Rot Dee Det’s location – in the tourist-famous shopping district of Pathum Wan – might make you dismiss the restaurant as one of those designed to cater to tourists, but it is not. It is popular among Bangkok locals who want fresh, fast and flavorful meals in between snagging great deals.
This open-air roadside eatery at Siam Square specializes in noodle soups whose rich broth is like the Pied Piper of Hamelin – its smell magically hypnotizing you to get a table and order a bowl or two.
Travelers would appreciate that Rot Dee Det’s menu is printed in English, and that most dishes cost only 40 baht ($1.16). Servings are rather small, probably so you can try a few dishes without bursting your belly.
Sweating is inevitable due to the combination of hot soup and no air-conditioning, but each umami-packed slurp is worth every bead of perspiration. If you hate crowds, avoid lunch and dinner time as the place always gets packed.
Should you order just one dish, go for everyone local’s favorite: Guay teow neu (beef noodle soup).
What to order: Guay teow neu, Kao nar kai, Kao moo wahn
Price range: 35 to 60 baht ($1.01 to $1.73)
When: 11:00 – 21:00 (Daily)
Where: 420-420/1 Rama 1 Soi 7, Siam Square, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
How to get there: Take the BTS and get off at National Stadium; then walk for about 3 minutes to Siam Square Soi 7.
