1. Bangkok has a number of international chain restaurants and bars but none (since Planet Hollywood closed a number of years ago) may be more well known than the Hard Rock Café. Started in London in 1971 by Peter Morton, son of famous Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton of Morton’s Steak House, Hard Rock Cafes now span the globe. The Bangkok incarnation of this rock and roll icon has been located in Siam Square for 17 years and at the time of this writing (Oct., 2008) undergoing a facelift. We’re not sure why because it still looks fine, especially all of the great rock memorabilia hanging on the walls. In fact, if you’re a classic rock fan then this might be the best part of the whole Hard Rock Café experience. We’ve been to two locations, here and in Los Angeles, and they’re basically a place to get good American food in very large portions while listening to music, sometimes live and sometimes recorded. Nothing fancy, but there’s something that keeps people packing in to the locations everywhere. We think it’s that rock and roll mystique that is embodied mostly in the fantastic collection of memorabilia that is shifted from location to location around the world so that eventually the individual pieces are displayed everywhere. That, combined with the food, makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a little corner of America whatever country you happen to be in at the time. The food is what you’d expect at many American-themed chains: burgers, fajitas, steak, sandwiches, nachos, potato skins, fries, ribs, etc. You get the idea and if you like this type of food you could do a lot worse than come here to fill up on it. The dishes are well-prepared, the food quality is high and the portions are LARGE so make sure you bring your appetite. Although, it is technically part of a chain, the Bangkok Hard Rock doesn’t come across that way and that may be another reason for its popularity. That and the food, service, live music and great memorabilia. It all adds up to a pretty satisfying experience.