Where to Eat at Pratunam, Union Mall, MBK & Asok

This post talked about our Feb 2016 Bangkok trip food trail. First day arrival at hotel, did not have proper meal half a day as due to travel, we decided to go for a nice meal. Did research and realised just walking distance from Glow Pratunam Hotel there is a recommended restaurant.

Day 01

This old house previously was belong to Thai King Rama V's minister, current owner transformed the courtyard and living room to seating area. Nice interior design, diners can have meal under the Thai olden day atmosphere. 

"Once Upon a Time" Traditional Thai Food

32 Soi  Petchaburi 17 (opp. Phantip Plaza) Petchaburi Rd.  Pratunam  BKK. 

Tel. +66 (0)-2252-8629  Fax +66 (0)-2251-5975  Mobile +66 (0)-1833-8336

OPEN  DAILY  11.00 AM.-11.00 PM. 

Nearby BTS station: Ratchathewi or Siam (10-20 mins walk)

Fried prawn and vege.

This fried fish with spicy and sour source suit my taste. The source like Indonesian sayur asam. (Sayur asam: A popular Indonesian tamarind-based soup. See my related post for Indonesian travel and food at here.) The crispy fish meat soak in spicy and sour source trigger my appetite. Very nice dish.

 Thai Green Curry

Mango Juice

Thai mango really good quality. Every order we had was nice and sweet, did not let us down. 

The waiter knew we were tourist, recommended us to walk around especially the second floor as it still retained the olden day condition. The bed rooms displayed those antiques left from the ex-owner.

This nice meal cost us 1230 Bath. 

Day 02

The hotel we stayed was Glow Pratunam Hotel, they offered us discounted breakfast but must confirm it when check in. We opted for 1 day as we wanted leave more space in stomach for Bangkok breakfast. The spread was sufficient. Generally not a bad choice, nice breakfast with Thai and western selection. 

Glow Pratunam Hotel

919 Petchburi Road

Kwang Thanon Phayathai, Rajdhevi

10400 Bangkok

Tel: +66 (0) 2257 3999

Fax: +66 (0) 2257 3999

Email Reservations: rsvn.pratunam@glowhotels.com

Nearby BTS station: Ratchathewi or Siam (10-20 mins walk)

Day 2 activity was shopping at Union Mall. Not so familiar this Phahon Yothin area, so we decided to have late lunch at its food court. The food court located at basement, about 30 food and beverage stalls there. My travel style is to try local dished as many as I can, don't waste the stomach spaces to those yucky foods. So pre trip research is crucial. Since homework had not been done about Phahon Yothin area so we just went to its food court. Rule of thumb is follow to crowd. Finally we ordered with those stalls looked busy. 

Stir fried roasted pork belly & kai-lan with Thai jasmine rice. (Kai-lan: Chinese kale)

Pad Thai & Thai Milk Tea

Pad Thai: A common Thai street food, it is a stir fried rice noodle dish.

The Chinese settlement in Thailand begin as early as 15th century. Thus Thai cuisine looks similar like Chinese cuisine. The stir fried roasted pork belly and kai lan taste like what I had in Malaysia, the difference was they added chili on it. Suit my taste but I regretted I had not asked for less spicy. Hee...

Wife had her Pad Thai with egg wrapped. Its taste like Penang style Char Kway Teow, but Thai used dry rice noodle thus it was not soft as Penang style. Generally I liked this too as I was Panangite when I was child. Thai tea milk also have its own unique fragrance, we liked this too.

All food courts we went to they are common on the payment mode. Diners have to purchase the cashcard for payment, food stall sellers won't accept cash. Any value left over in card, it has to be refund on the same day.

Couldn't resist the Thai milk tea, we ordered second cup. 

Food court at basement of Union Mall

Food Court @ Union Mall basement

Address: 54 Lat Phrao Rd, Chom Phon, Chatuchak

               Bangkok, Thailand 10700

Phone: +66 (0) 2 512 5000

Opening Hours:

Mon - Fri: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sat - Sun: 10:30 am - 10:00 pm

Nearby MRT station: Phahon Yothin

Day 03

Day 3 morning, no more breakfast at hotel, I had a walk at the streets where Glow Pratunam located. Pratunam area does not short of food, there are various food and beverage stalls pack the sidewalk. Locals especially the clothing wholesale market sellers and customers can have their quick and affordable breakfast there. This is a must try for me. Finally I bought these popular street foods - roasted banana and fried chicken at Soi Phetchaburi 17. 

Roasted banana. 

Fried chicken dish with optional sticky rice. I liked the fried chicken liver and gizzard which is cannot be found in Singapore. 

Coffee and Thai Milk Tea

Settled the breakfast, we went to MBK Shopping Centre. From the travel book found that there was a recommended food court with various stalls selling cuisines around the world. We headed there for our lunch. They have stalls selling Mexican, Indonesian, Arabian, and many more cuisines. Believed the purpose is to suit to the tourist that visit MBK. 

The Fifth Food Avenue @ MBK Center 5th floor   

Address : 444 MBK Center Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan Bangkok 10330

Open daily 1000 hr - 2100 hr

Nearby BTS station: National Stadium

Garlic chicken and tomyam soup. I liked their way of presentation - heart shape rice. No wonder we spotted the same at Thai restaurant in New Zealand. (250 Bath before VAT)

Find my related post here: The Backyard of Christchurch People

Dessert - durian & sticky rice come with coconut milk.

Besides the famous mango & sticky rice, they also sell durian version. Chance for me to try something different. (150 Bath before VAT)

This food court is quite concern on its quality as the staff will approach every table to ask diners to fill their survey form. The food there was nice, staff also friendly.

With the tired body backed to hotel, no more stamina to hunt for recommended food, we decided to try this road side seafood 'restaurant'. I doubt to use this 'restaurant' word as it is located at road side, in front of the Shibuya 19 Shopping Mall, Glow Pratunam shares the same building with this mall. It means day time this Siam Seafood 'Restaurant' is not exist as the mall is in business. But they have their real restaurant at 6th floor of Shibuya 19 Shopping Mall. So this roadside 'restaurant' is a branch out from the 6th floor. 

Well, this is the way Bangkok street vendors operate. We even spotted the same location at sidewalk the day and night stalls were owned by different owner. 

Taste ok, like what we had back in Singapore.

This grilled fish Tilapia was one of my must try for next trip. Its inner was filled with herbs, coated with salt and grilled. (see below photo)

The skin was not eatable as it was too salty. The meat was juicy and tender. Good choice.  

Grilled Fish Tilapia

Siam Seafood

Daily 10 am - 12 am (6th floor)

Daily evening (in front of the mall)

Restaurant: 919 Shibuya 19 Shopping Mall, Food Centre 6th Floor, Phetchaburi 19, Pratunam, Bangkok

Roadside: Main Entrance of Shibuya 19 Shopping Mall

Cost: fried vegetable combunat @ 150 Bath, grilled fish Talapia @ 380 Bath

Day 04

The next morning we continue for breakfast hunting. The famous Sab x2 wanton noodle restaurant is located at Soi Phetchaburi 19. Too bad, we were there too early so it was not ready. Walked further from wanton noodle restaurant, we spotted this stall located at the small path. Looked at their photo menu, it seemed delicious, we gave it a try.

Located at small path of Soi Phetchaburi 19, Pratunam, Bangkok.

Open: Not sure, we visited at morning hour.

Nearby BTS station: Ratchathewi or Siam (10-20 mins walk)

The small path located at Soi Phetchaburi 19.

Photo menu, no hassle for ordering. 

The aunt there speak Teow Chew too.

Thai style wanton noodle. 

Taste similar like what I had in Malaysia. As per the blogs and forums mentioned, Thai noodle portion is small, foreigners may need to order 2 bowls. Probably noodle was cheap, I hardly could taste the meat in wanton. Seemed like just fried wanton skin only, haha.

Tom yam soup noodle.

Taste delicious too.

Soi Phetchaburi 19

Soi Phetchaburi 19

Thai milk tea and coffee time.

You can find South East Asian style of coffee and espresso at Thai street beverage stalls.

Coffee sock as a filter is used to make South East Asian coffee. You can choose to add condensed milk or evaporated milk.  

Espresso machine also easily spotted at Thai street beverage stalls. 

So you can order Starbuck style of coffee too. Very convenient for me as a coffee lover. 

Our lunch settled at this restaurant with Thai signboard. It is located at shophouse between Pantip Plaza and Phetchaburi 22 Alley, Pratunam. The bill we had all written in Thai, only a word 'RDD'. Google translate gave me sound as 'Rod-Dee-Det'. Well, just call it Rod-Dee-Det. As it just located at main road - Phetchaburi Road, very conveninent so we headed in. Turned out not a bad choice, clean and visited by a lot of locals. 

RDD / รสดีเด็ด / Rod-Dee-Det Restaurant

Between Pantip Plaza and Phetchaburi 22 Alley, Pratunam.

Nearby BTS station: Ratchathewi or Siam (10-20 mins walk)

Total bill @ 715 Bath.

Photo coutesy: TimMie Girlz

Standard Thai condiment can find at Thai restaurants. Fried pork skin act like cracker in Indonesia or peanut in Singapore. Can be pre meal snack or eat together with dishes.

Stir fried water spinach. Taste same as those in Singapore, but they added peanut.

Thai fish slides with 3 flavoured source. We could taste the 3 flavours, they were sweet, sour and spicy. I liked its herb fragrance too.

Coconut juice shake and Lychee juice shake. 

Thai papaya salad. 

I asked for roasted peanuts as peanuts were available on this dish back in Singapore.

Day 05

Understand that fine dining in Bangok is more affordable compare to Singapore, we decided to have a brunch in fine dining style. Followed to the travel book named Illyqueen Love Bangkok (女王i曼谷）, we headed to Another Hound Cafe at Siam Paragon. Another Hound is sister brand of Greyhound. Greyhound initially started as local fashion brand. It ventured to food business by opened the same name cafe. Then Another Hound Cafe was opened offering Chic and Glam Thai-Italian fusion foods.

Another Hound Cafe

Siam Paragon 1st Floor

991 RAMA 1 ROAD, PATHUMWAN, BANGKOK 10330, THAILAND

Tel. +66 (0)-2129-4409-10

Opening Hours : 10.00 – 22.00

Nearby BTS station: Siam

     

HOME FRIES

Chunky cut with skin, sprinkled with sea salt and chopped parsley, served with AÏoli sauce.

GREYHOUND FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN WINGS

Deep fried marinated mini chicken wings in fish sauce.

Thai chicken size is small, perhaps they are free-range chicken.

SLICED THAI STYLE GRILLED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AND PEPPER ON SESAME BUN

Served with garlic Mayo, fries and side salad.

FRIED SHRIMPS WITH THAI HERBAL SPICES

Served with plain rice and clear soup.

Dessert time.

The bill turned out 1182 Bath. We liked the atmosphere and foods.

Day 5 activity was shopping at Terminal 21 located at Asok BTS station. After a tired walk, we went to 5th floor the food court for break. Spotted this local bread with coconut jam (kaya). Read from blog about Thai style of steamed bread with coconut jam slightly deviated from Malaysian and Singaporean style. Gave it a try.
The famous restaurant selling such dish is On Lok Yun located at China Town. However, it is too far for us and we need to take cab there as no BTS / MRT station there. Tried this at food court, not bad. The jam slightly watery compare to Singapore version. Thai added condensed milk so it was sweet. We realised that locals taste were more toward sweet and salty. We always asked for less sugar when made orders.
Steamed bread was fluffy. I liked it.

Why they put this on so big pot?

This even bigger.

Very common dish in Thai - braised pork knuckle, no chance to try as wanted to give space for dinner. Put it to next trip plan ba.

Pier 21 food court @ Terminal 21, 5th floor

Location: Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 19 and 21)

Nearby MRT station: Sukhumvit

Nearby BTS station: Asok  

We have been this Terminal 21 Shopping Mall in previous trip. Had this local western meal and it was nice. So we decided to re-visit again. Local western restaurant: Santa FE Steak

We liked their beef steak. Cooked to perfection and very delicious.

Santa FE Steak @ Terminal 21 LG floor

Location: Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 19 and 21)

Nearby MRT station: Sukhumvit
Nearby BTS station: Asok  

Total cost: 577 Bath

Spotted this dessert at LG floor. Very colourful and attractive.

Actually all were same taste.

The filling was ground mung bean. Similar like our red tortoise cake (Ang Ku Kueh in Hokkian).  

Day 06

Last day before headed to airport, we went to street (Soi Phetchaburi 19) to buy some light breakfast. This beverage stall also sell fried stuffs like youtiao (Chinese doughnut). One of them the filling was pork floss. Very unique.

 Thai coffee and milk tea again.

Thai fried stuffs.

Tried this Thai curry noodle at airport. Different with what I had in Singapore and Malaysia.

Taste good.