2022’s hottest new restaurants in Bangkok (so far)
As we make our way through 2022, Bangkok is back in full swing and has already welcomed a number of outstanding new restaurants. From Mexican delicacies served atop Bangkok’s most popular skyscraper to out-of-the-ordinary northern Thai cuisine, there’s a lot to get excited about on the streets of Bangkok today. So if you’re looking for a new destination to add to your personal best restaurant list, these new kids on the block are impossible to ignore.
1. Ojo Bangkok
Opening hours: Daily, 11:30 – 14:30 and 17:30 – 23:30
Address: 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Sitting high up on the 76th floor of The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, Ojo is a Mexican restaurant unlike any other. Step through the door, and you’ll find a jewel-toned retro-glam space. The interior is inspired by Mexico’s precious metals and gemstones and delicately alluding to the mystique of Latin America’s cultural landscape. Besides the glitzy interior, you’ll get to enjoy the delicious menu while admiring the breathtaking skyline of Bangkok.
One of Mexico’s most prominent chefs, Francisco’ Paco’ Ruano, leads the restaurant. Therefore, expect inventive, bold dishes that’ll have you craving for more. The next-level Mexican food here is prepared with the chef’s traditional and contemporary Mexican techniques with imported and local Thai produce. Perhaps the shining star of the menu is Paco’s signature Ojo Guacamole, which consists of crab meat with red caviar that goes well with the corn tostadas. For the main dish, the Birria Beef Short Rib is a must try. The tender birria short rib is slow-cooked in a Jalisco adobo sauce, then served with a fermented hot sauce and baby burnt onions – delish! Moreover, vegans have plenty of delicious dishes to sample since the menu includes fantastic plant-based options. Be sure to try the agave-based cocktails or pair your vibrant meal with a decadent wine.
2. Villa Frantzén
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 17:30 – 23:30; Saturday – Sunday, 12:30 – 23:30
Address: 7 Soi Yen Akat 3, Khwaeng Chong Nonsi, Khet Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120
Villa Frantzén is owned by the Swedish chef Björn Frantzén, the three-Michelin-starred chef behind the restaurant empire the Frantzén Group. Helmed by head chef Martin Eström, the restaurant offers a sophisticated 5-course menu of Nordic fare with a touch of Asian influence. Each tasting menu comes with 3-4 options. Therefore, you can design your own course and have a distinct taste journey every time you visit. Highlights include the Kavring, a traditional Swedish dark rye bread served with salted Bordier butter, as well as cauliflower chawanmushi and morels served with yeasted mushroom tea, toasted hay oil, lime, split peas, and lemon thyme. The restaurant has two different pairings, including wine and non-alcoholic pairing. After your dinner, be sure to try some of their signature cocktails at their bar lounge.
Located in a two-storey house on Soi Yen Akat, the space is separated into two different Nordic-style villas: the cocktail lounge and the restaurant. Inside, you’ll find one of the most extensive open kitchens in Thailand where you can see the chef working their magic. You can choose to dine in the main dining area that surrounds the open kitchen, one of the 3 private dining areas, or in a glasshouse overlooking an outdoor patio. With everything that it has to offer, Villa Frantzén is possibly the best of the new bunch that you’ll want to return to again and again.
3. The White House
Opening hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 18:00 – 00:00
Address: 199 8 Soi Sukhumvit 16, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Take a deep dive into Latvian cuisine at The White House. Latvian Chef Aleksandrs “Alex” Nasikailovs and his team will take you on a journey full of sensory surprises through their 16 pairs of fine-dining Latvian fare with fantastic cocktails. We recommend trying The White House Experience, which consists of over 10 courses that are both visually pleasing and a feast for your taste buds. The star of the menu is the Gillardeau oyster, which comes with yoghurt pearls and raspberry vinaigrette.
Another favourite is the duck liver tortellini. Served with a shred of black trumpet mushroom, pickled grape, and birch sap syrup beneath a web-shaped crispy wafer, the unique taste will have you dreaming all day. Don’t forget to pair your meal with amazing cocktails crafted by Japanese mixologist Kei Sawada. His strange but pleasant selection of cocktails makes use of unusual ingredients like blue cheese and wasabi. Yes, it might sound extreme, but you’ll be surprised at how wonderful they taste.
4. No Name Noodle best restaurant in Bangkok
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 – 15:00
Address: 2 Attha Kawi 1 Alley, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
No Name Noodle is on its way to becoming the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok. Shin Inoue, an ex-cook at Rockment in Thonglor who learned more about the noodle culture in Japan during the Covid-19 pandemic, is the owner of the restaurant. Boasting a seven-seater counter bar, patrons can watch the chef craft his signature bowls with attention to detail. Furthermore, the limited menu consists of two noodle dishes: Tokusei Kombusui Tsuke Soba and Tokusei Shio Soba.
Each slurp-worthy bowl is made of up to 30 ingredients, but you can add more flavour to your taste, such as adding pepper-chilli oil to make it spicy. It can be pretty hard to eat at No Name Noodle since, like the menu, they offer limited seating. The restaurant only serves 35 bowls daily in five rounds of seven guests each. Therefore, be sure to make a reservation well in advance.
5. North Restaurant best restaurant in Bangkok
Opening hours: Daily, 11:30 – 14:30 and 18:00 – 23:00
Address: 8 Sukhumvit 33 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
The last, but definitely not least, best new restaurant on our list is North Restaurant. Gourmet Northern Thai Food is hard to come by in Bangkok. That’s why North Restaurant is a breath of fresh air to the capital’s culinary scene. Chiang Rai-born head chef Panupong “Nu” Songsang and his team bring lesser-known ingredients from Northern Thai provinces and craft them into a fun fine dining gastronomic experience. The dinner set menu may change seasonally. However, it usually begin with homemade sourdough bread followed by an amuse-bouche set. It consists of jackfruit mousse on a betel leaf, a rice cracker with crab hollandaise, and crispy fish laab.
Everything on the menu is delicious. But our favourite is the khao soi, which comes with grilled river prawns and angel hair instead of rice noodles. Moreover, to make your dinner even more perfect, a course-by-course wine pairing option is available. Moreover, the colonial-style house with a lush green garden definitely serves as the perfect backdrop for your special Northern Thai dinner. If you’re looking for more privacy, you can reserve one of the two private dining rooms with balcony views.
Whether you want a taste of Thai flavours or an international gastronomic experience, we strongly suggest trying these hot new drops. For more dining hotspots, check out our article on the best outdoor restaurants in Bangkok.
