MBK Mall Bangkok: A Great Place to Rest from the Heat

2020-02-16 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

A large portrait mural painted on the exterior wall of a building and a cat statue in the plaza in front of it

Maybe it's because I walked around all day yesterday and got into water fights, but my body felt heavy as soon as I woke up. Plus, the Indian guys sharing my guesthouse room were so loud that I don't think I got any proper rest. I was just zoning out in the lobby wondering what to do today when Moss messaged me on Facebook asking what I was up to.

"I'm just chilling. Any good places to go?"

I asked, and he suggested we eat and play games at MBK before meeting up with the others. So, we made a sudden plan to go to MBK Mall.

A large arch-shaped structure with a green and white striped pattern erected at the entrance of the street — The streets of Siam, where people will be endlessly throwing water again today.

MBK Mall was surprisingly tricky to find. Unlike COEX or IFC in Seoul where there's just one mall name, there are three or four malls connected to each other here. I was at Siam Discovery Mall, wandering around lost trying to find the place located diagonally across the intersection. Thanks to my local friend coming to pick me up, I managed to eat on time despite having no sense of direction.

Various Thai food models, including Pad Thai and oyster omelet, displayed in a showcase

Inside a spacious food court with many people sitting at tables and eating

Since it was a late lunch and I had skipped breakfast, we ate first. We went to MBK Food Island, which I remember being on the 5th floor, and it felt just like a typical food court back home. It was really nice to encounter such a familiar space. You get a postpaid card first, go to the stalls you want, order and receive your food, and then pay at the end. I think some places in Seoul introduced this system too, but I believe they eventually switched back to regular cash and cards.

If you don't know what to eat near Siam, the mall is a pretty good option. There's plenty of food, and besides Thai cuisine, there are various international styles to choose from depending on your taste. If you want to try a Thai version of Korean food, you can come here. Assuming that shop hasn't gone out of business, of course.

A gray one-day card with MBK FOOD ISLAND written on it — The postpaid card. It's a slightly outdated payment system in Korea, but it's fun to see it in Bangkok.

A food ordering counter with a Thai sign inside the food court

A plate of Pad Thai topped with shrimp and served with peanut powder — Shrimp Pad Thai

Plates of shrimp Pad Thai, oyster omelet, and yellow rice placed on a table

A golden-brown seafood pancake and red sauce served on a black iron skillet — I forgot what this was.

An employee assisting with payment at the cashier counter in MBK Mall — It seems pretty complicated, so when in doubt, just copy what other people are doing. English doesn't work very well here, so I hope you manage to eat well using context clues and body language.

After eating, Moss and I changed floors for one of today's most important itineraries: visiting the arcade. I thought it would be small and nothing special, but it actually seems bigger than the ones in Seoul and has more types of games. It gives off the vibe of the early 2000s when there were a few massive arcades around, which have mostly disappeared now. It's the kind of place where people who feel like absolute masters, rather than casual visitors, are pouring all their energy into their respective arcade cabinets. Fighting games like Tekken aren't very popular here; the dance games are where it's at. If you think there's no one left to beat in Seoul, it might be worth coming here for a challenge...

Inside an arcade with an air hockey table and various arcade game machines

When you see it in person, you really can't stop watching, as if you're possessed.