from speaking English with the diners."

9. Toro

We said: "Toro’s finely plated food and stylish setting doesn’t mean a compromise in flavors. On the contrary, the creativity on show sets the bar high for Bangkok tapas places."

8. Crab and Claw

We said: "While Crab and Claw doesn’t come cheap, it does set the bar high for premium seafood that’s not only fresh but also organic and sustainable."

7. Never Ending Summer

We said: "Food and design pretensions aside, Never Ending Summer packs plenty of charm. It was one of Bangkok’s first plant-filled warehouse restaurants. And unlike the rest of them, it’s actually in a warehouse. It’s right by the river." 

6. Supanniga Eating Room (Sathorn)

We said: "The buzzing Sathorn Soi 10-12 neighborhood just got the quality, contemporary Thai restaurant it’s been longing for."

5. Meatlicious

We said: "[We're left] with nothing but praise for Meatlicious’s combination of friendly atmosphere and deceptively simple dishes bursting with flavor." 

4. Suhring

We said: "Come here and you’ll see (and enjoy) how much there is to modern German cuisine. If the names of the twin chefs don’t already grab your attention, then remember they have this city’s top culinary badass, Gaggan Anand, as an investor too." 

3. Shinsen Fish Market

We said: "With more than a passing resemblance to Taipei’s uber-cool Addiction Aquatic Development fish market, this large warehouse on Sukhumvit Soi 39 is Bangkok’s newest supermarket specializing in ocean delicacies."

2. True Love Cafe

We said: "With Bangkok having gone completely cat crazy, you'd think it’s about time someone opened a dog-themed cafe." 

1. Bunker

We said: "It was the hottest place in town when it opened back in March, and Bunker still feels like the right place to be. Dining at Bunker isn’t just fashionable; it’s properly good."

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See how this list compares with 2015's