The best Chinese brands now in Bangkok

What is it? A lifestyle brand you won’t be able to resist with its playful colour combinations, cheerful patterns and little charms designed to make everyday life a little more fun.

Why we love it: Thailand is home to the brand’s first and only overseas store, Tagi. Sabaai House. The space is a one-of-a-kind, cosy little escape inspired by Thailand’s tropical greenery, with bamboo weaving and textiles throughout. Think a traditional Thai wooden ‘baan’ (house), but with a colourful, cute twist. 

Expect colourful and patterned accessories that’ll brighten up your daily routine, from seriously cute water bottles that might get you overhydrating to hair accessories, phone cases and many more things you’ll want to add to your everyday rotation.

The Bangkok store even comes with its own character: Elly. A young artist elephant who has just made Thailand her new home. An elephant in Thailand feels like a pretty perfect match. Cliche? Yes, but we love her all the same.

Time Out tip: The employees gave us the inside scoop: the makeup pouches are the store’s bestsellers. So much so that even people who don’t wear makeup pick them up to use as lunch bags – although there’s no insulation, so pack accordingly. New drops and designs arrive roughly every three months, so there’s always something new to discover. Keep an eye out for the latest grey Elly elephant, an exclusive design available only in Thailand.

Location: centralwOrld, second floor, Eden zone

What is it? Not official, but we’re pretty sure the ‘W’ stands for warehouse. And once you step inside, the name starts to make sense: clothes, clothes and more clothes, stretching out in every direction, neatly arranged by color like a very fashionable rainbow.

Why we love it: The vibe is unapologetically Gen Z, with racks packed with Y2K-inspired pieces, casual streetwear and easy everyday fits. Think cool-girl basics, low-effort-but-somehow-put-together outfits and plenty of pieces you can mix, match and throw into your wardrobe rotation. Thailand is the brand’s first Southeast Asian location, and we’re ready to shop until we drop.

Time Out tip: Eat before you go, and maybe save this for your final shopping stop of the day. Trust us, you’re going to need both hands for the bags you’ll be carrying out.

Location: Siam Center, ground floor (Opening very soon)

What is it? A British-inspired vintage bakery starring the unmistakable ‘Bagel the Dog’ logo. Step inside and the stone walls, hanging pots and rustic details instantly transport you to a little London bakery. 

Why we love it: The smell of freshly baked goods wafts through the space, with irresistible rows of breads, pastries, pretzels, egg tarts, scones, croissants and cakes making it feel like you’ve stepped straight into bread heaven.

Add on some irresistibly cute packaging and a rather photogenic storefront and AMAM Lonbakery Town has all the ingredients of a viral bakery worth travelling for. What's more, Thailand is currently its first and only overseas location, so consider this your excuse to book the ‘flight’. ‘Ole Bagel is waiting.

Time Out tip: No tips on what to order because you really can’t go wrong. But their Bagel dog-themed homeware and merchandise are just as good as the baked goods, making for a memorable souvenir to take home since you can’t exactly take the pastries home with you.

Location: Siam Paragon, ground floor floor (Opening September 2026)

What is it? By now, you should all know about POP MART. But did you know this is POP MART’s first café outside China? Your favourite art-toy characters come out of the box and onto your plate, created in collaboration with Thai café brand Greyhound Café.

Why we love it: The café serves up desserts, drinks and popsicles all inspired by some of its most iconic characters, including LABUBU, SKULLPANDA, MOLLY, PUCKY, CRYBABY, DIMOO, HIRONO and more. Even the popsicles come packaged like a POP MART toy box, so you can pick your favourite character and flavour without the blind-box gamble.

Time Out tip: Head there early and reserve your table first to avoid the notorious queues. There’s a TV screen displaying the available time slots, so grab your spot before doing your shopping at the biggest POP MART store in the world. Time in the café is limited to one hour, so take a look at the menu beforehand and save time for all the pictures you’ll want to take in the character-filled interiors.

Location: ICONSIAM, in the POP MART Global Landmark Store located on the seventh floor, with the café on the shop’s second floor. Yes, it has two floors. 

What is it? A contemporary handbag brand known for its distinctive weaving patterns, Songmont creates practical, everyday bags that don’t chase trends but somehow always stay on them. 

Why we love it: Born from the search for the perfect laptop bag, functionality isn’t an afterthought, with plenty of pockets and enough room for all the things you swear you’ll only carry ‘just in case.’ It blends traditional Chinese craftsmanship and patterns with modern minimalist designs that work seamlessly together, and with every outfit. 

Time Out tip: The staff are super friendly and happy to help you find your perfect bag, whether that means trying on different styles, adjusting the straps or tracking down additional stock. Just be careful, you might walk out with more than the one bag you came looking for.

Location: centralwOrld, first floor, Atrium zone

What is it? Taking the country by storm, this beverage and soft-serve chain brings the ‘Snow King’ mascot to Thailand – and we can't seem to get enough of it. 

Why we love it: Just as eye-catching as its super-affordable ice cream, fruit teas and lemon drinks, the Chinese brand has become a familiar sight across Bangkok, with its bright red-and-white shops and cheerful mascot making it hard to walk past without stopping for a quick sugar fix. Keep an eye out for Thailand-specific specials too, with MIXUE regularly dropping new flavours and local collaborations, such as its Jasmine Milk Tea series.

Time Out tip: Although famed for its B15 soft-serve ice cream, the ‘Mango Pearl with Ice Cream’ is another must-try, combining mango, ice cream, jelly and boba. Give it a good shake before digging in to mix all the toppings together. The fresh-squeezed lemonade is also a refreshing pick, but we’d personally order it less sweet.

Location: Multiple locations around Bangkok, including Siam Square, centralwOrld (seventh floor, Beacon Zone), MBK Center (fifth floor) and more

What is it? For those here for the tea. CHAGEE focuses on taking traditional Chinese tea varieties and turning them into fresh milk teas, keeping the tea at the centre rather than piling on the toppings. 

Why we love it: All CHAGEE teas are brewed using whole tea leaves rather than powdered tea. Each variety undergoes its own traditional processing techniques, from jasmine scenting for the green tea to the ageing and post-fermentation of Pu-er. This gives the drinks a smooth and fragrant taste, with the natural flavour and aroma of the tea coming through rather than being overwhelmed by sugar. 

Time Out tip: Try the tea with their special three-channel straw, designed to slow your sipping pace and enhance the tea’s aroma and flavour. Whether it actually makes a difference, we’ll leave that to you, but at least you won’t scald your tongue before you have a chance to taste the rest of your drink.

Location: Multiple locations around Bangkok, including ICONSIAM (ground floor), centralwOrld (sixth floor, Beacon Zone), One Bangkok (ground floor) and more

What is it? If you didn't know, this is actually the world’s largest ma-la-tang (‘numbing-spicy-hot’) chain restaurant. Pick your own meat, seafood, mushrooms, tofu, noodles, and vegetables (or not), then have it all cooked in a rich, fragrant mala broth that brings the heat and that signature tongue-tingling kick. Not feeling the fire? There are gentler broths to choose from, including tomato and beef.

Why we love it: Some of us are picky eaters, so being able to build your own bowl is a game-changer. You choose exactly what goes in, meaning there’s no fishing around for ingredients you don’t like once everything is swimming in that deep reddish-orange broth. Even better, you can customise the spice level, so you still get that addictive mala kick without setting your mouth on fire – ideal for anyone who likes their spice on the milder, kid-friendly side.

Time Out tip: It’s pay-by-weight so there’s a price to pay if you come in starving. While you wait for your bowl to cook, head to the DIY sauce bar and whip up your own dipping sauce. The secret recipe? Peanut sauce, chilli oil, minced garlic, vinegar and coriander.

Location: Esplanade Ratchada (basement level) and Union Mall (first floor)

What is it? The pioneers of the cheese tea world? Quite possibly. HEYTEA Lab puts a contemporary spin on Chinese tea culture with bold combinations and creative seasonal drinks, from specialty fruit teas to its signature cheese-foam-topped creations. 

Why we love it: The drinks are as good as they look, with colourful swirls, fresh fruit and a creamy cloud of foam on top. There’s plenty of variety, too, even for those who don’t consider themselves ‘tea people’. You can go for something fruity and refreshing, a classic milk tea or simply a good old cup of tea. The toppings let you make your drink your own, from chewy sago and juicy grapefruit pulp to the signature cheese cloud. Expect combinations that might have you questioning it at first, only to leave you hooked with a new go-to order.

Time Out tip: Don’t let the cheese foam scare you (unless you’re lactose-intolerant). The ‘Fluffy Cloud Grape’ pairs a sweet, juicy grape slushie with creamy, lightly savoury salted cream cheese foam – an unexpectedly perfect match, proving opposites do attract.

Location: centralwOrld, first floor (Opening soon)

What is it? The Chinese hotpot chain where the reputation precedes the food. Pick your broth, with both spicy mala options as well as classic Thai favourites like Tom Yum and Nam Ngiao (a northern Thai soup). Load up on ingredients to cook at the table and get stuck in. 

Why we love it: They give us the princess treatment. Literally. While waiting for your table, you’ll be treated to snacks, and at some branches, complimentary nail services. Parents can also let the kids burn off some energy in dedicated play areas. Add the hand-pulled dancing-noodle show and service that has you feeling like royalty, and you’ll see why Haidilao has become an experience in its own right.

Time Out tip: While we usually say no to yet another membership that’ll inevitably become spam, if it comes with free food and discounts, count us in. For those die-hard Haidilao fans who are here religiously, you might as well get the most out of your hotpot cravings.

Location: Multiple locations around Bangkok, including centralwOrld (seventh floor, Beacon Zone), Central Rama 9 (seventh floor) and more