Bekku

453
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Gone with the J-taste

Bekku, probably the first, and the best tonkatsu (Japanese deep-fried battered pork cutlet) specialty eatery in town; recently relocated (yes, again!) to Sukhumvit Soi 22, which is a short walk away from its old President Park's location, has lost its original charm and characteristics as a Japanese salaryman hangout and tonkatsu heaven. Now the once famed restaurant is looking more like a Beijing dumpling eatery than a Japanese tonkatsu joint. Food wise, the deep-fried battered pork cutlet is still 'eatable' but the tidbits (side dishes) that come with it (optional, at extra charge) both looked and tasted like some leftovers. I doubt that if the original owner (Khun Mitsutoshi Bekku) still runs this place!


yucky side dishes set, Yuushoku (large) THB 160+, Nagomi (small) THB 120+

tonkatsu curry rice, THB 240+; not-as-good-as-before sauce

tonkatsu set (incl. side dishes, rice, soup, and desserts), THB 499+ for two

tonkatsu filet THB 200+ (with side dishes, rice, soup and ice cream THB 320+)


Tonkatsu Bekku Japanese Restaurant ***
318/1 Sukhumvit Soi 22
Klangtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.663.0318

Open daily : lunch 11:30 - 2 pm, dinner 5:30 - 10 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 300



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Katsu King

416
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The last emperor's fried

Bangkok's long standing katsu specialty restaurant, the Katsu King, offers a selection of katsu (deep-fried battered meat) menu with a traditional Japanese twist, such as rosu katsu (korubota pork loin) curry, hire katsu (korubota tenderloin) curry, hive katsu don, and selections from a seafood katsu menu. Recently I visited her branch at K-Village, the service was laid-back, and the food was just average.




tonkatsu set, THB 265 net



Katsu King Japanese Restaurant ***
2/F K-Village
93 Sukhumvit soi 26
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.661.2933

Open daily : 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 550

Yum & Tum

414
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Healthy salad and fierce pok-pok

I love Issan (Thailand northeastern provinces) food, just like most of the expats living in Bangkok do. Whether it is sidewalk somtum (spicy raw papaya pok-pok salad), gai yang (grilled chicken), or to higher-end Issan restaurants, I couldn't wait to leave my foot print there if it is a good one.

Yum & Tum, with its first debut at the Life Center Sathorn three years ago, has climbed to be a popular Issan delicacies joint with comfy interior and an eclectic menu to offer. Recently I went to her branch at K-Village with two visiting friends, the food was decent though not as good as those at Life Center and Central Festival Pattaya.


1. Thai rice roll with stuffing; 2. spicy raw papaya salad with carrot

3. Thai eggplant salad with grilled pork Issan nam-tok sauce

4. Southern style spicy khao-yum tossed rice

5. gai yang Issan grilled chicken

6. soup noodle with river prawn in tomyum broth; 7. Thai desserts

Yum & Tum Issan Restaurant ***1/2
2/F K-Village
93-95 Sukhumvit Soi 26
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.665.6546

Open daily : 11 am - 9:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700

Len Zen

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
.

Noodle in a high-so arcade

I roam, in Sukhumvit's K-Village again and again, so often lately. (God I almost forgot my beloved Thonglo stripe!)

Having too much cream sauce and cheese during the festive seasons, try something light and a bit Thai today. Thus a bowl of Ayutthaya boat noodle may set my day.

Len Zen Boat Noodle settled in Bangkok most trendy lifestyle arcade K-Village, tends to deliver high-so version of boat noodle with local beef or wagyu (B295++/B415++) to trend chasers at affordable price. Sorry, she failed! The so-called "original broth recipe of more than 10 natural herbs boiled with specially prepared stock" tastes just as good as a bowl from any roadside vendor in Bangkok (but need not to compare with those in Ayutthaya). See the bean sprout. I don't know what is in the operators' mind. Why don't they just go home to soak in beer!


1. boat noodle (local beef) THB 55++; 2. boat noodle (local pork) THB 55++

aged bean sprout, yellow, not white, natural color, no photoshop correction,
so you can see they are not fresh, and this is what Len Zen serves customers!

3. ultra sweet Thai iced tea with milk THB 45++; 4. black herbal jelly THB 45++

Len Zen Boat Noodle **1/2
K-Village #A220, 2/F Building A
99 Sukhumvit Soi 26
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.661.3438

Open daily : 10:30 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 200

Wine Connection Deli & Bistro

287
.

New Year wine and dine

Buy our wine in the Wine Connection's wine shop and dine in is the concept at Wine Connection Deli & Bistro. Food is quite good though not outstanding, but ambiance and atmosphere are very cheerful. And, the price is absolutely right. An ideal place for friends gathering and small group partying. Like what I did last night.

Oops and this is the place where we can have a sip with our breakfast that doesn't cost $1,000 in Ritz-Carlton New York.



Wine Connection Deli & Bistro ***
K-Village #A-116, G/F Building A
93 Sukhumvit Soi 26
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.661.3942
WCDB at K-Village

Open daily : 7:30 am - 1 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,500




* (update on 2012-03-10: another branch of Wine Connection Deli & Bistro opened at Rain Hill Sukhumvit Soi 47)

Nobu

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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In sashimi we trust

Bangkok has Nobu. But it is not the same one took fame in the US and Hong Kong by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro.

Nobu by Nobu Matsuhisa is renowned for its innovative Japanese cuisine. Oops don't say fusion J-food, he is more happy to hear the word "innovative". While the Nobu in Bangkok, run by a group of local Japanese chefs, try hard on traditional Japanese cuisine with Osaka twist. But both have one common point. As, both attract local clienteles other than the applause from Japanese expats.


1. hamaguri buttter (boiled butter clams) THB 180+, plump & sweet, broth salty!
2. kisu karage (deep-fried silver sillago/whiting) THB 180+, fresh, crispy, good!

3. sashimi matsu THB 1,200+, fresh, big chunk cut, common kind of fish, overpriced!

4. nasu dengaku (grilled miso glazed eggplant) THB 100+, cheap miso, lack depth.
5. tempura mori (deep-fried battered prawn) THB 240+, good batter, good frying oil.

6. oyakodon (chicken rice) THB 200+, not tender, local rice, cheap seasoning source.

Nobu Japanese Restaurant and Bakery **3/4
Thonglo main branch:
414 Soi Thonglo, Sukhumvit 55
(corner Thonglo Soi 14)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02. 392.5297

Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2 pm, dinner 6 pm - 1 am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 2,000

Nobu Japanese Restaurant and Bakery **1/2
K-Village branch:
B209 The K-Village
93 Sukhumvit Soi 26
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.661.5011

Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 2,000