477
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Salad of Issan
Somtum Der is a clean and modern somtum (spicy shredded raw papaya salad of Issan style) joint with her debut in Silom area few months ago; the air-conditioning and comfortable ambiance do not wash down the authentication and genuine flavor of this Issan street food - somtum.
Somtum Der ***1/2
5/5 Soi Saladaeng
off Silom Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.632.4499
Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 400
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454
.Eat like King Kong at a small cost
One of the youngest yakiniku chains in Bangkok, King Kong, gains momentum to be Bangkok's most popular Japanese BBQ restaurant!
King Kong Yakiniku Buffet Restaurant ***1/2
Silom branch
3/F United Center
323 Silom Road
Bangrak, bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.238.1877
* more branches at Ekamai, Rama 9, Mengjai and Langsuan
Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (all-u-can-eat yakiniku for one): THB 470 net (incl. free-flow drinks)
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
452
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Time honored hole-in-the-wall grows bigger!
A hole-in-the-wall, secret foodies joint, Lieo Lieng Seng recently opened a canteen-like branch at United Center, right at C.B.D.'s Silom Road; now everyone can have easy access to Lieo's Thai-Chinese time tested menu, though the ambiance is (still) not 'on the menu'.
Lieo also owns the Kingdom's oldest ice cream recipe. Lieo's 555 Ratchawong Ice Cream was the first ice cream vendor in Thailand (yes, more than a century ago); the recipe passes on to Lieo's third generation, with the use of the best ingredients, is also available at Lieo Lieng Seng @ United Center.
dried fish maw in supreme broth, THB 100
wok-burnt tofu with bean sprouts and preserved sour veggie, THB 100
stir-fried kale, THB 100; fish maw in supreme broth, THB 100
oysters casserole, in Lieo's secret sauce, THB 300
fried bamee boran (literally ancient egg noodle) with chicken, ham, or crab meats, THB 100
Lieo Lieng Seng @ United Center ****
Basement, B1 #103, United Center
323 Silom Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 081.827.6512
Lieo Lieng Seng
Open daily : 11 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 300
** update: sadly this branch is now a history; its original branch at Galaxy Square (off Rama 4 Road) is still serving old-school Thai-Chinese at present.
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451
.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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