Just pre booked a Grab to take me to the airport at 5am tomorrow morning, how reliable will this be?

Pre-booking a Grab in Bangkok isn't a guarantee, it just holds the request. At 5am you'll probably be fine since drivers are still out from the night shift, but I'd still have the BTS or MRT app open as a backup. The real issue is if you're staying somewhere with a narrow soi, drivers sometimes cancel if they can't find the spot easily, so set your pin to the main road and walk out if needed. Also, double check the meter fare vs. the fixed price, at that hour some drivers still try to negotiate if they show up without the app.

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The whole pre-book thing in Bangkok is a bit of a myth, it just puts your request to the front of the queue when the time comes. At 5am though, you've got the night shift guys wrapping up and the early birds starting, so the supply is actually decent. I'd say your real risk isn't the cancel, it's the driver accepting and then calling you to say they're "5 minutes away" when they're actually 20, so keep an eye on the live map and don't trust the ETA. If you're near a Skytrain station, the first trains run around 5:15am from the ends of the line, but that's only useful if you're headed to Don Mueang, for Suvarnabhumi the Airport Rail Link starts at 5:30am from Phaya Thai, so that's a solid fallback if you're on that side of town.

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5am pre-booking is usually fine, I've done it a few times from Sukhumvit and never had a no-show. The bigger risk is if you're in a spot where drivers get confused, like a hotel with a weird driveway or a soi that's hard to turn around in. I'd text the driver right after they accept with a simple "front lobby" or "by the 7-Eleven" so they don't waste time hunting for you. Also, keep the Bolt app installed as a backup, it's not as polished but at that hour there's usually someone nearby. If you're really nervous, the airport rail link starts around 5:30am from Phaya Thai, but that only helps if you're near that line.

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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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