These mom-and-pop eateries survived the retail area’s massive renovations and continue to serve some of the best cheap eats in Siam Square.
Mid-2022 saw the modernization of Siam Square, known as an all-time favorite hangout for the young and youthful, courtesy of Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU).
While the entire location has been significantly improved, with more organized footpaths and gleaming LED screens left and right, some locals and even visitors (who have been there years ago) feel like Siam Square has lost its old charm, and is now pretty much a copy of Seoul’s shopping mecca Myeong-dong.
But there are still some vestiges of the old Siam Square that still remain. You can still relive the area’s good ol’ days at many long-standing restaurants that have survived the retail district’s full-scale renovation.
Kluay Kluay, aka Banana x2, is still open on the second floor of what is now Lido Connect and still continues to serve fun interpretations of the yellow fruit. And well-known purveyor of incredibly pocket-friendly (compared to other modern and international restaurants in the area), home-style Thai fare Inter Restaurant is still around on Soi Siam Square 9.
There are several more long-standing eateries that, luckily enough, are still standing proud and holding their own in the new Siam Square. Let’s check them out.
Since 1981, Inter Restaurant has been serving “nice and reasonably priced” dishes that combine Thai and Chinese flavors on Soi Siam Square 9. It’s a beloved haven for students, teens, and office workers in the area who are craving cheap, easy eats.
📍 Soi Siam Square 9
⏰ 11:00-20:15
☎️ 0 2251 4689
This long-standing café-slash-dessert place on the second floor of Lido Connect goes hard on maintaining a menu dedicated to drinks and desserts made from, you guessed it, bananas. The all-banana offerings here basically epitomize what Thai students eat after school: deep-fried bananas, banana smoothies, bananas soaked in buttermilk (you get the drift).
📍 Lido Connect (2/F)
⏰ 11:00-20:00
☎️ 06 2879 2953
Koko Thai & Vegetarian Cuisine remains unbothered and is still popular for those looking for unpretentious meals in the area. The restaurant has been welcoming diners to its spot on Soi Siam Square 3 for more than 20 years with home-style Thai dishes, including vegetarian offerings that attract meat-free or health-conscious eaters.
📍 Soi Siam Square 3
⏰ 11:00-20:00
☎️ 09 6751 1473
Quickly catching your attention with its bright blue and pink exteriors on Soi Siam Square 2, ONCE Cafe has been around since 2014 and provides a welcoming spot for those wanting a break from the bustle of Siam Square. Settle down and relax with their wholesome sweet and savory offerings, including rice with omelette and shaved ice.
📍 Soi Siam Square 2
⏰ 11:30-21:30
☎️ 08 4777 7322
Piranya has been a go-to spot for pocket-friendly bowls of yen ta fo, or pink noodle soup with fish balls and toppings, for over two decades. The eatery also specializes in other hearty dishes such as egg noodles with wontons and barbecued pork. Its simple and filling fare is a welcome find in an area that has now been flooded with international chains and pricey fusion fare.
📍 Soi Siam Square 9
⏰ Mon-Fri (10:30-20:00), Sat (09:30-20:00), and Sun (09:30-19:30)
☎️ 0 2252 7195
Red Sun was one of the first Korean cuisine chains to expand all over Thailand. We’ve noticed that some of its branches in shopping malls have disappeared, except for the one on Soi Siam Square 3, which has been there since 2014.
📍 Soi Siam Square 3
⏰ 10:00-22:00
☎️ 0 2252 1395
The shop has been in Siam Square for decades and everybody—local or foreign—loves their soft, warm, and aromatic pandan pancakes. But You can also look into Siam Pandan’s other offerings: rolled pancakes stuffed with sweet or savory fillings like custard cream, sweetened taro, or sausages, and coconut pancakes.
📍 Soi Siam Square 6 and 7
⏰ 11:00-18:30
☎️ 08 6563 1690
This popular somtum chain restaurant had its start on Soi Siam Square 5 in 2003. It’s been around for two decades, yet this Somtam Nua still sees a long queue of hangry locals and foreigners who crave elevated Isaan fare.
📍 Soi Siam Square 5
⏰ 11:00-21:00
☎️ 08 0068 1022
Bangkok’s OG boat noodle purveyor first opened in Siam Square in 1998, and has since been everyone’s favorite for a bowl of hot and spicy noodle soup with pork and beef (and, of course, blood-infused broth). Tha Siam also has outlets in other shopping malls, but this yellow shophouse on Soi Siam Square 10 is the original spot that evokes a lot of nostalgic memories.
Tonoak Restaurant is where you can spend less for a filling dish with simple Thai tastes and creative touches. Menu stand-outs include Cat Rice, a stir-fried dish of rice with mackerel and shallots. Its name is a reference to the actual rice and fish dish that is used to feed cats in many Thai households.
📍 Soi Siam Square 9
⏰ 10:30-20:30
☎️ 09 7241 0651
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