Thai Restaurant in Langsuan Road, Ploenchit
Baannok Bangkok on Langsuan Road is one of those places I keep going back to. It is on the second floor of Vivre Langsuan, right across from Portico, but it feels more like someone’s living room than a city restaurant. Warm furniture, old radios and vintage tableware give it a homey, nostalgic mood. The food is what really brings people in.
They serve proper Korat-style dishes, based on family recipes from Nakhon Ratchasima. I always recommend the Pad Mhee Korat with giant river prawns. It is simple stir-fried noodles done right, slightly sweet, a bit spicy and packed with wok flavour. The Kaeng Liang Kam Thale So, a spicy herbal soup, is a favourite too. It is loaded with local greens and prawns, with that bold, earthy taste you only get from proper Thai herbs. The Korat sausage is a great appetiser, sour, garlicky and perfect with sticky rice. And if you have room left, the caramelised banana with coconut espuma makes a good finish.
The man who usually welcomes guests is Jom Aiumporames, one of the owners. He is warm, always moving from table to table, chatting with regulars, checking in with the kitchen. He used to be an opera singer, and if you are lucky, he might sing a few lines while walking past your table. It is something between charming and completely unexpected in Bangkok.
It is not a huge space, so I would suggest booking ahead, especially for dinner. The mix is nice: office workers at lunch, families and people who come just for the food in the evening. Portions are generous.
Baannok feels like more than just another Thai restaurant. There is real heart behind it, and it shows in the food and in the way Jom looks after everyone. It is casual but thoughtful, nostalgic without being stuck in the past. One of those places where you order too much and stay longer than planned.
Baannok Bangkok Info
Location: Langsuan Road – Ploenchit
Address: 34/3 VIVRE Building, Lang Suan Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Hours: 11 am – 10 pm
Phone: 063 934 1416
Facebook: Click here
Price: a little high
Baannok Bangkok Map
The Langsuan Dining Guide
