4 oh-so-authentic Thai restaurants worth the cab fare

The suburbs? Oh yes, them. You’re too far away from them. You’re too busy for them. You’re too good for them. Or maybe you’re just too dumb for them. Because if you want to taste some scrumptious, realer-than-real Thai food, you need to get your rear out of town. 

Especially if you’ve explored every Thai culinary cranny of the Silom-Sukhumvit-Siam triangle. More authentic flavors, not to mention hard-to-find regional Thai cuisines and an elusive countryside atmosphere, can be found outside the city center. Here are four restaurants worth getting your ‘burb on for:

There are hundreds of restaurants in Bangkok serving the food of Thailand’s northeastern provinces -- Issarn -- but few are this consistently delicious while offering a diverse menu. Even fewer have a website. Access Crokmai Thai Lao by taxi from the Mo Chit BTS station.  

6/257 Muu 1, Soi Ladplakhao 24, off Kaset-Navamin Highway, tel +66 (0)2 570 6234 

Located just across the river in Thonburi, Dao Tai has a reputation for excellent southern-style Thai food.  Although southern cooking is typically associated with intense spiciness, the curries and soups here are expertly balanced. To get there, take a taxi from the Krung Thonburi BTS station.  

508/26 Thanon Phran Nok, Thonburi, tel +66 (0)2 412 2385

Maan Mueng is well outside the centre of town, but diners will think nothing of the drive after experiencing the old school Lanna atmosphere and some of the best northern-style cooking outside of Chiang Mai. Maan Mueng Can be reached by taxi from the Thailand Cultural Center MRT station.  

162 Thanon Ramkhamhaeng, tel +66 (0)81 913 3413 or +66 (0)81 771 1708

The self-proclaimed “King of Biryani” creates his signature dish with beef, fish or chicken. He also offers other Muslim faves such as roti, mataba, rich curries and a deliciously tart oxtail soup. Access by taxi from the Mo Chit BTS station. 

Kaset-Navamin Highway, near Wang Hin Intersection, tel +66 (0)85 136 2864 or +66 (0)89 923 8099