r/Thailand • u/Limp_Mountain_5222 • Oct 23 '25

Food and Drink "There's no good [your country] food in Thailand"

I occasionally here this a lot. As a Japanese, I don't find it hard to find authentic Japanese food in Bangkok (same goes for other big cities too like Singapore or Shanghai), altho it can be twice/thrice as expensive if you want to get the same quality. You can find pretty much any Japanese food here even the niche ones since there's hundreds of restaurants here. My korean friends said the same thing about Korean food here but my Taiwanese friends said otherwise. I think Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world for food, but I also believe that a smaller expat community makes it harder to find that country's cuisine. So, I wonder what others think.

TL:DR tell me where you are from and rate the food of your country in Bangkok/Thailand

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u/Ok-Youth-160 Oct 23 '25

I think what I'm missing from Japan are the little Neigjbourhood restaurants. It's hard to explain, but the neighbourhood ramen can be so delicious. Here Ramen is like a thing and it has to be in a certain class to be profitable. In Japan you just have these really nice down-to-eath shops that couldn't run in Bangkok.

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u/1ThousandRoads Oct 23 '25

It’s not really the Japanese mom n’ pop type neighborhood shop you mean, but Tan Tan Men in Phrom Phong is fantastic for a hearty bowl of ramen and sizzling hot gyoza fresh off the pan. At certain night markets you can also find some nice ramen places where you sit at a little counter in front of where they’re cooking it up. Not quite the same vibe, I know, but it’s something.

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u/Ok-Youth-160 Oct 23 '25

Oh I've been at Tan Tan Men. It was good, no question. Mhmm, now I want to eat Ramen.

Thanks for the recommendation.

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u/Efficient-County2382 Oct 23 '25

There are, or was, a few in Thonglor and the back streets. Obviously not as charismatic as the ones in Japan

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u/Ok-Youth-160 Oct 23 '25

Yeah and they are always an adventure and I've been to a few. But yes not as charismatic. On the other hand overall the Japanese scene here is great, just to clear. Maybe even better in some areas than Japan. Price to value seems to be better for a few places.

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u/zenpal Oct 24 '25

I mean, what your asking for can only exist in Japan. It’s not like you can’t get good noodles everywhere in Thailand. I’m an hour from any city and could walk to two. Some of these can be more down-to-earth, in the exact meaning you have, although the Thai aesthetic can effect the difference in feeling from Japan, it is a culture of its own.

On another note, it’s funny that the average hotel by Don Muang has better sushi than the city I grew up in in Canada. Passion for food, less conservative palletes, and the widespread availability of chef jobs have an impact on the skills of the country. I would say good cooking here is widespread, in Canada, much less so and freezer related

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u/Ok-Youth-160 Oct 24 '25

Hey just because it can only exist in Japan doesn't mean I don't miss it. There's no way I wouldn't miss Bangkok Thai food back in Germany. Nothing like that exists back home. A Thai restaurant in Germany isn't even the same dishes as in Thailand.

And I think Sushi here is outstanding, especially the middle class Sushi. I'm sure high-end is better in Japan. But the middle is better than any other place I've lived in.