Fifth Dragon

468
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Fly high and humble

This Chinese dumplings joint, the Fifth Dragon, serves real xialongbao and hand-pull noddles in a downtown low cost mall. Although its food is far from a 'wow', but with its unbelievably friendly price for the locals, and the offer of real Chinese Northern bao (bun) and la-mian (noodle), the Fifth Dragon is an unpretentious restaurant that serves solid food but not a story or 'strawberry*'. So it is unlike the one in the opposite shopping mall (CWP); in here every penny a customer paid goes to the food, not to a PR cost or franchise fee.





The Fifth Dragon Chinese Restaurant ***1/4
4/F BigC Supercenter Rajdamri
97/11 Rajdamri Road
Prathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm
Food (only for one): around THB 200




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Suan Kularb

467
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Not rosy at all

There are a lot of restaurants; they do well at the beginning, then go loose after they have gained a certain level of success, and take customers support for granted.

My first time to visit Suan Kularb Thai Restaurant was around twenty years ago, and the food was quite good; a few years ago I revisited there, the food was so-so; and a few weeks ago I ate there with friends; it was mediocre food at best. Its unhelpful service is not any better than their food.






Suan Kularb Thai Restaurant ***
162 Soi Ari Sampang
Phayathai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 02.617.0425

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 300




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Kopitiam

466
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A meal with a glass of kopi

Kopitiam, that borrows from the combination of Malay and Chinese Hokkien word - coffee shop, is a dine-in fast food chain serving Thai-Chinese cuisine in Bangkok. It is not particularly impressive, but at least that it is something better than the Lee Cafe, and they easily fix us a meal in a hurry.


all day dining - breakfast (congee with century eggs; lava eggs Malay style)


all day dining - lunch (stir-fried iceberg lettuce; baked rice with meats in clay pot)


all day dining - dinner (stir-fried crab meats in yellow curry sauce; stir-fried CN kale)

Kopitiam ***
7/F Central Plaza Grand Rama 9
Ratchapisek Road
Huaykhwang, Bangkok 10310
Tel.: 02.103.4545

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



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Gastro 1/6

465
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Shadow of Jamie Oliver

Gastro 1/6 is about (true) European style all day (though only until 3 pm) countryside brunch dining in downtown Bangkok (almost at your backyard if Sukhumvit area is where you lodge); it is in a pretty laid-back mode - both the servers and the customers. If we are not rushed to do the eating, we will enjoy it, and I do. And to enjoy the pleasure of an utmost laid-back excursion, do bring a novel, or your 3G compatible smartphone that can 'line' with your friends, or a tablet with you to kill time while waiting for your order and the food to be prepared.


chilled milk; iced choco drinks (both norm brand from any supermarket)

poached eggs, sauteed mushroom, Parmesan cheese, with truffle oil, THB 320

French toast, seasonal fruits, honey (i wish if it was maple syrup), THB 195

nice cappuccino; an excellent starter - potato salad THB 150

Gastro 1/6 @ RMA Institute ***1/2
238 Soi Sai-nam-thip 2
Sukhumvit 22 Road
Klongtoey-nua, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 080. 603.6421

Open daily (except Monday) : 10 am - 3 pm (opening hours may change, it depends)
Pay (food only for one): around THB 600




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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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