Yo! Wassup, everyone! It’s Vic again. Teaching in Thailand can be incredibly rewarding, but after a full week in the classroom, sometimes you just need something comforting, familiar, and seriously satisfying. For me, a former chef turned educator with the BFITS Program, that recharge often comes in the form of a great burger.
If you’re planning to teach in Thailand or are already part of the BFITS Thailand community, here’s a little insider knowledge: Bangkok’s food scene does not disappoint. And when it comes to burgers and wings, I can share with you exactly where to go.
From Philly Kitchens to Bangkok Classrooms
As I said, I wanted to give you knowledge about the Bangkok food scene. I love food. If you were to ever come into my condo, you would need no explanation! My kitchen is set up for a chef to work. If you don’t know anything about me, I have been a chef and a cook in Philly (aka Philadelphia for anyone not from the States) for over 13 years. Now, as a teacher, I cook for myself and those people whom I call friends (lucky bunch, huh?).
Outside of cooking for myself, I do enjoy eating out. This can be at a lavish restaurant or at my local som tum lady’s stand, who loves to push the heat envelope. So, now you know a little bit about my background, do you trust my capacity for food recommendations? Cause I know a few restaurants and eateries which are worthy of many visits. This list here is my go-to burger and wing spots.
American Comforts, Bangkok Surprise
Before coming to Bangkok, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to have some of my favorite American classics. I’m talking about juicy burgers and spicy buffalo wings with bleu cheese dip. Maybe I should have done some more research, because I ate as many burgers and buffalo wings as I could in my last two months in the States.
It was a pleasant surprise, traveling approximately 24 hours across the world to discover I wouldn’t have to for cold turkey burgers and wings (whew!). That’s one thing about teaching abroad in Thailand — you expect change, but you also find comfort in unexpected places. When it comes to burgers, I have 3 places, depending on your location in the city.
Smash Patties at Good Burgs
If you are close to Phra Khanong or Onnut, check out Goodburgs – Burgers & Fries. These burgers are delicious. High-grade wagyu smash patties, artisanal brioche buns, and curly fries! I love curly fries!
Usually, it’s a 6-burger menu: from the simple “Classic and Simple,” with beef, cheddar, diced onions, house-made ketchup and pickles, and mustard; to the “Seoul Singer,” with beef, mozzarella, kimchi ketchup, Korean-style ‘danmuji’ pickles, lettuce, and ssamjang ketchup; to the “Oklahoma Blue,” with its ‘Oklahoma style’ beef patty, blue cheese sauce, crispy fried onions, and bourbon BBQ sauce (I like mine with the chipotle ranch sauce and bacon. That’s just me, though.).
These burgers aren’t just good, they’re damn delicious. There is also a pulled pork sandwich, a chili cheese burger, and another variant on the classic burger. Don’t just get the burger, though! Get some fried potatoes, please! A combo is only an additional 80 Baht more, and you can choose from regular fries, curly fries, or some good ol’ tots. Yeaaaah, tater tots!
For any of these burgers plus fries, you are looking at a 330 Baht (+ or -) meal. If you’re me, and order the extra patty on your burger, it will be around 400 Baht. Trust me, though, you won’t need to eat much else after that. Goodburgs delivers through Grab and has a brick-and-mortar location at Backyard Bangkok, located at Pridi, 17 Sukhumvit 71 Rd, Khwaeng Phra Khanong Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok 10110.
Juicy Dry-Aged Classics at Arno’s Group
Next, I would like to introduce you to the upscale casual burgers from Arno’s Group. Arno’s has multiple locations all around Bangkok, so you are never too far. There is even one close enough to me in Nonthaburi. You can sit in or get delivery from Grab. I usually get delivery for convenience.
What impresses me about Arno’s is their big juicy burger patties that are cooked to temp. I love my smash patties, but I need my medium-rare burgers, and Arno’s can make that happen. The patties are dry-aged and thick.
They offer several varieties of burgers, ranging from the French-style burger with beef, mushrooms, bleu cheese, and port wine onion chutney, to the Hungarian-style burger with cheddar, feta, bacon, caramelized onions, and tzatziki sauce, to a vegetarian portobello mushroom burger, to my favorite, the carnivore burger.
The carnivore burger is a super-sized patty, and I will usually get bleu cheese, bacon, and Arno’s spicy sauce. For me, this is as indulgent as it gets. Arno’s can be a little pricey. My delivery orders, with the delivery fee, are around 400 Baht. Add fries and one of the 8 dipping sauces ranging from au poivre sauce to BBQ sauce to Thai jaew sauce, and you are looking at a 500 Baht plus meal.
This place isn’t all burgers, either. You will find steaks, pasta, French fare, and Thai fare on the menu here. I just happened to get burgers from here. If you need to find one near you, just plug it into Grab or Google, and a bunch of locations will populate. Just choose the one closest to you and indulge.
Neighborhood Vibes at Fatty’s
The last place I will mention is like stepping back into the US again. Fatty’s Bar and Diner has the look and feel of your neighborhood watering hole, which just does damn good, simple American, fat kid food!
I mean, they got grilled cheeses, chili dogs, beer-battered onion rings, ribs, fried cheese curds aaaaaand mozzarella sticks, and poutine. They also make a mean, simple burger.
They got your reggae burger with cheddar, tomato, onion, and lettuce; they got a mushroom swiss burger; they got a bleu cheese burger. Add bacon, add chili, add an egg, add whatever the hell you want, cause you can (if it’s on the menu). They also cook these burgers to a temp as they are some thick patties.
Buffalo Wings Done Right
Remember how I was talking about buffalo wings? You thought I forgot, didn’t you? Nah, dude or dudette! This is the place for your wings. Your tangy, spicy, crispy, juicy wings!
These wings hit all the marks for me, and the bleu cheese sauce is also the perfect sidekick (maybe you like ranch, and that’s ok. It is available too!). Go ahead, get the wings and the burger, or any of the other just good bar eats here.
You don’t have to eat it all at once. Take some home, or order for delivery from Food Panda, if it is in your delivery area. Just so you know, Fatty’s Bar and Diner is located 598, 66 Thanon Asok-Din Daeng, Khwaeng Din Daeng, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400. I forgot to mention, they do have craft drinks here and live music. It’s not a bad idea to go with some friends to share all the foods while listening to music and having a few brews!
Teaching Abroad, Eating Well
If you don’t know, now you do! Check out all three of these places, as they do their burgers differently. I don’t think one is better than the next. For me, it’s more about what I’m feeling.
If you want smash patties and that fast-food style burger, go to Goodburgs – Burgers & Fries. If you want a little more sophistication to your burger, choose Arno’s. And if you want to feel like you never left the neighborhood, just for a bit, go to Fatty’s Bar and Diner!
That’s one of the underrated perks of teaching in Thailand with BFITS — you’re building your career, growing professionally, and still finding the small comforts that make a new place feel like home. Sometimes, after a long week in the classroom, all you really need is a good burger, good wings, and good company.
