Restaurant
Gaggan
Chef Gaggan Anand's theatrical tasting-menu restaurant, serving progressive Indian cuisine with an emoji menu, ranked third on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026.
Thipsamai Pad Thai
A long-running old-town shophouse dedicated to pad thai, best known for its noodles wrapped in a thin egg omelette with fresh river prawns.
At a glance
- Type
- Pad thai
- Area
- Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday) · 09:00–00:00
- Official site
- thipsamai.com
Why we recommend it
Thipsamai is the name most Bangkok residents give when asked where to eat pad thai. The shophouse restaurant on Mahachai Road traces its story back to the late 1930s and the era of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, whose government promoted pad thai as a national dish. It traded for years under the name Padthai Pratoopee, after the nearby Ghost Gate, before adopting the name Thipsamai in 1966. The family business has since opened branches in shopping malls, but the original on Mahachai Road remains the one to visit.
The menu is short and focused. The house signature, listed as Superb Padthai, wraps the stir-fried noodles in a thin omelette and is cooked with shrimp oil and fresh deep-sea prawns, giving the dish a rich, orange colour. There are also simpler versions without the egg wrapping, with dried shrimp or fresh prawns. Each plate comes with bean sprouts, banana flower, chives and lime on the side so you can adjust the flavour, along with the usual chilli, sugar and fish sauce at the table.
The main branch is open from 9:00 until midnight and closed on Tuesdays. Evenings are busiest, when a queue often forms on the pavement and you can watch the cooks working several woks at once at the front of the shop. It moves quickly, as tables turn over fast. Prices are higher than at a street stall but still modest, and the dining room is simple. There are also branches at ICONSIAM and Siam Paragon for anyone who cannot reach the old town.
Thipsamai suits everyone, from families with children to solo travellers looking for a reliable introduction to the dish. It is not the place for a long, leisurely dinner; think of it as a quick, satisfying stop. Vegetarians should ask about options before ordering, as shrimp oil is central to the signature version.
The restaurant is at 313 to 315 Mahachai Road, a few doors from Raan Jay Fai, in Phra Nakhon. Wat Saket and the Golden Mount are about ten minutes' walk away, and Sam Yot MRT station is the nearest metro stop. Taxis and tuk-tuks are easy to find on Mahachai Road.
Thipsamai Pad Thai FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The Mahachai Road branch is open 9:00 to midnight and closed on Tuesdays.
What should I order?
The Superb Padthai, wrapped in a thin omelette with fresh prawns and shrimp oil.
How old is Thipsamai?
Its history goes back to the late 1930s, and the name Thipsamai has been used since 1966.
Is there a queue?
Often in the evening, but tables turn over quickly.
Are there other branches?
Yes, at ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon and Putthamonthon Sai 4.
Is it expensive?
No, prices are modest, though higher than at street stalls.
What is nearby?
Raan Jay Fai, the Golden Mount and Wat Ratchanatdaram.
How can I contact them?
By phone on +66 2 226 6666.