- Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok is a cozy sports bar in Bangkok, Thailand.
- There are five Buddys Bar and Grill locations in Bangkok – four on Sukhumvit Road and one on Silom Road.
- Buddys Bar and Grill shows American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European sports.
- Buddys Bar & Grill opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and remains open until 2 am.
In This Post
The Back Story
As an ardent sports fan, I set out from my hotel in search of a sports bar where I could enjoy lunch while catching a game. And my research indicted that there was a sports bar about a 10 minute walk from my hotel, the Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel.
Unfortunately, when I arrived at the sports bar, it appeared to be closed. While most of the security gates were down, the front door was unlocked so I walked inside.
A woman was busy straightening things up. When I asked her when she opened, she said she would open in about 10 minutes. But that was only for drinks. I’d have to wait two hours for the kitchen to open. So I left.
On my way back to my hotel, I noticed a small café with a little sign in the window reading “NFL“. Did they show football games? A peek through the window revealed some flat screen TVs. So I went inside.
Overview – Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok
The Buddys Bar and Grill outlet on Sukhumvit Road Soi 20 is small by sports bar standards, but therein lies much of its charm. There are just a four flat-screen TVs. And the walls are adorned with colorful sports memorabilia.
The Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok outlet I visited was at Sukhumvit Soi 20, which straddles the Asoke and Phrom Phong sections of the Thai capital.
The cozy sports bar has outdoor seating on the sidewalk as well as a small indoor dining space with both counter and table seating. The atmosphere is intimate and casual. And sports memorabilia decorates the walls.
In addition, four small flat-screen TVs show American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European sporting events.
Regarding its location, the sports bar is located on Sukhumvit Road itself rather than a neighboring soi, which is Thai for side street or alley.
The sports bar is roughly halfway between the Asoke BTS Skytrain and Sukhumvit MRT subway stations and the Phrom Phong BTS Skytrain station. There are four other Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok locations.
- Buddy’s Bar and Grill Soi 22 is also a short walk from the Phrom Phong BTS station.
- Buddy’s Bar and Grill Soi 8 is a short walk from the Nana BTS station.
- Buddy’s Bar and Grill Silom is close to the Silom MRT subway station and the Sala Daeng BTS skytrain station,
- Buddy’s Bar and Grill Soi 89 is close to the Onnut BTS Skytrain station. Located right on Sukhumvit Road, it is within walking distance of Phra Khanong, Banchak, and Punnawithi. In fact, this is the only Buddys Bar and Grill outlet outside Central Bangkok.
Sports Coverage – Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok
The Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok at Sukhumvit Soi 20 has four flat screen televisions showing sports. To clarify, sports coverage includes:
- American football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Ice hockey
- Racing
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Tennis.
Have I missed anything?
To clarify, Buddy’s Bar and Grill subscribes to both local satellite-TV sports channels and dozens of online-streaming sources. If there is a particular event you would like to watch, you should speak to a member of staff.
North American Sports Coverage
- Major League Baseball (MBA)
- National Football League (NFL)
- National Basketball Association (NBA)
- National Hockey League (NHL)
Keep in mind that because of time differences between North America and Thailand, many American and Canadian sporting events take place place in the wee hours in the Land of Smiles, when the bar is closed. However, they can usually be shown when they are rebroadcast later in the day.
Other Sports Coverage
- Bellator MMA
- Boxing
- English Premier League
- Champions League
- Europa League
- FA
- Formula One
- English Premiership
- European Champions League
- Rugby Sevens
- Six Nations Championship
- Super Rugby
- Super League
- WTA Pro Tennis
The Menu – Buddy’s Bar and Grill Bangkok
Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok serves an eclectic menu, which is a cross between pub grub, bar snacks, diner fare, local favourites, and a few unexpected surprises. Would you believe Tex-Mex? What about Swedish meatballs?
The menu at Buddy’s Bar and Grill Bangkok includes everything from hamburgers, hot dogs, and thin crust pizzas to soups, sandwiches, salads, and snacks.
In addition, there are Mexican dishes and Thai favorites as well as all-day breakfasts. As good as all this sounded, I had a hankering for something else.
In fact, I had been longing for chili con carne for quite some time. But the last two times I ordered it in Bangkok, I was a little disappointed.
Make that VERY disappointed the first time I ordered it at a smart little café down Soi 16 from my hotel in the Asoke district. In fact. it was so bad, I simply couldn’t finish eating it.
On Buddy’s menu was one other category: Buddy’s Favorites. Included were Tomato Soup with Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Swedish Meatballs with Gravy and Pan-fried or Mashed Potatoes, and chili.
I must say, I was a little surprised by the Swedish meatballs. It seemed a bit out of character with the rest of the menu.
As for the chili, talk about being spoiled for choice! In fact, there were four chili choices on Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok’s menu:
- Bowl of Chili with Jalapeños, Onions, and Saltine Crackers
- Bowl of Chili with Melted Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeños, Onions, and Saltine Crackers
- Chili with Rice
- Chili Cheese Fries
While the second restaurant I tried chili at served a much improved version from the first, it was still nothing to write home about. Should I give the chili at Buddy’s Bar and Grill Bangkok a try?
When I saw that saltine crackers were mentioned on the menu, that did it. That’s the way chili con carne is traditionally served in the United States (but it doesn’t usually have to be mentioned on the menu in the Land of the Free – it is assumed).
Was it good? Let me put it this way: the chili tasted like something I would expect to be served at a truck stop on Route 66!
I called the waitress over and asked if the owner was American. She said he wasn’t. So I said, “Well, I’m American, and this chili is VERY authentic!”
That’s when I learned the owner was from Sweden. So I said, “Oh! So that explains why Swedish meatballs are on the menu! I’ll order the Swedish meatballs on my next visit.”
I was good for my word. A few days later, I returned to the Buddys Bar and Grill Soi 20 for dinner. And I ordered the Swedish meatballs. They were served with a very thick (and very yummy) gravy and some longan berry sauce.
It was very yummy. And I would order it again. But since I’m American (and not Swedish), I cannot vouch for its authenticity. Would any Swedes like to comment?
Having said that, I DID spend fully four wonderful weeks in Stockholm a few years back. And I consider Sweden among my absolute favorite countries in the world. While there, I did eat (and enjoy) Swedish meatballs several times.
Other than that, the only other time I’ve had Swedish meatballs was at Ikea or at the hospital I worked at in my youth. While attending college, I worked part time in the kitchen of a hospital in California, and Swedish meatballs were on the dinner menu once or twice a week.
But I don’t recall it ever being served with slices of raw cucumber or tomato. Was that a nod to Thai culinary practices?
The Location – Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok
Buddy’s Bar & Grill Soi 20 – 392/9 Sukhumvit Road Soi 20. Klongtoei District, Bangkok, Thailand.
This cozy sports bar is within walking distance of the Asoke BTS Skytrain and Sukhumvit MRT subway stations as well as the Phrom Phong BTS Skytrain station. It is also a short walk from Soi Cowboy, a.k.a. Bangkok’s red light district.
The Verdict – Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok
The menu at Buddys Bar &Grill was full of comfort food, and it was very tasty. As for the prices, they were reasonable. Regarding the surroundings, they were a cross-between an old-school neighborhood diner and a sports bar. So what is the verdict?
I liked the food. I liked the décor. The service was friendly. And the prices were reasonable. The fact I’ve made repeat visits speaks volumes because there is no shortage of food and beverage outlets in the Asoke section of Bangkok.
While there are four flat screen televisions, they are relatively small by sports bar standards. So while I liked being able to watch a game while I dined, this wouldn’t be my first choice if there were a game or event I had a serious interest in watching.
But the chili alone is enough to bring me back. And I’ll be sure to check out another one of the outlets when I’m in another part of the Big Mango. I give Buddys Bar and Grill Bangkok an enthusiastic thumb’s up!
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Your Feedback Wanted
Have you ever visited Buddys Bar and Grill in Bangkok? If so, please let me know what you think in the comments box below. Also, please share your suggestions on where to enjoy watching sporting events in the Big Mango!
