The best restaurants and cafes in Ekkamai

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 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

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. 

There's a brass pot at the entrance here that has been bubbling for more than 40 years. The kitchen never fully extinguishes it, so each morning's broth begins as a continuation of the day before, drawing from decades of accumulated flavour and collagen until the liquid turns dark, rich and almost mahogany.  That's the foundation for the kuay teow neua, one of Bangkok's great  beef noodle institutions: gelatinous, herbal, deeply savoury and perfumed with Chinese medicinal herbs, star anise and cinnamon. It comes topped with brisket, melt-soft stewed beef, springy meatballs and tendon. Choose your noodle – fine, wide or glass – then settle in at one of the ground-floor steel tables, non-air-conditioned, worn-in and exactly as it should be. The goat stew is the move if you want to go deeper. Dishes to order: Kuay teow neua (beef noodles), slow-simmered goat stew. Price range: B80-200 336-338 Ekkamai Rd., Watthana. Open daily 9am-7pm

Yes, it’s stylised as ‘Cüm’ – pronounced ‘coohm’. Inside The Office coworking space in Thonglor, this coffee kiosk serves respectable specialty brews, from dark-roast Brazil Santos to lighter seasonal blends. Then comes the limited-run ‘Cum Drops’ menu, with flavours such as Yuzu Cum and Butter Cum. The tagline, ‘Thanks for cüming’, isn't exactly subtle either.  125/1 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Daily, 8.30am-8pm

Ekkamai gets a lively new player with Somsak, a modern Isan spot from the team behind Fatboy Izakaya and Kim Jeong Grill. The restaurant is named after Somsak, a taxi driver who won the lottery in London before returning to Bangkok to open this personality-packed eatery. The space is full of personality, with music, colour and a slightly chaotic energy that sets the tone from the start. The menu runs wide, covering som tam, laab, grilled meats and sharing plates, all dialled up with punchy seasoning. Start with fried squid tossed in laab spices, or for seafood fans, garlic tomalley river prawns and pla dib with wasabi nam jim seafood. There are also grilled cuts and playful twists across the menu. Whether you’re settling in for a proper meal or just swinging by for a lively night with friends, this place gets the energy to match. Open now. Somsak, Ekkamai Corner, Sukhumvit Rd. Sunday-Wednesday 11am-10.30pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-11.30pm

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

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. 

After almost five years of operation, Kaizen Coffee has moved from its original branch at Tai Ping Tower to the end of Ekkamai Road, just a few hundred meters away. While the first branch has been turned into its headquarters and bakery, the relocated coffee shop now serves full-on meals in a twostory glasshouse-style building decorated with warm tones and raw materials. Kaizen has always focused on the character of coffee beans, wanting its customers to experience the real taste of coffee. So there are no fancy cream-topped, matchamixed drinks here; just classic cups like espresso, or the usual filtered, freshly brewed black or white coffee, served hot or cold (starts from B120). Non-coffee options such as fresh, sugar-free pressed juices are also available. At this new venue, the food menu has been extended to include simple yet creative dishes that bring out the best of locally sourced seasonal produce. Options include breakfast plates, pastas, sandwiches, salads and acai bowls. Our favorites include the homemade ramen-spaghetti with anchovies (B320), the pickled mackerel (B240), and the acai berries bowl (B270), which is topped with banana, berries and Medjool dates. Wrap up your meal with one of their house-made cakes (prices start from B75) or cookies (B85).

Mikkeller Bangkok was the Danish brewery’s first taproom in Asia, occupying a detached 1950s house on Soi Ekkamai 10, Yaek 2. A large green lawn and garden make outdoor drinking particularly inviting once the heat drops. Inside, 30 taps lean towards Northern European styles while pulling in strong beers from elsewhere around the world, backed by a bottle fridge and dedicated tasting room. Nordic-international dishes and snacks are designed around the beer, and the lawn regularly hosts BBQs. If you take your beer seriously, there’s plenty here to work through. 26 Ekkamai 10 Alley, Lane 2, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana. Open Monday-Friday, 5pm-midnight, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-midnight. Call 02-381-9891.