Thipsamai Pad Thai
7.3Friend Score / 10#20 of 20 Restaurants in Bangkok
Known forPad Thai Sen Chanvegetarian pad thainoodle-free pad thaifresh-squeezed orange juice
Bangkok's most famous pad thai, made on Maha Chai Road since 1939 — the signature 'superb' version comes wrapped in a thin egg omelette, wok-fired over charcoal. Dishes run about 60-200 THB, open 9am to midnight, closed Tuesdays. It's touristy now, with branches in malls, and the queue can be silly — but the original still delivers the definitive version.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sun 09:00–00:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | MRT Sam Yot, ~10-min walk |
| Time needed | 1-1.5 hours including possible queue |
| Best time to go | Right at opening or before 6pm; the evening queue can stretch long |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.3/10- Value7.5
- iconic7.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level5.0
- Authenticity7.5
- Accessibility7.0
Frequently asked questions
- What are Thipsamai's opening hours?
- Roughly 9am to midnight, closed Tuesdays, at the original Maha Chai Road shop. The long hours make it a great post-temple or late-night stop in the old town.
- How long is the queue at Thipsamai?
- Evenings can mean 30-60 minutes, but the open kitchen's charcoal wok line moves fast and watching it is part of the show. Going before 6pm or after 9pm usually shortens things considerably.
- Why is Thipsamai's orange juice famous?
- It's fresh-squeezed from premium tangerines and famously costs more than the pad thai — a bottle can run a couple hundred baht. It's genuinely great juice and a beloved bit of Bangkok absurdity.
- Is Thipsamai overrated?
- The pad thai is genuinely excellent — sweet-leaning, smoky, properly chewy noodles. Whether the definitive version of a 100 THB dish justifies an hour's queue is your call; the honest answer is go at an off-peak hour and it's absolutely worth it.
- What's near Thipsamai worth combining?
- Jay Fai is literally a short walk down the same road, and the Giant Swing, Wat Suthat, and the old-town temples are all nearby. This block of Maha Chai Road is Bangkok's best one-two food-and-culture punch.
- What should I order at Thipsamai?
- The 'pad thai haw kai' — wrapped in a thin egg omelette — with fresh shrimp, plus their famous orange juice if you're feeling flush. The wrapped version is the signature that made the shop's name.
- How much does pad thai at Thipsamai cost?
- Roughly 60-200 THB depending on the version — the basic shrimp pad thai is around 120-150 THB, premium versions with big prawns cost more. Cheap for the fame, honestly.
- Are the mall branches as good as the original?
- Thipsamai now has branches at Iconsiam and Siam Paragon, and they're fine — same recipe, less soul, no charcoal theater. If you can get to Maha Chai Road, do; if not, the mall version scratches the itch.
Nearby in Ask Bangkok
- Raan Jay NuanRestaurant0.04 km · 0 min walk
- Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)Attraction0.25 km · 3 min walk
- Rattanakosin Exhibition HallMuseum0.36 km · 4 min walk
- Wat Suthat and the Giant SwingAttraction0.41 km · 5 min walk
- Romaneenart ParkPark0.47 km · 6 min walk
Where to stay near Thipsamai Pad Thai
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