Malai Coffee House

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Evergreen 'night owl' cuisine

I have reviewed Malai's scrumptious Thai-Chinese khao-tom set that surprisingly has been offered in an aging downtown hotel - the Malaysia Hotel. Despite its shabby interior, the hotel's attached coffee shop offers true twenty-four hour service and a full menu (not a 'light' menu from 10 pm to dawn likes most hotels' so-called 24-hour dining) that may comfort my stomach anytime around the clock, especially after midnight while choices of eateries are thin; it is convenient for those who lodge in the Sathorn vicinity would like to eat real food other than microwave meals from the 7-Eleven, though gourmet is not a realistic quest at Malai Coffee House.






Malai Coffee House ***
The Malaysia Hotel
54 Soi Ngamduplee
off Rama IV Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.679.7127

Open daily 24 hours
Pay (food only for two): around THB 600

Chandrphen

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Full moon under the Garuda

Almost a century ago, Chandrphen, started from a small food vendor in front of a vinegar factory, is now a prominent restaurant with the honor of the Royal Garuda emblem in recognition for its long-time service to the royal banquets and events; it is originally renowned for their char-grilled chicken (it was called seaside chicken, or gai-yang chai-talay at that time), and is now a symbol of high-so(ciety) Thai-Chinese feasts with the offer of both Thai and Thai-Chinese gourmet dishes.

One of my local friends told me that he was disappointed with Chandrphen's expensive dishes, especially her 'over half-century favorites' barbecued chicken, and I was puzzled. So recently we went to Chanrphen to uncover his reason of dislike. We found that Chandrphen's chicken has two choices on the menu, they are the original gai-yang chai-talay 'our half-century famous' barbecued chicken (THB 220) and char-grilled Thai farm (free range) chicken (THB 480). The cheaper (and original) one was what my friend ordered, and he dislikes, while I always order the char-grilled free range chicken, which has a good texture and flavor. And my friend agreed that the latter one was much more tasty. Chandrphen dishes are good but expensive, didn't I mention that it is a high-so(ciety) restaurant!


Chandrphen curried fish cakes, THB 180+
shrimp and crab meat nuggets combo, THB 240+

Thai style dried sukiyaki with seafood and vegetables (suki han), THB 250+

char-grilled free range farm chicken (gai-baan), half, THB 250+

stir-fried bitter gourd leaves & stem with chilies, very spicy, THB 120+
stir-fried spinach with mushroom in oyster sauce, THB 120+

spicy & sour soup w/ prawns and kati (tomyum goong nam khon), THB 280+

deep fried ocean pomfret, medium, seasonal price, this one was THB 1,100+

char-grilled river lobsters, seasonal price, this pair was, THB 1,640+

cooked gingko nuts in syrup, in whole young coconut, THB 125+
home-made young coconut ice cream with jello, THB 95+

Chandrphen Restaurant ***3/4
Rama IV branch
1030/1 Rama IV Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.287.1535
Chandrphen

Open daily : lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, dinner 5 - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,200

Malai Coffee House breakfast

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Feast of the dawn

Malai Coffee House also has Western and Thai breakfast set and a la carte on offer, but usually it is the restaurant's renowned khao tom set that wins my order. Today, I intended to be rebellious on my routine at the Malai Coffee House and I ordered a breakfast set. I found it is not bad!





Breakfast set ***1/4
Malai Coffee House
The Malaysia Hotel
54 Soi Ngamduplee
off Rama IV Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.679.7127

Open daily 24 hours
Pay (breakfast for two): around THB 250

Malai Coffee House khao tom set

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An institutional khao tom feast

The aging Malaysia Hotel in Bangkok's Sathorn district is definitely not on my list of recommended venues, but the midnight khao tom (boiled rice soup) set, on offer at its coffee shop - the Malai Coffee House, is one of my favorite supper choices due to both its good quality and very affordable price.



Midnight khao tom dining ****1/2
Malai Coffee House
The Malaysia Hotel
54 Soi Ngamduplee
off Rama IV Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.679.7127

Open daily 24 hours
Pay (khao tom set for two 10 pm - 6 am): THB 150+
(choices of 3 dishes with a big pot of boiled rice soup)



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China Dumplings

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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China Dumplings House 中國水餃
(formerly Sun Moon House)

Every countries shall have some hold-in-the-wall kind of nice eateries, so does Bangkok!

China Dumplings House under same management of the two-decade dumplings paradise Sun Moon House 日月樓 still serving Bangkokians a choice on authentic Chinese dumplings as well as Chinese northern provincial delicacies.


1. stir-fried string beans; 2. fried marinated pork dice

3. mabo tofu (bean curd in spicy minced pork sauce); 4. fried CN eggplant

5. boiled pak-choy & minced pork dumplings; 6. noodles in minced pork sauce

China Dumplings House 中國水餃 ****1/2
15 Soi Ngam Duphli
(off Rama 4 Road)
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.000.000

Open daily 11am - 9:30pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500


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