Is This Bangkok’s New Chinatown? Exploring Banthat Thong Road by Day

After hearing that Banthat Thong Road is being dubbed Bangkok’s “New Chinatown,” I had to see it for myself. Inspired by my recent Chinatown video, a friend from our motorcycle group suggested that this area is now the hippest food destination in the city. Intrigued, we set out during lunchtime to explore what Banthat Thong Road has to offer.

Surprisingly, the daytime vibe wasn’t what we expected. While we did spot a number of Chinese restaurants scattered along the road, the bustling, vibrant atmosphere often associated with Chinatown was noticeably absent. Many eateries were either closed or just setting up, seemingly in preparation for the evening crowd. It felt like we had arrived too early, missing out on the nightlife that might truly define this area.

Finding a place to eat proved to be more challenging than anticipated. We passed by several empty restaurants with a lot of available seating before finally settling on a spot that had some local patrons. The food, however, was a delightful surprise—affordable, authentic, and delicious, making our lunchtime search worthwhile.

Banthat Thong Road might not be the bustling food haven by day that some claim, but it certainly has potential. Perhaps the real magic happens after dark. We’ll definitely have to return in the evening to see if Banthat Thong Road truly comes alive as Bangkok’s newest Chinatown.

Banthat Thong Rd