Following our visit to Bangkok last Aug 2024, we've made another trip to the capital of Thailand again (taking advantage of the Eid holiday break). We stayed in Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road this time (will share our experience in a separate blog entry). The strategic location allows easy access to major BTS stations in Bangkok and tourist attractions. Keep reading to see the food spots we explored in this trip:
1) Phed Mark
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 10 am to 7 pm. Opens Daily.
BTS Ekkamai Exit 3 and walk for 3 minutes
Beef Pad Kra Pao (169 THB)
Squid Pad Kra Pao (179 THB)
Phed Mark is a renowned eatery in Bangkok specializing in Pad Kra Pao, Thailand's beloved stir-fried holy basil dish. The restaurant is founded by youtuber Mark Wiens, the restaurant is conveniently located near Exit 3 of BTS Ekkamai station. The place is usually very crowded during lunch hours so do plan your trip accordingly. The queue moves fast and the staffs are well-trained with proper, systematic order system. First- to place your order and complete with payment. They will then issue the receipt with queue number. You will need to move outside to wait (chairs available), the server will call out the number one by one. Phed Mark only serves Pad Kra Pao but available in different types of meat and seafood. We had Beef and Squid, both were delicious. There are 5 levels of spiciness- we went for the standard one and thought it was good enough. The spicy kick was there but not overwhelming, 1 level higher would be too overwhelming for us. Each order comes with a fried Egg, an extra one would costs 25 THB. If you do enjoy Pad Kra Pao and spicy food, do give this place a try.
2) Chunn
Non-Halal
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: Yes 7%
Address: 7th Floor of Central World Bangkok
Business Hours: 11 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Beef Rice Bowl (250 THB)
Wagyu Fried Rice Bowl (290 THB)
Wagyu Pad Thai (290 THB)
3) Karun Thai Tea
Pork-Free
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Address: 3rd Floor of Central World Bangkok
Business Hours: 11 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Ice Blended Karun Thai Tea (110 THB/ large)
Karun gained fame due to its aesthetic presentation of having gold flakes sprinkled on its Ice Blended Thai Tea. The brand is well-established now and can be found anywhere in any major shopping malls in the heart of Bangkok. We had ours in Central World (3rd floor), we opted for the signature Ice Blended Karun Thai Tea with 40% sugar. The sweetness was just alright and the Tea flavor was bold. A pretty decent Ice Blended Thai Tea.
4) Somtam Nua
Non-Halal
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 11 am to 9:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Somtam with Dried Shrimps (85 THB)
Deep Fried Chicken in Basket (140 THB/ small)
Crispy Fried Fish with Spicy Salad (155 THB)
Black Sticky Rice (25 THB)
Water Chestnut in Syrup and Coconut Milk (80 THB)
Coconut Smoothie (95 THB)
Conveniently located in Siam Square, Somtam Nua specializes in Somtam (Thai Papaya Salad). It is a popular eatery in the shopping district, the restaurant is just 2 minute walk away from the mall and 5 minute walk away from Pop Mart at Siam Square. The restaurant has a lot to offer, just Som Tam itself- you will find at least 10 different variants. We had the safest and most basic version- Som Tam with Dried Shrimp. We recommend trying their standard spiciness as we found the standard one was good enough for us. Anything above is probably going to be a suffer. The julienned green Papaya was at the best crunch, perfectly seasoned. The Fried Chicken was good too- they claimed to be the best Fried Chicken in Bangkok. Can't vouch for this but they were good. The Crispy Fish was okay but we had the whole fish for 155 THB, can't complain for the price.
5) Akara Sky Hanuman Bangkok
Non-Halal
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: Yes 7%
Address: 61 Floor of One City Bangkok, Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Business Hours: 4:30 pm to 2 am. Opens Daily.
Min Spend: 1,000 THB per pax
Mango Sticky Rice Cocktail (620 THB)
Negroni
Akara Sky Hanuman rooftop bar is one of the newest rooftop bars in the heart of Bangkok city. Located on the 61 floor of One City Bangkok (reachable via BTS Phloen Chit Skywalk), the place is especially popular amongst tourists and it can be fully occupied/booked on weekends or certain public holidays. It gets busier after 10 pm so do plan your visit accordingly. There is a minimum spend of 1,000 THB per pax. Visitors will need to purchase the ticket at the ground floor counter before proceeding to the high speed lift, each ticket costs 1,000 THB. The ticket can be used to deduct against the spendings at the rooftop bar. Any unused amount will not be refunded however.
The panoramic view over Bangkok city is stunning, the breeze is chilly but be aware on the humidity. If you have a group with at least 5 pax, you can opt to be seated at the tables nearest to the view as there will be a min spending of 5,000 THB per table. You can always move around for photos nevertheless. There are performances every one hour. We saw 3 performances that evening, nothing spectacular but some were engaging with visitors invited to dance. There will be photo opportunity with the dancers too. Our experience with the service was not too bad- the servers were friendly and very patient towards our questions.
On the cocktails- we thought they were quite watered down. I had the Mango Sticky Rice Cocktail- while the Mango Sticky Rice element was bold, the alcohol factor was weak. Same comment for the Negroni. I was told that this is a common issue with the sky bars in Bangkok. More like a place for novelty experience than absolute taste.
6) Ba Hao Tian Mi
Pork-Free
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 10 am to 9:30 pm. Opens Daily.
BTS Phloenchit and walk to Central Chidlom via Skywalk
Black Sesame Pudding (128 THB)
Pandan Kaya Pudding (128 THB)
A long established dessert brand originated from Yaowarat (Chinatown in Bangkok), Ba Hao Tian Mi specializes in serving Pudding and some Chinese-influenced desserts but with a modern take. The brand has presence in several locations across the city (ie: Yaowarat, EmSphere) but we visited the one at Central Chidlom's Public Market on 1st floor. The menu might not be as big as the main shop in Yaowarat but the signature Puddings are all available. It is probably the most convenient spot for you to beat the tropical heat in Bangkok city center. Each bowl of the Pudding is priced at 128 THB, not exactly cheap I must say. We opted for the best seller- Black Sesame and Pandan Kaya. The former one had a bold Black Sesame flavor and surprisingly not overly sweet, the Pudding had a milky taste almost similar to Panna Cotta but slightly harder in texture. The Pandan Kaya has strong Thai influences with a modern take, the base is still the same Pudding but topped with Pandan Kaya sauce, Coconut Milk and biscuits (for the crunch). It was a refreshing one but personally, I prefer the Black Sesame flavor.
7) Mae Varee Mango Sticky Rice
Pork-Free
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 6 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
BTS Thonglor Exit 3
Mango Sticky Rice (120 THB)
Probably the most famous Mango Sticky Rice in Bangkok- Mae Varee is easily accessible from BTS Thonglor, the place is just a short walk from Exit 3 of the train station. It opens early in the morning and closes late in the evening, giving visitors ample time to visit the place. Their Sticky Rice (or Glutinous Rice) is freshly cooked and you can tell their business is really good. On our visit, not only walk-ins but plenty of Grab drivers waiting to pick up their orders. The place does not allow dine-in so the best bet is to do take-aways. Apart from the Mango Sticky Rice, there are plenty of Thai sweet treats available too. We had the basic one and we thought it was pretty good, not to the extent that we were blown away but we agreed that it was good. The Coconut Milk was creamy and sweet, the Mangoes were fresh and we liked the extra crispy Mung Bean topping.
8) Ros'niyom
Non-Halal
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: Yes 7%
Address: Ground Floor of Icon Siam Bangkok
Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Spicy Tom Yum Goong Soup (280 THB)
Papaya Salad (120 THB)
Chicken with Red Curry (175 THB)
Fried Chicken Wing with Sticky Rice (185 THB)
Mango Sticky Rice (189 THB)
Longan Juice (99 THB)
Ros'niyom- a casual Thai eatery that can be found in major malls like Central World, Icon Siam, Siam Paragon etc; is one that you should not miss. Not only it has the upper hand in terms of location, it does have something good to offer. It has a full fledged Thai menu- from the classic appetizers to traditional stir-fries as well as Thai sweet treats... with reasonable prices. None of our orders disappoint, we recommend trying their Tom Yum Goong. Unlike some watered down Tom Yum, Ros'niyom's came in really thick and creamy with a strong Chili kick. The Prawns were really fresh either. The Chicken Red Curry was good too, with amazing flavors and perfectly spooned over rice. Definitely a place worth trying.
9) Café DIOR by Mauro Colagreco
Pork-Free
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: Yes 7%
Business Hours: 10 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
L'Abeille (600 THB)
La Lune (390 THB)
La Libellule Cacaotee (390 THB)
Iced Mocha (280 THB)
Garden Latte- Jasmin and Matcha (380 THB)
Nestled within the opulent Dior Gold House, Café DIOR by Mauro Colagreco is a luxurious cafe in the heart of Bangkok city. It offers a dessert menu, meticulously crafted by three-Michelin-starred Chef Mauro Colagreco which draws inspiration from nature and Dior's rich couture legacy. The interior features a captivating bamboo installation with a touch of Thai artistry. Given the cafe's popularity, securing a reservation is essential. You can try to do walk-in but the chances are slim. We made our reservation 3 weeks before our visit.
The menu is not big and emphasizes on desserts and pastries, of course... with Dior's iconic symbols. We had one of their best sellers- L'Abeille, featuring Honey Mousse infused with Jasmine and complemented by a Hazelnut base. The Jasmine flavor was bold and the dessert was expertly crafted to the right balanced flavor-combo. The Hazelnut base added some crunch to the cake. La Lune is another popular choice Café DIOR. French Croissant with Pistachio jam filling, we were struck by the strong buttery aroma from the French Butter. The Pistachio jam had not done much in its aid though. At the end of the visit, be sure to check out the washroom. More for the novelty experience.
10) The One Ratchada Night Market
Business Hours: 5 pm to 12 am. Opens Daily.
Fried Oysters with Egg (170 THB)
Squid Pad Thai (120 THB)
Prawn Glass Noodles (120 THB)
A short walk from the ever-crowded Jodd Fairs is The One Ratchada, a relatively quieter night market. Though the options are lesser, the crowd is smaller too. We were famished and did not want to join the crowd at Jodd Fairs so we opted for a simple meal here. We tried the Pad Thai stall which appeared to be the most popular choice. Not outstanding but none of them disappoint. The prices are slightly higher than ordinary road side stall but they commensurate with big portions of seafood. The night market is next to the Esplanade Ratchada, where you will find the popular dessert chain- After You.
11) Jodd Fairs and Big C Ratchada
Jodd Fairs Night Market
A short 5 minute walk from Esplanade Ratchada will land you at Jodd Fairs. There are plenty to see and explore but the crowd can be overwhelming. We did not spend too much time here and went straight to Big C Ratchada for grocery shopping. Big C Ratchada is way quieter than Big C Rajdamri, we got to shop comfortably without wrestling our way through. Depending on where you are staying, Big C Ratchada can be quite a distance away from the popular tourist district of Bangkok city.
Big C Ratchada
12) Mixt Chatuchak
Address: 8 Kamphaeng Phet 3 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Business Hours: 10 am to 8 pm. Opens Daily.
Beef Boat Noodles (90 THB)
Tub Tim Krob (45 THB)
Steamed Fish Balls (80 THB)
Despite the unfortunate event at Chatuchak (we visited the place 2 days after the earthquake), the place remains popular amongst tourists. We were there on a Sunday and the crowd was big. My last visit to the place was almost 6 years ago and things have changed. Many food stalls have moved in to Mixt Chatuchak, a commercial building right next to the market. We checked out the food hall at level 3. The place is air-conditioned and offers a more comfortable space for a quick meal fix before the shopping. One specific stall worth mentioning is the Steamed Fish Balls, for 80 THB, we got ourselves a plate full of Fish Balls with Thai Chili dip which we thought it was a good deal. The Fish Balls were bouncy and fresh, good for snacking or just to fill up some tummy space. The food hall is also a good alternative to take a cool respite from the tropical heat.
13) CHAR Restaurant and Rooftop Bar @ Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road
Non-Halal
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: Yes 7%
Business Hours: 12 pm to 2 pm, 5 pm to 12 am. Opens Daily.
Scallop Tiradito and Crackers (810 THB)
Beef Tartare a la Parisienne (810 THB)
Steak Frites, Cafe de Paris Butter (1,740 THB)
Grilled Salmon a L'Oseille (890 THB)
Classic Profiteroles (350 THB)
Perched on the 25th floor of Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, CHAR Restaurant offers a sophisticated dining experience in a polished setting that seamlessly blends brasserie-inspired cuisine with stunning sky-high views of the city. On the 26th floor is a sleek and atmospheric rooftop bar ideal for sunset cocktails and small plates. Helming the culinary direction is Executive Chef Nicolas Raynal, a French talent with global credentials, bringing a fresh perspective to the hotel’s offerings as it marks a decade in hospitality.
CHAR's menu reflects Chef Nicolas' French roots and his global adventures, with an emphasis on classic French dishes, comforting flavors and creative reinterpretations. Raw meat lovers will be glad to know that CHAR serves amazing Beef Tartare. It comes with a table-side service where Chef Nicolas will be preparing the dish for you while explaining on the ingredients. Confit Egg Yolk is used instead of the usual raw Egg Yolk and it is mixed to the concoction (Cognac is added too!) instead of serving the whole dollop... for a creamier texture. The Scallop Tiradito is another worth-trying appetizer; sashimi-grade Scallops served with Passion Fruit Tiger Milk (a type of Peruvian-inspired marinade, almost like Ceviche), Wasabi Guacamole and Shiso Oil. A very refreshing flavor-combo that heightens the seafood umami in the Scallops.
For mains- go for the Steak Frites, an iconic French bistro dish. 180 grams of Australian Wagyu Striploin is used, no further explanation on the tenderness and quality is required. If you prefer fish, the Grilled Salmon a L'Oseille works equally fine. To complete your mains, we recommend trying their French Fries. The real draw is the homemade Ketchup which has a Ginger kick. Do not leave CHAR without trying the desserts. The Classic Profiteroles with Chantilly Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream are to die for, the Chantilly Cream is light on the palate but bold in Vanilla flavors. Both the Chantilly Cream and Ice Cream work well with the crusty Profiteroles. We enjoyed our meal with a glass of Red (Chateau Bel Air/ Wine By The Glass- 420 THB).
CHAR Restaurant
CHAR Rooftop Bar
Have Fun Exploring Bangkok!
No comments:
Post a Comment