Tucked away on the northeastern outskirts of Bangkok, Sammakorn village is a quaint suburban community rarely visited by downtown-dwelling Bangkokians. It isn’t conveniently connected to the rest of city; there are no BTS or MRT stops anywhere nearby, and it’s certainly a good ways away from any of Bangkok’s main arteries. The communal tennis courts, beautiful lakes and well-kept public parks are reminiscent of something you might find elsewhere—suburban America, perhaps. The native legion of wealthy foreign and Thai residents have turned this area into a hotbed of excellent restaurants, which offer up cuisines and character you simply won’t find elsewhere in Bangkok.
These small Sammakorn restaurants all have a casual vibe, although their offerings often rival those of far more expensive and well-known eateries in the heart of the city. Come here when the chaotic routine of downtown dining has you longing for a quiet lakeside sunset.
That’s just the scenery you’ll get at La Mour, a casual, lounge-y restaurant situated on the shores of Sammakorn’s central lake. The restaurant serves standard Thai fare, along with the usual host of local beers and cocktails. It’s the vibe, however, that keeps this place crowded on a weekend night. Plush white couches and wicker furniture are set up on a large dock that stretches out above the lake. The sound of the lake’s fountain is only interrupted by the occasional acoustic bossanova set. When we visited, a hint of heady green could be detected with every passing breeze, a testament to La Mour’s verdant surroundings.
If La Mour sounds a little too quiet, try out the neighboring Hot Chilli, a rustic lakeside bar and restaurant with a menu featuring dishes atypical to Bangkok. Try the fried venison or wild boar in red curry for something gamey and interesting, or the ostrich sausage for something even more esoteric.
Apart from these picturesque lakeside venues, Sammakorn also plays host to a variety of restaurants serving up foreign dishes.
Murrah Farms‘s restaurant and storefront in Chachengsao is located near the entrance to Sammakorn village. Murrah Farms is a livestock farm focusing on the breeding of Murrah Buffalos, a species well known for its milk production. The farm’s own organically-produced buffalo mozzarella is the name of the game, with dishes like the ham and cheese bruschetta wedges, or the buffalo mozzarella sticks satisfying that urge for dairy goodness that’s so hard to come by in Thailand. Their pizza is stacked with delicious cheese as well.
Contrasting the light and airy mood of Murrah Farms is Sammakorn’s biker bar, AMP Saloon. The tattoo parlor-cum-restaurant is the very definition of badass, with muscle cars and Harley Davidsons parked out front. Forget the whole gourmet burger trend—if you want a properly done backyard-BBQ style burger this is where to go. These guys will form the patty right in front of you and cook up your burger on a standard patio grill. No fancy equipment or ingredients here. Order some delicious fried bacon to go with your burger in order to really make the most of your visit. There’s also a pool table and a great drinks list. This isn’t a place to just eat. You can have a drink, play pool and listen to classic rock tunes in the background. During the pauses between songs you might hear the buzzing of the tattoo machine next door, and it just adds to the joint’s overall bad-assery.
And there’s always the 24-hour Lan Kanom shop on Ramkhamhaeng 112 to satisfy all your desert and snacking needs at the end of the night. Some of their most interesting offerings include the ham & cheese cocktail, meat pockets and tuna puffs. Their non-savory selection of snacks includes some tasty fruit tarts.
Sammakorn Village is located on Ramkhamhaeng Soi 112. Look for the Pure Place lifestyle mall and take a left into Ramkhamhaeng Soi 112. The establishments listed above are on this soi.
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