Bangkok Street
“How does this place survive?”
Thai food is very popular in Sweden. Phuket is one of the most popular destinations for Swedes in winter and there are many inhabitants with Thai roots in the country. Obviously, Thai food is everywhere. From small street kitchens, to larger and high-class restaurants. Bangkok Street, situated on Linnégatan right across Hagabion is somewhere in the middle. Somewhat fancy, somewhat basic.
Somewhat easy to miss, Bangkok Street is in a very effective location. Still, the place seems always rather empty. The decor is nice with some umbrellas on the ceiling, some neon lights (with Chinese script?) and overall a cosy atmosphere. The lack of people is only supported by the lack of music. Entering Bangkok Street feels like entering an abandoned Thai restaurant in a horror movie. But, once the service personnel notices you, they will be right on their way.
The menu is limited, to say the least. Instead of sorting by type of food, it is sorted by type of animal, so you need to study the description more carefully to read whether it is a curry, a stir fry, noodles or something else. When it comes to vegan options, it’s a bit of rock bottom. One dedicated option is available, and other than that, the menu gives you the disclaimer that almost all dishes can be made vegan. Yeah, that’s not helpful.
After asking for some dishes, it turns out, not all dishes can be made vegan, and in the end, only some stir fries as well as a plain coconut soup can be made vegan. We went for the hot place with a typical stir fry and tofu as well as a coconut based soup.
Despite the place being empty, it took a little while for the food to arrive, but the sizzling and steaming hot plate was quite the show.
The food itself is fine for the main part. The stir fry has too strong of a dark sesame touch and is hence mainly salty and rich, but other than that okay. The coconut soup has a quite fine taste profile, but the vegetables tend to be on the overcooked side.
The portion size is quite large as well, and you get quite a good amount of food for the price point. But this can be a disadvantage, as the last bites of the stir fry become quite difficult to swallow due to the richness and saltiness of the sauce. Both dishes are served with rice that is on the average side and too small of a portion.
In the end, you will be full and have had an alright experience. But this is more of a lunch place than anything else. How it can survive on Linnégatan by being always empty (I have been here 3 times) is unclear to me. Okay for once in a while and if you are in the neighbourhood.
Price:
Vegan dish: 129 - 149 SEK
The Verdict
Bangkok Street is an average experience. While the design of the place is done with some care, the service is non-existent, and the food is only okay. They make up for it with the cheap price and large portions, but in the end, it’s a forgettable experience.
3/5 Leaves
Pro
Good location
cheap prices for the location
The hot plate dish feels a little bit like an event
Con
Bad, unattentive service
atmosphere feels off
food is average
menu is difficult to navigate (sorted by type of animal protein, but all can be made vegan)
Not all can be made vegan
No vegan curry (always shrimp paste involved)
Location
Linnégatan 23
Opening Hours
Mo-Th: 11:00 - 22:00
Fr: 11:00 - 23:00
Sa: 13:00 - 23:00
Su: 13:00 - 22:00
