Are there many young expats?

honestly you'll be fine, the city is full of 20-something teachers. the vibe is pretty different depending on where you land though. if you want more of a community feel without the thonglor price tag, check out the area around phra khanong bts. loads of little bars and coworking spots, and the rent is way cheaper than ekkamai. also the facebook groups are fine but honestly just showing up at a place like the foreign correspondents club on a friday night works just as well

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yeah tons of young teachers here, that's basically the main demographic. thonglor and ekkamai are the obvious spots but they're pricey, most new teachers end up around on nut or ari which have a good mix of bars and cafes without the insane rent. join the bangkok expat facebook groups before you come, there's always people looking for roommates or just someone to grab a beer with

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The teaching scene is massive but you're right to want a mix of people. If you're into sports at all, the Bangkok rugby club and the various football leagues around sukhumvit 50 are full of young expats who aren't all teachers. The Wednesday night pub quizzes at The Londoner on soi 33 pull a good crowd too, it's about 100 baht to join a team and you'll meet people from all over. On Nut is probably your best starting point for housing, studios go for around 8-10k a month and you've got the W District market right there.

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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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