A little cubbyhole of a restaurant off noisy Charoen Krung, often referred to as New Road, that's a favorite among locals. The setting is simple and cramped, with big heavy tables and wooden chairs, but it's the red pork and roast duck ­ often sold out before closing time ­ plus the bargain prices that keep the crowds coming back for more.

Street food on Sukhumvit at the intersection with Soi 36, next to the Thonglor Skytrain Station, has for many years earned its reputation for great street dining. The district stretches along Soi 36 for some 50 meters and is home to a wide variety of Thai open-air restaurants. Evenings it expands further, with more restaurants opening on the sides of the street. The cuisine is basic Thai and some Chinese on folding tables and chairs, and you're far enough away from Sukhumvit to be able to hear each other speak.

Bustling Yaoworat Road in the center of Chinatown becomes a culinary hotspot at night, with restaurants spilling off the footpaths onto the street itself. Most are open only at night and serve great food ­ most places specialize in seafood and the activity equals the quality of the food. Don't expect high-end dining though: the folding tables tend to slant, stools suffice for seats, crowds surround and street noise thunders. But it's a fun place, and the food is world class.