If you are looking to get a taste of traditional home-cooked Thai food but do not wish to burn a hole through your pocket, then Inter Restaurant is the place for you to go. With absolutely no-frills besides a clean dining area with a fast-food style setup, this eatery delivers simple but delicious, classic Thai dishes like the Crispy Catfish in Spicy Chili Paste, Tom Yum Kung and the Som Tum Salad. Flavorful, cheap and filling food, is what can be expected at this small restaurant.

Based in a couple of old teakwood houses, down a quiet soi (side street) opposite Pantip Plaza and quite close to the Indra Regent Hotel, this is a delightful setting to try Thai food. There is extensive garden seating under a canopy of trees or an indoor air-conditioned room on the lower floor of one of the houses. The decor includes large sepia photographs and cabinets of antiques, while the bedrooms upstairs are furnished with beds, draperies and cabinets. There is a large menu with excellent Thai dishes to offer- although none are particularly spicy. Try the traditional mieng khum starter rolled in a leaf, or the hot soups served on a small burner. Beverages include beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks. Prices are very reasonable. -AH

Tucked away on a subsoi behind Khao San Road, Kansai Fu is much quieter than many of the tourist haunts around; however, it is well worth searching out because of its very reasonably priced Japanese food. It has a small deck outside with one long table and inside are several Japanese low tables including some tables for two. There are stylish photographs on the wall and an open kitchen bar. Dishes include soba and udon, teppanyaki, tempura and sushi. Wash them all down with Asahi, Heineken, Chang, Leo beers, or dabble with sake and green tea - all excellent values. -AH

This is a two-story house with seating on the ground floor, upstairs, balcony and, later in the evening, out on the street on a raised dais. Diners sit on soft red cushions and floor mats, and throughout the place are decorative red drapes, low lighting and Indian lampshades. The menu includes many Indian favorites, but try the chili chicken (an Indian and Chinese fusion dish) or the chocolate naan for dessert. Lay back and chill out with a choice of shisha pipes or play table games such as Connect Four or Jenga. -AH

Wang Lang Market is one of the most bustling and lively markets in Bangkok. Famous for the exhaustive variety of street food stalls located here, a trip to this market more often than not takes up half the day! Wander around the crowded maze of alleys and browse through the local products being hawked at every turn. This flea market is a popular shopping spot not just for tourists but also primarily for locals, who you can see going about their daily tasks and stopping to enjoy a delicious meal before rushing off again. Even if shopping is not for you, make sure you visit Wang Lang to get a glimpse into the lives of the locals and enjoy some seriously good and cheap food. Look out for stalls selling muu daeng yang (roasted pork) and phad sataw muu tawt (stink beans with crispy pork belly) and finally end your food expedition with desserts like kanom krok (Thai cupcakes) and kanom buang maprow (wafers stuffed with meringue and sweet coconut or sometimes dried shrimp).

Street food lovers are in for a treat along the Sukhumvit Soi 38 in Bangkok. While the Sukhumvit area is actually lined by some of the best restaurants in town, this particular road is even more popular for the stalls along the road which serve some of the most delicious local cuisine at pocket-friendly prices. From pad thai and seafood noodles to grilled pork and soi-dogs, which are a vegetarian version of hot dogs, the variety here will suit even the most picky eater.

A colorful little restaurant on busy Thonglor, Phuket Town Restaurant brings the flavor of the southern provinces to Bangkok. The former shop house is decorated inside with a large mural of a Phuket street, an eclectic mix of knickknacks and wooden furniture. The menu emphasis is on seafood from the Andaman Sea and many of the dishes are representative of traditional Southern cuisine. Many dishes feature crab, shrimp or fish but there are alternatives. Try the Rice Noodles with Steamed Crab and Coconut Milk, which is a hot crab curry that has been poured over noodles, served with a variety of condiments. The restaurant is unpretentious, cheap and popular. -AH

Roast combines artisanal coffee-making with excellent brunch and tapas offerings. The nuts and bolts of this gigantically-windowed area is the huge black and gold coffee roaster showcased along the back wall, and its contemporary appeal is enjoyed by many who visit this place. Additionally, the inviting space offers the visitor a place to escape on the internet via wifi on its marble-fitted tables. It's also a wonderfully cozy place to brunch with friends in its retro cafe furniture, or you can have that romantic dinner with your significant other. In the evening, Roast offers a tapas menu in the evening, inviting visitors to experience its refreshingly Mediterranean flavors using Thai ingredients.