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While it’s commonplace to Google for the best Pad Thai near you when in Bangkok, you don’t need to anxiously wait until your return to the country to sink into a comforting (read Indian) fare. Besides the mushrooming of Instagrammable Korean-esque cafes in Thailand’s capital, we’re here to tell you that diners with a proclivity for Indian cuisine can now heave a sigh of relief—yes, the city’s culinary scene is brimming with stellar desi options in Bangkok. From cosy nooks that serve up the best grub to Michelin-starred restaurants that tick all the right boxes, we list five tried and tested spots that do a neat job of tantalising your taste buds.
Benares prides itself on serving ‘modern Indian cuisine with a unique flair’, without being outrageously expensive. The interiors are replete with black and gold furnishings and house interesting décor elements like the makeshift mandir-like bar cabinets and warm hanging bulbs that exude a cosy yet eclectic feel, enhanced by a soothing sensory experience as ancient mantras play in the background.
The USP of this fine dining restaurant in Sukhumvit Soi lies in the incorporation of cooking methods like Sous-Vide and molecular gastronomy, which lend a distinct flavour and texture to traditional Indian cuisines. Recommended dishes include the Goan fish curry, Kheema mutter, Benares’ Nalli Gosht, and Badal Jaam, among several others.
Where: 15 Sukhumvit Residences, Sukhumvit Soi 13
There are few places that rank well in terms of both dining and takeaway spots. Indus is one among them. Located in the midst of the bustling Sukhumvit Soi, the woody and dim-lit interiors of Indus are breezy and contemporary. The OG Indian fine dining restaurant is a great place to savour up iconic Northern Indian delicacies—predominantly inspired by the erstwhile Mughal Era—like butter chicken, raan, and chicken tikka with a side of fresh and fluffy bread. While their weekend brunch set delivers, we suggest picking from the a la carte menu for options like dahi ke kebabs, tandoori tiger prawns, saffron rice and tarka daal.
Where: 71, Sukhumvit Soi 26
On a balmy Sunday afternoon, while scrolling for decent Indian grub on Grab, I happened to come across Dakshin Indian Restobar—a southern Indian restaurant that specialises in Kerala cuisine. With a rating of 4.1, it seemed like a safe bet.
Cult classics on the menu include the Kerala porotta, Kallu shop meen curry, Kadala curry and the Kerala chicken roast in sizeable portions. The quality remains intact even for takeaways. The modest eatery focuses on the food over the aesthetics, so take your homies and only go for the food—rest assured, it’s going to be a gastronomical delight.
Where: 12/3 Soi Sainamthip, 22 Sukhumvit Rd, Klongtoey
New York-based restaurateur Hari Nayak pays a culinary ode to his roots through Jhol, a fine dining that specialises in South Indian coastal cuisines. This world-class fine dining restaurant boasts of many a delight, but nothing quite beats its most recommended sweet indulgence— a decadent avocado mousse-filled pani puri with passionfruit sauce, besides signature offerings like Inji puli, mini appams, Calicut pepper prawns, Tangra chilli crab and Alleppey fish curry. The Thai-influenced cocktails act as noteworthy accompaniments and merit an order.
Where: 7/2 Sukhumvit Soi 18, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoe
Fancy a well-made coffee kombucha? If you’re looking at an aesthetic place that feels good for the gram as much as it is for your taste buds, chef Garima Arora’s Gaa won’t disappoint. Situated within a 60-year-old traditional Thai house, Gaa mirrors the chef’s penchant for altering the narrative on Indian food with a renewed perspective. The Pescatarian-rich menu, in addition to the vegetarian tasting menu, is a treasure trove—with familial recipes handed down from generations and things taken up a notch with new-age techniques and locally sourced produce. Clearly, there’s a reason why Gaa happens to be the second Indian restaurant in the world that holds two Michelin stars—it’s the food and Arora’s Midas touch, which has patrons hankering for more.
Where: 68/4 Lumphini, Pathum Wan District
