Amazing THAILAND Gourmet

Kiang-uan

2012-01-26T05:48:00.000-08:00

413
.

Cuisine of prosperity

Founded in Mahachai (Samut Sakhon) six decades ago, the renowned seafood eatery Kiang-uan Mahachai Seafood Restaurant somehow withdrew itself from the seaside province of Samut Sakhon and has been re-established in Bangkok. Today all Kiang-uan's branches still serve fresh catches and seafood sourced directly from Samut Sakhon (formerly Mahachai) that may dance on our table. Its fourth branch, the latest addition in the Kiang-uan's family, just opened at the newly opened Central Plaza Grand Rama 9.

Recently I visited her new branch at Central Plaza Grand Rama 9, though the seafood was very fresh, sadly they were spoiled on the chefs hand; perhaps the kitchen team needs more practice to make those quality ingredients dance with my taste buds.

Kiang-uan Mahachai Seafood Restaurant ***
7/F Central Plaza Grand Rama 9
Ratchadapisek Road
Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310
Tel.: 02.160.2424

Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Pay (seafood dining for two): around THB 1,500

Fei Ya yumcha

2012-01-23T22:35:00.001-08:00

412
.

Dim-sums for dragons

In just a short two years after its debut, Fei Ya Chinese Restaurant has already earned a reputation for its lychee wood roasted Peking duck and baked beggar chicken in lotus leaf; and its authentic Hong Kong style (not Thai-Chinese) yum-cha (drinking tea, eating dim-sum, bite-sized food in small portions, usually served in a small bamboo steamer basket) is arguably one of the best served in Bangkok. Let's have some dim-sums to start the year of the Golden Dragon.

Cantonese yum-cha lunch ****
Fei Ya Chinese Restaurant
Renaissance Rajprasong Bangkok Hotel
518/8 Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.125.5000
Fei Ya

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 10 pm
Pay (a la carte yum-cha for two): around THB 1,500
* weekdays all-you-can-eat dim-sum THB 680++ per person

Hai Somtam Convent

2012-01-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

411
.

Convent's pok-pok

Hai Somtam Convent Pochana stands on Soi Convent for decades, used to serve good quality som-tum (spicy raw papaya pok-pok salad) and gai-yang (grilled chicken); still serves these Thai Issan delicacies, but not as good as before. In my recent revisit to Hai, I found that its grilled chicken is of cheap quality while the papaya pok-pok salad and other yum (spicy salad) dishes are still delightful to eat.

Hai Somtam Convent Pochana ***
2/4-5 Soi Convert
off Silom Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02. 631.0216

Open daily : 10 am - 8:30 pm (Sat 10 am - 5 pm)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Est. 33

2012-01-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

410
.

An edutainment microbrewery

Est. 33, the name coming from the Kingdom's oldest brewery debut in 1933, is a serious microbrewery, restaurant and mini beer museum in Bangkok. Though most of my friends are fans of beer gardens and wine bars, yes people love beer, but I am not particularly excited about this fermented malted wheat beverage; so when Est.33 opened at the posh CDC (Crystal Design Center), I didn't immediately share the joy. Later I found out that Est. 33 teamed up with one of my most favorite bistros (to handle the kitchen) to offer New York style Parisian minibar cuisine and fusion Thai fare; I now join my friends at the Est. 33 and have become a regular.

Of course Est. 33 serves (maybe the Kingdom's best) fresh home brewed beer (larger, copper, and dark) from its microbrewery, and other selections in a bottle; with the help of her kitchen partner, it also serves 'real' food and enticing mocktails.

Est. 33 ****
Crystal Design Center, Building E
1420/1 Praditmanutham Road
(Ekamai - Ramintra Highway)
Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240
Tel.: 02.102.2096

Open daily : 4 pm - midnight (Fri-Sun from 11 am)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,000

* Est. 33 also has a branch at the Nine, Rama IX Road

La Tavola

2012-01-10T18:13:00.000-08:00

409
.

Start of a delicious new year

The scenario of Italian restaurants inundating every soi (small street/lane) in downtown Bangkok lets us eat too much cheese and tomatoes these days; all of them say that they are authentic and run by Italian chefs, but it turns out many of their foods are dull and mediocre.

Three years ago, before Renaissance Rajprasong Hotel opened, I had heard that it will include an Italian (La Tavola), coffee shop (Flavors) and Chinese (Fei Ya) restaurants in the venue, but I just didn't feel too excited about these culinary additions to the city. However, later I found out that Fe Ya is probably Bangkok's best Chinese restaurant, especially its dimsum dishes during the lunch time yumcha period; the quality is above the mark in Bangkok's Chinese restaurant scene, and on par with top Chinese restaurant standards in Hong Kong.

La Tavola, nested in the Renaissance Rajprasong Hotel, is a ristorante with home-style Italian cuisine to offer. The food was good though not overly outstanding on the first time I visited; not the love at first bite kind! Over time, my taste buds tends to appreciate Chef Fabio's culinary style, complexity in simplicity, and I started to enjoy the food more.

Just like in most five-star hotel dining, the service at La Tavola is of the enthusiastic and attentive kind.

rocket salad with tiger prawns, THB 390++
(served with cantaloupe melon, sun-dried tomato pesto, a wonderful appetizer)

clear duck consomme, B280++
(served with dill omelet & enoki mushrooms, a hearty soup, taste so-so!)
minestrone with parmesan crouton & pesto, B280++
(vegetable soup, with hints of sourness, like cooked and scented water!)

handmade squid-ink cappellini angel hair pasta, THB 680++
(with crab meat, in rich bouillabaise sauce, very light, one of my favorite)
white truffle & parmesan cheese risotto, THB 750++
(with seared foi gras and aromatic oil, nice texture, and it is a real treat)

roasted sea bream Acqua Pazza style with Prosecco wine, THB 670++
(w/ capers, red onion, fresh tomato, zuchini & basil, fish is fresh, sauce too sour)

la Margherita pizza, THB 320++
(w/ tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese & oregano, nice but not outstanding)

herbs marinated grilled lamb cutlet, THB 750++
(with potato tart zucchini Provencal, red wine reduction, yummy red meat)

grilled vegetables, rocket lettuce & parmesan cheese, THB 90+)
(mushroom, rocket leaves & parmesan just get along quite well, aromatic)
sauteed zucchini and cherry tomato, with herbs, THB 90++
(just stir-fried zucchini with zest of wine vinegar, quite sour, didn't like it)

panna cotta with fresh strawberry, THB 380++, pretty nice pudding!
vanilla ice cream, THB 90++, chef homemade, but why not gelato?

crispy focaccia bread, complimentary

La Tavola Italian Restaurant ****
Renaissance Bangkok Rajprasong Hotel
518/8 Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.125.5000
La Tavola

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 4,000

T Lounge afternoon tea

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

408
.

Tea time in the supreme comfort

The T Lounge, closeted in the opulence and elegance of the Siam Kempinski Hotel, offers businessmen immediate privacy to hold a brief meeting in the hustle and bustle of the Siam area, and Paragon shoppers a real nook to relax after their exhausting shopping agenda.

I went to the T Lounge for her signature afternoon tea set with true Kempinski's European flair, and there is a pleasant surprise that her tea list (mainly by Ronnefeldt) covers selections from around the world, includes some pretty rare choices. Of course the T Lounge also serves cocktails, champagne and nice snacks to go with the booze.

T Lounge ***1/2
Siam Kempinski Hotel
991/9 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.162.9000
T Lounge

Open daily : 10 - 1 am
Pay (afternoon tea for two): around THB 1,100
* afternoon tea set per person THB 720++

My Cherry Picks 2011

2011-12-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

407
.

My Dozen of Cherry Picks

In 2011, I posted more than one hundred and twenty Bangkok's restaurant reviews here, from a selection of around five hundred restaurants when I dined out. Some restaurants offer mouthwatering treats while a very few eateries serve eatable rubbish.

During this festive season, I would like to conclude with a list of a dozen of restaurants that have been reviewed in 2011 and I am delighted to eat there everyday - if possible.

1. Krua Apsorn / Thai / Dusit / 02.241.8528
What: This is a pioneer eatery in Bangkok serving authentic and impeccable old-school Thai cuisine with a bit of Thai-Chinese dishes to offer. Clientele from the likes of royalty, high-ranked civil servants, politicians, foodies to all of us who cherish real (Thai) food; oops, also residents in the Samsen neighborhood when their housewives want to have a day off!
Why : The food is solid. Simple menu and basic dishes; they just make my mouth water. It's hands down one of the best Thai restaurants in Bangkok.
Krua Apsorn

2. Khao-tom Pla Ha-Dao / Thai-CN / Yannawa / 02.675. 2598
What: A rice soup (khao-tom) specialty eatery, with good quality fish (or seafood) khao-tom at reasonable price. The eatery enjoys a mixed customer base; they are from all walks of life, whether they arrive in their Mercedes-Benz sedans or alight from a public bus (also a Mercedes-Benz), a bowl of running hot rice soup is a treat.
Why : The MSG-free scrumptious slow-simmered broth and ultra fresh seafood ingredients made this hawker style dine-in khao-tom joint shines. Very reasonable price too!
Khao-tom Pla Ha-Dao

3. Tab Chang / traditional Thai / Ladprao / 02.530.7002
What: Tab Chang tends to offer retro Thai cuisine with an ancient royal count recipe, and use fine ingredients with traditional charcoal stove cooking techniques in the kitchen, that will make our familiar Thai dishes taste better. According to the owner, food served at Tab Chang is a combination of "sumptuous, fragrance and design".
Why : And it is! Plus stunning ambiance and good service. Only we need to bring a bottle of mosquito repellent before we head there!
Tab Chang

4. Yoo FishBall / Thai-CN / Samphantawong / 089.782.7777
What: Compared to other renowned gourmet joints in Yaowaraj that have a reputation for at least half a century, Yoo, a fish ball specialty cum noodle house, is a newbie indeed. But Yoo has been very busy since the first day the eatery has been opened, due in thanks to the inherited (home-made fish ball) recipe from her grandparents, a century-old fish ball specialty vendor in Yaowaraj.
Why : So it is about a bowl of hearty soup with bouncy fish ball on bed of silky rice noodle (or other noodle choices), served in the comfy air-conditioned canteen.
Yoo FishBall Yaowaraj

5. Boon Restaurant / CN-Cantonese / Silom-Chongnonsi
What: This is a noisy CN Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) style kitchen offers authentic Cantonese cuisine; thus Boon promises diners a chance to rerun the taste of Hong Kong's dai-pai-dong (open-air cooked-food stall) eating just like in the old days. Eating there we expect real Chinese Cantonese dishes, if we are willing to sacrifice a nice ambiance and decent service.
Why : Not just the food is very Guangzhou but also the ambiance, thanks to Boon's clinetele and its location in a shabby sub-soi off Bangkok's main road in the C.B.D.. Of course people come here solely for the (good) food, but not to greet friends who are frequently being reported in the Thailand Tatler.
Boon

6. Hi-Chin Yentafo Noodle Shop / Thai-CN / Samyan
What: A noodle specialty shop with home-made fish balls and rice noodles to offer. Hi-Chin claimed that her fish balls are made from a mix of three kinds of sea and fresh water fish ordered directly from the Mahachai Market (a major fishermen port in the Central region), that yield a texture of depth and naturally sweet taste of the fish in her fish balls.
Why : People come here for the bouncy fish balls and aromatic yentafo soup noodle. Whether the soup noodle comes in a clear broth or yentafo (fermented bean curd paste), they are both a treat by the sidewalk, at a very cheap price.
Hi-Chin Yentafo Noodle Shop

7. Grossi / Italian / Rajprasong intersection / 02.656.0444
What: This restaurant, named after Australia's celebrity chef Guy Grossi, is no stranger in Melbourne. Not only have his restaurants have received numerous gourmet awards in Australia, but also was awarded in Italy. In 2009, InterContinental Hotel Bangkok teamed up with Guy Grossi and brought in Grossi Trattoria to Bangkokians; soon this unpretentious Italian trattoria became Bangkok's wine & dine canteen for the foodies.
Why : Some award-winning restaurants only 'cook' for the members in a (award) judge panel or VIPs but ignore their customers who are everyday supporters. We are lucky that the food at Grossi Trattoria Bangkok is solid; so far I couldn't find a dish that didn't justify the bill I paid for.
Grossi Trattoria and Wine Bar

8. Sai Nam Phueng / Thai-CN / Asok / 02.258.1958
What: Sai Nam Phueng Chicken Wings Noodle Shop, at the beginning of Sukhumvit Soi 20 (Soi Sai Nam Phueng), is a noodle joint renowned for her braised chicken wings and soup noodle in nice broth. Budget 'white collars' with their offices in the vicinity, Sukhumvit's high-so(ciety) residents, our big-wig aunties (and our uncles), and foodies are the regulars there.
Why : The open-air, cheap-eat, small eatery with street-side tables setting may easily lead people to misunderstand that it is just a place for a quick bite; eventually it is a gourmet noodle house for our ultimate palate enjoyment. For me, one bowl is never enough, and not even two; each visit to Sai Nam Phueng I eat (at least) three bowls of her soup noodles, fish balls and of course chicken wings!
Sai Nam Phueng Chicken Wings Noodle Shop

9. Espresso / Int'l buffet / Rajprasong intersection / 02.656.0444
What: Espresso is the coffee shop of the InterContinental Hotel Bangkok; besides a regular a la carte menu just like any hotel's coffee shop does, the Espresso also serves three buffet meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) a day. For their dinner and Sunday brunch buffet, the chefs intend to lure diners into a carnival of a scrumptious feast through the wide selections of quality food.
Why : These days, many hotel buffets have shrunk their selections and quality, but raise the price. For many years, from Le Meridien (formerly) to InterContinental (present), Espresso is one of a very few restaurants where their buffet has always lived up to expectations and the price is justified as to the bill. For instance, the roast prime rib there is arguably the best in a regular buffet deal (in Bangkok).
Espresso buffet

10. St. Regis Bar / afternoon tea / Rajdamri / 02.207.7777
What: The St. Regis built a hotel in the heart of downtown Bangkok, with a refined atmosphere and gracious service, it made the St. Regis Bangkok the ideal venue to dine and to meet friends. It has one of the best hotel restaurant line-ups in town, among them the St. Regis Bar which serves the world's first Siam Mary, the Thai version of St. Regis' own Bloody Mary, alongside with premium spirits, Champagne, classic cocktails and fine snacks.
Why : Although the St. Regis Bar is renowned for her booze and caviar, the bar with a soaring ceiling, floor-to-ceiling window wall, and a panorama racecourse and Bangkok skyline view that is twenty-three stories above the ground level tempted me to settle for her afternoon tea set in this relaxing ambiance, though afternoon tea (normally) serves at the Drawing Room adjacent to the St. Regis Bar.
St. Regis Bar and the Drawing Room

11. Artur / steakhouse / Chidlom / 02.658.6288
What: With a career background from the Ritz of Paris, Artur Kluczewski relocated to Bangkok in the 90's; from Ma Maison (Nai Lert Park), New York Steakhouse (J.W. Marriott), Prime (Millennium Hilton) to the Pacific Club, Artur is now a household name (in the high-society community) equal to fine steak. After building a solid reputation in the higher-end culinary scene, two years ago the veteran restaurateur Artur opened his own steakhouse - the Artur.
Why : I still enjoy a piece of excellent steak prepared by Artur and his kitchen team, but for the first time I don't have to pay a five-star hotel dining cost for it. Especially during lunch, the good value lunch set is a steal for gourmet lovers. Even if one doesn't eat (red) meat, Artur has very nice protein selection from the ocean to offer (that is cooked to perfection), so there is no reason not to love Artur and his steakhouse.
Artur Restaurant

12. Ruea Thong / Thai / Thonglo / 02.185.2610
What: This is one of a few very small Thai restaurant that has been honored by time; in the Bangkok east high-so(ciety) Thonglo community, Ruea Thong does not have a fancy facade and interior, but the home-style cuisine served from the kitchen kept this old name standing strong in the area for decades.
Why : While the mid-Sukhumvit section's restaurant scene is dominated by hip restaurants and foreign cuisine, old gun Ruea Thong is the last fort to preserve old-school Thai cuisine in the area. The food is the down-to-earth kind, yet classic, and the price is very affordable for all walks of life.
Ruea Thong Thai Restaurant

Those are my twelve picks from Thaisclub's 2011 posts, and no doubt I will continue to eat there frequently in the Year of the Golden Dragon.
.

Le Dalat

2011-12-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

406
.

Where French meets Vietnamese, Bon Appetit!

Le Dalat, offering Vietnamese cuisine with a little French accent, was founded by a Viet-French owner with her family recipes to offer. This is one of the fanciest stand-alone Vietnamese restaurants in Bangkok.

For a meal at Le Dalat I (usually) only order its traditional Vietnamese fare and skip the French-Vietnamese selections. It is a guilt not to mention Le Dalat's pho. At Thai Baht 180++ the beef pho comes with cooked beef in full flavor soup and raw beef with a separate running broth for dipping, and fresh vegetables to go with them. A bowl of pho at Le Dalat can give my blue day a lift, and followed by a serving of old-school flanc burlee may shine my day!

If one can afford (and willing to spend) the fine dining price (for Vietnamese food), dining at Le Dalat is definitely an exceptional experience. For most patrons this is not the place for frequent dining, so let's reserve Le Dalat, the restaurant, for dining on a special occasion.

Le Dalat ***1/2
57 Sukhumvit Soi 23
Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.259.9593

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): expect THB 3,000

Italian Tomato

2011-12-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

405
.

Bona fide fusion cuisine

When Italian meets Japanese, the cuisine becomes exciting. Italian Tomato, the decades old Italian restaurant and bakery chain with a Japanese twist, is renowned for its Italian + Japanese bona fide fusion cuisine in Japan, has also gained a certain popularity in Southern California with branches in food centers and supermarkets. Before I relocated to Bangkok, I used to visit an Italian Tomato cake shop at least once a month for her cakes, they are fluffy and soft, light and flavorsome, and it is the kind of cake I (exactly) like; but the food, is not on my 'like' list.

I always wish that Italian Tomato may (sooner or later) come to Thailand, and a long wait for more than a decade had become reality since last year. The first Italian Tomato cake shop has landed in Bangkok's Central World Plaza, followed by the Italian Tomato Restaurant & Cafe, a latest addition to the Central Plaza Ladprao.

gateau aux fraises THB 110++

chocolate cake THB 100++; fruit cake THB 110++

fruit cocktail tart THB 110++

bolograise THB 150++

tortilla chips (complimentary), chicken & mushroom salad THB 100++

curry rice with omelet THB 160++

Italian Tomato Restaurant and Cafe ***1/4
1/F Central Plaza Ladprao
Paholyothin Road
Jatujak, Bangkok 10900
Tel.: 02.541.1882

Open daily : 10 am - 9:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700

Italian Tomato Cake Shop ****
7/F Central World Plaza
4 Rajmadri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.646.1017

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 300

Flavour Food Court

2011-12-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

404
.

Cheap eat with a view

Hiding inside the Central Food Hall (seventh floor) of the Central World Plaza, has Bangkok's best view food court in town - the Flavour Food Court, though food is mediocre.

Flavour Food Court ***
7/F Central Food Hall
The Central World Plaza
4 Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.613.1629

Open daily : 10 am - 9:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 200

Sucre

2011-12-16T17:53:00.000-08:00

403
.

On the hand of clowns

After the opening of a few restaurants around the world, including one in Bangkok - the Hyde & Seek at Athenee Residence (oh I love the burger and cocktails there), celebrity chef Ian Chalermkittichai and his business partners opened Sucre in the Siam Paragon, to cater a younger crowd of movie goers and the nearby Siam high-so(ciety) school kids for the restaurant's specialties, which are crepes, cakes and light meals in a fusion twist. The circus vibe and colorful hue promote fun and dine-in concept, but Sucre's clowns are probably in immediate training mode and mood!

Sucre Cafe ***
5/F Major Paragon Cineplex
The Siam Paragon Shopping Centre
991 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.610.9556

Open daily : 12 - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700

MoMo Cafe

2011-12-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

402
.

Back to the future

Recently I went to La Tavola, the luxury Italian restaurant of the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, there I found a surprise. Compared to a year ago, the menu had been 'upgraded', and the culinary outcome has also been 'upgraded', but the good price withstands.

I eat at Marriott Hotels' restaurant outlets quite often, they include the New York Steakhouse and Tsu Japanese Restaurant of the J.W. Marriott, Fei Ya and La Tavola of the Renaissance, and MoMo Cafe of the Courtyard. A recent visit to the Courtyard Hotel on Soi Mahalekluang 1, I ate at the hotel's MoMo Cafe with my friend. The first impression was that the service is as good as before, they are attentive and enthusiastic. By browsing the menu, both selections (of food) and the price had been revamped. For instance, the fish n' chips and wood-roast chicken 'enjoyed' a 50% price hike to THB 230++ and THB 260++ respectively, as well as most of the dishes in the menu, including the wood-fired pizza, all 'enjoyed' a new tag with 50% price hike. As for the taste of the food, no hike in quality and culinary skill though, and in contrast, the 'your-own' pizza (THB 380++) was quite awful in its crust and texture, very disappointing!

MoMo Cafe used to be Bangkok's most cherished hotel dining at mall food price, but the glory is definitely fading away!

MoMo Cafe ***
Courtyard Hotel by Marriott
155/1 Soi Mahalekluang 1
Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.690.1888
MoMo Cafe

Open daily : 6 - 1 am (all-day dining)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,200
(weekdays lunch set THB 240)

Ruea Thong

2011-12-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

401
.

Meal on the golden boat

Bangkok's hip and chic Thonglo area is growing at light-speed in recent years. On its restaurant scene, we witness the never ending opening (and never ending closing down) of fancy newbies, and boring chains, sprawl into Thonglo soi by soi for the pre-partying clubbers and the high-so(ciety) hipsters. Nevertheless foodies in the neighborhood still stick to a few trusted old names, like Ruea Thong, which is a small shop-house eatery (on corner of Thonglo Soi 17) that is honored by time, the food there made her standing strong in the area for season after seasons.

For a place that Thais will find their grandmas' recipes and to please the palate throughout a meal, Ruea Thong is always one of the top choices in Thai cuisine; Ruea Thong (literally boat golden) is one of my favorite restaurants to crave for scrumptious home-style cuisine.

nam-prik ong makam, THB 100, fresh vegetables with tamarind relish dipping
pla salid tord, THB 130, salid fish, deep-fried to perfection, crispy but moist

yum makheua yao, THB 100, eggplant salad with spicy fish sauce dressing
pik gai tord, THB 90, deep fried chicken wings, crispy, light and aromatic

gaeng khua hoy khom, THB 90, red curry with small sea cockcle
(classic curry dish, easy to cook, difficult to have it good, key is in the paste, eight
out of ten restaurants in Bangkok do awful gaeng khua, but Ruea Thong's is superb)

phad yod fak meaw, THB 90, stir-fried chayote leaves, young and crispy
a portion of Thai pomelo, complimentary

gaeng som cha-om-tord, THB 90, sour curry with fern-leaves omelet, yummy!

Ruea Thong Thai Restaurant ****1/4
351/2 Soi Thonglo (corner Thonglo Soi 17)
Sukhumvit 55 Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.185.2610

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2 pm, dinner 5 - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Artur

2011-12-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

400
.

Art of meat

Artur Kluczewski, the person who is responsible for a few successful restaurants in Bangkok, now runs his own steakhouse in the heart of downtown Bangkok; yes, it is that talk-of-the-town Manhattan style steakhouse with a Parisian touch on Soi Tonson - the Artur. Someone called it a retro French restaurant that serves excellent New York style steak. Either way, Artur is the rare culinary gift to Bangkokians.

Just like most luxury restaurants will do a budget luncheon to keep epicures aware and to lure non-regulars to their dinner, Artur offers two lunch sets, a weight-watcher lunch set at THB 290++, and a 3-course business lunch set at THB 490++. Both are great value for money. And the food, impeccable!

Artur Restaurant ****1/4
G/F Bliston Suwan Park View
9 Soi Tonson
Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.658.6288

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2pm, dinner 6 - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): expect THB 6,000
(weekdays lunch set from THB 290++)

Chu

2011-12-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

399
.

Experimental dough

Chu, probably from the name churro, the snack joint that has been claimed to be the only churros specialty in Bangkok, had its debut a year ago at Asok intersection's Exchange Tower. Churro, a.k.a. Spanish doughnut, a deep-fried dough snack that is very popular in Spain, Latin America, and the southern border States of the US, especially in Southern California, where Latin Americans have a strong hold in the areas. It is probably the Spanish answer to Thailand's infamous (an enemy to health conscious diet) bak-tong-kou, and Hong Kong's yau-ja-gwai, both go well with the jok (congee) for breakfast.

Chu also claimed to have a chocolate specialty, with the ingredients sourced from France. I found that the 58% dark chocolate drink was lacking in aroma, though it was strong enough for a chocolate lover like me. The hot chocolate got along well with my order of churros with cinnamon icing, which was nicely deep fried, crispy outside, but watery soft inside without a little chewy texture of the dough; the dough was lacking of the aroma that it should have. Perhaps the chef should take a Christmas vacation to Los Angeles, which is the temple of churros in the US, to sample some.

As for the other desserts and drinks, some were good while a few were horrible. I hope that the owner doesn't run an experimental kitchen and have customers paid to be his guinea pigs.

Service in Chu is slow, robot style and pretentious.

French 58% hot chocolate, THB 120+, rich but not aromatic!

bratwrust and onion sandwich, THB 110+ half, stingy serving of sauteed onion, pale
bratwrust (not grilled) chopped into CN style small pieces, someone who doesn't eat
sandwich did this, so we can tell how much they understand about making a sandwich!

churros, THB 90+, a familiar name, but not the familiar texture and taste!

Chu chocolate truffle cake, THB 135+, no comment, just won't eat it again!
facebook crepe cake with berry sauce, THB 120+, the sauce is better than the cake ..

vanila mikeshake, THB 120+, I like it, because it has a very '60's Dairy Farm' taste
dark chocolate, THB 120+, not ugly, simply Chu has a good ice cream supplier

Chu **3/4
Unit 204, 2/F Exchange Tower
388 Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey Toey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.663.4554

Open daily : 7:30 am (Sat & Sun 9 am) - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500

Palazzo

2011-12-05T17:10:00.000-08:00

398
.

Palace of a shabby-genteel raja

Bangkok has a carnival of around two hundred Italian restaurants in town, some run by native Italian restaurateurs, others owned by enthusiastic local or foreign investors. No matter which one they are, furious competition is a common obstacle in the running of them. Many high end restaurants roll out quality lunch sets at a bargain price to keep customers aware and to lure them into dinner, which has more expensive menus.

Palazzo Ristorante and Wine Bar, a popular wine and dine joint in Thonglo for the high-so(ciety) locals who love wine at an affordable price, does a four-course lunch set at just THB 350++. The set consists of an all-you-can-eat antipasti, a soup, a choice of mains, and desserts followed by coffee or tea.

Those who still do a two-course lunch set at THB 500 or more shall feel the heat!

Weekdays lunch set ***1/2
Palazzo Ristorante and Wine Bar
335 Thonglo Soi 17
Sukhumvit Soi 55
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.712.9900

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,000 (lunch set THB 350++)

397

2011-12-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Witch Pie Factory

2011-12-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

396
.

Bewitching taste in every pie

If people call this place the Bangkok Best Pie, I would have no objection!

The Witch Pie Factory ****1/2
14/45 Sukhunvit Soi 65
off Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.391.1311
Witch Pie

Open daily : 9 am - 6 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

T42

2011-11-30T13:19:00.000-08:00

395
.

Tea for two

For over a decade T42 at Siam Discovery Centre (moved from its former location in the Siam Centre few months ago) serves Thai and international menu on the home-cooking approach, and its cakes have been claimed to be its strength. I found that the food is not great but a fair life-saver feast for shoppers after a day of Siam hopping and the nearby school kids. But the cakes, forget about it!

pak boong tord, THB 90, deep-fried morning glory

gaeng keo waan, THB 90, green curry with roti

tord mun pla, THB 90, deep-fried spicy fish patties

kuay teow kua gai, THB 90, stir-fried flat rice noodle, chicken & eggs

T42 (Tea for Two) ***
4/F Siam Discovery Centre
979 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.251.6197

Open daily : 10 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Roadhouse Thanksgiving buffet

2011-11-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

394
.

Thanks, turkey!

Every year, I don't want to skip two very important meals, one among them is the Thanksgiving dinner. Though I am not a farmer, but I shall give thanks for being able to live so happily on earth.

I am not an enthusiastic turkey eater, and usually I eat the big bird only during very special occasions, such as the Thanksgiving. For nearly twenty years living in Thailand, I have always waited for a feast of truly impeccable turkey menu to celebrate with this festive moment, whether it is in an individual establishment or in a hotel's restaurant, but to no avail. But tonight my prayer was being answered, at Roadhouse, the roast turkey breast served in the Thanksgiving buffet dinner was so moist and tender with the rich flavor of the bird, and the flavorful giblet gravy enhanced the taste to a truly impeccable level. Surprise! The buffet offered scrumptious pumpkin pie as well.

For the once in a year festive meal, I didn't eat alone. Tonight, I ate with two friends, one of them is a foodie from the U.S. who really knows Thanksgiving menu, and he agreed that the dinner at Roadhouse is a very pleasant one.

Thanksgiving buffet dinner ****
Roadhouse Barbecue Smokehouse and Grill
942/1 Rama IV Road
Surawong, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.236.8010
Roadhouse

Open daily : 10:30 am - 1 am
Pay (Thanksgiving buffet dinner): THB 895++

T.S. Cuisine

2011-11-18T13:26:00.000-08:00

393
.

Southern comfort

By the restaurant's facade appearance and clientele, I was once been misled that T.S. Cuisine is a 'tourist-class' restaurant. So for many years I didn't bother to give it a straight look, until my foodie friend reminded me that my prejudice is probably not realistic.

Recently the Northern runoffs threatening the capital scared foreign tourists away from Bangkok, and it is locals eating at T.S. Cuisine; indeed it serves authentic and affordable Thai cuisine with a solid Southern twist on the home-cooking approach. Within a month, I went there several times, with my local friends and my visiting friends in separate occasions. They all love the food there.

deep-fried shrimp patties (tord mun goong) and fish patties (tord mum pla) THB180

fresh vegetables and fried chopped beef with chili and herbs (kua-kling neua) THB 100

salad, Thai fern, dried shrimp, minced pork in spicy dressing (yum pak-kud) THB 80
stir-fried sataw beans and chilies with prawns (sataw phad prik goong) THB 150

deep fried sea bass in chili sauce (pla kapong tord rad prik) THB 280

southern style red curry with seaood (chu-chee talay) THB 150
stir-fried liang leaves with eggs (phad bai liang) THB 60

brown rice, fish soup southern style (tom yum pla) THB 100

Krua Thaksin (T.S. Cuisine) ***1/2
The Co-Co Walk Ratchathewi
Phayathai Road
Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.656.6703

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 450

Malai Coffee House breakfast

2011-11-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

392
.

Feast of the dawn

Malai Coffee House also has Western and Thai breakfast set and a la carte on offer, but usually it is the restaurant's renowned khao tom set that wins my order. Today, I intended to be rebellious on my routine at the Malai Coffee House and I ordered a breakfast set. I found it is not bad!

Breakfast set ***1/4
Malai Coffee House
The Malaysia Hotel
54 Soi Ngamduplee
off Rama IV Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.679.7127

Open daily 24 hours
Pay (breakfast for two): around THB 250

Malai Coffee House khao tom set

2011-11-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

391
.

An institutional khao tom feast

The aging Malaysia Hotel in Bangkok's Sathorn district is definitely not on my list of recommended venues, but the midnight khao tom (boiled rice soup) set, on offer at its coffee shop - the Malai Coffee House, is one of my favorite supper choices due to both its good quality and very affordable price.

Midnight khao tom dining ****1/2
Malai Coffee House
The Malaysia Hotel
54 Soi Ngamduplee
off Rama IV Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.679.7127

Open daily 24 hours
Pay (khao tom set for two 10 pm - 6 am): THB 150+
(choices of 3 dishes with a big pot of boiled rice soup)

Cafe Primo by Sandy

2011-11-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

390
.

Farewell the cafe

Cafe Primo, owned by a food enthusiast dessert chef - Ms Sandy, also a Le Condon Bleu graduate, had fixed me many meals while I lived in the nearby neighborhood few years ago. Since I moved to another corner of the C.B.D., I now seldom eat at this pond-side restaurant. Until recently I picked up a rumor from my business source, that the landlord - the Crown Property Bureau, of whom Cafe Primo leased the land from, will summon that the land and the Cafe has to be vacant before the end of December (yes, this year). A couple of days ago I returned to see my old friend - Cafe Primo, and did the last supper for the cafe.

Cafe Primo by Sandy ***
Langsuan Soi 3
off Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.632.1637

Open daily : lunch 12 - 2:30 pm, dinner 5 - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700

St. Regis afternoon tea

2011-11-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

389
.

Bangkok's best view for tea

The St. Regis Hotel, landed in one of the most premium locations in Bangkok, Rajdamri Road, offers prestige dining choices for the business elites and high-so(ciety) housewives. Most of the hotel's restaurant outlets are on the high floors, with spectacular views of the city and racecourse; even a low-so person like me would like to soak in the indulgence, at least for (just) an afternoon.

Afternoon tea set ***3/4
The St. Regis Bar and the Drawing Room
The St. Regis Bangkok
159 Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.207.7777
St. Regis Bar and the Drawing Room

Open daily : 12 pm (noon) - 1 am (Fri & Sat 2 am)
Pay (afternoon tea set for two): St. Regis set, THB 950++

UCC Cafe

2011-11-05T17:29:00.001-07:00

388
.

Comfort of fusion

UCC Cafe, a Japanese brand, is probably Thailand's first foreign coffee chain established in Bangkok, long before Starbucks landed in the Kingdom. Besides coffee and drinks, UCC Cafe offers neo-Japanese cuisine, with selective Thai dishes in addition, and choices of classic comfort food for the high-so(ciety) Siam kids, but not for foodies.

Before Starbucks existed, UCC Cafe (Siam Center branch) was my regular 'meeting-point' with friends, due to its very convenient and visible location in Siam Center.

UCC Cafe' City 21 ***
Shop H6, 1/F Siam Center
989 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.658.1716
UCC Coffee

(and branches throughout the Kingdom)

Open daily : 10 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Secret Recipe

2011-11-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

387
.

Sweet tooth express

Secret Recipe, a chain cafe for casual dining and cake shop from Malaysia, has food of television-meal standard and their cakes were not great when they launched in 2004. Over time, the big-cut cakes have had nice improvements, though the food is still served as a punishment for my taste buds.

Secret Recipe ***
G/F Siam Paragon Shopping Center
991 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.610.7626
Secret Recipe

and in major shopping centers in Bangkok and upcountry

Open daily : 10 am - 9 pm
Pay (cakes only for two): around THB 250

Baan Khanitha

2011-10-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

386
.

Nice food, the look only!

Baan Khanitha, a Thai restaurant in the heart of Bangkok, where no Thais will eat there with their family, except for entertaining overseas guests for expense-account dining purposes.

I found Baan Khanitha and Gallery (on Sathorn Road) served as an overpriced canteen (very noisy) for tourists; service and food were poor, as well as the wine list. Baan Khanitha may be a major sponsor for MSG, salt and soy sauce as they were the taste I found in my dishes sampled; not a trace of the harmony of the five tastes in a Thai cuisine found.

Baan Khanitha and Gallery **
69 South Sathorn Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.675.4200

Baan Khanitha Thai Cuisine ***
36/1 Soi Shukhumvit 23
Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.260.9601

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,400

Sansab

2011-10-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

385
.

A Thai-Issan treat in San Francisco

Few years ago Sansab was quietly tossing its somtum salad and roasting Issan chicken on Ladprao Road; I have no idea, but since when this neighborhood Issan somtum joint felt too lonely to stay in Ladprao, it branched out to Bangkok's major shopping malls, in Central, in Siam Paragon, and now has landed in the Terminal 21 Mall at Asok Intersection.

Sansab Thai Restaurant ***
The Terminal 21
San Francisco Zone, 5/F
288 Sukhumvit Road
(at Asok Intersection)
North Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110

Open daily : 10 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 600

Omurice & Cafe

2011-10-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

384
.

Dine in a nest

Omurice, rice in an omelet wrapper, is one the very popular fusion menus in Japan, and, the trend travels South to Thailand as well.

Omurice & Cafe ***
Park Land Bangkok Community Mall
18 Soi Ekamai
Soi 63 Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.382.0138

Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2 pm, dinner 5:30 - 9:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500

Singapore Pochana

2011-10-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

383
.

Singapore in Yaowaraj

One of the desserts that Thais love is lod chong Singapore, pandan leaves infused with tapioca worm-like noodles in coconut milk, and topped with shaved ice when served. In Thailand people believe that the green color lod chong Singapore is a dessert that originated from the Lion City - Singapore. I found, it is not exactly the case. A similar dessert is very popular in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and even Hong Kong, called cendol (or chendol); it probably originated from Indonesia instead of Singapore.

The Thai version of cendol, lod chong Singapore, was introduced by a local dessert vendor near the former Singapore Theater a few decades ago. Today the original lod chong Singapore shop is still there, in Yaowaraj, and it had a representative name, Singapore Pochana. Lod chong Singapore is probably a native Thai dessert with the influence of South East Asia, just as in part of the Thai cuisine there is a trace of Myanmar, Chinese and Vietnamese influence lingering.

My glass of lod chong Singapore, the 'green worm', was lacking in texture, and the coconut milk was not aromatic, with the only taste was so sweet and very sweet. My chance to return for its lod chong Singapore is thin, even if I don't mind the shop hygiene issues.

Singapore Pochana ***
680 Charoenkrung Road
Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Tel.: 02.221.5794

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (lod-chong Singapore for two): around THB 40

Silk Road yum-cha

2011-10-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

382
.

Drinking tea eating dim-sum

Chinese Cantonese yum-cha (drinking tea, and eating dim-sum, bite-sized food in small portions, usually served in a small bamboo steamer basket, or on a small plate), was listed as #7 of the World's 50 most delicious foods from readers' picks (2011) by CNNGo. So recently I have gone for yum-cha more often, to sample those highly rated Cantonese bite-sized dim-sum treats.

One restaurant I visited lately was the Silk Road, a small Chinese restaurant in the luxurious Plaza Athenee Hotel Bangkok. I eat at the Silk Road quite often for dinner, but for yum-cha (dim-sum lunch), this was my first time.

I found, that the barbecue pork bun (char siu bao) at Silk Road is a must try, above average, while the rest of the dim-sum being (just) average. Besides dim-sum, I also ordered the Peking roast duck three ways, THB 1,200++. Duck skin was so crispy and aromatic, fried duck meat in sweet and sour sauce was superb, while the congee with minced duck meat was disappointing and the chef put too much shredded ginger in it.

Cantonese yum-cha lunch ***
Silk Road Chinese Restaurant
Plaza Athenee Hotel Bangkok
(a Royal Meridien Hotel)
61 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.650.8800
Silk Road

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 10:30 pm
Pay (a la carte dim-sum lunch for two): around THB 1,600
(All-you-can-eat dim-sum lunch is THB 950 net per person)

Espresso Restaurant

2011-10-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

381
.

Quality buffet to enjoy with friends

Since 2001, the Espresso Restaurant's renowned buffet meal has never let me down.

Friday and Saturday seafood buffet dinner ****
Espresso Restaurant
The InterContinental Hotel Bangkok
973 Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.656.0444
Espresso

Open daily : 6 am - 10:30 pm (dinner buffet 6 - 10:30 pm)
Pay (Fri & Sat seafood buffet dinner): THB 1,499++ per person

BonChon

2011-10-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

380
.

It's lips licking good!

What do Samsung, Wonder Girls, and BonChon have in common? Besides they are native Korean subjects, and, like most Korean products, they aggressively invaded into every corner of America with no mercy. And BonChon, the fried chicken that "it isn't merely today's best chicken; it's perfect, the best fried chicken that I've ever had", landed in Bangkok.

BonChon Chicken ***1/4
2/F Seenspace 13
251/1 Soi Thonglor 13
Soi 55 Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.185.2361

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500

*(Update - 2011 December: Korean finger licking fried chicken is now also available in Bangkok's biggest mall - the Central World Plaza)

Nuan Prang's

2011-10-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

379
.

Luxurious boat

At Ratchayothin intersection there are endless openings of Issan somtum joints and Ayutthaya boat noodle shops; most of them tend to offer cheap eats to students and residents in the area, with a minimal vibe (usually non-air-conditioned, of course).

Nuan Prang's Noodle Bar at Suzuki Avenue Ratchayothin (a.k.a. Major Avenue Ratchayothin), co-owned by a local TV star, is probably an evolution of Ayutthaya boat noodles in the area, with modern and beautiful decoration, clean and comfortable ambiance, and offers a diner a bowl of hygiene boat noodle soup with a fusion noodle menu, and a price. The cons are the quality of the meat (pork or beef) served with the noodle soup doesn't justify the bill I paid, and the broth was not awesome (as it should be for that price asked), even with a hint of the use of MSG.

For a high-so version of Ayutthaya boat noodle soup, so far my favorite is one at the Peninsula Plaza (next to the Four Seasons Hotel) - the Provence.

Nuan Prang's Noodle Bar ***
Suzuki Avenue Ratchayothin
Ratchadapisek Road
Ladyao, Bangkok 10900
Tel.: 02.930.2185

Open daily: 11 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Smooth Curry

2011-10-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

378
.

As smooth as curry

Eating a Thai meal in a hotel's outlet may end up with disappointment in some cases, especially in those big names in five-star hotels. We pay more, and we deserve a better treat; but usually they are pale and bland without bright ambition and effort, as mentioned in the previous post.

Lucky that there is always an exception for the unfortunate. And I found Smooth Curry the savior in my taste-buds pleasure of eating Thai food in a five-star hotel.

Smooth Curry came to my attention when I (accidentally) discovered its once-in-a-year khao-chae (chilled rice soup in jasmine scented water) treat which happens to be one of best in the Kingdom. In theory, if a chef can do the rather complicated royal recipe khao-chae and the tidbits right, there is no reason that the chef couldn't cook a decent meal with a fine Thai twist.

I once invited a local friend, also a foodie, to eat at Smooth Curry; at first he doubted that we might enjoy a real Thai meal there, as he also lost faith in most hotel's Thai restaurants. After the meal, he booked a table for three weeks later, to sample more dishes with his friends. And he ended the 'introductory' meal with paying the bill as a gesture of thankfulness that I brought him to Smooth Curry.

The waitstaff at Smooth Curry will ask her customers if they want the food cooked the full scale spiciness or the tourist-palate-friendly mild version. So non-Thai visitors shall never find their tongue being burnt!

saeng-wa pla foo (deep-fried minced catfish with saeng-wa dips) THB 250++

amuse bouche (traditional Thai herbal drinks)
phla goong (herbal salad tossed with lemongrass and river prawn) THB 290++

hor mok talay (steamed curry souffle with seafood) THB 300++
yum pla salid (spicy salad with deep-fried salid fish) THB 250++

pla kapong sam rod (deep-fried local sea bass in sweet & spicy sauce) THB 550++

tom kha gai (chicken soup with Thai herbs and coconut cream) THB 250++
mussaman rue (Southern curry with beef in masaaman curry paste) THB 320++

chu chee goong (fried river prawn in chu-chee red curry sauce) THB 390++
phad pak fuk miew (stir-fried cayote leaves with fresh mushroom) THB 130++

khao-neaw mamuang (glutinous rice with ripe mango) THB 250++

Smooth Curry Thai Restaurant ***3/4
Plaza Athenee Hotel Bangkok
61 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.650.8800
Smooth Curry

Open daily : 6 - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 2,000

Sra Bua

2011-09-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

377
.

Deconstruction cuisine

In Thailand, there is never a problem to enjoy a meal of good Thai cuisine (of course); they are just around any corner, at a decade-old pochana (small local restaurant), or in a Thai household. But when the cuisine comes to luxurious banquet versions it is rather sad; most five-star hotel's versions of Thai cuisine are quite disappointing; the food is pale and bland without bright ambition or effort. I feel they are just repacking mediocre food, serving them on porcelain tableware in the comfort of exquisite ambiance and impeccable service. So boring!

Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, the Bangkok branch of the Copenhagen based Kiin Kiin Thai Restaurant, wearing one-star Michelin recognition, opened almost two years ago in the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and has added spice to the local gastronomy scene. Sra Bua offers molecular gastronomy Thai dishes, the first in the Kingdom; so grandma's recipe gaeng bark (firey hot jungle curry), a backpacker's love phad Thai (stir-fried sen-chan noodle) and a tourist's favorite chicken pieces wrapped in pandan leaf may not appear on the menu; even if they do, they may appear in another costume, like the very common red curry there is presented in a form of iced cream, served with frozen fog.

My friend took me to Sra Bua for lunch, to see if our taste-buds appreciated the first Thai molecular gastronomy cuisine. There are likes and dis-likes for Sra Bua's modern Thai cuisine, using cutting-edge culinary technique and molecular gastronomy, and I enjoyed the meal so much, as long as I opened my mind, and treated that as haute cuisine with a Thai twist.

Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin ***
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
991/9 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.162.9000
Sra Bua

Open daily : lunch 12 am - 3 pm, dinner 6 - 11 pm
Pay : lunch set THB 1,500++, dinner set THB 2,400++

Sai Nam Phueng Chicken Wings Noodle

2011-09-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

376
.

Fascinated wings

All that is necessary for a bowl of noodle soup to stay on the right track is on the broth, real pork bone or chicken bone (or both) simmered broth, without the use of MSG. Sai Nam Phueng Noodle Shop on Sukhumvit belt, a small eatery renowned for her noodle soup, topped with braised chicken wings, has the broth marvelously done. Toppings like fish balls, tofu balls and (of course) braised chicken wings were made from fine ingredients, and made my bowl of noodle shine.

Kuay Tiew Peek Gai Sai Nam Phueng ****1/2
392/20 Sukhumvit Soi 20
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.258.1958

Open daily : 9 am - 3 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 100

Shun No Mai

2011-09-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

375
.

Fail to dance

When I was a little child, sometimes I would sneak into the kitchen to cook my favorite dish - deep-fried chicken pieces. They were actually leftovers (steamed chicken) prepared from the previous meal; I took them out from the fridge, rubbed and marinated the chicken pieces with soy sauce, deep-fried them in the sea of running oil; seasoned them (yes again, so you know how awful they tasted!) with additional soy sauce and salt; when done, I poured some seasoning agent on them, so my master piece was a dish of salty meats; the only taste my taste buds could detect was - salt. I ate them while watching my favorite TV program, Sesame Street. Later when my taste buds gained strength, I realized that it was a little crime in culinary means.

Shun No Mai, a Japanese show kitchen style buffet restaurant, bravely opened in Thonglor few months ago, reminds me of that mischief I did in my early childhood.

At THB 680++ per person (all-you-can-eat) it is not difficult to please diners even if Shun No Mai just serves mediocre food; the inexpensive price tag helps her to gain back some credit; however, its raw fish, or sashimi, quality is worse than those you can get for fifteen baht at Klongsan, and cooked food used low grade ingredients; meats are pale and tasteless. The only taste was from the heavy-weight seasoning sauce.

My friend, who was also in the table, proved that the sashimi was lacking freshness with a result that he suffered a food-poisoning kind of diarrhea that night. I was okay since I didn't touch those raw stuff.

Shun No Mai, literally dance of the season, did not have the food dance, but had our colon dance!

Shun No Mai Japanese Buffet Restaurant **1/4
Floor G Opus Tower
139 Thonglor Soi 10
Soi 55 Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.714.7589

Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2 pm (set lunch),
dinner 5 - 10 pm (buffet and a la carte)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,350

The World

2011-09-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

374
.

Buffet from five Continents

My friends were upset by the (low quality) breakfast offer at Oasis, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, while they stayed there, in a result that the morning had been spoiled. Centara hotels have a hand in consistency of food and beverage (low) quality, the buffet dinner at the World, Bangkok's Centara Grand at Central World, does not rescue its poor reputation.

The variety of buffet line up is large, but all of them, mediocre. When I avoid its tired sashimi, stale oysters, and Wednesday's chewy wagyu roast (from where? probably China!), the meal concluded happier.

dinner buffet **3/4
The World
Centara Grand at Central World
999/99 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.100.1234
The World

Open daily : 24 hours (dinner buffet 6 - 10 pm)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,300

Baan Boran

2011-09-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

373
.

Dressed in red

I am not a fan of that bloody color yentafu noodle (noodle in fermented bean curd sauce), but every time when I passed by Baan Boran on Ladprao Soi 1, its yentafu noodle is irresistible to pass. Simply it is delicious!

Baan Boran Noodle House ****
Ladprao Soi 1
Chajuchak, Bangkok 10900

Open daily : 8 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 100

Napa

2011-09-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

372
.

Charm, on Silom

Napa is a charming two-story house restaurant on Naradhiwas Road in between Surawong and Silom Road, with both al fresco and air-conditioning dining area. Just like its neighbor Take a Seat, Napa also offers tourist-palate-friendly Thai cuisine. Napa even claimed itself a Thai-fusion restaurant. I found, its Thai dishes are quite authentic in taste that may please both local and foreign diners.

Napa Restaurant and Bar ***1/4
6 Naradhiwas-najanagarindra Road
Suriyawong, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.234.8671

Open daily : 5 pm - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 600

Mongkol Wattana

2011-09-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

371
.

Chicken of disappointment!

Some restaurants soak in the glory of their past; overtime they are proud of the hall of fame status instead of the food that (actually) brought the glory to them. Mongkol Wattana Pochana in Saphan Kwai area, with their khao-mum-gai (Hainanese chicken and rice immersed in chicken fat) specialty, is one of them.

A revisit to this once famed Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice eatery two weeks ago, revealed the long queue is still there, the chicken fat immersed rice is still fragrant and flavorful (but not salty), but the chicken itself didn't live up to expectations. The chicken was seriously overcooked, and the flesh was bland with a hint that the shop use a low grade chicken as the ingredient. Quite disappointing!

Mongkol Wattana Pochana ***
670/6 Phaholyothin Road
Phayathai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.270.1107

Open daily : 8 am - 8 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 200

Chor Moung

2011-09-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

370
.

Gem in the mist

This is a new restaurant recently opened in the revamped Siam Discovery Centre sixth and sixth A floors - the Sky Dining and Mood, with nice decoration and comfortable ambiance. First time to eat at this restaurant, it took me a few minutes at the entrance to figure out what kind of cuisine does she offer. It is about family Thai cuisine, and, it is Chor Moung.

Chor Moung Thai Restaurant ***1/2
The Sky Dining and Mood
6A/F Siam Discovery Centre
Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.658.0023

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500

Cassia Cafe

2011-09-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

369
.

Lunch by cassia

Cassia on Soi Sawasdee is a pleasant place to do lunch with friends.

Cassia Cafe and Tea Room ***1/2
20 Sukhumvit Soi 31 (Soi Sawasdee)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.662.0325

Open daily : 9 am - 10 pm (Sunday opens at 10:30 am)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 900

Tang Ee Fa

2011-09-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

368
.

Duck can fly

Tang Ee Fa Pochana, arguably best khao-tom ped (boiled rice soup with duck meat) in town, is part of the culinary glory of Bangkok's China town.

Tang Ee Fa Pochana ****
48 Plaeng Nam Road
Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10200

Open daily : 8 am - 8 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 100

Bake A Wish

2011-08-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

367
.

Low-fat cakes come true

Japanese style bakery baking low-fat pastries for the waist-watching youngsters (like me).

Bake A Wish Japanese Bakery ***3/4
363/40 Suksawat 19
Ratburana, Bangkok 10140
Tel.: 02.427.3120

CWP branch:
7/F Central World Plaza
4 Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.613.1640

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 200

Orchard

2011-08-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

366
.

A taste of disappointment

When there is a multi-cultural cuisine worthy to be mentioned, Singapore comes to mind immediately. One of the must-eat dishes is the chicken rice, and I am a fan of it; whether it is Singapore chicken rice, the original Hainanese one, or Thais khao-mun-gai, I like them all. Singapore's version is renowned for its refined recipe of Hainanese chicken rice, of which the chicken is prepared in a special process, accompanied with three dipping sauces with dark (sweet) soy sauce, chili and ginger paste, eaten with a bowl of chicken fat immersed fragrant rice. A visit to Singapore without including a meal of chicken rice is probably not having the trip complete.

When Orchard Chicken Rice, opened sometime last year by a local restauranteur, it proclaimed itself The Taste of Singapore; the first dish to sample is her chicken rice. The impression was negative on the first visit last year. The chicken was not tender, and the pale meat was tasteless. The steamed rice with immersed chicken fat was dull. I don't have too much to say about its dipping sauce (although I don't like it), since the fondness of sauce is always subjective; ever some renowned chicken specialty shops in Singapore such as Yet Con and Boon Tong Kee, some likes the sauce but others do not.

I revisited Orchard last week, and, yes, my mistake. The chicken rice was no better then last year's; it was pieces of chicken meat sadly floating on the sea of soy sauce; again the overcooked meat was not tender and was tasteless in nature; I doubted why it is so brave to be named Singapore chicken rice. The cendol and char kuay teow didn't yield a hint of the native Lion City's taste either. I didn't dare to continue another dish as I had to flag the white flag to Orchard.

Orchard Chicken Rice (Taste of Singapore) **
7/F Central World Plaza
4 Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.252.5581

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500

Kuang Seafood

2011-08-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

365
.

Sea in tanks

Advertorial for Kuang Seafood doesn't appear frequently in local medias, probably Kuang doesn't need any! Unlike a seafood diners' trap near Big C Superstore Rajdamri branch, Kuang's offers fresh (and some live) seafood at a reasonable price. Every night Kuang Seafood is packed with local and foreign customers, sharing a night of feast in cheer.

One of my visiting friends is a cockle lover, not only is he quite strict on freshness (of seafood) and hygiene but also he is lazy to travel far from his hotel to eat. In this case Kuang Seafood and my friend are the prefect match. Every time when he is in town, we go to Kuang Seafood for his cockle and seafood dishes. Though the food is far from outstanding but definitely worth every buck I paid. The fare is tended to be of Thai-Chinese accent; stir-fried dishes (incl. curry crab) and steamed fish are all expertly prepared, while the gaeng and tomyum dishes shall give way to Thai restaurants. In Phayathai and Pratunam area, Kuang Seafood is arguably the best shot for inexpensive seafood dining with comfort and quality; however, service maybe a bit sluggish.

Kuang Sea Foods Restaurant ***1/2
107/12 Soi Rangnam
Phayathai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.642.5591

Open daily : all-day-dining 10 - 2 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700 without crab
(live crab THB 600-1,000 each)

Pae Klang Krung

2011-08-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

364
.

Floating palate

The concept of Pae Klang Krung Restaurant is to let customers dine on the water, while the restaurant had been built on a man-made pond. Ambiance of the restaurant is magnificent which made customers feel like they were eating on a floating palace.

Recently, I went to Pae Klang Krung for a round of early dinner before heading to a booze-bound birthday party at the CDC (Crystal Design Centre). However, the food is not as magnificent as the scenic view of the restaurant.

Pae Klang Krung Restaurant ***
13/1 Moo.9, Kaset-navamin Road
Klong Kum, Bangkok 10230
Tel.: 02.943.9531

Open daily : 5 pm - midnight
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700
(seafood dinner with crab around THB 1,600)

Madison lunch set

2011-08-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

363
.

Affordable luxury lunch deal

Madison is the steakhouse in the Four Seasons Hotel, which offers luxury beef cuts such as Matsuzaka and Kobe to Wagyu and USDA Prime, prepared in an American twist. It is one of the most luxurious steakhouses in Bangkok, and arguably the best in the 90's when the Four Seasons Bangkok was the Regent Hotel.

A meal for two at Madison may cost a local junior manager a month of his salary, say THB 20,000 with a bottle of nice wine, or half of the price without wine. Luxury does sometimes come with promotions, during weekdays Madison offers a tempting sixty-minute business luncheon deal, which is a 2-course lunch set below the mark of one thousand Thai baht, including Madison's renowned all-u-can-eat salad bar. It is a good chance for non-regular customers to sample Madison food and decide if it is justified to pay a luxury price for a-la-carte or dinner on another occasion.

Two weeks ago I revisited this once talk of the town steakhouse in Bangkok with an American foodie friend during lunchtime. The 3-course lunch set, THB 890++, consists of a soup or the all-u-can-eat salad bar, a main course with choices, and a desert with choices. It is a fairly good deal at this classy grill room. However the food didn't live up to expectations; the salad bar isn't as 'wow' as before, choices cut back and quality declined, for instance, scallops in one of the salad dishes had an artificial texture and tasted bland. Imagine the taste of an eatable rubber or Japanese fake scallops those kids eat! For mains I opted for pan-fried sea bass and it was quite good; but my friend wasn't as lucky as me. His grilled sirloin steak in black pepper sauce didn't have a decent beef flavor and was not tender, though not over-cooked. He described it as coffee-shop quality. The dessert, a creme burlee, was fine.

The food quality and taste aren't as good as last time I visited Madison, which was two years ago.

Madison ***1/2
Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok
155 Rajdamri Road
Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.126.8866

Open daily : breakfast 6 - 10:30 am, lunch 12 noon - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 10:30 pm, Sunday brunch 11:30 am - 3 pm
Pay (3-course lunch set without drinks): THB 890++
(a la carte 3-course around THB 8,000 without drinks)

Buddy Restaurant

2011-08-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

362
.

Buddy in the old city

My visiting friend would like to take a look of Bangkok's backpacker heaven - Khao San (this area became famous to foreigners after Leonardo DiCaprio's movie - the Beach shown) and its infamous nightlife. Before our adventure began, we ate at Buddy Restaurant, which belongs to Khao San biggest business group - the Buddy Group.

Buddy Restaurant is a tourist-palate-friendly restaurant, all dishes tend to please foreigner palates (less spicy) but didn't lose authentication of Thai cuisine. For Thais, just ask the kitchen to cook the Thai way.

Compare to Baruza on Surawong Road, Buddy's food tastes much better and costs much cheaper, I can say Buddy Restaurant is a honest restaurant and the tourist buddy in Khao San.

somtum poo (raw papaya spicy salad) with blue swimming crab

tord mun goong (deep-fried minced shrimp paste cakes)

tomyumgoong (sour and spicy soup with prawn, clear broth style)

pla gao tord sam ros (deep-fried grouper in sweet and spicy sauce)

the good chili sauce, stir-fried mixed vegetables

Buddy Restaurant ***1/2
2/F Buddy Lodge
265 khaosan Road
Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200
Tel.: 02.629.4477

Open daily : 5 pm - 1 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700

Baruza

2011-08-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

361
.

Fusion or confusion

A visiting friend stayed at Le Meridien Hotel on Surawong Road. We did dinner pretty late after a day of business meetings and a little bit of shopping. At almost 10 pm, most decent restaurants were closed. Since choice was not on our side and we were pretty hungry, for convenience we picked a bar, cum restaurant, across the street (from his hotel) to comfort our stomachs.

It was Baruza, a bar, a beer house, a Thai restaurant (proclaimed traditional Thai cuisine), a steakhouse and a Japanese fusion eatery under the same roof, all dishes cooked by the same chef. The interior is very Tokyo's Shinjuku feel (as it is investment from Japan), and the bill is of Tokyo standard - in Bangkok this means quite pricey.

We opted for Thai food that Baruza proclaimed is traditional and ended up worse than any tourist-palate-friendly standard, with a lack of any trace of authentication. I wonder if the chef uses purified sugar in stead of palm sugar in the kitchen. We ordered six dishes for a table of three persons (my visiting friend, my personal aide, and me). We started with somtum Thai (spicy shredded raw papaya salad, THB 130+); the salad was decorated with a piece of lettuce that made it seems funny, and taste lacked of any depth, not pungent hot, but very salty. Next dish was tord mun goong or deep-fried minced shrimp paste cakes (THB 150+), the color of the shrimp cake was nice, but the texture was too mashed-like, and pork belly seemed to be the main ingredients, not ground shrimp as they should be in a good balance. The next dish, was stir-fried chicken fillet with cashew nuts, for THB 220+ the portion of chicken and cashew nuts was thrifty, and the taste was ultra MSG enhanced.

We almost would like to leave the table to keep our taste-buds from suffering, but we needed to finish our order. We asked for fried fish, like the popular sea bass or grouper, but to no avail. The only fish available there was tabtim fish. It is a kind of fresh water fish developed locally by CP Farms and the cost is around THB 40 per fish at Tesco Lotus; decent restaurants don't have tabtim fish on the menu, while open-air pochanas or khao tom joints may offer it at around THB 100 to THB 150 per fish. At baruza it was THB 390+. The deep-fried tabtim fish appearance made me think of an over-sized cockroach, deep-fried in overnight cooking oil! Before we were free to have a cup of coffee, we needed to finish two more dishes, tomyumgoong (sour and spicy soup with prawn, THB 220+) and stir-fried seafood in yellow curry sauce (THB 290+). The tomtumgoong again had lack of depth in taste and was quite salty; the stir-fried seafood in yellow curry sauce would be better renamed to stir-fried vegetables in yellow curry sauce.

After dinner we went to Starbucks, the three of us never thought that drinks and pastry at Starbucks can be such a treat!

Baruza Restaurant **
135/18 Surawongse Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.634.4433

Open daily : 11 - 1 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,300 (Thai food)

Khao Chao

2011-08-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

360
.

Southern charm lights up Thonglo

Before the first time I ate at this little eatery in Thonglo, Khao Chao, I (always) guessed that this is an ordinary Issan somtum hut or Ayutthaya boat noodle joint when I passed by it; who knows; it is actually an extraordinary Thai restaurant with a Southern twist.

Extraordinary is that the restaurant is homey and of Baan-lae-Suan style; even the wait-staff look like someone's domestic helpers at home.

Extraordinary is that the restaurant has only a single page laminated menu, but everything on that is delicious.

Extraordinary is those Thonglo high-so aunties, who are hotel fine dining major sponsors, are also Khao Chao's regulars. Didn't I mention that I had passed by the restaurant many times but hesitated to step inside due to its nondescript shop facade that made me think it is ordinary. Thanks to one of the 'auntie' regulars who brought me there after a business meeting, finally I sampled her food, and had my palate experienced some joy for the day.

One more extraordinary, is that the bill doesn't match with the Thonglo high-so standard.

Two days ago I revisited Khao Chao with two friends, we ordered these.

gai phad takrai (stir-fried chicken meat with cashew nuts, lemongrass and herbs)
gaeng ju (clear soup with minced pork), THB 60

phad sataw (stir-fried stink bean with prawns in shrimp paste), THB 80

stir-fried minced pork in Thai basil and chilies with fried century eggs
gaeng kiae waan phad han (stir-fried green curry, with pork), THB 60

pla daeng tord cumin (deep-fried offshore fish with cumin), THB 110

lod chong nam kati (pandan flavored glutinous rice flour in smoked coconut milk)
chao kuay (herbal jelly with ice)

Khao Chao Thai Restaurant ****
341 Thonglo Soi 17
Sukhumvit 55 Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.712.5665

Open daily : 10 am - 8:30 pm (close 3rd Sunday of the month)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 350

Cassia Cafe afternoon tea

2011-08-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

359
.

Tea by the tree and creeper

My foodie friend brought me to Cassia Cafe two months ago for brunch; since then I revisited this lovely tea room several times, either with friends or alone. Once I went there for its English afternoon tea after I was dismissed from a (boring) business meeting on Soi Sawasdee (Suk Soi 31). Thanks to Cassia Cafe, I relaxed and took a sip besides the cassia tress which rescued my tired mood at that moment!

The Cassia's English afternoon tea set consists of choices of tea (among them, some are rare teas brought by the owner from around the world) or coffee, finger sandwiches, and a pair of scones. The finger sandwiches being so-so while the scones were beyond expectations. The pair of butter milk scones, served with (real) clotted cream and jam, did pose a decent Scottish accent. They had an excellent crispy-moist texture, and rich buttery flavor. Simply yummy!

The service was friendly and pleasant, though slow.

Cassia Cafe & Tea Room ***1/2
20 Sukhuvit Soi 31 (Soi Sawasdee)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.662.0325
Cassia

Open Tuesday-Sunday : 9 am - 10 pm (Sunday opens at 10:30)
Pay (afternoon tea set): THB 199+ per set

Raan Ahhan Aroi Nae Non

2011-08-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

358
.

Encroachment delicious

Aroi Nae Non (literally delicious definitely) Restaurant, located at the beginning of Ladprao Road, serves a wide variety of classic Issan (northeastern provinces) fare. The menu covers an extensive selection of country-style favorites of Issan region, like different kind of somtum and yum to gaeng and jim-joom. My favorites are namtok moo yang and gai yang.

The owner really has guts to name its restaurant Aroi Nae Non or Definitely Delicious! However, I found, every dish I ordered was flavorsome, they are delicious, and wallet friendly too.

1. yum eggplant salad with seafood THB 90
2. grilled pork, with mint, in namtok dressing THB 60
(CNNgo world most delicious foods no. 19)

3. grilled chicken, marinated in Issan recipe THB 70

4 deep-fried sea bass THB 290

5. fried prawn in tamarind sauce THB 150
6. tomyum goong the CNNgo world 8th most delicious foods, THB 100

Aroi Nae Non Issan Restaurant ****
Ladprao Road
near Ladprao Soi 1
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Tel: 02.939.3808

Open daily : 3 pm - 1 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Silk Road

2011-07-28T09:10:00.001-07:00

357
.

As smooth as silk

Food wise, not outstanding, not bad either, average. Service, Plaza Athenee standard, impeccable. This is Silk Road Chinese Restaurant.

roasted duck (portion); and stir-fried tiger prawn in x.o. sauce

live whole grouper, two way cooking, as steamed and boiled in soup

ingredients to do the soup; and the hearty soup (with fish, and vegetables only)

steamed live grouper, warm soy sauce dressing

stir-fried glass noodles, and fried pork fillet in HK sauce

Silk Road Chinese Restaurant ***1/2
Plaza Athenee Hotel Bangkok
(a Royal Meridien hotel)
61 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.650.8800
Silk Road

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 2,000
(+ THB 2,000 for live grouper)

Marvelous Cream

2011-07-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

356
.

Marvelous creations

A Japanese native import, use of Kokkaido dairy products to make its gelato style ice cream, hand tossed on a -16 Celsius marble teppanyaki-style plate to create every scope of "happy" ice cream is: the 'Marvelous Cream'. Its first branch in Bangkok, at Siam Paragon Mall, also offers French-Japanese fusion, ready-to-serve, dessert cup (Patiscream ice cream cake) and ice cream sandwich (Heavenly Compote Waffle).

Taste? The Patiscream dessert cup is too sweet, while the Heavenly Compote ice cream sandwich is marvelous yummy, and the tossed gelato (I sampled mango, chocolate, and strawberry in separate visit) is flavorsome and not overly sweet.

Marvelous Cream Japanese Sweets Parfait ***1/4
G/F North Wing, Siam Paragon Mall
991 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.610.7511
Marvelous Cream

Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 350

*(updated, Oct-2011, Marvelous Cream has branched out to the Terminal 21 (4/F) at Asok Intersection, and will open its 3rd branch at Central Rama 9 Shopping Complex)

Raan Khao Tom Polo

2011-07-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

355
.

Musical chair cuisine

I revisited this no-frills local eatery few days ago. The place is still as packed as it was. The food is still as solid as it used to be.

yum sam-krob; tord mun pla sai goong

pla kapong tord rad sauce

poo phad pong kari; gaeng som cha-om

Raan Khao Tom Polo ***1/2
137/14 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.252.6887

Open daily : 4 - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500

Hoy Tord Chao Lay

2011-07-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

354
.

Oyster fried job

Hoy tord, fried oyster (or mussel) with battered omelet. One of my favorite hoy tord vendors is - Hoy Tord Chao Lay.

above, hoy tord; below, phad Thai

Hoy Tord Chao Lay ****
22/1 Soi Thonglo
Sukhumvit 55 Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 085.128.3996

Open daily : 10 am - 8 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 150