Bad Burger

Making her name from Burgers and Bangers (near Asoke), chef Panida “Poupee” Paethanom has just left the brand and opened a place of her own on the second floor of Mix and Munch. At Bad Burger, her focus remains on burgers, but now with a bigger, 150g chargrilled beef patty for The Baddest (B289), which also comes stacked with bearnaise sauce, gruyere cheese, crispy bacon, onion rings, tomato and lettuce. Don’t miss the chicken burger (B259) made with minced chicken breast patty, guacamole, mozzarella cheese, lettuce and tomato. She also makes barbecue pork ribs here, which you can get as a full (B579), half (B359) or quarter rack (set with the Baddest burger, B459) or sandwiched up with apple slaw and smoked cheese in a burger bun (B269). Vegan and gluten-free buns are available upon request at no extra cost. Shakes start from B80 while there are also a few craft beers (from B230) and ciders (from B200).

2/F, Mix and Munch, Sukhumvit Rd., 097-283-4598. Open daily noon-11pm

Batt Tempura

Batt Tempura offers a new tempura experience at its laid-back spot in Ekkamai. Chef-owners Chatphon Thavornvanit (also of Wild & Co) and Jakrachai Ruayrean are Dusit Thani College graduates who put their Japanese hotel-kitchen background to work at this hip American-style kiosk. The compact kitchen sits behind a floor-to-ceiling window and '80s-style neon sign where you can catch the chefs freshly whipping up batter, coating and frying up fluffy, crisp tempura to golden perfection.The menu covers bites like ebi bao (shrimp tempura with pickles and hot sauce wrapped in a bao bun, B180), tempura basket (shrimp, fish and veggies, B220) and several rice bowls, including anago tendon (one saltwater eel and veggie tempura, B350) and dragon ball tendon (three shrimp, egg, pumpkin and asparagus tempura, B210). 

77 Ekkamai Soi 21, 089-016-5565 Open Tue-Sun 2-11pm

 

Bombyx

Jim Thompson has unveiled a new restaurant with some exquisite decor to go with the contemporary Thai food, quality drinks and even rotating art exhibitions. The rich and moody Bombyx highlights Jim Thompson fabrics cut in the shape of waves hanging from the ceiling, as well as equally dressed-up plates of Thai food like wing beans salad with scallop (B320), panaeng curry with grilled Australian beef (B540) and khao soy (curry noodles) with soba noodles and grilled duck (B280).

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M/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-129-4840. Open daily 10am-10pm

 

Charley Brown’s

Following the closure of Mexican institution Charley Brown’s home on Sukhumvit Soi 11’s pre-drinking strip, the restaurant has opened afresh in the Asoke area. Tucked inside a sub-soi on Sukhumvit Soi 19, the new space still retains its signature outdoor terrace where guests can enjoy staples like tacos (B90-110), quesadillas (B150-200) and fajitas (B410). Through the wide-windowed facade you’ll find a vibrant interior with a beer can chandelier. At just B100, the passion-fruit margaritas are also delicious.

 

G/F, iCheck Inn Hotel, 19/9-10 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-651-2215. Open Mon 5pm-midnight; Tue-Sun noon-midnight

 

4/F, Marriott Marquis, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5555. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10pm 

Phed Phed

This chic cafe in Ari hides its super-hot Isaan food behind a cool blue-toned decor. Phed Phed’s name says its all—spicy Thai food where an eight-chili-pepper heat level is the baseline. Owners Nattaphong Saehu and Nuthakorn Jivarungsinee of three-year-old Mongrest bag brand opened the space to meet their customers and offer some food from Nattaphong’s Nakhon Phanom roots. The compact 24-seater venue is already packed during lunch and dinner hours (you’d better book in advance) serving made-from-scratch comfort Isaan dishes with delicacy. Expect tons of housemade curry paste and fermented delights (crab, plara [fish], naem [fermented pork] and Isaan sausage. Out of more than 20 variations of somtum, try the gao lao poo dong (B100) where fermented crab som tum is served without shredded papaya, and tum dong dang (B85) where papaya is replaced by local short rice noodles. Don’t miss their tom saep (from B95) and grilled pork neck (B90), either.

Phahon Yothin Soi 8, 097-918-1175

Phuket Town

After half a decade serving its scorching Southern Thai food, Phuket Town has moved from its tiny corner shop-house on Thonglor's main drag to an altogether more charming standalone house on Thonglor Soi 4. Decked out with hints of Phuket Old Town's Chino-Portuguese architecture and paintings, the larger venue features two dining rooms as well as a dedicated bar that shows they now take drinks more seriously. Flavorful Phuket recipes like fermented rice noodles with crab meat curry (B350), shrimp paste relish (B200) and beef curry (B220) remain, joined by signature cocktails like Phuket Gangster (tequila, hazelnut, orgeat, orange lime, B280) served in a paper bag with crackers, or the boozier Phuket Godfather Got Drunk (bourbon, dark rum, tequila, cinnamon, mint and ginger ale, B320).

126/2 Thonglor Soi 4, 02-714-9402. Open daily 11am-11pm