One of the things Bangkok is known for is its food. Whether it is easily accessible street food or restaurants, which serve different cuisines in every corner of the city, the Big Mango is foodie heaven. However, something that the city doesn't have a lot of, as yet, are places that are open 24 hours. Sure, you can settle for pad thai or bamee on the street, but we don't like settling when it comes to food and what we eat. Fortunately, there are a number of places that are not just open around the clock, but also serve quality food. Gone are the days of having to eat microwaveable meals from the 7-Eleven because that's all there is. Here are four restos in Bangkok that are open 24/7.
The Firm
Sukhumvit soi 33
Visit http://fb.com/thefirmbangkok, http://thefirmbangkok.com, 02-258-3644
The Lowdown
The Firm is a few metres down Sukhumvit 33 and at first glance, it may seem like just another nightclub that partygoers flock to when the sun sets. That is true. The nightclub operates from Thursday to Saturday starting at 10pm, and doesn't just focus on one genre of music. Each day is a whole different party, so if house music on Thursdays isn't your thing, come on Friday or Saturday when they have hip-hop and pop/mash-up nights, respectively. But while The Firm may be rocking and thumping at night, it's also a 24/7 restaurant. Their menu consists of an array of "East Meets West" dishes along with a number of local delicacies. This is the reason why a lot of its nightclub goers head down for a bite once the nightclub closes. Come on, you can't expect them to have a 24-hour nightclub, too.
Our Picks
The Firm has a pretty concise menu, something they chose to do to ensure that each dish is high quality. While that makes it hard for us to pick and choose our favourites, a dish we think guests shouldn't miss is the pizza. The menu has a number of signature pizzas, but The Firm allows you to customise a pizza to your own liking, for B380. Not only are the toppings delicious, but the pizza dough is one of the best we've tasted in the city. Their drinks are also finely mixed so that it's not too strong or too weak. The Firm Martini (B290) is for those who like their drink to be a bit fruity, but if you want something with a bit more of a kick, go for the O Captain My Captain (B340).
25 Degrees
Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, 188 Silom Road
Visit http://fb.com/25DegreesBangkok, 02-352-4192
The Lowdown
Originally from LA, this burger joint has been serving Bangkokians for six years. Despite being their only branch in Thailand, 25 Degrees has been faithfully serving customers around the clock with American diner-style comfort food. That means that while they specialise in burgers, they've also do staples like milkshakes and pancakes. Oh, and speaking of pancakes, the breakfast menu is also available 24 hours, so if you've got a hankering for waffles at 3am, this is the place to satisfy that craving.
Our Picks
Obviously, something you definitely shouldn't miss is their burgers. They've got three types of burgers aptly named Number One, Number Two and Number Three, each with their own special taste and twist. They've also got the Tom Yum burger, which is only available here in Bangkok. We suggest you opt for Number Two (B330++) for a good balance of something that tastes familiar but with a bit of something new. A burger wouldn't be complete without a good, cold glass of milkshake. And while that's hard to come by here in Bangkok (which is a travesty), 25 Degrees have got the classic milkshake down to a T. You can opt for the Malt chocolate (B160++) if you want a timeless classic, but you can also go for the Caramel milkshake (B120++), which is equally good and satisfying. We didn't try the four other flavours, but we're betting they're just as great. Don't forget their ridiculously fluffy pancakes stacked on top of each other with a side of sauces and fresh fruit. Oh, and they've got a lunch special priced at B420++, which includes burger, fries and a drink.
Too Fast To Sleep
Visit http://fb.com/TooFastToSleep, http://fb.com/TooFastToSleepAtKU, http://fb.com/Too-Fast-To-SleepSCB.
The Lowdown
Too Fast to Sleep is heaven for students who are masters at cramming and procrastinating. They provide a comfortable working/reviewing space for students and office workers alike. Not only do they have different zones that each have different aesthetics, they also have meeting rooms and VIP rooms that you can use to ensure privacy, where you wouldn't be disturbed. But it's not like there's any ruckus in any of their public zones: silence is maintained, but if you're thinking of catching a snooze here because it's peaceful and cozy, you're out of luck because that's not allowed. Too Fast to Sleep has five locations in Thailand, three of them in Bangkok: Sam Yan, Siam Square and Kasetsart University. And not only do all locations provide a place to study or hold meetings any time of the day or night, they've also got some pretty good grub, too. Because what is a review sesh or meeting without some good food?
Our Picks
Too Fast to Sleep serves up a number of drinks and snacks to keep you company. If you're pulling an all-nighter, they've got a variety of coffees; our favourite being the Too Fast Coffee (B85). For something savoury to munch on as you talk business, we suggest the Cheesy fries (B125), which comes in pizza, BBQ or tom yum flavours. If you've got a sweet tooth, the Choco banana toast or Bannoffee is your best bet to get that sugar rush you need.
Baba Thai
Sukhumvit soi 39 Visit http://babathai.com, http://fb.com/BabaThaiRestaurant
The Lowdown
The first of its kind, Baba Thai is a kiosk-ordering, self-servicing 24-hour resto a few metres away from Phetchaburi. Yes, you read that right: you order through a kiosk, which means no awkward interactions with staff at the counter, a big relief for us introverts with social anxiety. All you do is point and press to order, pay at the kiosk with cash or coins (they're working on making cashless payments possible), head inside and wait for your queue number to pick up your food from the kitchen. Baba Thai's menu offers a very wide variety and while there are a few local dishes, customers like to go for their Malaysian and Singaporean dishes. They've also got vegetarian and keto choices coming soon.
Our Picks
If there's a dish that should be on the menu of a restaurant that serves up Malaysian cuisine, it's Nasi lemak and Baba Thai doesn't disappoint. Their Nasi lemak chicken wing (B120) served with a helping of coconut rice that we think takes the dish up another level is something you should definitely not miss. Another fave of ours is the Cheese roti prata (B40), which you can eat as a main course with curry or as a dessert with Nutella, both at an additional cost, of course. They've also served a simple yet refreshing dessert, the Ice rambutan (B80), which is a great treat for the really hot days -- which is everyday in Bangkok. You can also go to their website to sign up so you can avail of a different promo weekly.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
TOOK LAE DEE
This restaurant is one of Thailand's first and legendary around-the-clock eateries. Head over to any Foodland outlet and you can find one of these bad boys that will serve you some good local food. They've also opened up their first store abroad in Singapore. Give the name a quick Google search to find the one nearest to you.
CHOKDEE DIMSUM
This restaurant serves up local dishes and, well, dim sum, and they've got a number of branches most of which are open 24 hours. Visit http://chokdeedimsum.com.
STARBUCKS
The 'Bucks has a number of locations that are open around the clock. Visit http://starbucks.co.th.
HOLLYS COFFEE
If the 'Bucks is too mainstream for you, Hollys Coffee is a great alternative. Some of their branches operate 24 hours. Visit http://hollys.co.kr and head over to the list of international stores for a list of locations.
KFC
If you've got the late night/very early morning craving for something finger lickin' good, KFC has a few branches open all through the day and night. Visit http://kfcthailand.com.
McDONALD'S
When all else fails, the Yellow Arches shine a ray of hope. There are a number of branches that are open around the clock. Visit http://mcdonalds.co.th.
