Wattana Panich

A Legendary Beef Soup in Ekkamai

We have been going to Wattana Panich on Ekkamai Road for more than 15 years. From the first time we walked into the small and very local restaurant, it became one of our favourite places for beef noodle soup in Bangkok.

The highlight is, of course, the famous beef stew. It simmers in an immense pot at the entrance, facing the busy road, and it has been cooking for decades. They keep the broth alive by adding fresh ingredients every day, allowing the flavours to become richer and deeper over the years. Just seeing that giant pot bubbling away is already part of the experience.

When we first started going, Wattana Panich was only known to the locals. It was moderately busy, but we could usually find a table without waiting. Everything felt very low-key. The restaurant itself is very basic, and probably hasn’t changed in 30 years: old wooden tables, tiled floor, simple fans spinning slowly to fight the heat. There is no air conditioning, and it can get very warm inside, especially during lunch hours.

Later, Wattana Panich started getting attention from food lovers and tourists. It was listed in the Michelin Guide for a few years, which brought in a lot more customers. The small restaurant became packed, and it wasn’t rare to wait quite a long time to get a bowl of soup. Maybe that’s one reason why it is no longer in the Michelin Guide.

But the taste hasn’t changed. The beef is still tender, the broth is still incredibly rich and aromatic, and every visit reminds us why we keep coming back after all these years. Wattana Panich remains a real Bangkok classic, and even without the Michelin sticker, it continues to serve one of the best beef noodle soups we have had in the city.

Wattana Panich Photos

More About Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit

12 Best Hotels in Sukhumvit

11 Best Things to Do in Sukhumvit

Tichuca Rooftop Bar

EmQuartier Bangkok Shopping Mall

Terminal 21 Bangkok