Tesco Food court

This is a supermarket food court, and it helps to want exactly that. It sits inside the Lotus's complex in Bo Put, and the appeal is simple, a plate of Thai food for very little money while you're already there doing your shopping. Nobody should be crossing the island for it.

Order well and you'll eat fine. Basil rice gets consistent praise, Hainan-style chicken rice holds up, and sushi at 10 baht a piece is the thing regulars keep coming back for. The pad thai is the one dish I'd steer you away from, since it has drawn the sharpest complaints. Seating is the usual plastic-and-formica arrangement and it can get crowded at peak lunch, though the wider complex is noticeably quieter than it once was, so you're rarely fighting for a table. There's a kids' play area right next to the dining section, which makes it an easy call if you're traveling with small children and need forty minutes of peace.