The best restaurants and cafes in Ekkamai

Get ready to test just how wide you can open your mouth at Pinki's Deli, a newly opened sandwich spot at the Earth Ekkamai project. Giant, fully loaded sandwiches packed to the brim with fillings in every single bite. Bestseller ‘OG Melt’ brings together tuna, shiso pesto, mustard and gooey melted cheese inside your choice of sourdough – plain or spiked with jalapenos and cheese. One bite and you'll experience an explosion of juicy flavours: the bright tang of lemon, the creaminess of cheese and a gentle herbal aroma all blending together. It's a true sourdough lover's delight, an indulgent sandwich experience you'll want to try at least once. That aside, the coffee is also top notch, served fresh and hot just as you like it. Pinki’s Deli. Earth Ekkamai, Watthana. 7.15am-4pm

Originally a viral hit in Singapore, Pralet has landed in Ekkamai and wasted no time making itself at home. The format here is unusual – square sourdough doughnuts, made using a natural starter that's been kept alive for over 14 years and bubbles up through a 72-hour fermentation process that yields dough that's genuinely light and notably not greasy. The burnt butter honey glaze is the shop’s signature: glossy, fragrant, sweet against a faintly bitter note. For the more adventurous, the catfish nam prik doughnut – crispy fish, prawn floss, kaffir lime and dried kombu – is worth the leap. If that’s a step too far, pistachio raspberry crunch rounds things out for the more gourmet-leaning crowd. Pralet BKK. Ekkamai Corner. 9am-8pm

What started as a Singaporean-style fried chicken shop in Nang Linchi back in 2014 took a memorable (and honestly surprising) turn when the doughnuts stole the show. Brassica led into the popularity and is now best  known for its distinctively chewy, cream-filled, doughnuts. The crème brûlée, filled with vanilla custard and finished with a properly torched sugar crust is the menu's undisputed star. There's a savoury side too (remember, they started as a chicken shop), with really good fried chicken mentaiko, a kaya butter brûlée inspired by kaya toast and a donut flan – a sandwich-style doughnut filled with silky French-style egg custard. Savoury and sweet all in one box.  Brassica Doughnuts. Ekkamai Soi 12. 9am-6pm,  Closed Monday

What is it: A compact, independent deli in Ekamai operating with the energy of a neighbourhood institution: small, opinionated about what goes on a sandwich and loyal to its regulars. OG Tuna Melt is the house classic. Why we love it: In a city where tuna melts are increasingly elaborate constructions, the OG at Pinki's holds its ground by just being really good. Tuna with shiso pesto, wholegrain mustard, cheddar, mozzarella, red onion and a hit of lemon – every element accounted for, nothing superfluous. The Ekamai setting suits it: the neighbourhood has a slower pace than Thonglor or Phrom Phong and this is that kind of sandwich. Time Out tip: Beyond its Earth Ekamai home base, Pinki also makes pop-up appearances. Right now it is at Central Embassy until April 30. Pinki's Deli. OG Tuna Melt B250. Earth Ekamai, Ekamai, Watthana. Daily 7.15am-4pm (last order 3.30pm).

100 Mahaseth, the restaurant near Charoenkrung that has elevated nose-to-tail eating and given a gourmet twist to less appreciated meat cuts, has branched out to Ekkamai. The new dining room boasts a more casual bar vibe, and serves creative tipples to go with soulful dishes that celebrate locally sourced ingredients from the northern and Isaan region. Wooden details permeate the establishment’s two floors, giving the feel of one of those suan arhaarn eateries outside Bangkok. Chef/owner Chalee Kader wants this second branch to feel less formal, designing it as a casual dining spot before party-goers hit the watering holes and clubs in the area. There are plans to include more tapas-style bites in the menu but, for now, you can enjoy 100 Mahaseth’s popular fusion dishes such as American-style beef pho and sai oeur hotdog. The restaurant also gives Isaan food a creative twist. The som tum ponlamai (spicy fruit salad) mixes pineapple with plara (fermented fish sauce),cockles and sliced green taro. For heavier fare, order the grilled bavette (locally sourced) served with a sauce of bai ya nang (bamboo grass) and grilled onion flower stem, or the Western-style blood sausage with spicy larb. Pair these boldly flavored dishes with drinks that pile on Thai spirits. Chamchan is a heady concoction that combines Isaan rum and New Moon (a spirit made from fermented jasmine rice) with lemon juice, purple lemonade and a shot of M150. Equally fun is Nam Dang Lumyong, which brings back...

Tucked away in Ekkamai Soi 23, this unassuming spot serves a crab meat omelette that’s anything but ordinary, alongside other seafood classics. Though calling it a “hidden gem” might sound predictable, it truly earns the title. The real draw is its local favourites, like the substantial crab omelette (B700) and a tom yum seafood (B260) that delivers on that essential spicy-sour kick. If you’re passing through from Khlong Tan station, this low-key eatery could be just the spot to pause, refuel, and savour some authentic flavours. 51 Ekkamai Soi 23, Khlong Tan Nuea. 086-044-9478. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-3.30pm. Closed Sun

An artful bakery where each croissant is served fresh from the oven. Try playful creations like the six-eye spectre cookie (B130) or sun-kissed strawberry crust (B359). For a local spin, there’s a Thai tea custard croissant (B129) or pandan custard (B159), offering a familiar flavour profile in flaky form.

After spending almost two decades managing footwear companies throughout Asia, New York-born Jonathan Spearman is stepping into a completely different role behind the kitchen counter. At his new shop Pizzeria Mazzie, the pizza place that’s got everyone talking, Jonathan tosses the flavors of New York and more into amazingly delicious pies. Tucked inside shopping and dining complex Park Lane, Pizzeria Mazzie evokes the cozy and boisterous vibe of pizza shops scattered throughout NYC’s neighborhoods. There’s a touch of elegance from the heavy use of marble, while the dominant use of black and white gives the whole space a masculine chic feel. Take a seat at the white marbled bar and witness thin-crust rounds being cooked in a gigantic woodfired oven. Just like the perfect New York-style pizza, the slices churned out at Pizzeria Mazzie have a crispy crust that still retains a chewy texture. Toppings are varied and, at times, unexpected. For an authentic NYC pizza experience, go for the Pizzeria Mazzie Brooklyn Classic Cheese (B350), a simple choice that packs in the flavors of house-cooked tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, parmesan and oregano. No.3 (B450) features an adventurous approach to pizza that traditionalists may shun—a combination of cooked coppa di parma and aromatic truffle oil. The Hot Hipster (B510) is another unusual yet delicious creation, mixing spice-infused wildflower honey with spicy Calabria salami. Also worth mentioning are the pizzeria’s excellent...

What is it?: Chef Francesco Lenzi’s Italian eatery in Soi Phrom Si brings the tastes of Tuscany to Bangkok. Why we love it: The art of charcoal wood-fired grilling is much in evidence here with Chef Stefano Merlo leading the charge. Having honed his skills at three-star Michelin restaurant Le Calendre, Merlo knows how to cook with fire and flair. For a meaty delight, try grilled Tasmanian grass-fed lamb chop (B1,280) – tender, medium-rare lamb paired with a creamy carrot puree. Alternatively, if you’re really hungry, a hearty serving of roast beef (B3,800) will do the trick. Made with top-tier Black Angus beef from Australia, this 500g sirloin is grilled to perfection, robed in a rich red wine sauce, and topped with a Parmesan samayon – a silky sauce made with egg yolks, sugar and wine.  Time Out tip: For dessert, the restaurant keeps it classic with Italian favourites such as bomboloncini ripieni (B230), which is deep-fried doughnuts stuffed with creamy Italian goodness and drizzled with berry sauce.

Sit back, relax and enjoy your tea at Peace, the oriental teahouse created by Teerachai Limpapaitoon, a tea expert who loves to educate Thais on Japanese and Chinese tea. The minimally decorated space serves Gyokuro, the king of Japanese green tea, in three different ways – cold brew, hot brew and with yuzu sauce. If you’re Chinese tea fan, try the Jinjunmei, a red tea that gives off a distinctive flavor when brewed in different temperatures. There are also cold drinks such as the Green Espresso matcha latte, served in cold bowls instead of with ice (said to ruin the flavor). Koicha Cream, their version of homemade milk ice cream is also a must. If you can’t finish the ice cream, just let it melt and drink it as matcha latte.