CITY PULSE | into the hood
Into the Hood: Bantadthong
An underrated neighbourhood for a street food paradise
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hen asked where to grab a quick bite, I hazard a guess that Bantadthong Road, would unsurprisingly not be the top answer. To many locals, it has always been unfairly perceived as the ‘mini Yaowarat’, but for those in the know, it features several credible challengers to the crown of our current street food queen like Jay Fai. Beginning at the Rama IV end and walking towards Rama I, our first stop is at Eiam Noi Pork Noodles (1), in business for fifty
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years, an unassuming frontage concealing a must stop for lovers of tasty noodle soup. Continuing along the west side of the street, classic rice fish soup is the specialty at Khao Tom Pla Saphan Leung (2). Close by is J’wan Taohuay Namkhing (3), always lively with authentic Thai desserts including black sesame dumplings with hot ginger. A few steps further, the celebrated Longleng Lookchin Pla (4), a proud holder of a Michelin Plate and worth stopping at for homemade fish balls. Both look out onto the lush green Chulalongkorn University Chris is a former Michelin Guide Inspector, Centenary Park built on land following an international career in donated 100 years ago by King hospitality spanning 30 Rama V. years in both the Middle Cross at the Saphan On East and Asia, has now junction, one finds the legendary settled in Thailand and Aey Seafood (5); blink and you’ll contributes to ‘Into miss it, were it not for the queues the Hood’ column in which invariably block the path. Bangkok 101. From experience, the time spent IG: xmichelinman queuing will double once you are 16 | JAN /FEB 202 0
6 seated awaiting the arrival of your order. However, the lengthy delay is well worth it as the river prawns are simply put, ‘to die for’. The quality of the seafood product and technical prowess here is stellar. Further north is Pungdet (6) where one may experience the popular late-night snack of charcoal grilled bread crammed with sticky fillings. Continuing on the street, one literally stumbles across highly tempting live seafood tanks in front of Chan Mai Wang Seafood (7) before eyeing up the inevitable queues thronging outside Bantadthong’s version of Jay Fai; Jeh O Chula (8). An institution possessing a Bib Gourmand from the renowned Michelin inspectorate. Be prepared to wait as this place is packed but the queueing is efficiently managed. Early evening shrimp omelette, the famed duck soup with noodles and crispy pork are exceptional. Alternatively visit bangkok101.com
