Khrua Mali

494
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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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khao chae Lai Rot

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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Chilled summer begins

Khao-chae, or literally means rice-soaked (chilled), is rice soaked in icy cold jasmine-scented water served with Thai tidbits.

Benefited from a 19th century (khao-chae) recipe from the Princess Chalermkhet Mongkol's Palace, Lai Rot Thai Restaurant proclaimed its khao chae set as khao-chae-chao-wang (the royal people's chilled rice soup).

However, Lai Rot doesn't play hard enough with it, turns out its khao-chae is one of the most so-so (though not yet of garbage grade) sets I have ever sampled!


Lai Rot khao-chae set, at THB 200, available all year round


Lai Rot Khao Chae Chao Wang ***

Rama 6 branch:
202 Rama 6 Road
Samsen, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.279.2895

Sukhumvit branch:
120/4 Sukhumvit Soi 49
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.391.3193

Open daily : 11 am - 9 pm
Pay (khao chae set): THB 200 per set (for one person)

Samsen Villa

BANGKOK AMAZING GOURMET
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Fusion in sight

Samsen Villa is one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. When a friend called me to eat there, I immediately flew there though the restaurant is just a stone throw away from the ruling Democratic Party where the 'red-shirts' splashed human blood at its entrance few weeks ago.

The restaurant facade is decorated in European villa style but does not serve innovative nor fusion Thai meal, it just serves honest grandma recipes proven a success for decades.

As Samsen Villa is a family restaurant, I need to compromise by its high db noise in the dining room in exchange for a good meal. Now I enjoy those yelling in this no-frills restaurant.


1. spicy lemongrass salad with river prawn
2. pork satay

3. deep-fried sea bass topped with fried lemongrass and sauce
4. gaeng kua curry with prawn (gaeng kua krathong goong)

5. stir-fried Thai suki
6. red rubies water chestnut dessert (tabtim krob)

Samsen Villa Thai Restaurant ****
49/2 Soi Sethasiri
off Rama 6 Road
Samsen-nai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.279.0922
Samsen Villa

Open daily : 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 600

Lai Rot

BANGKOK HIDDEN GOURMET

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Lai Rot
Rama 5 Road
Samsen, Bangkok

for review, stay tuned!

Chon Ngern Chon Thong

69
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Chon Ngern Chon Thong

Chon Ngren Chon Thong literally means Silver Spoon and Golden Spoon. I have heard of this Thai restaurant neither it earns any chef’s award nor in the best restaurants list of the year, not from food critics, but from the news; political news in particular. Sited on Rama 6 Road near a few government agencies and headquarter of the Democrat Party, Chon Ngern Chon Thong became popular high-so(ciety) canteen among high-profile politicians, civil servants, and the hip and discerning Soi Ari residents for years. I am lack of luck to bump into Khun Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat’s leader, after several attempts to the restaurant.

Food is good but not outstanding, authentic but not (very) spicy thanks to the chef’s adoption to Bangkokians palate; therefore Chon Ngern Chon Thong is the ideal eating institute for tourists evolve to authentic Thai food (from tourist-friendly taste) sampling without their tongues being burnt.

Worth to explore Chon Ngren Chon Thong for more but I will put this option in the bottom of my itinerary, unless I go to Samsen Railway Station, or Soi Ari, or Vichaiyut Hospital renowned for its brain faculty, or Government Public Relations Department’s Foreign Office, or the Ministry of Finance where the restaurant is just a stone-throw distance from them.

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): CNCT has [3.5]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambience, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =3.5, Service=3.5, Ambiance=3.0, Money Worth=4.0

Price range for two without drinks (incl. local water) in Thai Baht = BBB
(B=below 200, BB=201-500, BBB=501-1,000, BBBB=1,001-2,000, BBBBB=over 2,000)

Best dishes: mee krob (fried crispy sweet and spicy noodles), green curry, deep-fried sea bass
Wine list: poor wine list
Best table: tables on the side
Details: open daily 11:00am-10:00pm
Chon Ngern Chon Thong Thai Restaurant, 198/18 Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400; Tel.: 02-2710117
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