I always eat at S&P or A&W if I'm looking for something Thai and inexpensive.  There's a branch of each in the basement of Silom Complex, and you can always go cruising upstairs afterwards

Prik Kee Nu

Bua

Both at the top of Soi Convent. I prefer PKN's ambiance since Bua remodelled, but Bua have those big photographic menus that allow you to be a bit more adventurous. Both very reasonable (< 500 baht for 2, without alcohol). Mixed Thai and western food, customers likewise.



I also endorse the Yok Yor restaurants, of which I think there are 3 or 4 along the far bank of the Chao Praya in close proximity. Yok Yor Marina & Restaurant, Soi Somdej Chaowpraya 17, also has dinner cruises, although the one we took now seems only described in Thai ? ...

www.yokyor.co.th/boat3.html

Original tip on this one came from Smiles.

Get your Thai friend to ring for reservations. Dinner for two and 1.5 hour cruise < 1000 baht (without alcohol).



Finally ...

Anna's Café

118, Soi Saladaeng (about half way down)

www.annascafes.com/Locations.htm

500 - 1000 baht for two



Coincidentally, all my choices plus others seem to be listed here ....

www.asiabugle.com/bkkthairest.htm

 

Normandie restaurant Oriental hotel.



A steal.... 950 baht for the lunch menu..



Thats what we call Cheap,very Cheap.

L and N and Yesiam are registrated trademarks and should not be used without written permission from happy gay or drunken sailor.

There's a whole slew of restaurants on Saladaeng including a new Italian place thats supposed to be good and cheap. The Japanese place on Convent, Zen, I think is excellent especially if you stick to the set menu's.

While I think about it what about Khun Kho's restaurant on a soi which runs paralell to where you are, I forget the name, it's a very gay place and has very good food and a lively bar.  

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"You gotta admit it takes real guts to be a Queen in a world full of commoners"

Michael in Queer as Folk

Khun Kho's is on Soi Suwan Sawat near to Rama 4. You pretty much need to go via Sathorn Soi one to get to it unless you are coming from Sukumvit/Asoke where Suwan Sawat is a left turn just after the expressway unbderpass. It's a good place to just stop off for a beer as well.



Anna's food is mass produced and bland by my tastes. I don't understand why so many people like it. Maybe it's the quick service provided as a result of the pre-cooked food or the gorgeous black tee-shirted waiters who will stand around and give you birthday hugs.



The outdoor/indoor restaurant at the corner of Sathorn Soi Neung and Soi Nam DuPhlee is cheap and tasty Thai food as well.

Thanks Arnold, I am not too fond of Anna's for the same reasons you cite plus the fact it is like eating in a bloody disco, so noisy!!

There's that place on Convent too that has the acommodation, opp BNH, Kims?? anyway good and cheap, that whole area is well worth prowling

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"You gotta admit it takes real guts to be a Queen in a world full of commoners"

Michael in Queer as Folk

Dick,



I can honestly say that I did not intend to be rude or anything particularly against a quiet and smart poster like Cameron.



I just happen to believe that people interpret the concept of "cheap and medium" differently. For instance, I myself find a good meal for 80 - 130 baht a dish at a proper restaurant to be on a cheap side whilst some people like pattayagay will never want to pay anything like that ( although he has sent 50,000 baht a month to his Thai ladyboy ). A couple years ago, I met a Norwagian guy at Babylon. He stayed at the Babylon Barrack. We went out for a meal and I took him to a nice restaurant, Baan Chieng in Silom, that serves good meals with most prices range between 90 - 130 baht a dish. I did not find it expensive, but the Scandinavian chap thought it was very expensive.    So, I think if Cameron was a little more specific with his question, for example "a good meal not more than 200 baht or whatever a dish" will help others to better point him to the right direction.



I am sorry, but I beg to differ regrding staying at the Pinnacle always infer you won't pay a lot on food. I suppose that's a good indication, but people do have different travel styles. Some like to stay in a fair hotel but eat well; some like to sleep in a heaven bed but eat fairly. I have an English friend who also always stays at the Pinnacle but likes to eat fairly well. I went with him to S & P, Baan Chieng, and Bussaracum which he thought they are cheap towards medium. As for Cameron, I don't know him personally, and his previous postings did not say a lot about himself. But I remember he sent flowers to his boyfriend's birthday and I read it as he has different tastes for different things.

Near Pinnacle Limpini:



The restaurant you can reach by walking through the parking lot across the street from Pinnacle Lumpini is good.  The most expensive dishes are seafood but still reasonable.



LUCKY 7: Same side as Malaysia & just past it.  Tables inside & out. Extensive menu, all Thai, but simple (Fresh) fish selections available. I like it, Thai friends ask to go there, they like the food and feel comfortable with the atmosphere and the way they are treated.  Most spent: 1,100 baht, for four (Three Thai).  A big fish, spicy pork salad and they put away many, many raw oysters and a LOT of beer; over about three hours.

"Sanuk," one word, Thai, review.



Walk down the soi than runs off Ngam Duplhli at the 7-11 near the Malaysia.  There's a ThaiIndian place.  Spicy: Not for the faint of heart.



Silom-Rama IV

The Dim SumNoodle shop in the lower level of Robinsons. I think it's only open for lunch.



BUA: on Soi Convent. Can eat cheap if you stay away from the fish.



Took a boy to dinner one night.  Told him we'd go where ever he wanted.  He picked the place that's about across from the entrance to Soi Twilight.  (Tables of food on the side walk.  Tables inside for dining.  Had the cheapest meal I've ever had in Thailand: four dishes, rice, two drinks...80 baht. (Four years ago, may be more now.) The food was good.





 

OOps I almost forgot Mali!! Gay owned and close to Babylon good food and patronised by a few queens including the Queen of Denmark and her Hubby The King but the owner does not put the price up if you sit in the same seat!

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"You gotta admit it takes real guts to be a Queen in a world full of commoners"

Michael in Queer as Folk

I am one who have been staying at Pinnacle everytime I am in BKK.

There's a restaurant along Soi Ngam Dupli which is just before turning into Sathorn Soi 1. It has tables outside and you can dine with candle light. They serve excellent seafood and other Thai food. Not expensive. I would wish that the place is much better lit up.

If you prefer to dine at Silom area, try Hai Somtam Convent which is across Bua restaurant. They serve Isaan food and its so damn cheap for the excellent food. Its crowded most of the time but worth the hassle.

Ever think of walking across to Suan Lum night market for a meal? There's some good restaurants round the area too. Cheers and enjoy Bangkok Pride!!

In answer to Thaiguys comments, what I meant was a "Casual" dining environment, not necessarily dirt cheap. Just not looking for "Brunos" type of places. I'm more than willing to spend 500 to 1000 baht for dinner for two (and have spent much more on special occasions). Thanks for all the suggestions guys.  I have tried the Yok Yor cruise. Very enjoyable experience. And have dined several times at the nice restaurant with the outdoor seating on the corner near Malaysia hotel. I too agree its too dimly lite for my 40+ eyes (I have to have my bf read the menu to me)  







 

Dear Thai Guy,



Thanks for the kind reply.  You're not wrong in what you say and I can now see that you did not intend to come over the way I read it.  I've always found you pretty 'cute' (I'm not referring to looks although I suspect equally true ~ you are Thai after all) so I was surprised that you hadn't perceived the kind of answers Cameron was looking for in much the same way other readers have responded.



The Pinnacle Hotel offers good value and many readers stay there from time to time because of that fact, even though their pensions or budgets might allow greater extravegance.  So yes as you say, the guests staying there would encompass broad tastes and budgets.  But if I or Cameron could afford to stay for example at the likes of the Oriental or other hotel of equivalent standing, we would unlikely be asking a question as to where to eat in the "cheap to medium price bracket".  We could afford as a matter of course, and therefore be accustomed to paying much higher prices for food.  That was the meaning I tried to convey.



It's possible this misunderstanding has come about because you are Thai and I like many on the Board are not.  I don't mean that in a nasty way; rather the contrary.  You cited examples of dishes priced at 90-130 Baht.  Many Farang and in particular those non resident, might not have your Thai sense of value to use as a yardstick.  We might evaluate how cheap or expensive a restaurant might be after looking at the bottom line when we get the bill and dividing that by the number in our party.  It's natural to compare that to what we 'know'.  My bf, like you, may look at individual dish prices on the menu, and might say 'very expensive'.  By his sense of values they might be, by our sense of values, they might not.  What I'm trying to say is that what might appear to be a comparitively small price variance per dish might not be realised so much by the Farang diner as they are by Thai, especially when Farang might pay higher 'Western' style prices for 'Western' style food in whichever Thai hotel we happen to stay at.  So I take Cameron's "cheap to medium" price band as a Farang one based on Western values.  And given our propensity to pay (or be charged?) a little more, our perception of 'cheap to medium' and 'expensive' by may be much broader than your own... I'm not saying that's a good thing, just pointing out the difference.  The expatriats amongst us will of course have learnt better as their sense of values becomes more and more accustomed to living in Thailand.  They might perhaps offer better insight or opinion in that respect.



Never the less, this thread has brought out some nice ideas for dining out.  I've jotted down a few details so as to try next month when I return.

Dick

Quote:

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Just not looking for "Brunos" type of places. I'm more than willing to spend 500 to 1000 baht for dinner for two (and have spent much more on special occasions).

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I think you'll find that all the places recommended are not hovels but have a certain charm all within a decent budget!

I must caution everyone though that NAJ which I have recommended many times has slipped downhil! I was there tonight and quite honestly will not be going back in a hurry! I went with a couple of friends from HK who are used to Baan Kanitha. The food and service we had tonight was apalling! cold food and indifferent service! on the past few occasions we have been there the owner was present, tonight she wasn't, tomorrow the bf will be contacting her to relate the unfortunate saga of cold, undercooked, indifferently served dishes. We eventually just asked for the bill paid for the stuff we thought was edible and buggered off out of there in a hurry!

 

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"You gotta admit it takes real guts to be a Queen in a world full of commoners"

Michael in Queer as Folk

Reading this thread bought back memories of a place on the same side of soi 1 Sathorn as old Babylon, between Babylon and the corner where Malaysia Hotel is



Ground floor of an expensive block of condos but with smorgasbord lunch very reasonable There is a garden setting and you may not recognise it as a restaurant just casually walking by  



Just across the soi on the ground floor of a condo block that runs through to the rear of Malaysia, was another place that I had several meals at



If they are still there they are within the price range and good value

The place you mention, near Pinnacle, is the Lucky 7.



In the Lumpini Night Market there's a restaurant with a (tradional( Thai stick-puppet show but it's not especially cheap and often fully booked.  There are other restaurants nearby and it's a nice, uncrowded, place to sit or walk around in the evening.