Le Bouchon

47
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The bistro at Patpong

If there wasn’t our French buddy also a food consultant in 5-star hotels showing us Le Bouchon, we would never have found this gourmet sanctuary in the Bangkok Patpong red light district. Judging from the eatery name we expected the fare was a bit provincial to the Southern France as ‘bouchon’ means a bistro in Lyon, and we later found that our guess was right as the owner Serge Martiani is from this peaceful and beautiful town.

Decoration of Le Bouchon promotes our imagination of being in a bistro on the street of Lyon, with a taste of French and homey added some romantic ambiance as bonus, prompting it a perfect place to cheer your girlfriend or even for friends gathering as we did on the night of boxing day. Good food doesn’t need fancy decoration to do the cover up. We were so glad that Le Bouchon do home cooking (both classic and bistro dishes) which matching well with the atmosphere in the bistro and our appetite. Choices of wine in Le Bouchon were extensive not only limited to French labels, but we chose the French red wine recommended by the house to kick off the dinner.

Le Bouchon didn’t have a big menu instead their limited daily selections were written on a blackboard as a bistro will do. Savory dishes started with the starter Petits Clams a La Cream (baby clams in cream sauce), and the Salade de Chevre Chaud (warm goat cheese salad). The goodness of the clam was on the cream sauce and the goat cheese salad was aromatic in taste and rich in mouth I almost didn’t want to share them with friends.

Soup selection was limited as Le Bouchon would like to offer only its specialty and freshness from the market. We had Soupe de Lentilles (lentils soup), and the Bisque de Ciqales de Mer En Croute (lobster bisque in puff pastry). Didn’t like to place a comment here as I would like you to see for yourself how good it could be. Especially the lentils soup was worth us a ticket to Bangkok.
We shared two entrees, they were the Cuisses de Grenouilles a La Bressane (frog legs Bouchon style), and the St. Jacques Gratinees aux Epinards (scallops with spinach gratinated). Simply good!

Followed were our main courses. We had, Jarret d’Agneau Sauce au Romarin (lamb shank in white beans sauce), a dish of French specialty and Le Bouchon version didn’t let us down either. Also we had Fillet de Daurade Facon ‘Bouchon’ (sea beam fillet Bouchon style); then two duck dishes as Cuisse de Canard Confit ‘Maison’ (home made duck leg confit), and Magret de Canard a l’Orange (duck fillet in orange sauce). The succulent taste of duck confit was the traditional culinary art of French while duck stored in its own fat preserved the meat for a long period of time before brought to a gourmet table. We also ordered the Lapin Faqon ‘Bouchon’ (stewed rabbit in white wine sauce), and the Filet de Sole Sauce Champignons (sole fish in mushroom sauce).

We did blame the pleasant waitress for not warning us ahead that the portion was big, so we left no room for desserts. But the honest waitress did warn us that their kitchen was too compact to prepare home made desserts. So they sell what they got from next door. Oh, in this case we didn’t owe ourselves some sweet.

Bread served in Le Bouchon was good although they didn’t bake it, but they ensure matching quality to their dishes. As most brilliant French chef will do, Le Bouchon makes the use of native ingredients to ensure freshness, and the technique in French culinary. This is the way leading Le Bouchon to define French home cooking to its highest array in Bangkok, the unpretentious way.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Le Bouchon has [4.1]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=4.5, Ambiance=4, Money Worth=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily Dinner only 6-11pm (Reservation highly recommended)
Le Bouchon French Bistro, 37/17 Soi Patpong 2, Surawong Road, Bangrak, Bangkok; Tel.: 02-2349109
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Hamilton's X'mas Day set lunch

46
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Christmas day 4-course lunch
Hamilton's Steak House @ Dusit Thani Hotel

4-course X’mas Lunch for B950++; it consisted of appetizer, soup, main course, and dessert.

Choices of appetizer were Pan-fried Crab Cake served with melted chili cheese and organic lettuces, or Terrine of Duck Liver served with wild roquette salad. I chose the Crab Cake, the cake was slightly crispy outside and the meat was soft, tasty.

Soup had two choices, Lobster Bisque with brandy and grissini in a baked puff, or Double Chicken Comsomme with vegetable pearls. Of course I opted for the Hamilton’s signature Lobster Bisque, with subtle flavor of cognac together with well balanced taste of fine ingredients made this soup marvelous.

Main course was Roasted Strip Loin of Beef served with home fries, mushroom sauce and assorted root vegetables, or Fillet of Roasted Turkey with its stuffing in cranberry sauce. I had the Strip Loin of Beef, tender and juicy, bravo!

Choices of dessert were American Apple Pie served with vanilla sauce, or Christmas Pudding in vanilla sauce. My pick was the American Apple Pie, so-so.All for B1,118 net ($34) it was a nice treat on Christmas day though.

Hamilton’s also offer regular 3-course Business Set Lunch from Monday to Friday, for B450++ only.


The Hamilton's Steak House ****
Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok
946 Rama IV Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.236.9999
Hamilton's

Open daily: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:20 pm; Dinner 6 - 11 pm
Pay (food only): regular dinner expect to pay THB 8,000 for two
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Pavilion X'mas eve buffet

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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Christmas Eve
Pavilion @ Dusit Thani Hotel

X'mas eve buffet dinner B1,900++ ($60)

Joy to the world, the gourmet has come! A plentiful buffet line-up and scrumptious seafood selections; incl. fresh oysters from France and Australia in whole shell, chilled seafood incl. Alaska king crab, caviar in a half boiled egg, few kinds of cold cuts such as rack of lamb, chilled salmon and beef, Dusit's homemade terrine and delicious tidbits, a wide selection of salad; hot dishes were less impressed than those cold one with exception that the grill was quite well prepared incl. of rack of lamb, baked whole salmon with seasalt, roasted beef, gammon ham and roasted turkey, also presented was pan-fried foie-gras; soup were lobster bisque and tomyumgoong (spicy and sour prawn soup); desserts were what we didn't pay much attention to. Good food, good quality, good night, a joyful festive treat!

(By paying respect to members from the Palace also dining here tonight, I didn't take any pictures.)

The Pavilion Coffee Shop Christmas eve buffet ***1/4
Dusit Thani Hotel
946 Rama 4 Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.200.9000

Open daily 6 am - 10:30 pm (lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 pm - 10:30 pm, both buffet and a la carte menu available)
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Shang Palace

44
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Shang Palace 香宮
@ Sharila-la Hotel Bangkok

One of top 3 hotels’ Chinese restaurants in Bangkok is China House (the Oriental Hotel) serving nouvelle Chinese cuisine in a 1930 old Shanghai-tang ambience with a bright red and darken interior after its renovation two years ago, the monkey look lead my hesitation to support this once famed restaurant anymore, besides I hate Chinese food being fusion. Then come to Mei Jiang (the Peninsula Hotel), good food good tea but snobbish service and I am always lazy to cross the river. So for years, Shang Palace (the Shangri-la Hotel) earns my praise for its Chinese cuisine with the Cantonese accent. Although compare to top eateries in Hong Kong, Shang Palace shall have a long way to catch up with; but in Bangkok where exquisite Chinese restaurants with a real twist is so hard to find, Shang Palace passes the mark.

My favorite starter is the Peking Duck (B1,100++), well marinated whole duck barbequed to perfection, then peeled (in front of us) the duck skin as thin as a sheet of paper without the trace of fat, eaten with warm small rice flour wrapper and condiments, bravo! Second choice maybe Roasted Goose (B600++) which is a popular dish in prominent restaurants in Hong Kong but not in Bangkok, Shang Palace includes this signature Cantonese roasted dish in the special menu.For soup it shall be the Shark’s Fin in the Egg-white Wrapper in Supreme Soup (B1,000++), creative and delicious. The soup with preserved vegetable with the (leftover) duck meat is another ideal choice to clear our palate; it is included in the Peking Duck order when we ordered one.

Shang Palace has an array of fruit dishes, such as Stir-fried Duck Meat with Mango (B500++), Stir-fried Beef Fillet with Rose Apple (B500++), Fried Prawn with Lemon Sauce (B650++), and Stir-fried Fresh Lily Bulb and Celery (B350++). They are very welcomed dishes in a tropical country likes Thailand.



From the sea, fishes, choices are always limited in Bangkok. Steamed Red Grouper (a coral trout) in Hot Oil and Soy Sauce (around B1,700++) and Deep Fried Sand Goby (bamboo fish) in Warm Soy Sauce (around B800++) are better choices in Shang Palace. E-fu (small flat noodles) with Crab Meat (B280++) and Deep-Fried Rice Flour Bun are good substitute for steamed rice.

To wrap up the dinner, I always go for a cup of Mango Pudding (B90++), with Chocolate Ice Cream (B300++) from the Next2 Café. If you are looking for something special, Double-boiled Hasima in Red Date Soup (B200++) will set you a height in the gourmet search; this is snow frog ovaries found in western desert of China. Exotic isn’t it? To pamper your skin try the Braised Bird-nest with Coconut Milk in Whole Grilled Coconut (B800++), best bird-nest dessert in Bangkok.Being a Shangri-la’s Prestige membership holder, I receive my portion of meal free of charge while dining with friend(s). So this is one more good reason to dine at Shang Palace on top of the chef’s above average culinary skills.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Shang Palace has [4]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=4, Ambiance=4, Money Worth=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: open daily Lunch 11:30am -2:30pm; Dinner 6:30 - 10:30pm
Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant, Shangri-la Hotel, 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand; Tel.: 02-206 8677
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/bangkok/shangrila/dining

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LeNotre

43
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Café LeNotre Paris, Bangkok

It is a pride for Bangkok to accommodate the first Asia’s full restaurant service branch from Paris renowned pastry name LeNotre (found 1947), on Soi Langsuan. Café LeNotre here look pretty chic provides Bangkokian a cozy hideaway in the bustle of the CBD Bangkok.

There is no time to waste since we were late for lunch. We immediately ordered their scrumptious soup before our water and towel were being served. Our soup, the Potato Soup, the Tomato Cream Soup, and the Lobster Bisque, came in generous portions were aromatic and rich. Soon after we finished our soup, we shared the Pomelo Shrimp Salad, a smart usage of premium local ingredients brought out freshness and refreshing, and the yummy Shrimp on Toast with pink caviar and cocktail sauce, a complimentary dish we appreciated Chef Pierre’s very kind gesture.

Entrees, we had the Osso-bucco on bed of Fettucini and Fruits which was a true treat, the Duck Conserve was such a dish grandma missed so much, the Glazed Spare Ribs in red wine sauce was somehow fine but not outstanding, and the must order Poached Snow Fish in shrimp and pink sauce gave our taste buds a boost.

Although we were pretty full after 3 courses of gourmet, it was impossible not to sample the Macaroon which is a LeNotre specialty, and few cakes (I forgot their names).

What do we drink during lunch? Of course mineral water the human best friend.

Café LeNotre Bangkok is a bistro style eatery serving food connoiseur easy, inexpensive but unequally delicious fare. Their pastries are now the real threat to the Oriental Cake Shop I once found in love with.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Le Norte has [3.6]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=3, Ambiance=3, Money Worth=4.5
Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBB (B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily Lunch: 11am – 11pm
Café LeNotre Bangkok: 61 Soi Langsuan, Lumpini, Bangkok. Tel.: 02-2507050. Open daily from breakfast until dark. Second branch offering light meal and pastry is now open at the Siam Paragon ground floor.
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Hamilton's Thanksgiving dinner

42
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Turkey Day this Year

Thanksging's Dinner

Hamilton's Steak House
@ Dusit Thani Hotel

Thanksging 4-Course Set Dinner B1,550 net ($47)
1. Traditional Crab Cakes
2. Lobster Bisque
3. A piece of Turkey Meat with its Stuffings in Cranberry Sauce
4. New York Cheese Cake

It was delicious!
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Philippe

41
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Chez Philippe

Philippe Peretti, from Corsica, opened Philippe in a quiet Sukhumvit residence area 10 years ago has become a popular temple of classic French cuisine in town. Philippe is unpretentious, it focus on food prepares the classic French way honestly, not only molecular gastronomy. Both classic French dishes and slow-cooked casseroles are among the most popular in Philippe.

Depends on the catch-of-the-day and imported products available, Philippe has a special menu changing regularly. From that, I got the fresh Brown French Crab with Sabayon, just imported the evening I visited. Need not to mention, the brown crab was fresh and tasted naturally sweet with a hint of ocean-scented aroma, it was heavenly delicious with the sabayon sauce and a glass of complimentary rock lobster bisque. The Green Pea Soup followed was decently good. Unlike most of my friends and my sister, bread is not my favorite during a meal. However, I couldn’t resist some because of Philippe’s home-made Black Olive Butter. The butter enhanced the flavor of bread (served warm) and even the whole meal.

After a small portion Mango Sorbet being served, my main course arrived. It was the Royal Pigeon in Foie Gras and Truffle Sauce. Since it was one of the house specialty dishes, it didn’t let me down. The pigeon was tender with the chef skillfully brought out the natural taste of the pigeon in balanced foie gras and truffle sauce. It was a real treat for me liking pigeon dish.

It is a sin not to sample Philippe’s desserts. I didn’t wish to deepen my sin, even I was a bit full. It took 30 minutes waiting time for the freshly baked Apple Tart with Nougat Ice Cream, heavenly finger licking again.

The ambience in Philippe is elegant and subtle, a comfortable place to wine and dine with friends. People go to Philippe for real food, not to-see and to-be-seen. Philippe focus on sauce rather than only ingredients, like black angus steak doesn’t have to be USA born, but aren’t we expect stunning sauce for French cuisine! Service in Philippe is warm with waitpersons attentive and helpful, customer need not to be a regular to receive decent service unlike snobbish service in some newcomer establishments. Next time while you are thinking where to sample authentic French cuisine the unpretentious kind, tell your hotel butler to book you a table at Philippe. Dress code is smart casual.

(Philippe serves 3-course business set lunch for B420++ during 11:30am – 2:30pm)

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Philippe has [4.4]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4.5, Service=4.5, Ambience=4, Value=4.5

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)


Details: Open daily Lunch: 11:30am - 02:30pm Dinner: 6 – 10:30pm
Philippe French Restaurant, 20/15-17 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Bangkok; Tel.: 02-2594577; http://www.philipperestaurant.com
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Le Beaulieu

40
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Le Beaulieu

For French dining in Bangkok, I always rate Le Bouchon (Soi Patpong II, off Surawong Road) the No. 1 home-cooking bistro, Philippe (Sukhumvit Soi 39) the no. 1 family dining, Le Normandie (the Oriental Hotel) the No. 1 fine dining, and Le Beaulieu (Sukhumvit Soi 19) the No. 1 hip dining, young and energizing. The gang-of-four is my favorite French restaurants in Bangkok.

Enter to Le Beaulieu we are welcomed by a cathedral-like foyer and blue-sky-alike ceiling, seaside-feel dining room and glass separated see-through kitchen, it has a hint of Provence, one of France’s best bets for seeing rural life lived to the fullest.

Le Beaulieu is about Provence of France, Mediterranean and French cuisine. Le Beaulieu is about wine, cheese, and chocolate. Le Beaulieu is about celebration and indulgence. Oops, celebration doesn’t have to be with a big group, I always do it alone, simply enjoy a great meal to mark a great day!

My favorite dishes are Mediterranean Sole in Muniere Sauce (B1,700++), Artichoke Soup with Half Artichoke (B390++), and Bouillabaisse Marseillaise (B750++). Of course, desserts in Le Beaulieu are definitely not to be skipped, along with good selection of cheese.

Reservation is a must unless you want disappointment! Don’t worry about wine, Le Beaulieu has an excellent selection in town that won't let you down.



Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Le Beaulieu has [4.0]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=4, Ambiance=4, Money Worth=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: open daily Lunch 12-3pm, Dinner 6-10:30pm
Le Beaulieu Cuisine by Herve Frerard, @ Sofitel Residence, 50 Soi 19 Sukumvit Road, Bangkok 10110; Tel: 02-204 2004 http://www.le-beaulieu.com/

Suikin

39
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Suikin 水琴

If you're in the mood for mouthwatering fresh (raw) fish and seafood, Suikin is the next best thing to a trip to Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market. Occupying a tailor-built Japanese mansion near Bangkok downtown Ploenchit intersection, this cozy restaurant is built in ZEN exudes a relaxed and homespun atmosphere.

Suikin is the most comfortable izakaya (I’ve been to in quite awhile) with tasteful and modern zen decoration in a nice balance between luxury and casual, with stone surfaces and heavy wood adding an element of solidity. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy. You can take your dinner at the counter downstairs to join the action while you chat with the chefs, upstairs private rooms fitted with tatami let you feel like you're visiting friends or relatives at their house as you enjoy the best of the day's offer.

Although prices are a little more expensive than other izakayas in Bangkok, the food is nice and tasty so worth to dig the pocket deeper.

Fishes and sashimi are not the only focus here, the tofu remains the star. Suikin specializes in tofu dishes. Sukui Dofu was a fresh and fluffy homemade tofu. They make it fresh everyday and serve in front of you as soon as it's cooked. The Goua Dofu, homemade sesame paste tofu, was very interesting and made our palate quite happy. Mineoka Dofu was tofu with cheese, innovative and the taste was cheesy good. Kumage Yuba, homemade soymilk skin, an inviting alternative to the Chinese tofu skin. The star, Hiya Yakko (冷奴, chilled tofu), was homemade pressed tofu served chilled. This is a kind of basic tofu dish in any tofu specializing eateries. Simple, unpretentious, and delicious!

Besides the mouthwatering tofu dishes, my lunch with a friend included the Kaisen Don Soba Zen (B300++) consisting of diced sashimi sushi bowl and hot buckwheat noodle and the Gindara Udon Zen (B360++) consisting of grilled snow fish with teriyaki sauce and wheat noodle.

Suikin is for people who want to enjoy fine (Japanese) food and sake in a relaxed atmosphere. Its sake and shochu selection are extensive, a paradise for wine-and-dine lovers.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Suikin has [4.1]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=4, Ambiance=4.5, Money Worth=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: open daily lunch 11:30am-1:45pm, dinner 6-10pm
Suikin Japanese Restaurant, Embassy Park Plaza, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok; Tel.: 02-2522202

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AOI

38
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AOI 葵

Thailand the World Kitchen, slogan of the Tourism Authority of Thailand promoting Thai food a gourmet phenomenon to the world; indeed I agree that Thailand is already the Japanese Kitchen of the World, especially in Bangkok. All regions of Japanese cuisine and specialties are waiting for your appreciation conveniently in this charming city, even easier than doing the same in Tokyo. Our Japanese friends always visit Bangkok and Phuket for few rounds of golf, or scuba diving, and then enjoy the evening with us in a Japanese restaurant from a list of unlimited choices. My friends always remind me that a decent (Japanese) dinner in Bangkok cost only half while dine same in Tokyo. So it worth them paying air fares and a few hours of flight for the joy of gourmet, and, of course tee off.

AOI arrived Bangkok humbly 2 decades ago with the emphasis of authentic Japanese cuisine the traditional way, even the decoration of AOI is classic. Although AOI tends to be a family restaurant but due to the high quality of ingredients some even flown in fresh from the Tokyo’s Tuskiji Market, the price therefore couldn’t be unreasonably low. We were better turned for AOI’s affordable lunch set.

Even during lunch, all lunch sets and meals were well-prepared showing true traditional culinary art of defined Japanese cuisine. We started with the (1) Tempura Set, it consisted a dish of deep-fried breaded prawn, a little portion of ultra fresh sashimi (raw fish fillet), and a cup of chawan mushi (steamed egg custard); followed by the (2) Tonkatsu Set, it was deep-fried breaded pork cutlet the Japanese style, crispy outside and tender inside was my comment. Each cost us around $10. A good value choice started with some more exciting meal following.



Coming next was my favorite (3) Sabusabu Seafood, the Japanese steam boat set served with home-made udon made our appetite a pleasant one. The seafood consisted of prawn, portion of crab, clam, scallop, chicken fillet and vegetables, all served fresh. The home made broth made of kombu (kelp) and dried fish brought out the taste of seafood to the high a specialty of Japanese sabusabu and nabe. Cost was around $15.

The enjoyable lunch at AOI didn’t end here. Highlight of our lunch was the (4) Yuki Lunch Set. The set was big and divided into 4 parts. First dish was the sashimi (raw fish fillet) with generous portion of tuna and the whole scallop in a shell, served ultra fresh. Then came the bento (lunch box) consisted of fine hiyayakko (chilled tofu block), tsukemono (pickled stuffs), agemono (deep-fried stuffs), yakimono (grilled stuffs), nimono (stewed stuffs), and even baked cheese kamaboko stuffs. Came third was the soup and rice, a must for Japanese meal. The soup we got was the sumashijiru (clear soup of kombu with seafood), and the vinegar rice with salmon roe. The set didn’t end here. Fruits, dessert, and iced tea (or coffee hot or cold) were included in this less than $20 Yuki Lunch Set.



If these lunch sets do draw your appetite then next time when you drop by Bangkok, try the AOI lunch set at any of its three branches, the Emporium Shopping Mall, the Siam Paragon Mall, or the Silom Soi 6 branch. By the way, dinner may be more exciting but also draw your pocket deep too.

Either warm or chilled sake (Japanese rice wine) was recommended to accompany the meal but we paid more attention to the green tea.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): AOI has [4.0]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=4, Ambiance=4, Money Worth=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily Lunch 11:30am-2pm, and Dinner 5:30-10pm
AOI Japanese Restaurant, 1) Silom Soi 6, 2) The Emporium, 4th Floor, 3) The Siam Paragon, G/floor. Tel.: 02- 6648590
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Torajiro

37
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Izakaya Torajiro 寅次郎

Until it opens a branch at Central World Plaza, Torajiro was one of Bangkok’s best kept gourmet secret. I still prefer its hide-away main branch in Thonglo Nihonmaru (Japanese Village). The night I revisited the restaurant was 6:30pm on a weekday, packed with Japanese salarymen giving me an impression of eating-after-work in Tokyo. Reasons Torajiro attract such a numerous of Japanese expats not only because the fare is authentic and the dining room is filled with romantic Japanese atmosphere, but also the price is easy.

Its assorted sushi rice bowl is the best shot in Bangkok if not in the world, for Baht 390 ($12) we got assorted ultra fresh slices of raw fish, sweet shrimp and salmon roe topped on rice, with expensive uni (sea urchin roe). Therefore, each of us ordered a bowl of Kaisen Chirashi Sushi (assorted sushi rice bowl) to start the dinner.

As an izakaya (drinking restaurant), Torajiro offers wide choices of sake (清酒 , a brewed (un-distilled) Japanese rice wine) as well as shochu (焼酎 , a distilled alcoholic beverage from barley, sweet potato, or rice); and yakitori.

Yakitori (barbecued chicken meat on skewers) is one of the specialties in Torajiro, goes best with Sake, so we had both. We also ordered Takuwan (pickled radish), Mozukusu (seaweed vinaigrette), and Omusubi Mentaiko (rice balls) together with other homely dishes such as Okonomi Yaki (pan-grilled Japanese batter pizza), Yaki Mochi (grilled stick rice rolls), and Atsuage Yaki (deep-fried tofu); forming a good combination to drinking-sake eating-yakitori.

One more specialty in Torajiro is the tempura, a dish using of only fresh ingredients, precision cooking and artful presentation, one of the triumphs of Japanese cooking. This deep-fried delicacy is a popular street food evolved to a completely Japanese cuisine all over Japan, but not with an accent of Japan. Tempura was introduced to Japan by the visiting Portuguese missionaries of the sixteenth century. Today peixinhos da horta is a dish similar to tempura in Portugal. Like many imported ideas, such as ramen from China, gradually adapted itself to Japanese tastes and specialties. We ordered the Tempura Mori (assorted deep-fried battered prawn, fish and vegetables) to add some more pleasure to our dinner. In Torajiro, they were light and fresh rather than heavy and greasy. We owed the chef to eat them while hot, dipped the fritters quickly in the dipping sauce with grated radish (not entirely soaked them in the sauce). For me, I even eat them naked without dipping sauce to yield the maximum benefit from the freshness of the ingredients. Tempura shall be a must order in Torajiro.

Desserts in a Japanese meal are always boring. At Torajiro, we had the Macha Ice Cream (green tea ice cream) and Koori-Azuki (red bean paste atop shaved ice). Better than none.



Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Torajiro has [4.1]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food=4.5, Service=4, Ambiance=3.5, Money Worth=4.5

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily 5:30pm – 12:00am
Izakaya Torajiro Japanese Restaurant, 87 Thonglo 13, Sukhumvit 55 Road, Bangkok 10110; Tel.: 02-3814100, 02-3822237 http://www.torajiro.net (also a branch on Sukhumvit Soi 26)
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Bangpoo Resort Seafood

BANGKOK HIDDEN GOURMET
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Bangpoo Resort Seafood Restaurant
@ Royal Thai Army Recreation Centre

My friends were satisfied with the riverside dining at SamSenSoiSam, today they asked for another restaurant where locals eat. Of course I have more than a few dozens to show them, including eating in an army recreation center compound distanced from Bangkok that tourists hardly found their way to.

Bangpoo, in Samut Prakarn Province, is 20km or an hour's drive (don't forget, traffic jam is a gift to the city of angel!) from Bangkok city center in the Southeast, stretching to the Gulf of Thailand, where the river meets the sea. So today is about seaside, not just riverside. Bangpoo Resort is not a new establishment. It was popular in the 70’s where Bangkokians fond of spending their holidays at the seaside, went to Samut Prakarn especially the Bangpoo Resort run by the Royal Thai Army Quarter-master General’s Department. The resort attached seafood restaurant on the edge of the Sukta Bridge became famous since then.

It is advisable to dine (at Bangpoo Resort) during lunch, because after dark I see nothing from the sea, just dark, completely dark. The ambience during lunch can be relaxing, cool breeze from the sea and seagulls sing in orchestra (only from November through February while seagulls come down from Tibet and Mongolia to escape from the winter there) give us an extra dimension to our culinary experience.

We went there on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowd, but on arrival we found that the 300-seat restaurant was packed (even on a weekday!) with governmet employees and local families, thus romantic dining is not the option at Bangpoo Resort Seafood Restaurant. We waited for a while at the restaurant entrance until a helpful receptionist found us a table and ushered us to it. We were seated on the open-air terrace. Although we didn’t see any seagulls but cooling from the breeze with panorama sea view, were pleasant enough. Our waitperson was helpful too.

Our first dish was the Sea Asparagus in Oyster Sauce. It was briny, fresh with a flavor of the ocean in my mouth; could be the right choice to start our lunch by the seaside. Followed were the Stir-fried Curry Crab Meat and the Goong Ob Wensen (prawn baked on a bed of glass noodles). They were tasty without fail, prefect choices to accompany with a bowl of hot plain jasmine rice.

Tomyum Talay Nam Khon (spicy and sour seafood soup with coconut milk) shone and lifted our palate to the ultimate pleasure. Followed were Grilled Sea Bass in Salt Wrapper, and Stir-fried Kanar Veggie. The fare was quite Thai-Chinese accent wasn’t it?

With a spectacular sea view and delightful selection, Bangpoo Resort Seafood Restaurant is a feast for eyes as well as the palate. Reservation is advised for both weekday and weekend dining, esp. for lunch.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Bangpoo has [3.9]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food=4, Service=3.5, Ambiance=3.5, Money Worth=4.5

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily 11am – 9:00pm
Bangpoo Resort Seafood Restaurant, Sukhumwit km 37 (in front of Bangpoo Industrial Estate), Bangpoo Mai, Bang Pli, Samutprakarn; Tel.:02-3239911
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Samsensoisam

35
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Samsensoisam

I recently visited one of my favorite riverside restaurants, SamSenSoiSam, next to the Rama IIX Bridge in Samsen area of Bangkok. It is a sin if I covered up this restaurant in my closet.

My visiting friends requested authentic Thai dinner where middle-class locals ate, added a bit of seafood, and must be along the riverside. Therefore, time to unfold SamSenSoiSam to them. I took them to the restaurant by boat from the Taksin Pier (besides Shangri-la Hotel) to avoid traffic jams during the evening in Bangkok’s Banglumphu area. Yes, Banglumphu, you are familiar with the name because of Khao San Road!

The restaurant decoration is simple and minimal, promoting a relaxing and ‘resort feel’ in the premises. People don’t care if the restaurant shall be decorated with more pops like a beautiful girl needs no extra jewelry to stand out the natural beauty of her; we come for the stunning view and the food. I shall confess that I was on edge having missed this gorgeous restaurant; as, at first I thought it was another pub cum restaurant for the teens without sincerity on serving food. Well, the DJ playing soft and house music is there, the live band is there, the teens (like me) are there, and the good food is in place too.

A glass of iced cold beer (or chardonnay) should be appropriated to kick off the dinner in such ambience. With Yum Hed (spicy assorted mushroom salad) leading, Yum Pla Tok Foo (deep-fried minced catfish with raw mango dip), and Deep-Fried Chicken Joint followed. They couldn’t be better starters to go with beer.

There are three must try dishes in SamSenSoiSam, first the house specialty Goong SamSenSoiSam (fried prawns in spicy red sauce). The prawns were split into half each, fried until the meat was done and dressed with the house spicy sauce. The coral in the heads of prawns were great together with the help of the house spicy sauce, the prawn tasted creamy, spicy, sour, salty and heavenly delicious.



Another must try at this restaurant is the Tomyumgoong Nam Khon (spicy and sour prawn soup with coconut milk). The perfectly balanced broth was enriched with the coral from the prawn heads and enhanced by the aroma of galangal, kaffir lime, lemongrass, and coconut milk. Truly aromatic spicy and great!

The third must order dish shall be the Two-Taste Grouper. Fresh grouper cooked two ways, first half the chef deep-fried it with pouring sweet and hot sauce on the fish, the other half steamed with lime juice and bird eyes chilies; it was pungently hot. In one fish we sampled the sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy 4 basic tastes, and 2 textures, in their good balance. For those who are afraid of spicy food, there came the Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables and plain jasmine rice.

The chef must be a southern Thailand native if not the owner, or both! He was in good control of chili (hot) and lime (sour) alongside with different Thai herbs. After the three extreme spicy dishes my friends’ tongues were burnt and sweating like waterfall, but worth that for a gastronomic journey. Weren’t they asked for authentic?

For those who are afraid of spicy food, there came the Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables and plain jasmine rice.

From a Singaporean travel forum, a member commented SamSenSoiSam is pricey and foreign-tatse Thai food. Expensive? I do not want to counter this guy as everyone's living standard (and stingy standard) maybe different. However, I would like to state that in SamSenSoiSam half of the dishes are below Baht 100 while almost other half is slightly above Baht 100 with few dishes at Baht 250. It is much below the average cost in major riverside restaurants. Foreign-taste Thai food? Maybe he is right! Thailand is a foreign country to Singapore, so authentic Thai food becomes foreign-tatse Thai food to him, if not he thought his Thai cooking is better than any Thais.

SamSenSoiSam is an ideal hangout for the newly dated, dating couple, romantic dining for all, or even friends gathering. Panorama river view is available free of charge. Reservation is a must for an al fresco riverside table.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): SSSS has [4.4]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food=4.5, Service=4, Ambiance=4.5, Money Worth=4.5

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBB

(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily 5pm-12am (midnight)
SamSenSoiSam Pub and Restaurant, 10 Samsen Soi 3, Samsen Road, Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200; Tel.: 02-6288362

Update on 01-May-2009 : SamSenSoiSam Restaurant closed its door to the public, sad!

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Suan Thip

34
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Suan Thip

I seldom read food review for this garden restaurant in the suburb of Bangkok. Simply because it is not a 50 Baht taxi ride away or we are not angels?

Suan Thip, literally means Garden of the Angel, set in the midst of an enchanting tropical garden landscape with traditional Thai houses on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok city scene.

Suan Thip Baan Chao Phraya Thai Cultural House (yes, this is its full name) is divided into 3 parts, the Garden they grow herbs and vegetables, the Main Thai House with air-conditioned section for comfort dining and outdoor terrace seats overlooking the lush garden for scenic dining, and the Sala Thai (Thai Pavilions) dotted around the sprawling tropical garden for al fresco dining by the river for a memorable special occasion. There is an additional option to dine under the shade of the leafy canopy or under the stars on a moonlit night on the lawn. From dawn to dusk, the sound of rustling leaves is punctuated by cheerful bird song, while cicada serenade fills the night. No matter where chosen to sit, we are dining in heaven on earth.

The food is authentic with the feature of many unique signature recipes from their homemade-cuisine collection with herbs and vegetables grown in the garden as well as traditional Thai dishes.

On our revisit to Suan Thip one afternoon, we started with Suan Thip Appetizer (pork satay, spring rolls, minced pork in flour shell, and khao tan) and Pomelo Salad with Prawn, followed with Somtum Thai (green papaya salad) set with Grilled Chicken. The Appetizer was so-so but my friends liked the khao tan (crispy rice cakes with shrimp paste) and pork satay. The pomelo salad with pungent heat from the chili and balanced sour and sweet taste from the pomelo was a nice starter. I prefer restaurants fried the prawn of which promoting better aroma and Suan Thip is one. Somtum Thai is my friend must-eat dish in Thailand, it is a dish of salad with raw papaya slice, small dried shrimp, tomato, roasted peanuts, flavor with dried chilies, bird eyes chilies, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and sugar. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was what I think of eating somtum in Suan Thip.

For something a bit more filling, we had Deep-fried Prawn Cakes, Fried Garlic Prawn, Deep-fried Pla Samlee (king fish), accompanied with Pineapple Fried Rice. The prawn cakes were as good as the first time I sampled them, almost 10 years ago, and became my must-order dish in Suan Thip. The fried prawn in garlic yield a strong and welcoming aromatic garlic scent with the prawn firm (not hard) in texture, naturally sweet in taste, while the deep-fried samlee king fish was tender and delicious with the help of the slightly spicy and sweet mango dip.

I don’t have praise in Thai desserts as they always over emphasize in coconut cream and palm sugar. I am in weight control! My friends did try the Herbal Jelly and Ice Cream. Same quality you can easily find some on the street.

Service was attentive and prompt even waitpersons had to run a distance from the kitchen/main house to our pavilion. Overall my friends were impressed having lunch in Suan Thip especially while the ambience was taken into account. There is no comparison to Suan Thip, at least in Bangkok.

After lunch, we went to the Koh Kret (Kret Island) where we observed the ancient pottery making by the master artisans and experienced craftsmen, visited the ancient temple ruins, a 70-year old Thai traditional house overlooking the river and to a fruit orchard. Khao chae (chilled jasmine-scented rice soup) ethnic Mon people style shouldn’t be missed on the island, try them near the Paramaiyikawas Temple.

From the city (Bangkok) access to Suan Thip is easy, by Expressway Stage II exit on the Chaengwattana Road, heading toward Pak Kret. Suan Thip shall be the one-in-a-lifetime dining experience in Thailand for tourist and an ideal venue for memorable banqueting functions, special events and Thai theme parties.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Suan Thip has [4.1]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =3.5, Service=4, Ambiance=5, Value=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: Open daily from 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (last order 10:00 pm)
Suan Thip Baan Chao Praya (Restaurant), 17/9 Chaengwattana Pakkred 3 Road, Bangpood, Pakkred, Bangkok; Tel.: 02-5834540, 02-5833748 http://www.suanthip.com
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Angelini

33
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Angelini @ Shangri-la Hotel

Food is essential, gourmet is indulgent. When the opportunity does arise to indulge, do it in style!

When my friends come to visit Bangkok, I like to take them to the Angelini, a top Italian restaurant in Bangkok. Angelini will undergo a thorough renovation soon, leaving us memory and memories we shared precious moments there in the last 12 years. New face will be launched during X'mas 2007.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Angelini has [4.1]
(Rating are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality)
Food=4, Service=4, Ambiance=4.5, Money Worth=4

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Details: open daily 11:30am - 1am
Angelini Restaurant and Bar, Shangri-la Hotel, 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand; Tel.: 02-206 8677

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/bangkok/shangrila/dining
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Great Shanghai

32
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Great Shanghai 大上海

With 25 years of reputation in preparing Peking duck and Shanghainese Chinese cuisine, Great Shanghai not only earns the heart of local but also the Japanese expatriates. I was brought to this once brilliantly decorated restaurant almost 17 years ago when I asked for my favorite stir-fried Chinese eel with garlic.

Tonight the restaurant was crowded as usual, but some of their best selling dishes were missing due to lack of ingredients from Mainland China. With fewer service staff on duty therefore the Great Shanghai was in good position to promote the time consuming of slow eating. We waited for 10 minutes before a waitress was willing to pass us the menu and another 20 minutes when our order was (finally) being taken. Food didn’t take too long to arrive but some dishes arrived chilled, probably were dispatched from the kitchen long enough. This is a proof of inefficient management of the restaurant.

Waiting at the table for 30 minutes begging for service, acid started to overflow from our stomach. Without hesitation we asked the waitress (of whom at least gave us a glance) for the (1) Whole Roasted Peking Duck served with traditional condiments, a specialty of Great Shanghai. The Peking duck also came with the (2) Steamed Flour Wrappers and Condiments to go with the duck skin, the (3) Stir-fried Duck Meat, and the (4) Duck Soup with Chinese Preserved Vegetables. All for B850 (US$24). The size of the duck was medium. Waitress peeled the duck skin paper-thin into two big plates making it enough for a group of 8 persons, and sent the meat back to the kitchen for the stir-fried duck meat, then the bones for the duck soup. Frankly speaking, the Peking duck was not as good as many years ago when it was at B450 (US$13) both the quality and price; oh, service too!

The second must eat dish for us was the (5) Wok-fried Chinese Eel. The fresh river eel was cooked with overpower of garlic, seasoning and oil, an extremely oily dish. It was the best prepared wok-fried eel dish in Bangkok I have sampled, as well as in Asia outside Shanghai. Another specialty of the eatery was the (6) Stir-fried River Shrimp, river shrimp cooked with Chinese wine and green peas gave our taste buds a boost that night, it was palatable and with strong taste of the river shrimp unlike sea shrimp. The eel and shrimp dishes together became the real reward for us to wait for 30 minutes like a mummy.

When Shanghai cuisine was mentioned, it would be a sin not to try the (7) Xiao-Long-Bao, or the steamed little rice flour bun filled with minced pork. However, the Great Shanghai’s version was less than impressive. Another must order side dish that always goes well with the meal was the (8) Silver and Golden Bun, it was actually a roll of steamed plain rice flour bun and deep-fried plain rice flour bun. This was a good substitute for rice therefore we ordered many of them during our dinner.

Further we had the (9) Fish Head Stew Shanghai Style, a bowl of fish head stewed in an army of heavy Chinese herbs and spices, good for people that love fish head and useful to comfort headache and common cold; the (10) Braised Sea Cucumber in Thick Brown Sauce, a dish known to be friendly to our kidney; the (11) White Cabbage With Ham in Creamy Gravy, a very popular vegetable dish in Shanghai and it was doing well in Great Shanghai; and the (12) Pork Chop Noodle Soup. Pork chop was deep-fried to golden in color and crispy in texture, meat was tender and natural sweet taste of pork locked in the juicy piece of pork chop. Yummy!

Desserts were not our favorite as we tend to keep our devil body in shape. Drinks during the meal were hot Chinese tea, a ‘friend’ to clean the grease for such oily food, and beer. Wine was not popular there.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Great Shanghai has [3.1]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=2.5, Ambiance=2.5, Money Worth=3.5

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)


Details: Open daily Lunch: 11:30am - 02:30pm Dinner: 6 - 10pm
Great Shanghai , 648-652 Sukhumvit Road (corner of Sukhumvit Soi 24 next to the Emporium Mall), Bangkok; Tel: 02-; Opens daily from noon to 10pm
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C Jade Lain-Mian Xiao-Long-Bao

31
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Real Northern Chinese cuisine in Bangkok



Crystal Jade Lain-Mian Xiao-Long-Bao ***3/4
Lower Ground Floor, Urban Kitchen
The Erawan Bangkok
Ploenchit Road
Pratumwan, Bangkok

Open daily : 10 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,500
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Tang Jai Yoo

30
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Tang Jai Yoo Restaurant 陳再裕酒家

Nested in a number of "tourist-friendly" shark fins soup and bird nest desserts joints, the almost seven decades old Tang Jai Yoo (Chen Joy Yue) is considered a gem of eatery in the messy and shabby Bangkok's China Town - Yaowaraj. Its no-frills seafood and original Thai-Chinese dishes are the magnet of drawing low profile tycoons and foodies as her regulars. The princess visits here once a year during the Chinese Lunar New Year to sample Tang Jai Yoo's gourmet, during that time the soi was sealed. By night in Yaowaraj, only two restaurants I am willing to sacrifice my sweat and mood in exchange for my taste-buds pleasure; Tang Jai Yoo is one, the other is a fish khao tom shop. None of those famous or infamous (thanks to advertorial from guide books editors!) shops selling low-grade cum semi-artificial shark fins soup and bird nest desserts are on my China Town agenda whenever it is day or night.



In Tang Jai Yoo, live ocean species brought to the kitchen and transformed as an ultra fresh and tasty seafood dish. The roasted suckling pig, real baby pig, was roasted to its perfections. The shark fins soup, best value in town. For taro lover, don't miss the baked taro rice. Wanna hear more or you owe a trip to Tang Jai Yoo today?

Tang Jai Yoo Restaurant 陳再裕酒家 ****
85-87 Soi Yaowa Phanich
off Yaowaraj Road,
Sampantawong, Bangkok 10100

Tel.: 02.224.2167

Open daily: lunch 10:30am - 2pm, dinner 4:30pm - 10:30pm
Pay (seafood dinner for two): around THB 1,700
(non-seafood around THB 800)

*Reservation is highly recommended



* (updated on 2009-Dec-30, Tang Jai Yoo opens its first branch in C.B.D.'s Wall Street Tower on Surawong Road. The better decorated downtown branch suggests a 10-15% price different from its Yaowaraj mother shop, of course on the high side. Tel.: 02.632.7292)
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Orchid Cafe buffet

29

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Orchid Café @ Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Orchid Cafe buffet has [3.6]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =3.5, Service=3.5, Ambiance=4, Money Worth=3.5
Details: Open daily 6:30am-10:30pm; Dinner buffet: 6:30-10:30pm


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Pavilion buffet

28
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Pavilion @ Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Pavilion buffet has [3.4]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =3, Service=3.5, Ambiance=3.5, Money Worth=3.5
Details: Open daily: Lunch buffet: 12:00 – 2:30pm; Dinner buffet: 6:30-10:30pm; a la carte menu also available
Pavilion Cafe @ the Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok, Rama 4 Road, Bangrak, Bangkok.



MDS
The writer can be reached at thaisclub@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2007 MDS. All rights reserved.
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Next2 buffet

27
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Next2 Café @ Shangri-la Hotel

Today I tried the scrumptious Seafood dinner buffet at Next2 Café and Terrace, Shangri-la Hotel Bangkok, quality wise it was good but not impressive, but the price at B1,590++ was high-so(ciety). Take a look!

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Next2 buffet has [3.8]

(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =4, Service=4, Ambiance=3.5, Money Worth=3.5

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBBBB (B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Best dishes: pan-seared foie gras, Mongolian grill, tomyum goong

Wine list: good selection of wine

Best table: terrace seats by the river

Details: Open daily a la carte dining open 24 hours; Lunch buffet: 12:00 – 2:30pm; Dinner buffet: 6:30-10:30pm

International Lunch Buffet (Monday-Saturday) B850++

Interactive Dining Experience with Mongolian Grill (Sunday-Thursday) B1,450++

Seafood Extravaganza Nights (Friday-Saturday) B1,590++

Fun-filled Family Sunday Brunch B1,350++

Next2 Cafe at Shangri-la Hotel, 89 Soi Wat Suanplu, New Road Charoen Krung), Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Tel.: 02-2367777 http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/bangkok/shangrila