Southern Thai "Gap Khao" in Ari, Bangkok, Thailand

Southern Thai-style "Gap Khao"

by Kru Bu Southern Rice and Curry, Bangkok, Thailand

"Gap khao" literally means "with rice". A "gap khao shop" is a popular type of cafeteria-style Thai restaurant where you are served a big scoop or rice and can choose from a huge variety of side dishes and toppings to eat along with it.

I visited a southern Thai-style gap khao restaurant called Kru Bu (which means "Teacher Crab") Southern Rice and Curry in Bangkok's Ari neighborhood for lunch and was really impressed with my meal.

rice with various sides and toppings in Ari, Bangkok, Thailand

The best part about this kind of restaurant is that you are always able to eat exactly what you want.

This shop in particular, despite being relatively small, had a massive number of options to choose from! You could pick any number of southern Thai sides, as well as some popular central Thai sides as well.

The family that owns and operates this restaurant actually come from the south of Thailand! If you listen closely, you might be able to hear them speaking Dambro, or "Southern Thai" instead of the standard Central Thai language that is most commonly heard in Bangkok (and which is Thailand's official language). Of course, they can speak Thai as well, and some English, so you don't have to worry about ordering if you can't speak Dambro.

lots of gap khao toppings to choose from

You can have a healthy veggie-based lunch or make it more meat-based as per your liking. Whatever you get, I always recommend topping it with a fried egg!

There are a number of southern specialties, including many different types of fish dishes to choose from.

options for rice sides and toppings at Kru Bu in Ari, Bangkok, Thailand

You get a big scoop or rice and can build your plate by mixing and matching all of the sides you want. If you can't speak Thai, it's still easy to order. You can just point to what you want.

My go-to meal is a side of vegetables, a meat (usually kun chiang, or sweet Chinese sausage), and a fried egg over rice. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with this combo!

vegetables, Chinese sausage, and fried egg with rice

One of this restaurant's specialties is their southern-style fish which is served with a delicious sauce made from sweet chili and basil. Don't worry... it's not spicy! The sweet chili gives it an amazingly rich flavor, and the basil adds a wonderful herbal flavor to the fish.

This is one of my recommended dishes if you eat here. It's incredible!

Thai fish with sweet chili and basil

Some of my favorite food from Southern Thailand

• Roti Gaeng Gai, or Roti with Curry from Phuket
• Sweet Potato Massaman Curry at Wat Tham Suea, Krabi
• Pla Muek Pad Kai Khem, or Squid with Salted Egg in Hat Yai, Thailand
• Kaeng Som, or Southern Thai Sour Curry with Fish Eggs in Hat Yai, Thailand
• Southern-Style Biriyani Chicken in Hat Yai, Thailand

More great things to eat in Ari, Bangkok

• Pork Ribs with Egg Noodles in Bangkok, Thailand
• Honey Butter "Waffuru" and Miso Caramel Coffee by qraft
• Fishmonger - Bangkok's Best Fish and Chips
• Sourdough Toast and Onsen Eggs by Eggistan, Bangkok, Thailand
• Khao Moo Daeng, or Thai Red Pork in Ari, Bangkok

Price

The prices here are fantastic, and the portions are really generous. This is a "gap khao" shop, which literally means "with rice". When you eat here, you are given a big scoop of rice and can choose a number of side dishes of your choice to be served with the rice.

Prices are as follows:

Rice with 1 side - 45 baht ($1.25)

Rice with 2 sides - 55 baht ($1.50)

Rice with 3 sides - 65 baht ($1.75)

rice with three toppings for 65 THB at Kru Bu Southern Rice and Curry, Bangkok, Thailand

Location

This restaurant is located at Soi Ari 1, แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400. It's just a short walk to BTS Ari Station.

Kru Bu Southern Rice and Curry (ครูปู ข้าวแกงปักษ์ใต้), Bangkok, Thailand

See the map for the exact location.