Web Flavors
Five savory sites explore the best eats in Bangkok and beyond
Word-of-mouth buzz is often a better gauge for judging service-oriented businesses, like restaurants, than advertising, PR or reviews from snooty newspapers or magazines (except of course, BK’s, which you can always rely on). To find some off-the-beaten-path grub, ditch your clipped articles and pocket sized food guidebooks and go online for some first-hand reviews written by real deal food fanatics who feel compelled to share their opinions with the world through their blogs and websites. So if you want another source of reviews with personality, visit these sites and learn where you can find the yummiest treats.
Enjoy Thai Food
www.enjoythaifood.com
The flavor: You won’t find scoops or reviews of Bangkok’s newly opened swanky fusion restaurants here, as the site is strictly devoted to the street. What you will find is the lowdown on food vendors, where to find food markets and how to make your favorite traditional Thai dishes. “Basically we want to make it easier for people to enjoy the great range of Thai food offered on the streets,” says Richard Barrow, the owner of the website, “There is no point in paying 200 baht for a plate of phad thai in a restaurant when you can buy a possibly more delicious version on the street for only 25 baht.”
In short: There is a great list of easy recipes for common Thai dishes that is a great resource for foreigners who want to explore the culinary world of Thailand, as well as for locals who only know how to make an omelet (if that).
Jup’s Pintoh
www.jupspintoh.com
The dish: Jup’s little online lunchbox packs in a lot of goodies for foodies. Though not updated daily, this blog still serves as a peek into the quintessential Bangkok eating experience. There are little anecdotes and personal accounts along with Jub’s reviews, which offer vivid descriptions, giving readers the chance to practically taste the food she has eaten and written about. Her personal touches are funny and her writing style is easy to read.
The flavor: “My passion grows stronger each time I discover a new eatery or taste amazing food,” says the self-proclaimed foodaholic. So she HAD to get a blog going. Her tasty and humorous touches also provide important details such as prices, pictures of the dishes and her opinions of each dish. And at the bottom of every post there’s the relevant contact information for your convenience.
In short: The blog is great for people who love to read, as Jup’s reviews are detailed and informative. If you’re not looking for any restaurant in particular, the site is still an excellent guide about new interesting places to eat in Bangkok.
Real Thai
realthai.blogspot.com
The dish: This is one enticing blog, starting with its spicy “Real Thai” logo at the top. This food blogger is a professional photographer as well as a writer for Lonely Planet and the Bangkok Post, but the author of this blog, Austin Bush, relies more on images to show his love for food, “To be honest, I don’t really enjoy writing very much, so I tend to emphasize photos on my blog.”
