Nida Rooms Payathai 169 JJ Sunday

The restaurant inside Elizabeth Hotel is quiet and clean, with an old-school feel. It’s simple, well-cooked food rather than fancy plating, and the service was quick, the staff polite, and the prices reasonable. I had lunch there, and the crispy wide noodles with gravy were a real surprise. They were fried golden and crunchy, the sauce was thick and flavorful without being too salty, and it clung nicely to the noodles. The vegetables still had some bite, and the pork was tender. The noodles held their crispness in the gravy surprisingly well. It’s a comforting, aromatic dish that looks simple but really satisfies. I scraped up every bit of sauce, despite pretending I was going to eat light.

I stayed two nights and ordered the best-known dish through room service. It was delicious. A friend had the same thing in the restaurant and didn’t like it. Maybe the difference is that room service keeps the crispy noodles and gravy separate, while the restaurant pours the gravy over the noodles before bringing it out.

This is a handy place to stay while shopping or sightseeing. Chatuchak Market is very close, the metro is walkable, and Platinum mall and the wider shopping area aren’t far either. The hotel is large and busy, with lots of rooms. You can tell it’s been around a long time from the interiors, though parts have been renovated and updated with modern facilities. The rooms and bathrooms were clean and had the essentials, but there was no shampoo or conditioner. Breakfast was pretty good, with cold cuts and Thai rice and gravy dishes. There’s a food market called Camping Ground right across the street, a great spot for evening food and drinks. We missed it, but you shouldn’t.

We ordered everything as single-dish plates today, including both crispy and rice noodle versions of the signature Rad Nah. I found the crispy one too oily, and preferred the non-fried noodles. The food was good and worth the price, though a few dishes were a little salty. I’d love to see more sweets or desserts on the menu.