Bangkok Seafood, in a Hurry

This here beast is a snakehead, and it was delicious. Served in a spicy hot-and-sour sauce that was kept on top of a small burner surrounded by ice, the snakehead is one of the many good things you can get at Somboon (Surawong branch, 169/7-11 Surawongse Road), a chain of seafood-heavy Bangkok restaurants. Closer in spirit to a cafeteria than a stuffy hotel restaurant, Somboon has speedy, no-nonsense, friendly service -- a necessity for a place that's so popular and crowded. If your Thai's a little rusty or nonexistent, there's also a handy (albeit abbreviated) illustrated menu. All Roundeye needs to do is point to which conch, crab, fish, or other dish looks good, and you'll hit the ground running. All four branches are cash only, and they're open 4 to 11:30 p.m.

Somboon Seafood [Official site]

-- John Rambow

Previously: Bangkok's Best Fish and Chips, German Food in Bangkok, Bangkok's Most Extreme Rooftop Restaurant, Chatuchak Market: Nike Cock Pizza