The Place If you are seeking an authentic and unpretentious Thai dining experience, Here Hai Bangkok is located along the bustling Ekkamai Road (near to Wattana Panich Beef Broth) and it is famous for its crab fried rice and crab meat omelette. The Michelin Bib Gourmand casual restaurant has a history of a few decades, and it usually sees a long queue before its opening time on days it is opened. ‘Here’ means older brother or someone you respect in Chinese and ‘Hai’ is their father’s name, as I read from an introduction on its menu.   

My recommendation is to head here at least fifteen minutes before 10am to queue, just so you stand a good chance to be the first group of diners to be seated. 

The restaurant embraces a laid-back vibe with a street-food-inspired setup. While the two storey space is nothing fancy, the focus here is on the food. 

I usually try to have a good mix of Thai food when I am in Bangkok, be it a casual meal like Jeh O Chula (skip the insane queue by booking a slot on Klook), Michelin starred restaurants like Sorn and Baan Tepa, or a mid-range concept like Samlor.

The Food English menu is available and Here Hai uses fresh local blue swimmer crab from Surat Thani for their crab dishes, one of the nest southern local seafood hub in Thailand. There are various sizes and combinations of the famous crab fried rice, crab meat omelette and river prawns, and I zoomed straight into ordering the Insane Crab Fried Rice (THB 340/small). 

This dish is undoubtedly the highlight at Here Hai for me where the fried rice is full of wok-hei, as evident from the kitchen action right at the end of the restaurant where I caught a glimpse as I took the stairs to level two. 

There are large chunks of sweet crab meat, perfectly cooked rice, and a subtle yet flavorful seasoning that allows the freshness of the ingredients to shine. It is comfort food elevated to an art form. 

I also had the Signature Omelet Crab (THB 380/small) where you can have it with rice (no extra charge) or no rice. I had mine with rice where the thin and silky omelet envelops the white rice beneath. You still get large chunky crab meat here.  

Regardless of the omelet or the fried rice, do have it with the accompanying green sauce which is a combination of garlic, coriander, chilli, lime and fishsauce. It is insanely good with a nice kick of spiciness.  

And of course, the best part of it all, the crab meat is de-shelled! 

For drinks, I also highly recommend the Coconut Bottle (THB 80) which uses fresh coconut. It is very fresh and refreshing.

Rants Expect to queue for anywhere between fifteen minutes to an hour since no reservations are taken. Also, it only accepts cash. 

Will I Return Again? Here Hai Bangkok delivers everything you could want from an authentic Thai dining experience: fresh ingredients, expertly prepared dishes, and an atmosphere that feels like a true slice of Bangkok’s culinary soul. This spot deserves a place on your must-visit list. For the quality and portion sizes, the prices are reasonable. The menu also offers plenty of options for sharing, making it ideal for group dining.  

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 3/5
Ambience: 3/5
Overall Experience: 4/5 

Here Hai 
112, 1 Ekkamai Road, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand 
Tel: +66 63 219 9100 

Opening Hours 
Wednesday to Sunday: 10am to 3pm; 4pm to 5:30pm 
Closed on Monday & Tuesday  

Ranted by The Ranter