CHACHAWAN

One can encounter a Thai eatery practically at every street corner in this city, but when it comes to authentic Isaan fare—from the northern region of Thailand—no place does it quite like the Hollywood Road-located restaurant. Stepping into the rustic two-floor, vintage posters-lined space and buzzy revelry felt like teleporting right onto the bustling streets of Chiang Mai, especially if you sit at the kitchen bar to catch chefs in the thick of the action. Chachawan is known for their salads and grilled meats—the green papaya salad with crispy pork packed a zesty punch, while the grilled chicken thighs were well-marinated and served with an enticing chilli dipping sauce that had us requesting seconds. The star of the show, however, was the lemongrass-stuffed salt-crusted whole sea bass. Cap off on a sweet note with the mango sticky rice, or head over to the restaurant-front bar for another round of herb-infused signature cocktails such as the

Chacha Smash.