Feast your gastronomic senses on this lot, for these are my recommended Bangkok eating establishments. This list is by no means definitive, but I’ve tried to include a restaurant for all occasions, budgets, and preferences. Go eat, Agoda children, eat until you can eat no more.

Best for:
Kao man gai
This place doesn’t have a name, but you can find it easily enough at Victory Monument near Fashion Mall. As you get to Fashion Mall, take the steps down to the sidewalk and you’ll see an orange internet shop; it’s next to that. You’ll notice how popular this restaurant is with the locals, and as far as kao man gai goes, I’d say it was up there. 35 baht is what it will set you back, so don’t expect any frills, but check it out if you are in the area.

Best for:
Vegetarian food
There are surprisingly few decent vegetarian restaurants in Bangkok, but one that stands out is Tamarind Café. It doubles as an art gallery and the interior is stunning. The food is prepared with care and attention to detail. Each dish is satisfying and showcases a fusion of Asian flavors with European styles. Expect to pay around 400 baht a head. In terms of the ambience, there are few places that are as charming and inviting as Tamarind. You’ll find it on Sukhumvit soi 20; take the BTS to Phrom Pong.

Best for:
Pretending to be hi-so
Another Hound, part of the Greyhound Café brand, is a fun place to eat. You’ll certainly feel like the place is a lot more expensive than it actually is. Most dishes tend to come in at around 200 baht, meaning that you don’t have to shell out too much on this old dog. The pasta dishes are particularly good, and you’ll be amazed at how trendy each of the staff looks, sporting cropped hair and numerous piercings. Another Hound is on the first floor of Siam Paragon, opposite the Armarni store. It’s trendy without a trendy price-tag.

Best for:
Steaks
There’s fierce competition for the accolade of ‘the best steaks in Bangkok’, and each candidate puts up a good fight. NY Steakhouse at JW Marriott comes close, but it’s a bit too formal. Prime at Millennium Hilton is incredible but the taste is just not quite there. My recommendation for steaks in Bangkok is Madison at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chit Lom. The atmosphere is just perfect. It’s formal enough to feel respectable, but it retains an air of individuality about itself that is not imposing. The steaks have to be tasted to be believed, but they don’t come cheap; go prepared to fork out 2-3,000 baht a head. If you’ve got money to burn or want to impress someone, this is the place to do it.

Best for:
Japanese beef
There’s something about beef from Japan. It has a unique flavor, rich and tender, warm and satisfying. One of the best places to try it is Amapola. To get there, go down Sukhumvit soi 53 and turn right at the end of the road. There is a beautiful al fresco area where it’s easy to lose an entire evening. The Kobe beef is the signature meat, and it is divine. Japanese beef is expensive (around 3,000 baht), but you get what you pay for.

Best for:
Pasta
There are a multitude of restaurants to choose from in Siam Paragon, but if you want some authentic Italian fare then you should head straight to Pasta Pagoda. It’s tucked away above the wine shop at the gourmet food market. The restaurant is tiny with a carefully selected menu. The pasta is made in-house and the dishes range from wild boar to red snapper, each costing around 200 baht. The moderate price tag is further complemented by a basic wine list that contains a number of Thai offerings. Before you scoff at the idea of Thai wine, it isn’t as bad as you may think. The pasta itself is out of this world, causing an awakening of sensations with every mouthful. If you’re into cigars then you’ll be able to browse the selection at the smokers’ shop.

Best for:
Pizza
I’m not keen on pizzerias in Bangkok, but there is one near Khaosan Road that is worth investigating. You’ll find it by the Shell Garage, down a side-alley, halfway between the end of Khaosan Road and the beginning of soi Rambutri. There isn’t much on the menu, but the quality of the pizzas is excellent. The bases are not too thick, so you avoid that repulsive after-pizza feeling. The restaurant itself is nothing special, with only a handful of tables, but if you are hanging around Khaosan then this is one of the better places to eat in the area, and luckily not too many people know about it. The pizzas cost around 200 baht.

Best for:
Burgers
Sometimes the simple things in life win us over, and Garage Burger is no exception. This place is great. It’s decked out in someone’s vision of how a genuine American diner might look, and it even has a large picture of Princess Di adoring the wall. The tortilla chips at the start are a nice touch, but it’s the burgers that are the real stars. For a snatch under 200 baht you get a gargantuan, bloody slab wedged into a bun. Coleslaw and friend potatoes provide a basic side dish. Garage Burger is at All Seasons Place on Wireless Road.

Best for:
Sushi
I try and eat sushi as often as possible, normally in fairly average restaurants during ourlunch break. There have been a few that have stood out but they’ve all been very expensive. One of the better, slightly cheaper restaurants can be found in Central World. It’s called Hou Yoo and it’s next to the lifts that go up to the offices. The sashimi is particularly good for the price tag. It’s not the perfect setting for a formal evening meal, but for a bite to eat at lunch-time, or something quick and simple in the evening, it’s certainly up to scratch. You can eat a decent meal for around 400 baht.

Best for:
A buffet
The buffet at the Millennium Hilton is very good, as is the buffet at the Sheraton, but the best buffet in Bangkok is at The Living Room in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, Chit Lom BTS station. It’s ridiculously expensive, costing around 1,700 baht per person, but the food is exceptional. Everything from the well-prepared sushi to the exuberantly succulent lamb chops screams out for your attention. French people will go bananas at the sight of the cheese selection.

Best for:
Indian
Our pick of the Indian restaurants in Bangkok is Kashmir between Sukhumvit soi 21 and 23. You can walk there from the Asok BTS or Sukhumvit MRT station. The restaurant is small but authentic, and chances are there will be a Bollywood movie blaring out of the TV. It is moderately priced, with a decent meal costing around 500 baht a head. It’s well worth the money.

Eating out in Bangkok is almost a past-time when you take into account the variety of great food on offer. Every meal becomes like an adventure, and no matter where you are or what time it is, you will always be able to find something to eat, from the simplest street food to the most lavish in hotel dining.