To find yourself in Gateway Ekamai Mall, hop off the BTS at Ekkamai Station. A little further along than Thonglor, this mall caters to the locals who live in the area. It has a mix of affordable restaurants, clothing stores, health and beauty shops, as well as an edutainment center, IT zone, and a 24-hour supermarket. 

Gateway has a definite Japanese theme going for it, when you enter it's like walking down old streets in Kyoto. You'll find a plethora of Japanese and Korean restaurants to choose from, as well as staples like Oishi Shabu, KFC, Ramen Kourakuen, Nagiya Tokyo Izakaya, Hinaya, and Chabuton.