Charmgang — Restaurant in Talat Noi Subdistrict

This just goes to show how a server can shape your experience.

We were the first table to arrive for lunch on a weekday. My wife decided on their Tom Yum and I was going with their Grouper. When the waiter came to take our order and my wife asked for the Tom Yum, he immediately began deterring her from ordering it, being presumptuous of what my wife could handle based on the color of her skin. He began suggesting a beef dish that had less heat. My wife doesn’t eat red meat, nor had she questioned whether their Tom Yum was “too hot.” Note, we travel extensively and eat spices from all cultures. But this waiter was so adamant about her not ordering it that she then began questioning her decision as well and asked if she could taste the broth. He stated she couldn’t as it’s made to order.

So now we’re at a point of inflection where the only item she wants to order is being presented as something she can’t order and it was embarrassing. She asked if they could make it with less heat and he stated they couldn’t.

She then said she wouldn’t order anything. We’ve been touring SE Asia for over a week at this point and never once had an experience like this. The waiter walks away with no alternative ideas/suggestions.

Meanwhile, a two top table is seated next to us and has a waitress who simply takes their order and also mentions that day’s specials. Lo and behold there were also specials available that he never presented to us.

Our waiter brings my drink and then finally mentions the specials. I, too, may have opted for one of the specials had he mentioned them initially. Again, same issues with spices there, deter. So now it’s twice that he’s placed my wife in an awkward position and has no idea of remedying the situation.

It’s been about 15mins since my order was taken and he comes back a 3rd time and says they can make the Tom Yum with less spice. She agrees but also states not to make it bland.

Both dishes are brought out within 5mins and the Tom Yum is equitable to a single chili and well less than our tolerance level for spice.

Charmgang, get rid of this server. I’m assuming that had we simply been able to place our order without my wife being profiled as a white woman who wouldn’t be able to tolerate spice, that we would have enjoyed our lunch. Instead, the only low note of our second visit to Bangkok is...

This was easily the most disappointing meal of our trip. We were really looking forward to this dinner based on the reviews, but the experience left us completely underwhelmed.

From the start, something felt off. Nearly every table was filled with tourists (mostly Western), and the restaurant was playing only American songs. The energy in the room felt flat, and the staff seemed more checked out than engaged—not rude, but definitely not welcoming either.

We ordered a wide range of dishes including the scallop cupcakes, smoked pork jowl salad, duck confit curry, wagyu beef with basil, picanha beef skewers, and the steamed grouper. Unfortunately, every single dish tasted unbalanced—either overwhelmingly salty, oddly fishy, too sour, or just plain bland and watery. When the server asked how everything was, we gave honest feedback and said the food wasn’t good. There was no follow-up, no curiosity, not even a polite acknowledgment. We paid and left quickly after.

It already felt like a wasted meal, but feeling physically sick after just added insult to injury.

I’ve been to Thailand more times than I can count and truly love Thai cuisine, but nothing about this felt representative of the depth or complexity Thai food is known for. If this is what "Thai contemporary" means here, it honestly tasted more like glorified Panda Express.

The only thing I actually liked was the lychee mint smoothie—but not enough to ever return. Maybe it was just an off night, or maybe they've grown complacent, but it was...

A Michelin Bib Gourmand spot tucked behind that iconic red door—Charmgang serves up comforting Thai soul food that hits in all the right places 💥 Definitely recommend making a reservation and going early if you’re like us and enjoy a quiet moment before the rush 😌⁣ ⁣ 🤍 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐎𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 - THB320⁣ Seared to perfection with a touch of smokey sauce, crunchy long beans, and a juicy pomelo wedge on the side. Unexpected combo but it worked!⁣ ⁣ 🦐 𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 - THB750⁣ Tangy, sour, and totally reminded us of assam. Prawns were fresh with a satisfying bite, and the rose apple was a refreshing touch 🍏⁣ ⁣ 🐄 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 - THB590⁣ Not spicy but so rich and flavourful. Beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the curry had that thick, luscious texture 😮‍💨⁣ ⁣ 🥩 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐨𝐣𝐢-𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 - THB650⁣ Smokey, juicy, and full of umami. Loved the slight heat from the sauce and the pickled papaya on the side for that tangy contrast⁣ ⁣ 🦀 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 - THB530⁣ Soft-set eggs, fresh crab, crunchy bean sprouts. Just a tiny bit of shell in ours, but flavour-wise it was still a hit⁣ ⁣ 🥥 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐤𝐞 - THB270⁣ Loved the shape of the crepe and how it tasted like heaven. Shredded coconut layered in the crepe cake, mango ice cream topped with rice crisps, plus candied pineapple and pumpkin on the side = chef’s kiss 🥭⁣ ⁣ Charmgang really lives up to the hype—Thai flavours done soulfully and with finesse. Would go back in a...