The Prachachuen area is not particularly renowned as a foodie destination, and Check-in doesn’t do anything to change that. Like the ever-popular neighborhood restaurant Beer Hima, this partially alfresco spot does make a fun destination for a night out—at least for the vibe, if not the offerings from the Thai-focused kitchen.

Situated right on the main road of Thetsabansongkroh, this restaurant-cum-bar’s star attraction is the welcoming open-air terrace filled with mix ‘n’ match furniture and a projector for the big games. In short, it feels like the kind of place where the clientele is encouraged to drink as much as they eat, which might explain why there’s not a huge amount to recommend.

Amid the self-proclaimed highlight dishes, the gai klook foon (deep-fried chicken with roasted rice powder, B130) is truly addictive while the tom klong pla duk foo (spicy herbal soup with fluffy cat fish meat, B220) features sad and soggy clumps of pla duk meat floating amid a full-flavored broth. The steamed seabass with spicy lime sauce (B350) is well-cooked and heftily portioned, which is almost enough to forgive the overly sweet, untangy sauce. The stir-fried prawns with chili (B155) are another wishy washy selection, owing to a mild sauce that carries just a hint of saltiness. We’ll vouch for the yam tua pu (winged bean salad with bacon, B160), not for the crispy rashers of bacon but for the mildly acidic coconut sauce.

Check-in’s kitchen is evidently at its best when keeping things simple (see also the deliciously sweet dessert por piah kluay [fried wrapped banana, B80]). For all its good drinking vibes, you can also expect a pretty basic run of local beers, jumbo cocktail jars and whiskey (Black Label at B1,799/bottle). Check-in is a decent, no-frills local drinking hole, but you should exercise caution when it comes to the food.