Manee Thai Food — Restaurant in Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict

As a frequent visitor to Bangkok over the last 2 decades I try to avoid tourist spots. Nonetheless, I found myself “in the area” where the tourists flock to see Wat Arun by night and stumbled across this simple hole in wall Thai restaurant.

I should have turned around when I saw there was zero Thais inside - all tourists! 😝🤣

Still, got a seat and sat down. Ordered a simple meal of “Khao Pad Kung” and a mango smoothie.

The fried rice tasted authentic enough but had too much julienned onions and carrots for my liking.. and huge wedges of tomato instead of finely chopped/diced tomatoes that most Thais prefer. Guess these are mods to cater to their foreign clientele. The prawns were properly seasoned and fresh.

Mango smoothie was OK if not great.

All in all a decent enough meal, if not something you’d write home about. 😊

The elderly lady managing the front of house was friendly and systematic. A pleasant person.

(View of Wat Arun was from a lane...

A hidden gem near Bangkok's temples We stumbled upon this restaurant almost by chance during a Google search while exploring the temple areas in Bangkok. At first glance, it seems like a simple, unassuming spot, probably not a place I’d have entered without checking the reviews also because it’s hidden in an alley. However, it was bustling with locals, and there was only one table available, which immediately caught our attention. The food was fantastic. Authentic Thai cuisine, expertly prepared, and packed with incredible flavors. The seasoning was spot on, making every dish a delight. The staff were attentive and friendly, adding to the positive experience. If you’ve spent your morning visiting the temples, this is the perfect spot to recharge and enjoy a delicious meal. Highly...

While we were expecting better things from this restaurant given the praising reviews, our experience unfortunately more closely reflected the experiences shared by those that gave lower ratings.

While it was normal to have a 15-20 min wait given the time of day, especially during the holiday season, after we sat down and ordered, the food took well over an hour to be served. While this could normally be credited to a busy kitchen, we saw at least 4 tables of local diners be sat, served and emptied before we got our food. It is a shame because the food was actually quite good.

Don't recommend...