9 great restaurants that serve amazing fried rice dishes

Started off as an online hustle and now standing as a full-fledged restaurant, Lucky’s goes all-in on the retro charm of what Thais call American fried rice – that weird but beloved dish with ketchup-stained rice, a sunny-side-up egg and protein overload. What sets this place apart is how unapologetically big everything is – giant golden fried chicken leg, thick-cut ham, quality sausage – like an American diner plate that ended up in a Thai kitchen. The rice itself is mild, borderline neutral, but it works – it’s made to balance the boldness of everything else. And yes, they refrigerate the rice after mixing it with sauce before frying – it’s a small detail, but it makes for a better texture.

9/1 Soi Ari 3, Phaya Thai. 088-696-6556. Open daily 8am-10pm.

This one leans heavily into Thai-Chinese nostalgia. What makes it stand out is the option to load it up with Chinese sausage and red pork for that full-on, old-school vibe. Each grain stays intact, no clumps, no sogginess. Plus, they serve it with that classic prik nam pla (fish sauce with finely chopped bird’s eye chili) – a little acidic kick that makes the whole thing come alive. Get the large portion if you’re going with friends. Or just don’t plan to share.

406 Chan Rd, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem. 094-956-4488. Open daily 9am-8pm. Closed Thursday. 

If you’ve lived in Bangkok long enough, you know that Took Lae Dee is where you go when everything else is closed. But here’s the thing, their off-menu ‘khao pad rod fai’ – the so-called ‘train fried rice’ – is a quiet standout. It’s a throwback to the kind of fried rice once served on Thai trains back in the day, stir-fried with Chinese broccoli, onion, tomato and egg, all tinted with dark soy sauce and leaning into that signature touch of sweetness. It’s simple, comforting, a little old-school – the kind of dish that works whether it’s breakfast, lunch or a mid-day craving. You'll find Took Lae Dee wherever there is a Foodland supermarket branch.

Right near IMPACT, this joint is loved by the local crowd and concert arena-goers. The star is fried rice with crab, of course. But this isn’t normal crab fried rice – they know how to handle the heat. The rice is dry, perfectly separated, with just the right amount of oil, and the crab meat comes in generous, satisfying chunks. The seasoning is restrained but confident. This is the kind of place where the wok is clearly in the hands of someone who’s been doing this long enough to know how to control fire without even looking.

29 Soi Chang Watthana 14, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si. 02-982-7925. Open daily 11am-9.30pm.

At first glance, this place looks like your average curry-rice joint, but order their ‘khao pad pa’ and you’ll know it’s not. This ‘forest fried rice’ is like nothing you’ve had before – fragrant with Thai herbs, it’s packed with cha-om, baby corn, Thai eggplant, yard-long beans, dried shrimp, fresh shrimp and fresh chilies. It’s a field trip through the Thai countryside, all in one pan. Slightly spicy, deeply aromatic, and full of textures – this dish has no right to be this under the radar.

461 Phra Sumen Rd, Wat Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon. 02-281-0652. Open daily 5.30am-5pm. Closed Sunday

In the middle of Chinatown, this restaurant is known for its way around a wok, shark fin (yes, the controversial kind), and a solid lineup of Chinese-style carbs. The fried rice, which comes with either shrimp or crab, is the real standout – the kind that hits your tongue with a punch of soy, garlic and wok hei – that elusive ‘bottom of the pan aroma’ that comes from high-heat stir-frying and the fiery breath of the wok. Go late, go hungry, and expect to leave with that unmistakable kitchen scent clinging to your clothes.

423 Yaowarat 3 Alley, Samphanthawong. 085-622-2989. Open daily 7pm-2.30am. Closed Monday.

What started as a low-key spot above a noodle shop has now become a certified seafood institution – and a six-time Michelin Bib Gourmand winner to prove it. At Here Hai, the crab fried rice is cooked over intense heat with traditional Chinese techniques, the rice comes out deeply aromatic, every grain seared with wok hei and packed with flavour. The crab is generous, fresh and straight from Surat Thani. Go for the ‘koad kan chiang’ (insane lump crab meat fried rice) if you're serious.

112/1 Ekkamai Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana. 063-219-9100. Open daily 10am-3pm, 4pm-5.30pm. Closed Monday

Chamchuri is your spot if you’re after a budget-friendly crab fried rice that doesn’t skimp on the actual crab. Located inside what looks like someone’s family home, it’s got that low-key vibe that delivers in a big way. The rice itself is standard fare, but they really load it up with crab – so much that you wonder how they’re still making a profit. It’s reliable, straightforward, and always hits the spot.

1050 1 Pracha Chuen 31, Wong Sawang, Bang Sue. 063-247-1099. Open daily 10.30am-10pm. Closed Wednesday. 

Popular for its intense-flavoured Thai food, fewer people know though that Rongros’s fried rice is a standout as well. The ‘khao pad sam mhen’ – or ‘three-stinker fried rice’ – is made with cha-om, sataw (stink beans and pickled garlic, all stir-fried with quality shrimp and shrimp paste. The flavours are intense, with each ingredient adding its own distinct punch. This is one for those who appreciate these flavours – if you do, you’ll definitely come back for more. And while the food stands out, the view of Wat Arun from the dining room adds something special to the experience.

392/16 Maha Rat Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon. 096-946-1785. Open daily 11am-2.30pm, 5pm-10pm.