Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Whenever I visit this lovely city, I always gravitate towards food. Aside from its temples and rich culture, Bangkok is known for its wide range of delectable food. In June 2024, I spent a night in Bangkok, Thailand and visited ICONSIAM. Here's how it goes.
At A Glance
A Night in Bangkok, Thailand
We arrived mid-day at Bangkok. After a nap, my colleague and I headed out to start our food trip. As the sun set, we booked a Grabcar and went to ICONSIAM, an impressive shopping district and one of Thailand's most popular tourist attractions.
ICONSIAM
Aside from its unique glass structure, ICONSIAM hosts more than 7000 shops fitted for any budget range. It has the IconLuxe for high-end shops. It also has bars and restaurants at the upper levels. But the most iconic thing about ICONSIAM is its indoor 'floating' market - the Sook Siam Floating Market!
SookSiam Floating Market
SookSiam is a food hall at the ground level of ICONSIAM that is designed to look like the country's various floating markets. It houses over 3000 local businesses representing Thailand's 77 provinces. SookSiam highlights not only Thailand's food, but also its arts, culture, and tradition.
Its name is coined from the Thai words Sook (happiness) and Siam (previous name of Thailand). With these vibrant boat displays and decorated shops, we had to stroll around before indulging our tastebuds.
There was also a live band performance. It was lively and entertaining, but we ordered food since our stomachs began growling. Here are some of the mouthwatering foods in this indoor floating market.
We ordered the following.
Fried Oysters
First on the list is this savory pancake that's crispy on the outside and bursting with juices as you bite into the oysters. Fried Oysters is a staple in this region of the world but this one definitely hits the spot! It has a generous amount of oysters and well-seasoned crispy batter. We got them from Lung Yow Fried Oysters. I loved it!
Pad Thai
Pad Thai will always come to mind first when you think of Thai food. I guess it's not only due to its name having the word 'Thai', but also because of its pronounced flavor. This noodle dish is tossed in a savory sauce with creamy scrambled eggs, crunchy veggies, pieces of prawn, and a generous sprinkling of ground peanuts.
Pad Thai is always on my must-eat list whenever I have a layover in Bangkok. This particular version is a bit sweet for my liking though. But hey! It was not bad for 60 Baht (less than 2 USD).
Pork Hock Soup
People from tropical, warm countries combat hot weather with hot soup. Sounds counter-intuitive? Try sampling this pork hock soup with just 120 Baht (3 USD) on a warm day. It's comforting and refreshing!
The pork hock pieces are so tender and the broth taste meaty yet subtle. Just the way I love my soup. This is best eaten with rice.
Coconut Juice and Meat
This way of serving coconut is just so neat!
Since we plan on eating more, we had to clean our palate with this cute ready-to-drink-and-eat coconut. It's very refreshing and I got to eat the flesh conveniently for just 100 Baht (less than 2 USD).
Soft Coconut Crepe
I also tried some Authentic Thai desserts called soft coconut crepe. The batter for these crepes is made from rice flour and coconut milk. They are filled with chunks of fresh coconut meat, giving it an interesting texture and refreshing taste.
Skewered Grilled Pork
I ordered 2 skewers of grilled pork to go. They were conveniently packed with a serving of rice in a small plastic bag. So Asian! lol
I had these beauties for breakfast and they are savory and juicy!
Shrimp and Pork Balls with Salted Eggs
I also took some shrimp and pork balls home for breakfast. They are soft and juicy with a surprisingly savory and creamy salted egg filling.
These were delicious! I especially liked dipping these balls in that Thai green sour sauce they came with.
We were so full. We walked around for a while and dropped by NaRaYa.
NaRaYa
NaRaya is a popular brand of bags in Thailand. Their designs are highly stylistic and functional. From those cute little purses to functional mother bags; minimalist monochromatic bags to bags with splashes of different colors, there's a bag to suit your style and needs here. There is also the NaRaYa Tea Room especially thought-out for husbands to relax on as they wait for their shopping wives. So neat!
I looked for a bag for my mom and eventually booked our GrabCar back to the hotel.
How to get to IconSiam
We chose to ride a GrabCar since we went out at night. But even local taxi drivers here recommend the train or boat to avoid traffic jam on busy roads. Here are some ways to get to ICONSIAM.
Address: 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5 , Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong Ton Sai Sub District, Khlong San District, Bangkok 10600
By Car, taxi, or GrabCar
By BTS Sky Train
By Public Bus
By Public Boat, Shuttle Boat or Hotel Service Boat
ICONSIAM is conveniently located along the riverbank of Chao Phraya River and has its own ICONSIAM Pier. So you may also opt to take the scenic route via boat.
See this page for more info on how to get to ICONSIAM.
Other things to try in ICONSIAM
Having a land area of 750,000 square meters, this shopping district has a lot to offer. Aside from the SookSiam Floating Market, here's a list of things to do in ICONSIAM.
Shopping
Visit ICONLUXE for your luxury brand needs.
Shop from 500 world-renowned brands, 170 of whic are Japanese at Siam Takashimaya.
Shop and marvel at the different shops of SookSiam Floating Market representing the 77 provinces of the country.
Attractions
Take stunning photos of ICONSIAM Park and great views of the river.
Take selfies with the great view of the river at the River Park
Be mesmerized by the longest light and sound dancing fountain of Souteast Asia - The ICONIC Multimedia Water Feature
7 Wondrous Dining Zone
SookSiam
Tasana Nakorn
Alangkarn
Dining on 4th
Dining on 5th
Rose Dining
The Veranda
Tourist Card
Thinking of going to Bangkok, Thailand soon? Consider getting a smart card called ICONSIAM Tourist Card for free! (January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024). You just have to register online and receive your digital tourist card. Alternatively, you may also present your valid pasport at the Tourist Lounge if ICONSIAM (1F ICONLUXE).
Visitors with ICONSIAM Tourist Card can enjoy:
· Up to 30% discount in participating stores in ICONSIAM
· 5% discount on regular priced products in Siam Takashimaya
· Up to 6% VAT Refund for Tourists
· Lounge Service at Tourist Lounge 1FL, ICONLUXE.
· Free Wi-Fi
Please visit this page for more info.
With my limited time, visiting ICONSIAM is indeed one of the most convenient and comfortable way to experience Thailand. Within the vicinity of this shopping district, we were able to get a glimpse of Thai art, culture, traditions, fashion and food. I had fun!
To get to know more of Bangkok, let's explore some more. Check out my blog about the Boat Noodle House! It is indeed highly recommended for every foodie out there...
See you next time!
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