500
.
Serious cocoa job
chocolab is a charming chocolate boutique for the finest indulgence; thus, finally there is a serious hand-made chocolate specialty cafe that fires the right chemistry with chocolate lovers in Bangkok!
Chocolab ****
Sofitel So Bangkok Hotel
2 North Sathorn Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.624.0000
Open daily : 7:30 am - 7:30 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 350
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494
.
Fragrance of jasmine
Khrua Mali serves Thai food with a traditional twist; for non-Thai diners, this is the place for them to sample real (Thai) food, or to avoid if those are afraid that their tongue might get burnt.
For me, Khrua Mali is no doubt a paradise for my taste buds and a pleasure in the west side of the inner Bangkok.
Khrua Mali Thai Restaurant ****
96 Set Siri Road
Samsen-nai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.619.5359
Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 400
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490
.
Killing me softly with your Roll
Kyo Roll En is the latest exercise of ambition of the Kacha Brothers after the opening of a few Sfree and Parferrio dessert cafes in recent years. The new J-style dessert cafe is aimed at offering (also) frozen yogurt and cream roll desserts in a much fancier manner than its siblings.
I have never praised either Sfree or Parferio, but for Kyo Roll En, I couldn't wait longer to give my thumbs up to her.
Kyo Roll En Lifestyle Cafe ****
M/F The Gateway Ekamai
982 Sukhumvit Road
Prakanong, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.108.2660
Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Pay (dessert only for one): around THB 200
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474
.
Cheap eat, good eat!
Recently, my local friends complained that Bangkok's food court meal is not wallet-friendly anymore since a small portion of any single menu dish (such as khao mun gai, or Hainanese chicken rice) cost at least THB 50 as norm at the food courts of all Central Plazas, the Emporium, the Siam Paragon and the MBK Mall. Nowadays, the lunch cost is a burden to all local salarymen.
I don't blame the vendors as I realized that they only earn a minimum profit to make their ends meet at the end of a day, while the high food price was reflex action by the bullying rental charge (or profit share) in shopping centers, but not the cost of ingredients and raw materials.
Not all property vampires are bloodsuckers. At Pier 21 Food Terminal, a standard size of order costs from THB 30 - 40, that is 20 - 35% cheaper than those served in other major shopping mall's food courts with the same serving size, and even with better quality and taste, as the operator only enrolls a shortlist of the city's most renowned street-food vendors to serve. There, it is not just cheap eat but also good eat!
Pier 21 Food Terminal ****
6/F the Terminal 21
288 Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey-nua, Bangkok 10110
Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 100 (three dishes/courses)
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473
.
The charm of an ancient topaz!
This long time royal cuisine pioneer restaurant - the Bussaracum, has been (finally) moved back to Sathorn/Silom district, after a short operation period at Thonglo under the shelter of its group property; it was her forth relocation since the restaurant debut at Dusit Thani Hotel around thirty years ago.
Recently I revisited Bussaracum at her latest location, Si Wang Road, with some foodie friends.
While many established restaurants will lose their edge on food standards after they earned some 'history', and the kitchen teams started to show that they are exhausted, at Bussaracum, this scenario is a non-existent. In general, the food at Bussaracum is not only kept to their good standards; but in my opinion, it is better!
The only dissatisfaction is their service. The junior waitpersons are nice and attentive, but the manager-look-alike is nothing more than a dumb vase that had been just treated with Botox.
'sangwa' savory dips, fresh vegetables, served with deep-fried ground catfish
leaf-wrapped appetizer 'mieng-kam'; deep-fried 'chom-suan' prawn appetizer
'pha-goong' spicy herbs tossed salad with prawns; savory eggplant salad
massama curry, world No. 1 dish 2011 voted by CNNgo readers survey
grilled river prawns in 'chu-chee' red curry sauce 
home-made fish cakes; red curry with roasted duck meats
stir-fried eggplant in basil and hot sauce; deep-fried sea bass, raw mango dressing
phad Thai with prawns
Bussaracum Royal Thai Restaurant ****
1 Si Wiang Road
off Soi Pramuan
Silom, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.620.2216
Bussaracum
Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2 pm, dinner 5:30 - 10 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 500
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462
.
Top burger in the Top City
I like to eat burgers, but most of the burger joints in Bangkok are of so-so standards, whether there is an issue of their buns, or the sauce, or the patties, and there is always an issue that doesn't make my taste buds feel happy. Then I have heard that at Soi Chaiyot (Sukhumvit Soi 11) there is a pub, cum restaurant, that offers real (good) burgers and Tex-Mex goodies; my thought was that 'you must be kidding, good burger served in a pub that focuses on booze!? and even its shop name doesn't promote that it may serve decent food'; it is the Firehouse.
The first time I went to Firehouse I had an agenda to see how uneatable her burger(s) would taste. I was beaten. As soon as the burger (that I ordered) was sent to my table, I realized that my prejudice was naive, and I was glad that I visited this place to sample her burger (given that my first intention was so evil). The burger comes with a light-seasoned (healthier and let us sample the burger but not the seasonings) meaty patty that is ground from local Thai-French Pon-yang-kham 30-day aged beef, has a firepower flavor of the cattle without the backfire of frozen taste that could be found in imported meats, and with a texture that is just right - not greasy and not dry; served with crisp lettuce, tomato, onion, homemade mayo and ketchup in a satisfying Kaiser bun. The potato wedges that comes with the burger may be a bit greasy, but the must-try house preserved pickles may help us cut the grease. Besides burgers, Firehouse also offers a Tex-Mex and firefighters' inspired menu; among them, the New England style clam chowder, of which could be a meal by itself, is outstanding.
Firehouse's burger, judging from its quality, taste, portion, price and service, it is arguably the best burger in town!
sliders set with condiments and potato wedges, THB 280++
real potato wedges, and excellent house preserved pickles
I ordered my burgers to be prepared in medium-well, and they were, thanks Chef!
New England clam chowder, cup/THB 110++; beef taco, THB 150++
premium burger, 180 g Thai-French 30-day aged beef patty, THB 195++
Firehouse Pub and Restaurant ****1/4
3/26 Sukhumvit Soi 11
Klongtoey-nua, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.651.3643
Firehouse
Open daily : 11:30 - 3 am (except Sunday and Monday until midnight)
Pay (food only for one): around THB 500
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