Chatchai Market, Hua Hin
Day or night, Chatchai Market seems to be hopping. It’s the market that never sleeps. When the last customers head home just before dawn, venders are setting up for the new day. The market is located under an arched roof erected in 1926 after being commissioned by Prince Burachat Chaiyakorn. Thus, it gives visitors who look up a glimpse of Hua Hin in its early years as a seaside resort for Thai Royalty and Bangkok aristocracy. The scents are enticing and the selection of traditional Thai snacks and sweets make the mouth water. Make sure to try the noodles, known to be some of the best you can find in this resort town.
Kongju at Pathumwan Princess
If someone asks me where the best Korean restaurant is in Bangkok I will have to recommend Kongju (2nd floor, Pathumwan Princess Hotel, +66 (0) 2216-3700). I like eating my favorite Korean dishes here in a relaxed atmosphere. Since it is part of one of the top hotels in Bangkok, the service and select ingredients have to be the best. This restaurant is great when I want to enjoy a meal with a big group of friends, as they have private dining rooms where you can interact freely without attracting too much attention.
Vanilla Garden
I have always been a fan of Vanilla restaurants. They serve excellent food within a cool looking place, making it one of my favorite restaurants to chill. Their newest branch in Ekkamai,Vanilla Garden (Ekamai Soi 12 Tel +66 (0) 2381 6120) serves Asian cuisine instead of theusual pastas. There are two zones here. You can go for sushi at Vanilla Cafe at the back or dim sum at Royal Vanilla in the front. What I like also is their art bookstore. I like to visit the store to browse for some cool art and fashion ideas to add to my style.
Red Mango Bangkok and iBerry Chiangmai
It can get very hot in Bangkok, and the best way to cool down is with a frozen refreshment. I know there are a lot of ice cream shops in Bangkok but the best and one of the healthiest is Red Mango (G floor, Gourmet Market, Siam Paragon) frozen yogurt. You get to add fresh fruit toppings or syrup to make your very own cup. As for the best ice cream store in the countryside I will have to go with iBerry in Chiang-Mai (+66 (0)53 895 181 www.iberryhomemade.com). Not only are their flavors unique (cookies to durian to horlicks) their café is also charming, a great place to relax with friends and enjoy the easy Chiang-Mai vibe.
China Town
Whenever I crave Chinese food, I usually don’t go to restaurants downtown. I mean, why should I? Bangkok is home to a big Chinese community in Yaowarat, offering authentic Chinese dishes at very affordable prices. The street here is packed with food carts at nighttime offering fast and reliable service. But if the weather gets really hot, there are also plenty of Chinese restaurants with air-conditioning. You might not get the same feeling but the food is still great nonetheless.
