This is Basil — Restaurant in Khlong Ton Sai Subdistrict

This is Basil: Elevating Pad Krapow to Fiery Perfection in Bangkok

Overview

Nestled in Charoen Nakhon, This is Basil is a no-frills eatery dedicated to basil stir-fry, co-located with Save Our Souls pub. Known for its fiery flavors and quality ingredients, it earned 1 Spoon from The Spoon Awards (Chang, 2024), cementing its reputation among spice lovers.

Founder’s Passion & Craft

Founder Q’s obsession with perfecting pad krapow led him to test 30+ chili varieties, crafting a blend that delivers signature heat. He selects chilies for their unique profiles—red bird’s eye for sharp heat, dried for lingering burn, and green for aroma.

For the beef stir-fry, he uses a Thai Brahman mix of tender hip and brisket, ensuring a juicy, umami-rich experience. The dish is further enhanced by his signature basil sauce, slow-simmered with fresh herbs and chilies for maximum depth.

Food & Menu Highlights

The menu is concise yet refined, featuring premium proteins over Japanese rice.

Signature Dishes: • Pork & Basil – 69 THB • Sour Sausage & Basil – 79 THB • Duck & Basil – 79 THB • Beef & Basil – 89 THB

Extras: • Egg (+17 THB): Classic pan-fried or star-shaped fried egg • Spice Levels (1-5): Level 5 features ghost pepper—for the brave only!

The Experience

Opting for the beef stir-fry (Level 2), I was hit with its intoxicating aroma—garlic, chili, and Thai holy basil. The beef, stir-fried to perfection, delivered a deep richness, with heat that lingered without overpowering.

A crispy fried duck egg added a creamy counterpoint, its runny yolk blending beautifully with the sticky, subtly sweet Japanese rice—creating the ultimate contrast of spice and silkiness.

Ambiance & Service

With its air-conditioned space, the restaurant provides relief from the spice. The casual, intimate setting (seating 2-3 diners comfortably) benefits from its pub co-location, offering craft beer to cool the burn.

Service is attentive and knowledgeable. Staff ask for spice preferences and warn against overestimating heat tolerance—wise advice, as Level 3+ is serious business. Food arrives promptly, even during peak hours.

Verdict

For authentic pad krapow lovers, This is Basil transforms a simple street dish into a meticulously crafted experience. With a controlled menu, premium ingredients, and expertly calibrated spice, it’s a must-visit for anyone craving a bold, unforgettable take on Thailand’s beloved...

If you love Pad Krapow, you have to come here.

A little confusing to find as its located in Save Our Souls (SOS) restaurant & bar. We thought google maps had failed us but found a poster on the walls outside😂

Had late lunch here (about 3pm) and the place was empty. They had different ‘restaurant’ menus and This Is Basil was one of them. Didn’t manage to take a photo of it but the pricing’s affordable. Ranging from THB60-100 depending on your main and add-ons.

We ordered a pork and duck pad krapow, the husband added a fried egg for THB17. The food tasted as good as it smelled. The mince was fragrant, rice was perfectly cooked and the portion was a perfect asian portion. Left us a little space to fit street food🙃 We cleaned out both plates and left nothing but some red chillies.

Do note you can choose your spiciness, we both chose least spicy and man, it was spicy but tolerable. We’re southeast asians and we can take spicy, but thai’s spicy is on another level. Highly recommend not spicy if you can’t take the heat🔥

Also, they serve craft beers and ciders. We didn’t get them but I’d definitely try them if we were to ever come back.

Overall, I’d say this place is a must try if you’re in the area, or if you’re walking to...

This place is just opposite of icon siam only So why would you wanna eat at icon siam when you can eat here for a more reasonable price Now I know the locals don't dine at these sort of places but for 69 baht for the pad kra pao and 17 baht for add-on egg...less than 90 baht, you get to dine in an air-conditioned restaurant, beating the outside scorching heat They open from 5am till 12 midnight which is ridiculous so I assume they made most of their money at night selling alcohol The pad kra pao you can adjust the spiciness to your liking, I opt for little bit but it's already quite spicy for me but bearable Highly recommended to come to this place for a meal if you're ever near icon siam They sell more than just pad kra pao, they sell...