Thai cuisine today is increasingly exploring its origins—rediscovering roots, traditions, and the beauty of local produce. By combining carefully sourced regional ingredients with time-honored cooking techniques, chefs are redefining the way Thai food is experienced: authentic yet inventive, rooted yet contemporary.
These three new restaurants in Bangkok are exploring Thai cuisine—mixing local cooking wisdom with stylishness—for adventurous palates.
Translating roughly as “from countryside entering the city,” Baannok-Bangkok or บ้านนอกเข้ากรุง is one of Bangkok’s new spots that brings rural Thai ingredients, flavors, or dishes into urban fine or casual dining with a touch of nostalgia. Think homestyle recipes reimagined for metropolitan diners—fresh local produce and authentic Korat-style staples, served in a setting that feels like home, yet refined with the polish of city life.
It’s where flavor meets community—KAENKRUNG creates a delicious link between Khon Kaen and Bangkok. The name blends the essence of “แก่น” (core) with “กรุง” (city), reflecting its spirit. This restaurant stays true to the soul of Isan, Thailand’s Northeast, while reimagining it for today. Using local ingredients and traditional Isan cooking techniques, KAENKRUNG crafts bold, contemporary dishes that surprise and delight the senses. It’s daring, fun, and full of character—just like Isan itself.
Soma Bangkok is a standout among the city’s newer “Thai-with-a-twist” restaurants. It combines traditional Thai flavors with bold innovation in a social kitchen format, where communal dining, sharing plates, and high-quality ingredients are front and center.
The idea is to take familiar Thai dishes—curries, stir-fries, grilled meats—and twist them: smoked ghee-buttered Massaman beef shank, tomato curry with fermented pork, crispy rice noodles with caramelised passion fruit sauce, etc. Ambience and presentation also matter. The space feels modern, thoughtfully designed, striking a balance between refined dining and casual atmosphere.
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