yumcha @ China House

257
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Dive in Chaophraya River

Once-upon-a-time China House offered yumcha lunch with a la carte dimsum served, that was good. Sad, the glory doesn't extend after the Unlimited Dimsum Lunch resumed!

The Unlimited Dimsum Lunch works this way; I am encouraged to order as much dimsum I could digest from an army of 22 dimsum items (that's all-you-can-eat kind), paired with a soup (5 choices), rice or noodles (4 choices), and a dessert (also 4 choices), at a fixed cost of THB 888 net per person.

Quite disappointed that China House abandoned the hiring of a Thai national restaurant host of who received applause from around the world for the way Thais serve customers with human touch and a warm heart. Need not to mention the renowned Thai smile and caring. Importing a host from another ASEAN country doesn't let me feel I am being served better. Instead, the opposite!

The China House (dimsum unlimited) ***1/2
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok
48 Oriental Avenue
Soi 40, Charoenkrung Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.659.9000
China House

Open daily: Unlimited Dimsum Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30pm,
dinner 6 pm - 11:30 pm
Pay (Unlimited Dimsum Lunch for two): THB 1,776 net



(* some pictures on courtesy of J.Ho)

Cafe Sweets

256
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Sweet tooth lover

Cafe Sweets. Her cakes. Soft in texture. Modest in sugar. High on quality. Sinfully delicious!




arguably best crepe cake in Bangkok!



Cafe Sweets Bakery ****1/4
at Secret Garden Restaurant
117/1 South Sathorn Road (Thanon Sathorn Tai)
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.286.2464

Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Pay (cakes only for two): around THB 300

Opus

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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Bangkok wine and dine

A young and energetic expat with vision, Alex Morabito, left the gloomy and restrained old boss on Soi Saladaeng, to open his own cheerful and friendly wine bar cum restaurant on the other side of Silom Road, Bangkok's C.B.D.

Since opened in early 2009, Opus had been a positive asset to Bangkok dining scene. That's definitely great food and wine, at reasonable charge!


pizza margherita THB 220++

Opus speciale (antipasti) THB 790++ (all quality stuffs, good in value!)

minestrone THB 190++
insalata mare (seafood salad) THB 290++

spaghetti bottarga THB 360++
risotto ai funghi porcin THB 390++

affogato limoncello THB 220++
tiramisu THB 190++

Opus Vineria Italiana ****
64 Thanon Pan
off Silom Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.637.9896
Opus

Open daily : 6 pm - midnight
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,800

King's Palace

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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King of wonton soup

Finally I eat my share of aroi-ma-ma crispy and moist roasted goose (real goose, no duck) and a bowl of real Hong Kong congee in the heart of the City of Big Mango.

One of Hong Kong renowned high-end noodles and congee restaurants quietly landed to Bangkok, serving Bangkokians top quality roasted goose, barbecue pork, crispy pork, congee and of course wonton soup with noodle as well; if it is not King's pricing on her dishes a bit off us Thais general spending power, I would have given her a 5-star rating. But considering the quality of food there serves, King's Palace deserves this price structure. Fair enough!

If you are fans of roasted meats and authentic Hong Kong tearoom feast, then King's Palace is a restaurant you couldn't afford to miss.


1. soup noodle with wonton THB 150+; 2. real Hong Kong congee THB 150+

3. roasted goose THB 380+, crispy, tender, aroma, a steal at this price!

4. flat rice roll with barbecue pork THB 180+; 5. crispy pork on rice THB 160+

6. barbecue pork THB 350+, moist, sweet, depth, layer of texture, excellent!

7. kale Hong Kong THB 150+; 8. waterfall tofu dessert THB 80+

King's Palace Congee & Noodle Bar 皇府 ****1/4
2/F K Village #215
Sukhumvit Soi 26
(also access from Rama IV Road)
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.661.5042

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): expect THB 1,000 for noodles and congee

Lieo Lieng Seng

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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A century of excellence

First time I visited Lieo Lieng Seng, I almost detoured after I found out her menu has no price on it. Until today, still, none of Lieo's menu has price on it. However, I sat down and became one of Lieo's fans. Why then?

Simply her food (all of them) served are delectable.

If you ask me what is the must-eat dishes. I would tell you that all of them. Yes everything is sinfully delicious!



Normally, I order Taro and fish head hotpot in Thai herbal spicy clear broth (hua-pla phuak tumyum mor-fai nam sai), the tumyum broth is even better than those in a prominent Thai restaurant. Alternatively I may order Fish maw soup (ka-pok pla nam dang) if I am not into spicy food that night. The broth had been prepared for days yield a rich flavor of aromatic from ingredients, as chicken and dried seafood.

For first time visitor, not to be missed shall be the Deep-fried crab ball (hau-jor boran), Steamed rice roll with pork and crab stuffing (kuay-tiew lord), as well as the Rachawong style stir-fried egg noodle (bamee Rachawong phad haeng). They are prepared from Lieo's 100-year recipes.

For me, the full flavor Baked goose web on egg noodle (peek-han ob bamee Rachawong),and Stir-fried sea bass fillet with Thai celery and chilies (nuea pla-kapong phad khuen-chai) are always delightful. The ultimately crispy yet non-oily Suckling pig (moo hang) shall light up my life (at least that night) when I have at least 3-4 buddies with me on the table.

To round up my dinner, few scoops of Rachawong 555 ice cream are the must. My favorite flavor is, dark chocolate.

Oh, too much to eat too little stomach. Hallelujah!

Lieo Lieng Seng Restaurant 廖兩成 ****
802-804 Rama IV Road
Samyan, Bankok 10500
Tel.: 02.234.5791

Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 5:30 -11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,200


(left picture, a century-old antique table, since first Lieo Lieng Seng on Rachawong)

* (updated on 20-June-2012, Lieo Lieng Seng now has a canteen-style branch at United Center on Silom Road.)

* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!

Krua Pradiphat

252
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From dusk till dawn

After doing my Chatuchak JJ Weekend Market bargain hunting, I head to this Saphan Kwai neighborhood restaurant of serving affordable Thai food between khao-tom delicacies to full menu Thai cuisine in the comfort of air-conditioning dining room.

Her Mor-fai Super (Super spicy Hotpot with chicken feet) is renowned in the area.


1. yum talay (spicy Thai seafood salad)
2. phad ka-prao goong (stir-fried shrimp with chilies and Thai herbs)

3. goong ob wensen (baked glass noodle with river prawn)

4. Super mor-fai (spicy hotpot Super (hot) with chicken feet)
5. phad pad tua-lan-tao (stir-fried Thai sugar peas)

6. gaeng som pla (fish on tamarind sour curry broth)
7. pla kapong tord (deep-fried Thai sea bass)

Krua Pradiphat ***
218 Pradiphat Road
Saphankwai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.279.8859

Open daily : 4 pm - 5 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400