Lung Lek Boat Noodle

3 Best Day Trips From Bangkok

"More open-air stall than a proper restaurant—think bright plastic tablecloths and a boisterous, cheerful atmosphere—Lung Lek is as unpretentious as it gets. It’s been around for some 30 years, and it's something of a local institution; in fact, people actually travel from Bangkok just to eat here. The place is inexpensive and clean, and it serves great Thai food, in particular one specialty: gŏo·ay đĕe·o mŏo đŭn, a.k.a., boat noodles. The boat noodles here are probably the best (and cheapest) version you'll ever taste. Lek has been perfecting the same recipe since he first set up shop, and the result is a hearty, robust broth that's less sweet than most renditions, and laden with dried and fiery spices, hefty chunks of marinated meat, and made-to-order noodles." - Marianna Cerini