The Siam juggernaut isn’t the only worthwhile shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. EM Quartier in Sukhumvit is the zenith of consumerism: glossy and addictive. Like Siam, EM Quartier is divided into three easily confused buildings: The Glass Quartier, the Helix Quartier, and the Waterfall Quartier. A fourth building, The Emporium, sits next door.

We recommend starting at The Emporium, where you’ll find Quartier CineArt, one of the most over-the-top V.I.P. movie theaters in BKK. (Think: marble floors and countertops, Matrix neon lighting, super-comfy recliners, and one theater with a three-panel wraparound movie screen.) A few floors down is the excellent Gourmet Market, which sells a tremendous range of exotic fruits and vegetables (including $60 pears from Japan), fun Thai food souvenirs, and a mess of Korean and Japanese beauty products. At the adjacent food court, you can try super-sized fried chicken from Taiwanese chain HotStar, plus a host of authentic street food dishes made by cleanliness-minded vendors. We can personally vouch for the Kumamoto ramen with pork cutlet, Ko Heng fried chicken with stock-steamed rice, and Cha Moodang egg noodles with barbecued pork.

For dessert, Croissant Taiyaki draws lines for its fish-shaped puff pastries stuffed with red bean paste. Another popular option is the Japanese raindrop cake from Tokyo Sweets, pictured above. It’s a zero-calorie clear jelly “cake” served with roasted soybean flour and Japanese brown sugar syrup. It’s wobbly-good fun, but it doesn’t taste like much. For our baht, we prefer the charcoal swirl ice cream from Japanese cake chain Kyo Roll En or loading up on pastries at Little Mermaid bakery; just grab a pair of tongs and pile your tray to the sky.

Our favorite non-food diversion at the EM is Another Story, located in the Helix building. The shop stocks clothing and accessories from hip indie labels, plus housewares, skincare, office supplies, and tech/gear. While you’re in the shopping mode, check out the homegrown Fly Now III boutique on the first floor of The Emporium; it’s like walking through an art installation on acid.

689, 693, and 695 Sukhumvit Rd., Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand; +662-269-1000.