Bua

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
.

A taste live in memory

Thai jumbo prawn (a.k.a. river lobster) from the upstream of Chaophraya River is one luscious river species on earth. Its flesh tastes like lobster while its creamy roe spills out from the head is heavenly delicious. My first bite of the prawn from the River of the King was at Bua, next to the Bangkapi Land Division on Sinarkarin Road, probably twenty-five years ago.

My first bowl of hearty gaeng-som (orange curry in gaeng-som paste, tamarind and chilies) was also being sampled at Bua. Since then, I realized that Thai curries are fruitful, not just limited to gaeng-kiao-wan (green curry) or tom-yum (sour and spicy soup).



Bua Thai Restaurant once took the top fame in Bangkok culinary business, but the glory doesn't pass on to its second generation of management.

Bua on Soi Convent may not deliver a decent grandma recipes to diners, but it is an ideal eatery to begin with Thai food lesson one, for the foreigners.

Bua Thai Restaurant **1/2
Silom branch
1/4 Sriboonrueng Building, Soi Convent
off Silom Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.237.6641

Open daily 10:30 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 800

Samsen Villa

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
.

Fusion in sight

Samsen Villa is one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. When a friend called me to eat there, I immediately flew there though the restaurant is just a stone throw away from the ruling Democratic Party where the 'red-shirts' splashed human blood at its entrance few weeks ago.

The restaurant facade is decorated in European villa style but does not serve innovative nor fusion Thai meal, it just serves honest grandma recipes proven a success for decades.

As Samsen Villa is a family restaurant, I need to compromise by its high db noise in the dining room in exchange for a good meal. Now I enjoy those yelling in this no-frills restaurant.


1. spicy lemongrass salad with river prawn
2. pork satay

3. deep-fried sea bass topped with fried lemongrass and sauce
4. gaeng kua curry with prawn (gaeng kua krathong goong)

5. stir-fried Thai suki
6. red rubies water chestnut dessert (tabtim krob)

Samsen Villa Thai Restaurant ****
49/2 Soi Sethasiri
off Rama 6 Road
Samsen-nai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.279.0922
Samsen Villa

Open daily : 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 600

Pad Thai Aree

205
.

Heavenly gifted Pad Thai

Famed Pad Thai Aree serves delectable sen-chan pad Thai noodles for decades with a surprisingly good price, starts from Baht 45 (plain) to Baht 120 (with two tiger prawns).


1. plain pad Thai Baht 45, 2. raw papaya pad Thai with tiger prawn Baht 120

Pad Thai Aree ***1/2
Main branch
between Phahonyothin Soi 6 - 8
Phayathai, Bangkok 10300
Open daily 10 am - 8 pm

Pad Thai Aree ****
Erawan branch
Lower Ground Floor, Urban Kitchen
The Erawan Bangkok
Ploenchit, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.250.7648
Open daily 11 am - 9 pm

Pay (food only for two): as low as THB 100

* (update 2010-10-01: Pad Thai Aree's Erawan branch had been closed)

Thipsamai

204
.

Phad Thai at Door-to-hell

The renowned four decades old Pad Thai Thipsamai (a.k.a. Pad Thai Pra-tu-pee) on Mahachai Road used to be good at its Chantaburi accent sen-chan pad Thai noodles, but glory doesn't pass on to the second generation when they turned the shop into a factory alike pad Thai joint.

The dish looks good, but doesn't taste decently good as its look!




Thipsamai Pad Thai Restaurant **
313 Mahachai Road
Phranakhon, Bangkok 10200
Tel.: 02.221.6280

Open daily : 5 pm - 2 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 250

khao-chae @ Thon Krueng

203
.

Splashing water with blessing

April 13 - 15 is Songkran (Thai New Year) or splashing water festival in Thailand. Splashing water is fun and eating khao-chae is cool. One of my favorite Thai restaurant in town also serves khao-chae during the summertime. Not the best but worth to try.



Thon Krueng's khao-chae **1/2
Thon Krueng Thai Restaurant
239 Soi Thonglo
Sukhumvit Road Soi 55
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.391.8703

Open daily : 11 am - 10:30 pm
Pay (khao-chae per set): around THB 200

* khao chae is only available in April

khao chae Food Loft

202
.

khao chae everywhere

During summertime in Thailand, khao chae or chilled jasmine flower scented rice soup is available not only at exquisite Royal Thai restaurants throughout the country but now also at high-end food court.

Food Loft's khao-chae **
Food Loft
Central Department Store, Chidlom

Open daily : 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Pay (khao-chae per set): around THB 150 a set

* khao chae is only available in April

khao chae Deva

201
.

Summer Chilled-out

In Thailand, if you have money then you can do anything to please yourself. And pay advertorial to spread the rumor that it is appreciated. Turns chicken to phoenix perhaps!

A set of chilled out khao chae feast is available at DEVA by M.L Kwantip Devakula.



Deva's khao-chae **1/4
DEVA Restaurant
32/1 Sukhumvit Soi 39
Sukhumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.662.5427
Deva

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (khao chae only): around THB 300 a set

* khao chae is only available in April
* (update on 2011-11-15: congratulations! Deva on Suk. Soi 39 is now a history!)

khao chae @ Kalpapruek

200
.

It is summer time - It is khao chae time!

This summer, khao chae or chilled jasmine scented rice soup with tidbits is back, only available in April.



By Kalpapruek's khao-chae **1/2
By Kalpapruek
All Seasons Place branch
Ground floor, CRC Tower
87 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.685.3860
khao chae

Open daily : 11 am - 9 pm
Pay (khao chae only): around THB 200 a set

* khao chae is only available in April