Chom Arun: Gorgeous View of the Temple (away from the crowds)

The heat in Bangkok when I first visited there was simply unbearable – a 5 minute walk under the sun prompts an immediate Grab booking from my end – yes, it was that hot. That is why, even if it was my first time in Bangkok – my friends and I could not bring ourselves to have a day dedicated to visiting its famed temples.

However, what’s a visit to Bangkok if we didn’t even get a glimpse of a temple?

Enter: Chom Arun.

It’s a riverside restaurant that has an outdoor roof area that gives one an unparalleled panoramic view of Wat Arun and its surrounding waters.

Diners are given access to its rooftop area (which was still scorching hot) but at least you’re away from the crowds! On a cooler day, it would have been nice to dine al fresco and savor the calm waves of the Chao Phraya River.

VIRGIN COLADA (THB150)

Even if the restaurant was air-conditioned, I still needed to cool down with a Virgin Colada (and let’s be real, I could never say no to a coconut drink)! The coconut milk was frothed into a slush and I love the slight hint of sweetness and tartness from the pineapple!

SOM TAM THAI (THB180)

I love Papaya salad so getting a Som Tam Thai was a no brainer. However, I was surprised about how much heat was packed in the cold appetizer! Despite being a spice lover, the spice level of the appetizer was a bit too much to bear!

TOD MAN GOONG (THB240)

We also helped ourselves to some Tod Man Goong – but unfortunately, their version was quite mediocre especially if you compare it to Benjarong’s. There was simply too much fillers mixed in the shrimp filling that made it disappointing to go through.

TOM YUM GOONG (THB240)

Fortunately, the Tom Yum Goong fared better – extremely fragrant and flavorful – this soup was comforting as it was spicy! I found myself drowning rice in it as I wanted to soak up each and every spoonful of this classic dish.

SHRIMP PAD THAI (THB220)

The Shrimp Pad Thai was glorious! Taste-wise, it’s not a big departure from what we’re used to in Manila – but boy, the chew you get from the flat noodles is unparalleled!

STIR FRIED SHRIMP WITH SALTED EGG YOLK SAUCE (THB300)

The Stir-Fried Shrimp with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce was another excellent dish from Chom Arun. You’d need to pair this with rice though as the salted egg yolk sauce packs in a lot of flavor you’d want to savor!

Overall, Chom Arun grants one a Wat Arun visit hack as it grants one a gorgeous view of the temple away from the crowds!

Chom Arun

392 53 Maharat Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Date of Visit: February 5, 2024 with Kerwin Chua, Mase and Dolf Constantino, Elaine and Gerrick Sy