Pad Thai Kratong Thong by ama — Restaurant in Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict

To fall in love with Pad Thai Kratong Thong by Ama is to stumble upon something unassuming yet unforgettable—a quiet revolution of taste and experience tucked in one of the small alleys across the Grand Palace. This charming, eclectic spot is not just a restaurant; it’s a slice of the vibrant Bangkok life. How delightfully unpredictable to see a Shih Tzu napping and judging with the ease of royalty atop the counter, utterly unbothered by the ebb and flow of diners.

We arrived after the lunch rush, the serendipity of missing the famed queues feeling like a blessing from the temple visits. We were greeted by a dreadlocked, barefoot young man randomly tapping on his beat box in sync with the house music while getting orders of those on the waitlist. Now the orders were taken with a fascinating blend of old-world charm and modern efficiency—lapel mic clipped on, mobile POS in hand—and before we could really take in the quirky scene, our dishes appeared, as if orchestrated by a connductor.

And then there was the honey pork Pad Thai—a revelation. With thinner-than-usual noodles in a tangy sauce—a symphony of tamarind, palm sugar, and umami. The sides—a comforting omelette and fragrant pandan chicken—added depth, while the Butterfly Peas with Lemon (my favorite juice to date!) was the perfect pairing. Refreshing, citrusy, and almost otherworldly, its deep purple hue stirred my BTS ARMY heart. Stirring it as instructed, I forgot the swelter of the 32-degree morning entirely. And I don't even make me begin on how mango sticky rice capped the meal - if not all of our meals while we were here.

Simple, honest, and unapologetically Bangkok, Pad Thai Kratong Thong is not just a meal. It’s a story, a memory, a small but profound answer to the rhetorical question: "What...

Firstly, when queued at the restaurant the waitress was snappy and abrasive; really rude, almost seeming as though she has hate for their customers. Secondly, they have a small pet dog that they allow everywhere. When we first arrived, it was on the counter next to the cash register, which hovers over one of the tables; glad we weren't sitting there. Then, it climbed up and laid on the bench seating area, which is very close to the dining tables and your food. Some customers seemed to love it, and were competing with one another for its attention. But it's gross and unsanitary, and the restaurant shouldn't be allowing it to roam around like that. Thirdly, they only accept cash; this isn't why I rate the restaurant low, but their not accepting credit cards is a bit inconvenient, and surprising for a place that primarily caters to tourists. Now, apparently the place is "famous" for its food, and its padthai in particular. The food was pretty good, the presentation nice, and for a touristy area the prices are quite reasonable, but I don't see it being worthy of fame. The dog running around so close to the food and the rude woman simply ruined the...

For me, how people treat others matters more than the food itself. Unfortunately, Pad Thai Kratong Thong is not a place where everyone is treated equally, especially if you don’t fit a certain skin color.

Before I even seated, the staff member taking our order asked where I would like to sit. I chose a window seat, but he seemed uncomfortable with my choice. Instead of accommodating my request, he turned to the white couple next in line and offered them the seat I wanted. Luckily, they were indifferent and agreed to sit elsewhere. But what if they had wanted that seat? It was a clear case of racial discrimination, something that’s surprising to encounter in today’s world, especially when everyone is a paying customer.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time I’ve experienced such behavior in Thailand, but this was by far the worst, and it felt intentional. After waiting in line for over 45 minutes, I was hungry and had no choice but to eat there. I won’t comment on the food because I couldn’t enjoy it in light of what had happened. I just filled my stomach and left as...