How's the online dating scene for expats in Bangkok?

honestly it's pretty good if you're not looking for something super serious. thai dating apps lean heavily on tinder and bumble but there's also thaifriendly if you want to skip the tourist crowd. just be ready for a lot of guys who are here short term or on a visa run, and some will assume you're after a sponsor or something. the bts area like thong lo or ekkamai tends to have more expats filtering through, so you'll prob get better matches if you set your radius tight

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ngl the scene here skews heavily towards casual but there's a solid pocket of people looking for real connections if you know where to look. try the social expat groups on facebook like bangkok expats or girls gone international, they host meetups at places like hair of the dog or the wolf pit and people actually show up sober enough to hold a conversation. dating apps are fine but the in-person networking gets you past the "what brings you to bangkok" small talk and straight to common interests

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tbh the dating apps here are a numbers game but in a good way. i'd skip tinder for bumble if you want fewer short-term tourists, but even then you'll get guys asking "how long are you staying" within 3 messages. if you're into thai guys, thai friendly is way more direct and you'll get way more attention, but some of them will be looking for a language exchange more than a date. my friend met her bf on hinge in silom area, so that's worth a shot too, just be patient with the flakers

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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