The Red Ant Restaurant in Bangkok

A look at some real Thai food in East Bangkok, far from the tourist shuffle.



One of my favorite local Thai restaurants in Bangkok is a unique place called the Red Ant, or มดแดง in Thai language. It has some of the best Thai and Thai/Chinese cuisine in Bangkok, and a healthy array of seafood.



The giant ruby fish, steamed, is a delicious "must" for your table to share. Everything is spicy, but you can ask them to tone it down, if you're only used to bland Western food. It will still have a kick to it, but there are fish dishes that can be softened.

Most of the dishes are from $10 to $12 each, so it's mid-priced. You'll probably spend about $50 for a dinner and drinks for two. The service is friendly. As the food is made fresh, it won't come quickly to your table, but it's worth the wait. The staff do not speak English, but there is enough English on the menu that you can point to.

The drink menu varies from fruit smoothies to soft drinks, teas and coffees. You can get a bottle of wine for about $25 (up to $75 for more expensive labels), or pay about $7 for a single glass. I noticed 80% of the list was made up of white wines, and the rest were red (no pink).

Comfortable Setting, room for large parties
The decor is beautiful, and there are giant wood carvings of Elephants and other animals (much taller than me) towering over the side entrance, which leads to the parking lot. Wood and green plants are the main theme. There is soft lighting that makes it comfortable. Most of the tables are inside in the air conditioning, but a few tables are outside in the fresh air. There are two floors, with the second floor primarily dedicated to karaoke, party rooms for large parties, and cocktails. After dinner, stroll upstairs and watch some singing while enjoying another drink.

Location and Getting There
The Red Ant is located in the east end of Bangkok on Srinakarin Road. The easiest way to get there is by Sky Train. Get off at the Huamak Cityline Station, and take a short taxi or bus toward lumsalee (just a few blocks). You can walk it if you're in good shape. You can't miss the Red Ant, especially at night, because there are 3 giant Ant statues climbing on its facade. At night, these are lit up nicely. There is also a large white balloon sailing way overhead with a red ant logo. The Red Ant is also about 2 blocks from the Four Wings hotel.

Give it a try next time you're in Bangkok. You don't need a reservation, as it's large with 2 floors. However you can reserve a private room for large parties. The main dining room is perfect for an intimate dinner of four friends, quiet conversation while enjoying good food and drinks. As it's far from the tourist areas, you will experience more original Thai food without the tourist hubbub, and there are no golden arches within 100 miles! Fresh air!