Su Tha Ros

501
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The Iron Chef's cuisine

With stunning view overlooking the Rajprasong lifestyle hub, Su Tha Ros, is an elegant and classy Thai restaurant at the Muse Hotel Bangkok that serves time-honored Thai cuisine with a modern touch. For a few visits I did over the year, young chef culinary presentation did live up to expectations. 

Su Tha Ros ***1/4
19/F Muse Hotel Bangkok
55/555 Soi Langsuan, off Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 
Tel.: 02.630.4000
Su Tha Ros

Open daily : 6 am - 10:30 pm (full Thai menu during lunch and dinner only)
Pay (food only for one): around THB 900 
(lunch set at THB 299++)

*Updates (2015-Feb): Su Tha Ros is now replaced by Babette's | the Steakhouse Bangkok.

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Chocolab

500
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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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Summer Palace

483
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Another palace to dine at

I am a fan of the Iron Chef Thailand (and also Iron Chef America), a TV program that puts chefs in the cooking contest arena, which was originated in Japan by Fuji Television Network. Earlier this year, when I witnessed two Chinese chefs from one of my favorite hotel chains - IHG, Crowne Plaza's Xin Tian Di and InterContinental's Summer Palace, beat the Iron Chef of Chinese cuisine from the Iron Chef Thailand, I had a mixed feeling. 

I agree that Chef Lam of Xin Tian Di (Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park) deserved the victory in the Iron Chef Thailand contest, as I always enjoy his culinary service at his restaurant, whether it is home-style menu when I dine alone, or a banquet feast that I celebrate with friends. And for Chef Khor of Summer Palace (InterContinental Hotel Bangkok), I have a neutral view on that. I do sometimes enjoy food there!

 















Summer Palace Chinese restaurant  夏宮金殿 ***
InterContinental Hotel Bangkok
973 Ploenchit Road
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.656.0444
Summer Palace

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am -2:30 pm, dinner 6:30 - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for one): expect THB 2,500 or more 

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Charm Thai

464
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Charm of Thais

Charm Thai, a hotel's Thai restaurant that doesn't hurt my taste buds. I eat there quite often, due to her very convenient location, although it is not one of my favorite Thai restaurants.


yum som-o (spicy pomelo salad with river prawns)

gai hor bai-tuey (marinated chicken meat wrapped in pandan leaves)

gaeng massaman gai (Southern style massaman curry with chicken meat)

tom kha gai (chicken soup in coconut milk with galangal and herbs)

phad pak yod mara (stir-fried bitter gourd leaves); stir-fried mixed vegetables

pla kapong tord rad prik (deep fried local sea bass, chili sauce)

goong maenam bai horapha phad prik (river prawns, sweet basil, chili sauce)

Charm Thai ***1/2
The Holiday Inn Bangkok
971 Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Charm Thai

Open daily : 6 - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 800




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Xin Tian Di

451
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A comforting feast!

Xin Tian Di is the Chinese cuisine arm of the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park (formerly Pan Pacific Hotel), located twenty-two stories above the ground, and it is advertised that it has 'a stunning view of the Bangkok city skyline', and the fact is, patrons will only 'enjoy' a panorama hospital (Chula) view.

Last year, when IHG's Crowne Plaza took over the management of this former Pan Pacific's property near Saladaeng intersection, they also re-branded the Chinese restaurant; though the team of chefs (including the head chef) and the team of service staffs remain retouched; probably the (Crowne Plaza) executives realized that Hai Tien Lo (the name when it was under Pan Pacific's umbrella) didn't earn a good reputation among epicures. Now, Xin Tian Di (literally new sky earth, or the new era), does enter into a new era. Under the new management, the restaurant and the kitchen team are being revitalized, and the food enters into a new chapter of gastronomic journeys.

The restaurant now serves one of the city's best Peking duck (THB 1,100++), and Chef Lam's home-made tofu is a must-try; otherwise it will be like leaving a treasure hut without digging up a few gold nuggets to take back home with us!


double-boiled conch soup with black chicken, THB 300++;
double-boiled grouper filet soup with century eggs, THB 220++

Chef Lam's home-made fried tofu with XO sauce, THB 160++; portion of Peking duck

Peking duck, wrapping and ready to eat

roasted Peking duck with condiments, half order, THB 650++

Chef Lam's home-made tofu and seafood casserole, THB 320++

roasted marinated pigeon, THB 600++

stir-fried grouper filet with ginger and green onion, THB 350++;
veggie with golden & silver eggs (salted & century eggs) in broth, THB 280++

sweet and sour pork, THB 300++; stir-fried kale with preserved veggie, THB 280++

yang-chow fried rice, THB 300++; chilled lemongrass jelly, THB 150++

Xin Tian Di Chinese Restaurant 新天地 ***1/2
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park
952 Rama IV Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.632.9000
Xin Tian Di
(Please don't mix up with that Xinn Tien Di at Gaysorn Plaza, which has been heavily presented in free guidebooks!)

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6 - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 900




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Brazilian BBQ buffet @ Panorama

450
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Samba barbecue

The Panorama at the Crowne Plaza Hotel rolled out a Brazilian BBQ promotion on top of her usual buffet offer in June; a friend and I went there to sample the South American churrasco during lunch; it was a pleasant gathering and good eating, in an ambiance which was laid-back and relaxing.

Brazilian BBQ lunch buffet ***
@ Panorama Restaurant
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park Hotel
952 Rama IV Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.632.9000
The Panorama

Open daily : 6:30 - 1 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 2,500
Brazilian BBQ lunch buffet THB 700++, dinner buffet THB 1,500++

yumcha @ Summer Palace

444.

Dimsum for the Last Emperor

Summer Palace is a long standing Chinese restaurant serving a traditional Cantonese specialty menu in Bangkok. Just like any hotel's Chinese restaurant, Summer Palace also serves dimsum during lunch time (it is called yumcha in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, where Cantonese yumcha culture has its roots there).

Yumcha, or drinking tea eating dimsum (bite-sized food in small portions, usually served in a small bamboo streamer basket or on a small plate); at Summer Palace, of the Intercontinental Hotel Bangkok, it is set in an ambiance of opulence, with the choices of a la carte and all-you-can-eat. The dimsum dishes, enjoyable but not outstanding; and service is pleasant but not impeccable!

Cantonese yum-cha lunch ***

at Summer Palace Chinese Restaurant 夏宮金殿

InterContinental Hotel Bangkok

973 Ploenchit Road

Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Tel.: 02.656.04444

Summer Palace

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 6:30 - 10:30 pm

Pay (yum-cha lunch for two): around THB 1,500

weekdays all-you-can-eat dimsum offer THB 638++ per person