MAMA Restaurant: Authentic North Indian Food by Khlong Ong Ang, Bangkok

An Indian restaurant by Khlong Ong Ang canal in the Saphan Han area, open for more than 20 years, known for tasty, clean, authentic Indian food with a big menu. Today we'll introduce you to Indian food a little more, and we're sure you'll want to come and eat once you've seen it.

How MAMA Restaurant began

Let's start at the beginning. On his travels, Mama (Balbir Singh) fell in love with Thailand, and on a leap of faith he moved here. He loved the bustle of Little India, where the markets and shops are full of Indians, Thais and foreign visitors.

Not long after, the doors of MAMA Restaurant opened, bringing the family's original North Indian recipes to your table. Listen to Indian music, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy home-style flavours. It's an experience that's hard to forget, we promise.

MAMA Restaurant sits by Khlong Ong Ang in the Pahurat district, in a recently renovated area known as Little India.

The story of MAMA Restaurant

It all started from the idea that travel and home cooking are the heart of good food. With roots in northern India, Punjabi cuisine is a core part of the restaurant.

Mama lived in Dubai for 14 years, cooking at home for himself and his colleagues. During that time his passion for cooking grew, and he experimented with many methods to keep the flavours authentic and true to their traditional origins.

After several trips to Thailand, Bangkok felt like an exciting adventure. Mama travelled around Asia trying to get various things started, which wasn't always easy. He took on other work, but his love of cooking never went away.

Five years later, Mama made another big decision, and the door opened for his Indian restaurant in Pahurat. Teaming up with a chef from India made it an even better fit. Together they worked in the kitchen to develop new dishes and refine all the existing recipes.

For more than 20 years, MAMA Restaurant has served traditional North Indian food with Punjabi influences, adding something special to every dish for every guest who visits. Mama is committed to delivering a genuine experience through every plate, with guaranteed quality and the best ingredients.

A little history of Khlong Ong Ang

The restaurant also sits right on Khlong Ong Ang, so here's a bit of the canal's history. In 1785 a small canal was dug to open up an area for trade, and it became famous for Mon and Chinese pottery. Over time the area filled with foreigners coming to trade, and as Thailand developed, the canals and bridges changed too.

In 2019 the area became a charming night market and arts district.

Today, in the evenings and at weekends, the canal banks are lined with vendors and crowds, and restaurants open their doors to visitors from all over, sharing a wide range of food cultures.

MAMA Restaurant stands by Khlong Ong Ang in Pahurat, in the renovated area called Little India.

MAMA Restaurant welcomes everyone to enjoy authentic Indian food in a place that feels like home. Even if you don't sit down for a meal, try their popular Indian street food such as pani puri, momos or pav bhaji. They promise you'll be back.

What we ate

• Pani puri: Cute little round puffs served with two dipping liquids to pour in. We found it tasty mixed with the curry sauce too.
• Prawn masala: Delicious and fragrant with spices. We're used to Thai flavours, so a little more heat would have made it amazing for us. Perfect for dipping naan.
• Butter naan: Great with curry, or just on its own.
• Iced masala tea: Spice-forward, reminding us of turmeric, but not too strong. If you like herbal flavours, you'll probably enjoy it. Think golden latte, but lighter.

That's what we tried. If you'd like to give it a go, drop by. And if you come on a Saturday or Sunday, you can carry on with a stroll along Khlong Ong Ang.

MAMA Restaurant

• Address: 436 Chakkraphet Road, Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
• Phone: 02 623 336
• Hours: Daily, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Getting there: MRT Sam Yot station

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Author Meeting Point Management Team, MBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ MBA University of Technology Sydney (UTS) DBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ Editorial Team

The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.