To uncover hidden gems, all you need to do is dig a little deeper. These dining spots featured on new series Hidden Gem are great to put on your bucket list. Here’s the list of eateries featured in the first season.
There’s a lot of indicators you can watch out for when on the hunt for good food in Bangkok. Many look at reviews, some ask their local friends, but a lot of times, there’s one sign you can swear by: with the sheer amount of competing restaurants, if an eatery is filled up even after decades after opening, they must be doing something right.
This is what the show Hidden Gem is showcasing; the restaurants that stood the test of time by word of mouth, the ones that feel local, yet with flavours strong enough to please every crowd. Here are all the spots featured on the first season of the show, now streaming on Netflix and SBS On Demand.
[Hero and featured image credit: Netflix]
All the restaurants featured in the Hidden Gem series on Netflix
Jok One Table, Bangkok
Tucked inside Chinatown’s wet market area, Jok One Table got its name from Chef Jok starting out serving just one table at a time. Now, he has expanded to five, but reservations are still mandatory. Chef Jok’s family has been selling crab for over 80 years, so expect amazing Chinese style dishes that are mindful about quantity as much as quality. Highlights include deep-fried snowfish, shrimp wontons, and stir-fried crab claw with curry.
More info: Jok One Table
Opening times: Open daily, 8am-6.30pm
Location: 23 Issaraniphap, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok
Nearest station: Wat Mangkon, MRT
Google review: 4.3/5
Moo Yang Kokea, Trang
Roasted pork from Trang province is truly a delicacy, albeit a bit different from your usual roasted pork. Three generations ago, this family travelled to Trang from Guangzhou (previously Canton) and started a business using their secret recipe fit for an emperor. Using their specialised traditional oven, you get roasted pork with insanely crispy skin, sweet in taste, and with a hint of smokiness that lingers for a bit. It also helps that the prices are fairly friendly — for around THB 400 you can get a kilogram of roasted pork.
More info: Moo Yang Kokea
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 6.30am-2pm
Location: 462 Phet Kasem Rd, Tambon Huai Yot, Huai Yot District, Trang
Google review: 4.3/5
Roti Saimai Mae Pom, Ayutthaya
Apart from sumptuous seafood and beautiful cultural sites, one of the must-tries while in Ayutthaya is the roti saimai (candy floss wrapped in roti), popularised by the Thai-Muslin community. Mae Pom and her family runs a roti saimai business out of their shophouse, and after much trial and error, they came up with a recipe that results in soft, chewy roti with delicate strands of candy floss inside. Order in advance to ensure you get to try their delicacy, or try your luck and drop by to see if there are any left in very rare cases.
More info: Moo Yang Kokea
Opening times: Open daily, 8am-7pm
Location: 51 U Thong Rd, Tambon Ho Rattanachai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Google review: 4.3/5
Jaii Noodle, Bangkok
Open since 1953, many hail Jaii Noodle has the maker of the perfect shrimp wonton; a big bite of shrimp, thin layer of flour, and cooked to perfection. Alongside the wontons are handmade egg noodles that are chewy and fragrant, and roasted pork rich in flavour. All of those are served with prices more than fair. A full meal is less than THB 100, and it’s what a hidden gem should be.
More info: Jaii Noodle
Opening times: Tue-Sun, 10.30am-7pm
Location: 480 Rama IV Rd, Maha Phruttharam, Bang Rak, Bangkok
Google review: 4.3/5
Ta Tue Jim Priow, Phetchaburi
After honing his skills as a cruise chef, Chef Tue opens up his shophouse to cook for diners in need of something hearty late at night. That need becomes a craving, and his little dining spot became a beloved establishment for Petchaburians all around. He has a special pork recipe that can be cooked in various ways, with popular choices included stir-fried with honey, stir-fried with stink beans, and served in tom yum.
More info: Ta Tue Jim Priow
Opening times: Open daily, 6pm-2am
Location: Tha Rab, Mueang Phetchaburi District, Phetchaburi
Google review: 4.3/5
Khao Lam Mae Khai Kong Sak, Chon Buri
Nong Mon, Bang Saen’s delicacy is khao lam, or sticky rice baked inside bamboo shoots. Mae Khai Kong Sak is as local as it gets, with a minimal storefront and no information to go from other than a location. Mae Khai is one of the OGs in Nong Mon, still using the traditional method of baking the sticky rice-filled bamboo shoots over wood and coconut shell, resulting in a lingering smokiness that goes very well with the sweet, creamy sticky rice.
Opening times: Open daily, 7am-4pm
Location: 1 Soi 7 Saen Suk, Chon Buri District, Chon Buri
Google review: 4.5/5
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Written by
Vichayuth Chantan
Digital Writer, Drinks and Dining
Writer by day, skinny legend by night, "Kook" Vichayuth works closely with Bangkok's F&B industry. His hobbies include bar-hopping, catching up with friends, and silently judging you from across the room.
