The best restaurants and cafes in Ekkamai

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.

Maynard Seekala’s humble eatery in Ekkamai is undoubtedly 2022’s most promising pizza spot. Hype is centered around its 48-hour sourdough bun, which is topped with sauces and seasonal ingredients from all over Thailand. Best of all is the restaurant’s unpretentious no-frills vibes. 

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

When it comes to Spanish cuisine, most Bangkok eateries tend to follow the rulebook to claim authenticity to their establishments—think very Spanish-sounding names, clichéd decor (Moorish tiles, and hackneyed red and yellow hues, for instance), and regional specialties. Breaking away from this restrictive reputation, Broken Eggs is a hip Spanish tavern that’s unafraid to inject a contemporary spin to tapas bites. Starting out as a low-key kiosk in Phra Khanong’s W District, Broken Eggs takes on a new undertaking as a two-story eatery in Ekkamai. Stripped off the typical decorative elements that permeate Spanish establishment, the restaurant is a study in understated cool. One wall is dedicated to a massive mural depicting an octopus, elephant and a hen engaged in some kind of culinary threesome. Opposite is a shelf stocked with European wine, with Spanish labels making up the majority. Thumping hip hop tracks blare from the ceiling, another unexpected element that establishes a party vibe. Broken Eggs’ menu was put together by Chef Jacobo Astray (also the mastermind behind private dining concept Gula), and features two types of tapas: a set of classic small bites alongside Astray’s own interpretations, mostly influenced by his expansive traveling. Start out with the sous-vide egg, a creamy effort accentuated by sweet pumpkin purée, sautéed mushrooms and salty Ibérico ham (B240). The deep-fried shrimp is another kitchen triumph, wrapped in bahn mi noodles, and given a tangy...

Tucked in the bustling Ekkamai stretch is this pad thai parlor which are popular among all-nighters after the clubs in the neighborhoods are closed. The highlight is the river prawn pad thai which comes out on neither too dry nor wet, served wrapped in omelet that’s filled with delicate smoky flavor and two jumbo size prawns with fresh sprout and bean curd served separately on the side (B150). For a budget option, a simple pad thai with dried shrimps is also a good choice for good old classic throwback. 

A champion of egg noodles with barbequed pork and soft-boiled egg, this old-school noodle shop morphed from a simple pushcart and is probably the most famous eatery of its kind in Ekkamai. Waits are notoriously long (its name translates to “Uncle Slow”) but the food is definitely worth it

Recently ranked No.10 from Top 50 Pizza Asia, this pizzeria offers the experience of pizza prepared at the bar then delivered to your table. With 48 hours of fermentation, you can taste the chewy hot sausage, peppers & onions (B590) or no.3 (smoked tomato, Parma ham, fresh herbs and truffle oil, (B590). Match it with signature ultimate caesar salad (B430) specially if you love the crunchiness of lettuce with the munchiness of pizza.  Park Lane, Ekkamai Rd, Sukhumvit Soi 63, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana. 02-060-8822. Open Daily Tue-Fri 5.30pm-10pm, Sat-Sun midday-2.30pm & 5.30pm-10pm

Joe Napol is back in the fine-dining scene with Nawa, a warmly-lit dining room in Ekkamai that aims to transform classic Thai recipes from the central region into progressive cuisine.

Japanese restaurant Yananiga, set in a hilly, tree-dense countryside near the city of Gifu, is known among well-traveled gastronomes for serving locally sourced game meats, such as wild boar, venison and bear, that are charcoal-grilled to perfection. UK publication The Guardian posited that it may be “the best restaurant in the planet” while the users of Tabelog, Japan’s most popular restaurant rating site, have given the restaurant the highest scores. Japanese tastemakers, including Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi, have claimed the establishment as one of their favorite places to dine.  Considering all these, it’s no surprise to learn that securing a seat at the restaurant is not easy. Yanagiya is one of island country’s many ishigen-san okotowari restaurants, meaning you have to be introduced by former diners or get “people in the know” to secure a reservation for you.  “The difficulty of eating at Yanagiya, from its location and its strict reservation rule, has inspired Masashi Yamada [Yanagiya’s manager] to open other outlets, to make the Yanagiya experience more democratic and accessible,” says Ben Na Nakorn, restaurateur and co-owner of Shun. Opening on the third floor of Donki Mall Thonglor, Shun brings a slice of Yanagiya to Thai diners, offering locally sourced and imported fresh produce that are prepared with a meticulous attention to detail.  While the original outpost in the rural Japanese town emanates a traditional and simplistic charm—diners gather...

Set in an old Thai house dating from the 50s, this Mikkeller location has a stylish, elegant atmosphere with that special, uniquely Nordic feel.