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n a city mad for food, a city suddenly rich with world-class fine dining venues, which restaurants reign supreme? With the help of our 30-strong panel of industry experts, we’ve set out to answer that question and more in the 10th annual edition of BK Magazine’s Top Tables guide. First, the important stuff. To make sure Top Tables remains Bangkok’s most trustworthy dining guide, we personally select each panel member, discount any votes for places they’re affiliated with, and guarantee that each choice remains independent from our advertisers. No exceptions. From an original list of 200 places, they give each restaurant a ranking of one to five stars, on top of providing us with their personal top 10. From those insights, we keep only the top 100 restaurants.
Who’s in charge Managing Director & Publisher Andrew Hiransomboon Managing Editor Craig Sauers Deputy Editor Angela Symons Digital Content Coordinator Pakchira Bunphol Junior Digital Content Coordinator Kawee Jarach Senior Writers Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley, Veerabhatr Sriyananda Writer Warunporn Tiyabhorn Junior Writer Supanan Anansuviroj Contributor Megan Leon Creative Director Bhatara Chirdchuen Production Supervisor Komkrit Klinkaeo Senior Graphic Designer Assaya Dejkong Graphic Designers Anunya Chobnitas, Wirankan Saiyasombut Photographer Poonsawat Suttama Junior Videographers Jaruwan Suwandee, Tham Rodjananaudomvutigul Junior Video Editor Jakphet Potisarn
To be frank, their help is more important than ever. From the back sois of Sathorn to the prime spots in Phrom Phong and Thonglor, the city boasts more culinary firepower than ever in its history. Even the categories and ideas defining fine dining in Bangkok have diversified in ways few could have expected. Southern Thai, progressive American, neo-Indian, modern German. Being seasonally driven is the norm now—sourcing sustainable and organic ingredients from Thai farmers makes you on trend, not an outlier. Want proof? Just look at this year’s top-ranked restaurant. This is our 10th edition of the guide, and we’ve witnessed a lot of growth since we started. In the pages this year, you’ll find us both looking back and eyeing what’s ahead. We celebrate the restaurants that have been a part of Top Tables every year since 2010, acknowledging the boundary-pushers who have helped the food scene reach this golden era of gourmet greatness. We’re also looking beyond Bangkok’s borders for the first time, recognizing 20 of the best restaurants nationwide, from southern destinations like Phuket and Samui to the cooler northern climes of Chiang Mai and Udon Thani. Don’t agree with our panel? Write to food@asia-city.co.th and tell us why. We’d love to hear from you.
Business Development Director Jane Bay Senior Business Development Manager Madeleine Anantasuk Advertising Director Wanida Akeapichai Sales Manager Tipkritta Chiraporncharas Senior Sales Associates Tassanee Mahamad, Nattaya Bovornsettanon Sales Associates Parinda Dermsripoom, Janejira Kosaipolkul, Nalatporn Sirirungpanich
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Junior Marketing Executive Katthaleeya Tamkittigul
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ASIA CITY STUDIO Managing Editor Dietrich Neu Associate Editor Sureepak Janyapat Event Projects Manager Chayanap Tongdadas Event Coordinator Thanawat Buddhichewin Project Coordinator Sirinart Panyasricharoen Junior Project Coordinator Sawanya Chantarakana Senior Developers Prawee Wiangin, Wasan Wangrach Developer Nopanun Laochunanun Branded Content Writer Chakariya Cheewatara Senior Content Writer Pailin Jindarerk Finance Manager Supaporn Bangmoung Senior Accountant Maneeya Kanthongdang Accountant Manita Bangmoung Admin Executive Yaovaluck Srisermsri Cover photo by Poonsawat Suttama Cover location Suhring
H Reservations F
Parking available
E
Dress requirements
Open for less than a year
Price guide B Under B500 BB B500-1,000 BBB B1,000-2,000 BBBB B2,000-3,000 BBBBB Over B3,000
Price per person reflects a full meal with dessert, drink, charges and tax.
Top Tables 2020 is published and distributed on March 29, 2020. It is published by Asia City Media Group Ltd., 9/F, Sathorn Nakorn Tower, 100 North Sathorn Rd., Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500. Copyright ©2020 Asia City Media Group Ltd. The titles “BK Magazine,” “Top Tables” its associated logos or devices, and the content of Top Tables 2020 are the property of Asia City Media Group Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. This publication is distributed as a supplement to BK Magazine. The magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Media Group Ltd. Contact the Advertising Department for ad rates and specifications. All advertising must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request.
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Sorn
Thai BBBBB 56 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 099-081-1119. Open Tue-Fri 6-11pm; Sat-Sun noon-2pm, 6-11pm
The buzz: 2019 was quite a year for Sorn. The family-run restaurant and flag bearer of traditional southern Thai cuisine earned two Michelin stars, although you could argue that recognition merely confirmed what everyone in Bangkok already knew—the food here is special, worth traveling for. Under the direction of Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri and his friend and head chef Yodkawan “Yod” U-Pumpruk, the focus is placed firmly on southern ingredients, southern recipes and southern farmers. The food: Anywhere from 90 to 100 percent of the ingredients you’re eating here have come from the 14 southern Thai provinces. Across sharing-style tasting menus, chef Yod works magic on Phuket lobster, mangosteen and even sand mole crabs, forcing you to reenvision what you thought you knew about flavor. The attention to detail in each dish is apparent, with the process seeming closer to a construction project than simple cookery—the chefs arrive many hours before service, slow-cooking proteins over clay pots and building fiery bases for Sorn’s best dishes. The complexity results in dishes that truly nourish the soul. The place: Entering this 90-year-old house feels like stepping inside a jungle sanctuary. The interiors reference Thailand’s southern rainforests, with arched-metal works recalling slender palm blades on the windows, and wood accents, earthy tones and plants dotted throughout the art deco-driven dining rooms.
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Le Normandie
French BBBBB Mandarin Oriental, 48 Charoen Krung Soi 40, 02-659-9000, Open Mon-Sat noon-2pm, 7-10pm
The buzz: The original home of Bangkok French fine dining (open since 1958) has soared back into every top-tier foodie conversation under Savoie-born chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier. Adding legitimacy to what Le Normandie diners already knew, his food has won two Michelin stars since the guide was first brought to Thailand. The food: Every great chef needs a dish that defines them. Dunand Sauthier has several: Krystal caviar with sea urchin and foamed potato; suddenly de rigueur carabineros with confit melon and piquillo peppers; wild venison with pear and fennel. All feature the kind of subtlety only a chef of his caliber can achieve. The incredible produce he uses only helps matters. Choose between an eight-course tasting menu or a limited a la carte menu of contemporary French courses. Whatever way you go, flawless consistency is guaranteed. The place: No local restaurant does oldschool glamor as well as Le Normandie. Not to mention service. From the moment you step out of the elevator, the staff knows your name, your likes and dislikes, even how to regale you on the minutiae of every course. It’s discreet, it’s thoughtful, it’s perfect. Le Normandie might be lavishly over the top, with its plush carpets, dangling chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Chao Phraya, but you shouldn’t expect any less from a venue so beloved by the city’s high rollers.
Exclusively for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Mercedes, Citi ROP Preferred and Select Get 10% discount on 4-course and 5-course exclusive tasting menu for lunch and on tasting menu for dinner (Mon – Thu) *Price and menu for each season may change without prior notice
01 Mar ‘20 – 30 Nov ‘20
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ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL
STEAM POWERED Nagiya Wa Dining embodies the spirit of an izakaya bar—delicious food and down to earth atmosphere. It’s a late night spot to hang out with friends and colleagues with a frosty mug of requisite Asahi beers. Treat your taste buds with Japanese yakitori (skewered meat), unlike other Nagiya’s branches, here guests can grill their favorite meats and ingredients themselves. But before you start digging in, take in the atmosphere and breathe in the savory
steam. The space has all the authenticity and charm of a genuine Tokyo tavern. The buzzing sounds of excited chit-chat grows louder as closing time approaches, with guests tucked comfortably into wood-accented furniture while basking in the warm light of kitsch red lanterns. Specialties here include sashimi, sushi and a lush array of pleasant decorated dishes from the premium a la carte menu. Eggs, pork, chicken, and other
ingredients are carefully selected for all the freshly prepared dishes. The experience promises lots of chef-customer interaction, too, so be sure to expect a team of chefs in colorful Japanese style uniforms greeting you as you step inside. Nagiya Wa Dining, 1/F, Nihonmachi, 115 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-2016. Open Mon-Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat-Sun 12pm-midnight.
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Sühring
German BBBBB 10 Yenakat Soi 3, 02-287-1799. Open Mon-Fri 5:30-9pm; Sat-Sun 11:30am-12:30pm, 5:30-9pm
The buzz: Though Thai food won out this year, our former number one never fails to impress us with its Germanically meticulous tasting menus, served in a space that balances the line between elegant and inviting. The food: Quality, seasonality and simplicity reign supreme in Thomas and Mathias Sühring’s 12-course “Erlebnis” tasting menu, which sees delicate mouthfuls of crayfish and beetroot interspersed with bite-size renditions of German specialties like the northern labskaus—pretzel topped with a meatball and fried quail egg. Mini Radler steins and crispy duck liver waffles in Hanutareferencing packaging act as playful ice breakers with two-Michelin-star finesse. The place: Set in a remodeled midcentury villa in leafy Yen Akart, the restaurant possesses a real sense of hominess, magnified by framed pictures of the Sühring family farm. White tablecloths nod to tradition, while the modish open kitchen offers a vibrant glimpse behind the scenes.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary drink valued THB 500 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 drink /card / table /sales slip) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
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Gaa
Indian BBBBB 68/4 Sarasin Rd., 091-419-2424, Open Wed-Mon 6-10pm, Sat-Sun noon-1pm (1pm last order)
The buzz: After working her way up through the kitchens of Noma and Gaggan and becoming India’s first woman to win a Michelin star—a feat she accomplished two years in a row—chef Garima Arora is entering the next stage of her evolution. Forget 10-course tasting menus that reference New Nordic food cultures. Now, Gaa is all about India. Indian flavors, Indian diversity and Indian traditions, all expressed through a menu that casts aside fine dining conventions in favor of feasts. The food: Bangkok’s most multicultural kitchen team—chefs come from India, Germany, Poland, American Samoa to work here—presents five-part feasts that examine the culinary traditions of India’s coasts, streets and subcultures. Dip into topli paneer, a disappearing Parsi delicacy, with savory crackers called khakra. Fried Bombay duck (a small fish native to Mumbai) goes down in one bite. Everything is made to share and be eaten with your hands. It’s clever, multisensory and revelatory. The place: This vibrant, multi-story townhouse feels like two restaurants in one. Get a seat downstairs if you want to see what’s going on in the glassencased kitchen, but reserve a table on the second floor for a more relaxed and intimate dinner. The indie soundtrack and conversational service speak to the kind of youthful energy that makes eating at Gaa such a joyful experience.
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Sushi Cyu Run by a Japanese head chef with 20 years of experience in the game, Sushi Cyu uses fresh produce (imported from Japan three times per week) to offer one of Bangkok’s finest omakase experiences. You can enjoy this exclusive dining experience across all Bangkok branches of Sushi Cyu. Carnival Yakiniku Experience succulent grilled meat, Japanese style, at this premium yakiniku specialist run by a team of professional chefs with over 30-years of experience. The highlights include high quality meats imported straight from Japan, like omi Wagyu, and A4 Kagoshima, as well as top-grade Thai-French beef. There’s also some juicy ox tongue, if that fits your fancy. For reservations and more information, contact: Sushi Cyu, Central World Tel. 0657314844-5 Sushi CYU & Carnival Yakiniku, EmQuartier Tel. 065-716-0450 Sushi Cyu & Carnival Yakiniku, All Season Place Tel. 0655202307 Sushi Cyu & Carnival Yakiniku, Eight Thonglor Tel. 027138312 TETSU by Carnival Yakiniku, Central Embassy Tel. 021605722
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80/20
Thai BBBBB 1052-1054 Charoenkrung Soi 26, 099-118-2200. Open Tue-Sun 6-9pm
The buzz: Following 80/20’s upscale reinvention, 2019 was a whirlwind for the former hipster hangout. From being listed by Time magazine as one of the “World’s 100 Greatest Places” to earning a Michelin star for its trailblazing seasonal Thai tasting menus, this has become the ultimate one to watch. The food: Constantly experimenting with fermentation, pickling and unusual ingredients, chef Napol “Joe“ Jantraget dreams up intriguing Thai-inspired creations like wagyu and oyster tartare with pickled garlic, smoked chili and kale, and mouthwatering thong muan-inspired crisps topped with rainbow lobster crudo and caramelized pork paste. Meanwhile, his partner chef Saki Hoshino’s mind-blowing desserts twist single ingredients like coconut into multifaceted flavor explosions and reinvent savory dishes like somtam. The place: Besides the inventive food, 80/20’s young, fun and laid-back vibe is what really seperates it from the pack. Sit at the open kitchen counter to soak up the buzzing atmosphere, or grab a table in the low-lit restaurant area, where dark walls and furnishings create a hip feel.
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Haoma
Indian BBBB-BBBBB 231/3 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-258-4744. Open Tue-Fri 6-11pm; Sat-Sun 11:30am-3pm, 6-11pm
The buzz: Since 2017, chef Deepanker “DK” Khosla has gradually turned his novel concept of creating the most sustainable restaurant in Thailand into a reality. DK isn’t just growing his own vegetables and herbs these days—he’s raising his own tilapia, building organic compost piles, making “aquaponics” a better understood term in our culinary vocabulary. Along the way, he’s transformed his cooking to pay homage to his Indian heritage, too. The food: Since shifting his focus to the flavors of India, DK has hit his stride. Using ingredients grown onsite or sourced from select organic farms across Thailand, he whips up creatively plated nine- and 13-course menus that don’t skimp on spice or flavor. Kerala-style pulissery soup with Thai prawns, scallops and mussels. House-made baati bread with in-your-face chutneys. But no dish better demonstrates what DK is doing than “Haoma in a Bite”— everything, from the fried kombucha scoby cracker to the thinly sliced tilapia, comes from the restaurant’s garden. The place: A bar on the veranda leads into a glass-fronted dining room filled with natural wood accents and hanging plants. The highlight, however, is the boundary-pushing back garden. Here, you’ll find the pesticide-free vegetables, herbs and edible flowers you’ve just consumed growing in planter boxes. Look in the back, and you’ll spot tanks being fed by rainwater, where Haoma raises the fish that feed diners and fuel the garden with their waste.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 20% discount for every Second tasting 13 course (maximum number of 6 persons /table) 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ‘21
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Eat Me Restaurant International BBBB-BBBBB 1/6 Phiphat Soi 2, Convent Rd., 02-238-0931. Open 3pm-1am
The buzz: While Silom’s 22-year-old institution might be a veteran on the scene, it feels as fresh as ever. Under the helm of American chef Tim Butler, Eat Me adds just enough new touches from time to time to keep regular customers and food critics coming back to rave about the menu. The food: Thai-but-not-Thai combinations like the wagyu tartare “larb” and lemongrass chicken with green mango have long exemplified the kind of cooking that’s now all the rage in kitchens in the West. But newer dishes, like the rack of lamb—butchered from free-range saltbush lambs that graze in the Australian Outback—served with a dark, sweet and dangerously good vincotto dressing, reflect Butler’s wayfaring spirit, cherrypicking global flavors that complement his body of work. The place: Eat Me’s fern-enshrouded outdoor zone is made for after-work drinks, while the boisterous dining room attracts glamorous local socialites and tank-topped Asian tourists alike. Don’t miss head bartender Buntanes “Pop” Direkrittikul’s complex gastronomy-inspired creations (larb moo and miang kham in a glass, anyone?)—these contribute to the sense that Eat Me is never standing still.
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JOURNEY THROUGH THE AUTHENTIC CULINARY CREATIONS OF JAPAN Explore the tantalizing possibilities of authentic, classic and creative Japanese dining tailored to every taste and occasion in one of Bangkok’s most central and best-connected locations. For over 20 years Kisso has been a favorite among Bangkok’s Japanese expatriate community and all who appreciate the work of skilled chefs preparing a well-considered menu. After thorough renovations, Kisso now begins its third decade in a stylish setting that’s at once lively and discreet. Strikingly contemporary décor enhances every element, from the main dining area, to the sushi bar to private tatami rooms. For more information or to make a reservation, please call (66) (2) 207 8000 or email kisso.bangkok@westin.com
Kisso Japanese Restaurant | The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok 259 sukhumvit 19, sukhumvit road, bangkok 10110 T: 02 207 8000 E: kisso.bangkok@westin.com kissojapaneserestaurant.com facebook.com/kissobangkok D I N I N G G U I D E 2 0 2 0 ∙ TOP TABLES 19
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Le Du
Thai BBBB-BBBBB 399/3 Silom Soi 7, 092-919-9969. Open Mon-Sat 6-10:30pm
The buzz: When he’s not jet-setting around the world or checking up on his homey follow-up restaurant, Baan, chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn is whipping up a storm of creative, deconstructed Thai bites at his one-Michelin-starred Silom haunt. The food: Seasonality reigns over the artfully presented four- to six-course tasting menus, from the signature meaty river prawn with pork belly jam, organic rice and shrimp paste to the free-range chicken with fermented fish, spicy tamarind and dill. Classics like green curry and miang kham are bent out of recognition by chef Ton’s highwire techinques, while local ingredients are married to create heavenly flavor sensations like the Chiang Mai chocolate, peanut butter and vanilla-kaffir ice cream dessert. Wine pairings are on-point thanks to Ton’s certified sommelier status; expect plenty of organic and boutique labels. The place: Cream walls with blondwood flourishes make for a relaxed and unfussy setting that allows the food to take center stage. Upstairs, bricks and dark lattice-work male for a moodier vibe. Each dish is presented in detail by the attentive staff.
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Bo.lan
Thai BBBBB 24 Sukhumvit Soi 53, 02-260-2962. Open Wed 6-10pm; Thu-Sat noon-2pm, 6-10:30pm; Sun noon-2:30pm
The buzz: Duangporn Songvisava and Dylan Jones have dominated Bangkok’s Thai fine-dining scene for over a decade with their sustainably-minded reinterpretations of ancient Thai recipes. Sharing-style presentation, laborintensive techniques and a focus on aroma conjure traditional elements of Thai family cooking, elevated by refined presentation worthy of its Michelin-starred status. The food: Calling on produce from local farmers, fishermen and foragers, the seasonal degustation menus are packed with rich spices and fiery family-style recipes. Reborn classics like boat noodle soup with sliced pork, morning glory and bean sprouts are joined by high-wire creations like the stir-fried Pak Bara squid with chicken liver, grachai and three kinds of basil, while Thai rice is treated with reverence. The place: A renovated wooden house filled with dark wood furniture and moody oil paintings, surrounded by decking, green trees and vegetable patches summons the feel of a traditional Thai residence—the perfect match for the food.
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Sushi Masato
Japanese BBBBB 3/22 Sawasdee Soi 1, Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-040-0015. Open Tue-Sun 5:30-11pm
The buzz: One of the hardest tables to get in town suddenly became a lot more accessible last year. Sushi Masato, the omakase joint that’s as difficult to access as any of Tokyo’s veritably clandestine sushi joints, added a second-floor annex, Raw Bar Masato, which brings the same attention to detail and focus on fresh Japanese seafood as its forerunner downstairs, just made for walk-ins. The food: The twenty-odd courses you get here are never enough. Monkfish liver, perfectly cooked and peeled Petchabun tomato with fleur de sel, a line-up of nigiri that will leave you beguiled by chef and founder Masato Shimizu’s deft knife work—it doesn’t get any better than this in Bangkok. Thanks to the walk-in-friendly raw bar on the second floor, you don’t have to wait weeks to experience this food, either. You can order straight from the kitchen downstairs while enjoying a selection of cocktails that shatter any stuffy omakase stereotypes you might harbor. The place: From behind a beautiful L-shaped, Hinoki-wood counter, the chef and his sidekicks sculpt meals that are incredibly refined yet dispel the idea of omakase as an awkward, drawn-out affair. It helps that Masato is warm, conversational and informative—happily breaking out a book mid-meal to educate you on a single piece of fish.
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Upstairs at Mikkeller
International BBBBB 2/F, 26 Ekkamai Soi 10, Yaek 2, 091-713-9034. Open Wed-Sat 6-10pm
It’s hard to find a chef who pours more into his work than Dan Bark. Four nights a week, he holds court over an intimate dining room above the Mikkeller bar in Ekamai, almost willing himself into dishes that deliberately travel from flavor to flavor across 10 courses. The food is complex and often nostalgic, and the enthusiastic service suggests the whole team really buys into what he’s doing.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary last bite dessert valued THB 300 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 bite /person) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
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Canvas
Thai BBBBB 113/9-10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 099-614-1158. Open daily 6-9:30pm
Helmed by young Texas-native Riley Sanders, Canvas has turned heads since the day it opened thanks to Sanders’ devotion to all things local and seasonal. Everything from the wagyu to the cheese to the honey comes from Thailand—some from organic farms and wet markets, others from the wild. Across six- and ninecourse tasting menus, Sanders delivers bold dishes that defy regional labels, serving fine dining with serious polish.
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Saawaan
Thai BBBB 39/19 Suanphlu Rd., 02-679-3775, Open daily 6-9:30pm
Saawaan belongs to that new breed of fine-dining restaurant redefining what Thai food should be in this day and age. Chef-owner Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn serves seasonal nine-course menus, highlighting different culinary techniques from dish to dish: stir-fried Samut Songkhram mud crab, fermented black pork, charcoal-grilled Nakhon Pathom quail. Teetotalers will find a local tea pairing, though the wine list and extensive pairing option is also superb.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary drink valued THB 360 when spending 2,450++ or more /sales slip (limit 1 glass /person /table /sales slip) 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Mar ‘21
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Paste
Thai BBBBB 3/F, Gaysorn Village, 999 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-656-1003. Open daily noon-2pm, 6:30-11pm
Centuries-old Thai recipes are dusted off, freshened up and served with the attention to detail they deserve by chefs Bongkoch “Bee” Satongun and husband Jason Bailey. The careful and colorful presentation has always been a hallmark here, and even as the couple has expanded Paste to Laos in recent years, the quality and execution at their Gaysorn outlet remains as faultless as ever.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary drink valued up to THB 600 when spending via Citi credit card (only for 12:00 14:00) (limit 1 drink /card /table /sales slip) 02 Jan ‘20 - 02 Jul ‘20
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Jua
Japanese BBB-BBBB 672/49 Charoenkrung Soi 28, 02-103-6598. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-midnight, Sun 6-10pm
Effortlessly cool, chef Chet Adkins’ modern izakaya hits the sweet spot with its succulent grilled skewers, served from a sleek terrazzo counter backed by striking photo canvases. Sake- and umeshu-laced concoctions fuel the fun-loving crowd, further propelling the boisterous atmosphere.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary dessert valued THB 250 when spending THB 1,000 or more (limit 1 dish / card /table /sales slip) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
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Umi
Japanese BBBBB 46/4 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-662-6661. Open Tue-Sun noon-2pm, 6-11pm
One of the few omakase specialists with a Thai chef at the helm builds its name on hard-to-source, quality ingredients coming straight from Japan. Chef Banphot Boonklom (Gaysorn branch) and right hand man Chokchai Meemana (Thonglor) make their nigiri sushi with two types of rice (seasoned with either white or red vinegar) at a classic sushi counter where 12 pieces is just never enough.
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A5 HIDA WAGYU BEEF THE FINEST QUALITY BEEF FROM JAPAN
Raised in the natural environment of Japan’s Gifu Prefecture, the quality and taste of Hida beef makes it one of the best types of beef. Hida beef is famous for its beautiful marbling pattern, juiciness, deep flavor and sweetness Enjoy a wide selection of A5 Hida wagyu beef dishes including houbayaki, teppanyaki, sukiyaki and kaminabe paper hot pot. Lunch 11:30 – 14:30 hrs. | Dinner 18:00 – 22.30 hrs.
For reservation: Call +66 (0) 2690 9233
| KisaraRestaurant.com
All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road, Bangkok,10330 Thailand | Phone +66 (0) 2690 9999 | ConradBangkok.com DINING GUIDE 2020
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DAG
Thai BBB Warehouse 30, Charoenkrung Soi 30, 087-363-2629. Open daily noon-9:30pm
Recently relocated to the floor above Sweet Pista in Warehouse 30, DAG is the hyperlocal restaurant the neighborhood always needed. Run by the folks behind Rarb and Escapade, DAG treats guests to a casual chef’s table fueled by local ingredients, with menus that change on the regular. For drinks, there’s a selection of natural and biodynamic wines and excellent cocktails that also feature local ingredients.
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100 Mahaseth
Thai, Isaan BBB 100 Mahaset Rd., 02-235-0023. Open Mon-Fri 5-11pm; Sat-Sun 11am-11pm
Chef Chalee Kader and business partner Chaichat “Randy” Noprapa’s warm and rustic “root-to-fruit, nose-to-tail” restaurant has turned entrails and offcuts into must-eat dishes for nearly three years. The kitchen team utilizes every part of the pig, cow, and even banana they’ve sourced from Thai suppliers, making you question your devotion to premium meats through full-flavored, Isaan-referencing dishes like cassia leaf curry with cow hide, fried intestine and fermented pork ribs. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Barette and Seabellte valued THB 390 or Northern Hot Dog valued THB 190 when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ‘21
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Sri Trat
Thai, Isaan BBB 90 Soi Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-088-0968. Open Wed-Mon noon-11pm
For an extended period of time, Sri Trat was the “it” place among the city’s in crowd. They came then for the rooms filled with ocean blue button-backed leather sofas and dark woods, and they’re still coming back for the kind of food they wished their family made—hearty chamuang leaf curry, creamy coconut dip with mud crab meat and roe, grilled pork neck curry with rambutan.
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Nahm
Thai BBBBB Como Metropolitan Bangkok, South Sathorn Rd., 02-625-3333. Open Mon-Fri noon–2pm, daily 6:30–10:15pm
Under the stewardship of Pim Techamuanvivit, Nahm still serves immaculately prepared seasonal Thai tasting menus. Only now the dishes rely less on assertive flavors to gain your attention, but rather technique and balance. The ngob talay, with blue swimmer crab, prawn and red grouper, is one of the best takes on grilled ho mok we’ve ever had, cooked to perfection by chefs who carry on Nahm’s detail-oriented legacy.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get complimentary extra dish and beverage valued THB 1,200 when spending THB 5,000 or more/sales slip (limit 1 set/card / table /sales slip) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
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These are the only restaurants to be listed in Top Tables all 10 years
Bo.lan tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk
Bo.lan
Eat Me
Enoteca Italiana
Gianni Ristorante
Indus
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Le Normandie
Mei Jiang
Nahm
New York Steakhouse
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Philippe
Rang Mahal
Soul Food Mahanakorn
Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin
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Official Selection
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Aesop’s
NAPOL “JOE” JANTRAGET Since taking a fine-dining turn, Charoenkrung’s 80/20 has gone from cult favorite to international one-to-watch, thanks largely to chef Napol “Joe” Jantraget’s fun, cutting-edge Thai tasting menus. These work as a rolling experiment, changing with the seasons and building on the restaurant’s crammed shelves of pickled and fermented ingredients, which tackle waste while acting as inspiration for dishes to come. But Joe isn’t just serving up dishes to high-rollers. With the launch of Krok, he and partner Saki Hoshino have returned to their roots, preparing affordable—and incredible— nam prik-dedicated dishes that are accessible to everyone. That’s something we can all get behind.
Akira Back
Aesop’s
Akira Back
120 Sala Daeng Soi 1/1, 062-567-7751. Open Sun-Thu 6-11pm; Fri-Sat 6pmmidnight
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5928. Open Mon-Sat 6-11pm; Sun noon2:30pm, 6-11pm
Putting Greek food on Bangkok’s map with its in-your-face brand of communal dining, this buzzing taverna is made for big, boisterous gatherings. Mezze, dips and billowing pita pave the way for feasts of eight-hour-cooked lamb shoulder and rich moussaka that will transport you to the Greek islands. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only (Sun - Thu) 01 Nov ‘19 - 31 Oct ‘20
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The Bangkok outpost of KoreanAmerican celeb chef Akira Back is all about sharing. Doing so means you won’t miss out on trying top dishes, from the umami-rich and crispy-chewy wagyu bulgogi tacos to the inventive maki sushi, like the baked Alaskan king crab roll with crispy shallots and inyour-face dynamite sauce.
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Official Selection
The Allium Bangkok The Athenee Hotel, 61 Wireless Rd., 02-650-8800. Open Tue-Sun noon-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
Dutch national Roxanne Lange—one of the Marriott International’s youngest chefs de cuisine—brings her experience at Savelberg Bangkok to the Athenee Hotel in European haute cuisine with a contemporary edge. Wonderfully piquant Chiang Mai tomato salad is followed by creamy Thai mud crab atop crunchy cucumber spaghetti in a line-up that’s consistently compelling.
Appia 20/4 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-261-2056. Open Mon-Sat 6-10:30pm; Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
In 2019, Italian restaurant Appia switched things up with changes to the venue and food. As welcoming as ever, the setting retained its charming trattoria style with linen tablecloths, warm lighting and specials scrawled onto the chalkboard. Meanwhile, new cuts like the crispy pig’s head and pork cheek cannelloni remind us why this long-standing restaurant became a city favorite in the first place.
Arno’s Butcher & Eatery 2090/2 Naradhiwat Rajanagarinda Soi 20, 02-678-8340. Open daily 11:30am-10:30pm
Butcher-turned-businessman Arnaud Carre hit on a successful recipe when he opened his first restaurant on Narathiwas Road: great steaks at reasonable prices. Dry-aged, flame-grilled, French-cut. Arno’s perfectly cooked steaks made this brickclad bistro one of the hardest seats to get in town. Since Carre expanded his meaty empire across Bangkok, it’s easier to get a seat, but you should still book ahead.
BEST YOUNG CHEF DEEPANKER “DK” KHOSLA If you’ve been following DK since he opened Haoma in 2017, you will have witnessed him growing up before your eyes. Still in his early 30s, DK first used that most egalitarian of tools—YouTube—to figure out how to create an aquaponics system that challenges our reliance on the supply chain. Now, he’s gone from student to educator, sharing his secret sauce to sustainability with other chefs all while transforming his cooking to reflect his own heritage. The sky is the limit.
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Official Selection
Baan 139/5 Wireless Rd., 02-655-8995. Open Wed-Mon 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
The moment Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn (of one-Michelin-starred Le Du) officially became a celebrity chef might coincide with the opening of this restaurant. With Baan, chef Ton abandoned the contemporary techniques he mastered in New York and returned to his roots, producing great everyday Thai food at pocket-friendly prices, vaulting him into the collective culinary conscious. Co-run by his brother Chaisiri, Baan is still riding high on that winning formula.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Moo Dad Deaw valued THB 250 when spending THB 1,500 or more /sales slip 01 Apr ‘20 – 30 Sep ‘20
Baanual 372 Samsen Soi 2, 081-889-7403. Open Wed-Sun noon2pm, 5-8pm
Secrecy and exclusivity is usually the domain of cocktail bars, but Baanual has proven that restaurants can play at that game, too. Two tables sit among decorative flower arrangements and rattan birdcages in a ramshackle wooden house that appears to have seen better days. The setting feels like a family affair, and comforting dishes like steamed crab eggs and stir-fried pork neck with shrimp paste back that up.
BEST SERVICE LE NORMANDIE From the maitre’d who regales you the minutiae of every course in a hushed whisper to the line of immaculate staff who line up to bid you farewell, the charmingly old school approach to service at the Mandarin Oriental’s home of French fine dining gets us every time. No wonder, then, that this is the fourth consecutive year that it’s bagged the Top Tables Best Service Award.
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Official Selection
Baan Ice 115 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-381-6441. Open daily 11am-10pm
Southern Thai food is having a moment in Bangkok. We should thank Baan Ice for that. Before Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri went upscale with his two-Michelin-starred Sorn, he was drawing in local crowds with fiery family recipes from Nakhon Sri Thammarat at this Thonglor institution. From the blistering gaeng tai pla (curry of fermented fish entrails) to the fragrant sator (bitter beans), every dish here commands your attention.
Baltic Blunos 129 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-117-1255. Open Tue-Sun 6-10pm
In 2019, British celeb chef Martin Blunos brought something new and exotic to Bangkok: the city’s first Baltic fine-dining restaurant. Reputed Latvian chef Aleksandrs Nasikailov joins him in evoking their icy ancestral homeland in playful multi-course menus that pay equal homage to Thailand—think avocado, crab and yuzu miang kham encased in an ice pearl; or moonflowers stuffed with fermented almond paste and served with pickled banana blossoms in a tom kha broth.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount on food only 01 Jun ‘19 - 31 May ‘20
Billy’s Smokehouse Mahatun Plaza, 888/23-24 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-651-4398. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-11pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members
Fire and smoke meet premium meats at this Mahatun Plaza mainstay. Founded by chef Billy Bautista (La Monita, Osito), this smokehouse serves up Aussie wagyu marbled beef brisket that has been hickory-smoked for 22 hours (or more), full racks of ribs, smoked sausage, burgers, unsweetened cornbread and even Mexican-style cod filets.
Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 2,500 or more /sales slip 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
BEST EXPERIENCE BALTIC BLUNOS Though the food is firmly fine dining, the atmosphere here is fun, friendly and approachable. Even comical, at times. The two delightfully polar opposite chefs—Martin Blunos bold, chatty and eccentric, and Aleks Nasikailov quiet and measured—alternate introducing dishes. Blunos himself guides you through a fantastical Latvian-inspired menu, transporting you to far-off forests with theatrical presentation and eccentric stories in an almost other-worldly dining experience. And, yes: he does this for every table.
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Official Selection
Il Bolognese 139/3 Sathorn Soi 7, 02-286-8805. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
This Sathorn trattoria is the family-style Italian joint every district wishes it had. Terra cotta tile floors and dark wood furniture, waiters in white sleeves and waistcoats, and of course that wood-fired red brick oven, which cranks out pizzas with perfectly charred crusts and bubbling cheese. There’s something to satisfy everyone here, be it the spaghetti carbonara, the caprese burrata or that beautiful tiramisu.
La Bottega Di Luca 2/F, Terrace 49, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-204-1731. Open Tue-Sun 11am-3pm, 5-11pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members
La Bottega di Luca has almost always exceeded expectations, from the authenticity of the food to the upscale romance of the spacious wooden balcony and portrait-plastered glass-encased dining room. Head chef Andrea Ortu is right in his wheelhouse here, using I.G.P.- and D.O.P.-labeled produce to create deeply satisfying dishes like carpaccio all’ Albese and Luca’s signature black truffle risotto.
Get a complimentary welcome drink and chef’s dessert valued THB 800 when spending via Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi ROP Preferred and Select, Citi Mercedes (limit 1 set /card /table /sales slip) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
Burapa 26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-012-1423. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-1am
The sister venue to Sukhumvit Soi 33’s excellent Sri Trat adds a touch of class to Soi 11, turning an old shophouse into a posh replica of an Eastern and Oriental Express carriage. Dishes like the heaping pile of stir-fried cabbage with fish sauce draw on eastern Thai recipes, but the influence bleeds into Isaan, too, with standouts like seabass larb with cardamom shoots and dill.
BEST DESSERT ICI Pastry chef Arisara “Paper” Chongphanitkul made her name in the kitchens of Ian Kittichai’s Issaya Siamese Club and the fine-dining sensation Saawaan. From a Snow White-referencing rosy red apple filled with yuzu mousse on a cookie bed to three little pigs peeking out from strawberry mousse-filled choux pastry, her latest fairytale-inspired menu is pure childhood fantasy.
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Official Selection
Le Cabanon 44 Narathiwat Soi 15, 092-568-0444. Open Mon-Thu 6-11pm; Fri-Sat noon-3pm, 6-11pm; Sun noon-3pm, 6-10pm
Bangkok’s Gallic crowds flock to this old house on a leafy Narathiwat soi, where French native Martine Pailloux cranks out high-end Mediterranean cuisine. Grab a seat on the patio, order a glass of French wine and tuck into a menu packed with premium imported French and Spanish seafood, from king salmon tartare to decadent lobster soup.
Carne 32/2 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 066-069-2288. Open daily 5:30-10:30pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only
This Latin-leaning restaurant dares to be different and it’s not all about meat, despite what the name suggests. The food draws heavily on South American influence, while the cooking features fire in all forms. Mexican-American chef Mateo Roberson lets his Latino identity shine across the menu, from the fresh salsas to the homemade corn tortillas. The bone marrow taco is a must.
01 Feb ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
La Casa Nostra 22 Sathorn Soi 1 Yaek 2 (Goethe), 02-287-2402. Open daily 11:30am-midnight
Come the cooler months, diners flock to the cozy outdoor terrace for the pick of the bottles from the wine cellar and chef Nino Scognamillo’s rustic-yet-refined Italian cuisine. Juicy grilled meats are joined on the menu by “nonna-style” gnocchi and premium produce like Mediterranean octopus. In short, come for the always satisfying Italian cuisine, stay for the awesome wines.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Sicilian Cannoli valued THB 290 when spending via Citi credit card limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip 15 Sep’ 19 - 31 Aug ‘20
BEST VALUE R-HAAN Less than B3,000 for over a dozen dishes at a restaurant the Michelin guide has bestowed with two stars? That’s pretty good value. R-Haan always keeps its menus fresh, according to what’s in season, and that makes it worthy of repeat visits— especially at this price.
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EXPENSE IT!
Official Selection
BETTER PUT THIS ONE ON THE COMPANY CARD
Charcoal Tandoor Grill & Mixology
Gaggan Anand B12,000 for 25 courses at “G’s Spot”
Chef Man
Charcoal Tandoor Grill & Mixology 5/F, Fraser Suites, 38/8 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-038-5112. Open daily noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight
Mono Sei B12,000 for 24-course omakase dinner
Kebabs and cocktails? That might sound like an odd pairing, but this sleek and sultry restaurant settles any doubts with wonderfully flavorful tandoori-cooked meats, biryanis made to share and drinks that stand out, like the rum-, chili-, honey-, mango- and lime-based New Delhi Duty Free. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages when spending 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 May ‘20
Chef Man 3/F, Eastin Grand Sathorn, 33/1 Sathorn Rd., 02-212-3789. Open daily 11am-2:30pm, 6-10pm
Le Normandie B7,200 for the eight-course dinner
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Chef Man singlehandedly rekindled the dim sum craze in Bangkok, and even now tables at this Hong Kong-style Cantonese restaurant can be hard to come by at dinnertime. Turnip cakes and custard buns, steamed abalone and crispy pork belly, obnoxiously cute holiday-themed bites like pumpkin-shaped steamed buns—they’ve got it all at the Eastin Grand’s semi-formal landmark.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN CHAROENKRUNG & THE RIVERSIDE Winner
Chim by Siam Wisdom
Elements
Chim by Siam Wisdom 66 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-260-7811. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-11pm
Former “Iron Chef” Thaninthorn “Noom” Chantrawan stands among the small but elite ranks of actual Thai chefs who are creating authentic Thai dishes at a high level. Set in a traditional Thai home with an envy-inducing backyard, Chim puts subtle spins on classic Thai dishes—snakehead fish in tom yum, pad Thai with crispy pork rind—charting a new course for what Thai food can be.
Le Normandie “This is classic fine dining. We are blessed to have such a place in Bangkok.” Top Tables Panelist
Nominees
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only 01 Oct ‘19 - 30 Sep ‘20
Clara
80/20
69 Soi Prasat Suk, 095-879-6257. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-midnight
Chef Christian Martena and his wife Clara Del Corso-Martena (Opus, Sensi) returned to Bangkok in 2019 and got right back to business making exquisite Italian dishes with the kind of pinpoint-precise service that always set them apart. Now, they’re doing it in the beautifully refurbished Yenakart Villas—a fitting setting for the duo’s romance-fueled fine dining. If Clara had opened earlier, it would have certainly competed for the top 10.
100 Mahaseth
Elements 57 Wittayu Rd., 02-687-9000. Open Tue-Sat 6-10pm
This French-meets-Japanese fine dining venue has ridden the Michelin wave to hot-ticket status. Under the stewardship of Hans Zahner, the restaurant has kept up the momentum, highlighting seasonal Japanese ingredients (Hokkaido scallops, nameko mushrooms, winter daikon) through French technique. The result is as precise as you would expect from two of the world’s most exacting cuisines.
Jua
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount for Citi ULTIMA or get 10% discount for Citi Prestige
Samrub for Thai
02 Jan ‘19 - 20 Dec ‘19
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Official Selection
Enoteca Italiana 39 Sukhumvit Soi 27, 02-258-4386. Open daily 6-10:30pm
Some of Bangkok’s best Italian chefs have come up through ranks at Enoteca since it opened in 2004. Now Stefano Borra, a Piedmont native with Michelin cred, is running the show and pairing rustic dishes bursting with traditional flavors, like salt-cooked onion stuffed with braised quail, with an envy-inducing wine rack. Exclusively for Citi ULTIMA card members Get 10 % discount on food only 31 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
Il Fumo 1098 Rama IV Rd., 02-286-8833. Open daily 5:30pm-midnight
While you’ll still find some of Europe’s most-prized beef cuts dry-aging in the showpiece chiller, Il Fumo has moved from upmarket steakhouse to purveyor of fine-dining tasting menus. Chef-partner Nelson Amorim serves up new wave Portuguese cuisine—wild halibut with chouriço, baby squid and smoked broth; a salad of bacalhau (salt cod)—with a top selection of wines and cocktails from the Vesper team.
Funky Lam The Taste Thonglor, 235 Thonglor Soi 11, 02-050-0469. Open Sun-Thu 6-11pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-midnight
Laotian recipes and a funk soundtrack come together at Sanya Souvanna Phouma (Maggie Choo’s, Sing Sing, Cactus) and business partner Saya Na Champassak’s Thonglor night-starter. The two grandsons of former Lao Prime Ministers have crafted a menu packed with excellent drinking food, like banana flower fritters, spicy rainbow trout larb and full-flavored tam mak hoong, the funky Lao answer to somtam.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount (excluding wine) 10 Jun ‘19 - 31 Dec ‘19
BEST TASTING MENU UPSTAIRS Few chefs are as painstaking about the journey from flavor to flavor as Dan Bark. Acid hits you when you least expect it. Hickory smoke transforms a slow-cooked onion consommé. Ciders, gose and pale ales play a high-wire act with dishes that look like pieces of contemporary art on the plate. The attention to detail is obvious, and it makes dining at Upstairs such a multisensory experience.
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GUIDES Reach affluent urbanites through trusted publications with a six-month to one-year shelf-life.
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A FULL-FLAVORED CANTONESE FEAST Perched atop the 2nd floor of the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, overlooking the bustling Asok intersection, Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant offers elegant Chinese delicacies in a refined and modern setting. First established in Singapore, the classy Cantonese restaurant recently branched out to Sukhumvit. While walking inside the venue, stop for a moment to snap some pics of the artwork depicting Shanghai and Beijing, stunning phoenix chandeliers, or the Chinese-style print work adorning the walls.
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ADVERTORIAL
Steam bellows out of the large open kitchen as armies of chefs work a giant steamer to produce perfectly formed, thin-skinned Cantonese-style dumplings or prepare Peking duck to wow guests. Headed Chef Lam Kok Weng (he opened the over-30-year-old Wah Lok Singapore and also won Iron Chef Thailand for Chinese food in 2012), he built the restaurant’s reputation for succulent Peking duck and wonderfully soft egg pancakes imported from Singapore. Be sure to order his signature sautéed Australian beef tenderloin diced with garlic in a black pepper sauce. There are also dishes exclusive to Thailand, such as crispy prawns with wasabi salad dressing or deep-fried homemade bean curd and spinach in homemade X.O. chili sauce. During lunchtime, guests can sit back and savor delicious dim sum (only available during lunch). Some of
the highlights are the steamed crab meat and seafood dumplings, steamed shrimp and pork dumplings with fish roe, steamed prawn dumplings, deep-fried taro with seafood, and baked seafood and chicken pie. All of these are prepared fresh by dim sum chef Wai Long Waa. Reserve your table and bring the family for a Cantonese feast in 2020! Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 491 Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok T: 02-090-7888 E: fbreservations@carltonhotel.co.th Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm; 6-10:30pm BTS Asok
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Official Selection
Gaggan Anand 68 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-652-1700. Open Mon-Sat 5:30-8:30pm, 9:30pm-12:30am
Following the closure of his eponymous Asia’s 50 Best-topper last year, infamous chef Gaggan Anand made a breakneck comeback. His seasonal, Indian-leaning tasting menus take diners on a raucous 25-course rollercoaster through taste, texture and temperature. Though the restaurant is too new for us to rank fairly this year, we can pretty much guarantee it’ll be right back in the top tier where it belongs by 2021.
Gianni Ristorante G/F, Athenee Tower, 63 Wireless Rd., 02- 168-8080. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 6-10pm
After 24 years of educating Bangkok diners in lobster bisque, baked Mediterranean sea bass and creamy seafood risotto, Gianni Favro has just moved his eponymous restaurant to the Athenee Tower. Apart from the polished new digs, don’t expect much else new here—that’s a good thing. Gianni’s, as you probably know, is a classic for a reason.
Ginza Sushi Ichi LG/F, Erawan Bangkok, 02-250-0014. Open Tue-Sat noon-2:30pm, 6pm-11pm, Sun noon-2:30pm, 6pm-10pm
Seafood flown in fresh daily from Toyosu Market testifies to the rigid authenticity of this Michelin-starred omakase restaurant, whose Tokyo mother branch is equally decorated. From the counter, hushed diners watch on as immaculate Japanese chefs elegantly sling their blades, transforming lustrous raw fish into delicate bites of sashimi and nigiri licked with just the right amount of freshly grated wasabi.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount when spending THB 10,000 or more /sales slip for lunch or when spending THG 17,000 or more/sales slip for dinner 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
WHAT’S TRENDING? TOP CHEFS GO CASUAL Something’s afoot on the Thai fine dining scene. In two very welcome developments, 80/20 chefs Napol “Joe” Jantraget and Saki Hoshino launched their nam prik-dedicated standalone, Krok, where lunch comes in only slightly above standard street food prices. Within the same month, Le Du’s chef Ton and his sommelier brother joined forces for Mayrai, an affordable pad Thai and wine bar. More of this, please.
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The Finest Fare brought to you by Citi credit cards
1881 by Water Library Groove@Central World, Rama 1 Rd., 095-072-7777. Open 11:45 am-midnight. BTS Chid Lom
This restaurant-slash-bar is all about comfort food, creative desserts, and a cocktail list that ticks all the boxes. We recommend the 2.5 kilo “Monster Burger”, a gigantic-sized burger that comes in two different styles— Thai-style chicken or Wagyu cheesy burgers. There’s a bunch more options, too, like pork krapow burgers, “mermaid” buns and, of course, the Angry Burger. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% on food only when spending 1,000 or more / sales slip 01 Jan ’20 – 31 Dec ’20
Getfresh G/F, Samyan Mitrtown, 083-979-1712. Open daily 10am-10pm (there are several other branches around Bangkok)
A new and improved version of one of Bangkok’s most reliable lunch spots, getfresh includes chefdesigned options while allowing you to customize your meal as well. They are largely focused on small, local producers and sustainable ingredients—they even have their own getfresh farm in Pranburi. Expect lively dishes like namtok chicken breast, Japanese rice bowls, and healthy cold-pressed drinks. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Mar ’21
Baan Khanitha 31 Sukhumvit Soi 53, 02-259-8530. Open daily 11am-11pm
Dining among the traditional wooden furnishings inside or the ambiance of fresh greenery outside, this place has a knack for making your feel at home—a formula that’s proven popular among both hip locals, wealthy families and tourists. There is even a decent business dining scene. The food is as authentically Thai as it gets, too. Exclusively for Citi credit card members “Get 10% discount on food only and get a complimentary welcome drink valued THB 190 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ’21
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ADVERTORIAL
Baan Ying 4/F, Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-1533. Open daily 9am9pm. BTS Siam
Boasting a bright, homey ambiance with well-crafted hardwood furniture in blond wood and shelves stocked with white crockery, regulars come to this restaurant to enjoy Thai fusion favorites like spaghetti tom yum, kao khai khon (creamy omelet on rice), and teen-friendly smoothies. The flavors, you’ll be happy to know, are bold and hold nothing back. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ’21
Crab and Claws 7/F, The Helix Quartier, Emquartier, Sukhumvit Rd., 096-1975769. Open daily 9am-9pm. BTS Phrom Phong
Here, it’s all about New England-style seafood. There are live lobsters imported daily from Maine in limited quantities and served in a range of styles: steamed with butter, grilled with garlic and butter, and a couple more extravagant options. Other highlight dishes include the lobster thermidor, crab roll, clam chowder and oyster Rockefeller.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 5% discount on buffet 01 Nov ’19 – 31 Dec ’20
Kagonoya 2/F Market Place Thonglor, Sukhumvit soi 55, 02-392-5189. Open 11am-10pm. BTS Thong Lo
With eight locations around Bangkok, this has become one of the city’s go-to spots for that authentic Japanese buffet experience. Choose from an array of tender marinated meats available as shabu sets, or dig into mounds of fresh salmon, mussels, sashimi, sushi, as well as ramen and katsu options from the buffet. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount when spending via Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi ROP Preferred and Select, and Citi Mercedes or get 10% discount for other card types 01 Feb ’20 - 31 Dec ’20
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Kalpapruek 4/F, Central Ladprao, 1693 Paholyothin Rd., 02-009-1185. Open daily 11am-9:30pm
This bistro gets the basics right: fuss-free, authentic flavored Thai comfort food in a comfy and relaxing setting. Menu highlights include kanom jeen (marinated rice noodles), somtam with grilled pork, tangy gang som yod ma praw (sour soup with prawns and young coconut shoots) and traditional favorites like khao chae.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food and beverages 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Mar ’21
Mahanakhon Bangkok SkyBar 76/F, King Power Mahanakhon Building, 114 Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Rd., 02-677-8722. Open daily 11am-3pm and 5pm-1am. BTS Chong Nonsi
Located on the building’s 76th floors—just one level below the SkyWalk observation deck—Mahanakhon SkyBar is the highest restaurant and bar in Thailand. The space looks like an urban jungle floating atop the city. For food, opt for the inventive Hokkaido uni panna cotta with ikura and yuzu ponzu, or the 48hour Australian short ribs with couscous. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only (Blackout Period applied) 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Dec ’20
See Fah 6/F, CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd, 02-255-6369. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS Chidlom
Operating for over 80 years, See Fah offers comforting Chinese-influenced Thai dishes that feel more like eating at your grandmother’s home than a restaurant—that’s a good thing. The menu spans popular appetizers like moo satay and goy see mee (crispy noodles and pork in gravy-like sauce) to heartier dishes like claypot-baked rice with Chinese black olives. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount when spending THB 800 or more / sales slip 01 Mar ’20 – 31 Jan ’21
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ADVERTORIAL
Vertigo 61/F, Banyan Tree Bangkok, Sathorn Rd., 02 679 1200. Open daily 6-10:30pm
61 levels above Sathorn Road, and boasting one of the city’s best skyline views, Banyan Tree’s Vertigo is as legendary as rooftop venues get. The food and drink selection keep a fine balance between familiar and fresh. Try the Vertigo Sunset, a mix of pineapple, cranberry and lime juices with a splash of Malibu. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Mercedes, Citi ROP Preferred and Select (only for a la carte dinner menu and normal dinner set menu, max 10 persons and blackout dates apply) 01 Mar ’20 – 30 Dec ’20
Kin Kao Kin Kao, G/F, Central Eastville, Praditmanoontham Rd., 02-553-6185. Open daily 10am-8:30pm
Tucked away in Central Eastville comes the newest opening from the people behind Naj, The Local and Crab and Claw. Kin Kao is a down-to-earth eatery with seriously good food. The menu of traditional Thai comfort dishes (mostly from the east and south) certainly doesn’t compromise on quality or flavor, either. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only and get a complimentary Millet Grass in Coconut Milk Cream and Pandan 49 THB when spending THB 800 or more /sales slip (limit 1 dish / card /table /sales slip) 01 Nov ’19 – 31 Dec ’20
Akira Back Akira Back, 37/F, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5999. Open daily 6-11pm; Sun noon-2:30pm
There’s a place for everyone at Akira Back—a main dining area, sushi bar, omakase bar, and private dining rooms—all with spectacular skyline views. Step up to the 37th floor to experience dishes blending Japanese and Korean cuisines with other influences. The beverage menu includes a curated wine list, craft beers, and sake. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount on a la carte menu (Dinner only and excluding set menu) (Blackout dates apply) 01 Apr ’20 – 30 Dec ’20
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BEST NEW RESTAURANT DESIGN
Official Selection
Ginza Tenharu
Indus
Ginza Tenharu 3/F, Gaysorn Centre, Gaysorn Village, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-070-0614. Open Tue-Sat noon-2:30pm, 6pm-11pm, Sun noon-2:30pm, 6pm-10pm
Bangkok’s most pedigreed tempura omakase comes by way of Tokyo. In a tiny and understated 12-seat space inside Gaysorn Village, two chefs man glass-encased frying stations, where they perform culinary magic on top-shelf ingredients like Hokkaido scallops, Kobe beef, creamy sea urchin and seasonal vegetables across 11- and 12-course menus. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10 % discount on food only when spending THB 7,000 or more /sales slip 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ‘21
Indigo 6 Soi Convent, 02-235-3268. Open daily 11:30am-midnight
MIA Similarities with Sketch, London’s influencer-baiting explosion of candy pinks and unabashed playful excess, seep through Mia’s three separate dining rooms. These range from the Bubblegum and Flowers Room (unofficial name) to the So Dark it Could be a Fetish Club Room, to the William Morris Meets Habitat Room. The downstairs bar is a more familiar experience, with mid-century influences making their presence felt in a very Millennial way—all brass, geometric wallpaper and dripping light bulbs.
Following the sad passing of founder Alain Leroy late last year, this Silom institution remains in the family. While the age-old menu of hefty cote de boeuf and pocket-friendly Cote du Rhone may be in line for an update, nothing will dull the satisfaction of long afternoons spent indulging in cheese and wine in the leafy garden.
Indus 71 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-4900. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
This restaurant has represented northern Indian dining in Bangkok for over a decade and has gathered a cult-following across the city. Set in a picturesque 1960s house surrounded by a lush garden, it’s easy to waste the day away feasting on the well-executed butter chicken and chicken tandoori. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 20% discount on food and beverage for lunch (11:30-14:30, Mon-Fri) (excluding set menus and please reserve your table in advance) 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Mar ‘21
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BEST RESTAURANTS IN NANA & ASOKE Winner J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain
J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain U Sathorn, 105/1 Soi Ngam Duphli, 02-119-4899. Open Wed 6-9:30pm; Thu-Mon noon-2:30pm, 6-9:30pm
Chef Amerigo Sesti has quietly turned this tucked away “eclectic fine-dining” restaurant, overseen by Jean-Michel Lorain of Burgundy’s three-Michelinstarred La Cote Saint Jacques, into a breeding ground for innovation. Local ingredients like organic Chiang Mai vinegar, seepweed leaf and Arabica coffee get a decidedly French spin. While the décor leans on the whimsical side, you can’t fault the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen.
El Mercado
Nominees
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount on food only (excluding business set lunch, Sunday brunch and special promotion ) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
Charcoal
Khao 15 Ekkamai Soi 10, 02-381-2575. Open daily noon-2pm, 6-10pm
After 28 years running the show at the Mandarin Oriental’s Sala Rim Naam, chef Vichit Mukura now runs this airy, rice barn-like venture in the back sois of Ekamai. The renowned chef gives you an education in Thai recipes using fresh ingredients from Or Tor Kor Market to create full-flavored relishes and dips, sweet-sour salads, complex soups and curries. For the full experience, book in advance for the 10-course chef’s table.
Enoteca
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 1,000 or more/sales slip 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
Khua Kling + Pak Sod
Khua Kling + Pak Sod
21/32 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-259-5189. Open daily 11am - 10:30pm
This fiery southern restaurant has a fanbase of hardcore loyalists who comes for its line-up of crab curry with kanom jeen, braised pork belly in Chinese five spice, and stink beans with shrimp and namesake khua kling (a dry mince pork curry). Come in a big group and order to share. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary pork or chicken Khuakling valued THB 180 when spending THB 2,000 or more / sales slip (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip)
The Local
15 Feb ‘20 - 30 Sep ‘20
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Official Selection
TOP MALL TABLES MOST PEOPLE DON’T POP DOWN TO THE MALL FOR A FINE-DINING EXPERIENCE. HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD.
Lenzi Tuscan Kitchen 69/12 Ruam Rudi Soi 2, 095-251-5040. Open daily 11:45am-2pm, 6-10:45pm
Charismatic chef-proprietor Francesco Lenzi oversees this consistently excellent restaurant. While Tuscan cuisine has a reputation for being very brown—brown sauces, brown meats, brown pastas—the food here enjoys colorful, creative twists with the aid of the restaurant’s centerpiece wood-fired oven and ingredients that come from the chef’s own family farm in Tuscany. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Tiramisu THB 280 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 dish /card / table / sales slip) 01 Jan ‘20 - Dec ‘20
Mei Jiang The Peninsula Bangkok, 333 Charoen Nakhon Rd., 02-020-2888. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
Blue by Alain Ducasse The legendary French chef’s first Thailand opening sees a sprawling corner room on the second floor of IconSiam transformed into an azure dreamscape. Here, seasonal local ingredients are treated with French technique.
Prestige and precision pour out of the kitchen at Mei Jiang, where chef Ball Yau nails the classics and throws in just enough innovative twists to keep you on your toes. Tea-smoked chicken, Peking duck and steamed whole abalone set the stage for more extravagant cuts like caviar-topped lobster dumplings. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river only add to the experience. Exclusively for Citi ULTIMA and Citi Prestige Get 50% discount for 2 diners l Get 33% discount for 3 diners l Get 25% discount for 4 diners l Get 20% discount for 1 diner or 5 diners for Citi ULTIMA l Get 30% discount for 2 diners l Get 15% discount for 3 diners l Get 25% discount for 1 diner or more for Citi Prestige 01 Mar ‘20 – 30 Nov ‘20 Get 15% discount on 8 elements menu for Citi ULTIMA 01 Mar ‘20 – 30 Dec ‘20
Mensho Tokyo G/F, RSU Tower, Sukhumvit Soi 31, 091-887-9492. Open Tue-Fri 11am-3pm, 5-10pm; SatSun 11am-10pm
Tokyo, San Fran, Bangkok—this chain is a hit the world over for its straight-up addictive brand of ramen. Whether you’re a fiend for the ultra-meaty tori paitan with its milky chicken broth, chashu pork and juicy sous-vide duck, or have been converted by the umami explosion of the impossibly rich vegan tantanmen, it’s doubtless that this place has you returning time and again.
Ginza Sushi Ichi Tucked beneath the Erawan mall, this blond-wood sushi counter will transport you far away from the bright lights and escalators with its authentic omakase-style dining and chefs wielding elegant knives.
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Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Kinoko Mushroom Butter or Fried Wonton valued THB 90 when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip (Mon-Fri) Get 5% discount on A5 Wagyu Shoyu Ramen, A5 Wagyu Donburi and A5 Wagyu Weekend Set (Sat-Sun and public holiday 01 Apr ‘20 – 30 Sep ‘20
Paste
El Mercado
El Mercado
With windows looking out over Bangkok’s answer to Ginza, this authentic Thai restaurant in Ratchaprasong’s high-end Gaysorn Village feels like part of a five-star resort.
490 Soi Phai Singto, 099-078-3444. Open Tue-Sun 11am-midnight
Part bougie grocer, part brasserie, El Mercado is unlike anywhere else in Bangkok. Select from the ever-changing daily menus on the chalkboard, try some oysters while you shop for fancy imported olive oils and meats, or order a plate of imported cheese and cold cuts with a bottle of wine—the concept here is remarkably stripped down, and that’s what makes it so special. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get complimentary dessert with coffee /tea valued THB 220 when spending (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 01 Nov ‘19 - 30 Apr ‘20 Get 5% discount on food only when spending THB 2,000 or more /sales slip or get 7% discount on food only when spending THB 4,000 or more /sales slip 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Dec ‘20
Mia 30 Attha Kawi Soi 1, 02-258-6745. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-11:30pm
Celebrity meets whimsy at this influencer-baiting restaurant run by Top Russell—Top Tables’ Young Chef of the Year in 2018—and partner Michelle Goh. In a two-story house overhauled with mid-century modern design, Russell cranks out “modern European” dishes like salmon fillet with ikura salsa and potato velouté; while Goh prepares bold desserts like the now-famous tarte Tatin.
Shun by Yanagiya The first-ever spinoff of Japan’s two-Michelin-starred, invitation-only Yanagiya is found in the unlikeliest of locations: Thonglor’s Don Don Donki mall. You’ll forget all about that once you’re sitting at the dim-lit circular counter, with chefs charcoal grilling everything from carabineros (red shrimp) to Ibérico pork belly.
Sushi Misaki
Mihara Tofuten 159/3 Sathorn Soi 7, 083-655-4245. Open Wed-Mon 11:30am-1:30pm, 6-11pm
From the power-packed partnership of Gaggan Anand and Takeshi Fukushima (La Maison de la Nature Goh in Fukuoka, Japan) comes this, the world’s first omakase restaurant dedicated to tofu. That doesn’t mean you get only tofu for all 16 courses of the tasting menu. Sometimes the tofu is a role player; other times, it stars. All of it comes to you fresh from the Mihara Tofu facilities in Japan. Exclusively for Citi credit card members
If you‘re not paying attention, you’ll walk straight past this minimal 10-seat Japanese restaurant in Rain Hill community mall, where Shizuoka-born chef Masahiro Misaki (formerly of Nippon Tei) serves omakase-style Edo sushi.
Get 10% discount when spending THB 2,000 or more /sales slip 01 Apr ’20 – 31 Mar ‘21
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BEST RESTAURANTS IN PLOEN CHIT
Official Selection
Winner
New York Steakhouse
Sushi Zo
Nan Bei
Nominees
19/F, Bangkok, 1041/38 Phloen Chit Rd., 020-080-0080. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
Contemporary blue-and-gold Art Deco interiors by AvroKo set the scene for this lavish Chinese opening on the 19th floor of the five-star Rosewood Bangkok. Split between northern and southern cuisine, the menu yields everything from rich ge da tang and Peking duck—carved tableside by Beijingese chefs—to classic har gow.
The Allium
New York Steakhouse 2/F, JW Marriott, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-656-7700. Open Mon-Sat 6-11pm; Sun noon-5pm, 6-11pm
The name says it all. Onion soup, Sinatra soundtrack, Caesar salads and US prime beef served how you like it—even surf and turf, if you’re so inclined. New York Steakhouse is an old-school Manhattan dining room packaged and shipped to Bangkok, and it’s absolutely satisfying.
Elements
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount on food only 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
Nonna Nella by Lenzi Lenzi Tuscan Kitchen
1/F, CRC Tower, AU Seasons Place, 87/2 Wireless Rd., 02-038-2184. Open daily 11:30am-10pm
Chef Francesco Lenzi’s second venture veers into casual terrain. Here, amid a bustling deli atmosphere, Lenzi and co. whip up pasta recipes passed down by the chef’s grandmother. The Lenzi farm in Tuscany supplies cured meats and cheeses, while thin crust pizzas made with 72-hour-fermented dough hit the sweet spot, with just the right amount of charring. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary panna cotta with strawberry sauce valued THB 200 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 dish/card /table /sales slip)
Savelberg
01 Jan ‘20 - Dec ‘20
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BEST THAI CASUAL DINING
BAAN ICE
Odtomato
Ocken 1/F, Bhiraj Tower, 31 South Sathorn Rd., 082-091-6174. Open Mon-Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat-Sun 10:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-midnight
A buzzing atmosphere pervades this polished Sathorn spot, where attentive staff ferry cross-continental plates like hamachi with ponzu and mini wagyu cheeseburgers from the open kitchen’s army of chefs to packed tables. Considering it’s backed by the same team as Roast, it only made sense for them to venture into weekend brunch territory early last year, blessing us with hangover cures like the OcMuffin and smoked bloody Marys.
BANGKOK BOLD
Odtomato Park 24, 68/2 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 099-426-8255. Open daily 7am-3pm, 6pm-midnight
The “modern Australian” label—in the same vague boat as “progressive American” and “modern European”—gives license to chef Munin “Tawan” Thitichairat to experiment with globe-spanning ingredients. Burrata with fermented bell pepper? You bet. Snow fish with artichoke hearts and cauliflower puree? You’ve got that, too. Fresh ingredients yield big flavor here, from the dinner menu to the delightful desserts and cocktails.
KHUA KLING + PAK SOD
L’Oliva 4 Sukhumvit Soi 36, Yaek 2, 094-858-9868. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-11pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-11pm
Co-owned by a passionate Abruzzo native, this rustic standalone restaurant transports you to Italy with its line-up of Neapolitan pizza, antipasto, lasagna and tiramisu. Big groups can commandeer the stunning glasshouse, where gut-busting set sharing dinners fill the table, while couples can cozy up in the dining room with its brick archways and white tablecloths.
SUPANNIGA EATING ROOM
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Official Selection
Olta 101/11 Suanphlu Rd., 094-656-2159. Open Mon-Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat-Sun 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-midnight
At the turn of 2019, chef and restaurateur Jamie Wakeford departed Phuket’s Bampot Kitchen to unleash this vibrant restaurant on Suan Plu. Ocean-blue banquettes and a centerpiece bar set the scene for modern European bites made with local ingredients, like blue crab rarebit tart and Thai camembert with fig jam.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Scotch Egg valued THB 110 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 01 Oct ‘19 - 30 Sep ‘20
Penthouse Bar & Grill 34-36/F, Park Hyatt Bangkok, 88 Witthayu Rd., 02-011-7480. Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
The six-venue showpiece steakhouse atop the Park Hyatt is prime date-night material. The interiors scream class, with tons of walnut, marble and angular fixtures. The menu of red meat (Australian tomahawks, Japanese wagyu striploin, US prime ribeye) and seafood jumps straight to the premium stuff, while the cocktails hit the price-to-quality sweet spot.
Peppina 27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-119-7677. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, 5-11pm; Sat-Sun 11:30am-11pm
An atmosphere that straddles smart-casual with ease, great service and, most importantly, stringently authentic Naples-style pizza have seen this Italian mainstay multiply into 10 branches, including one in Cha-am and another on Koh Samui. From salami, rocket and chili oil-topped Pizza Diavola with a perfectly tangy, pillowy crust to an equally mouthwatering line up of cold cuts, burrata salads and grilled Italian sausage, this place hits the sweet spot every time.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount when spending THB 10,000 or more /sales slip for lunch or when spending THG 17,000 or more/sales slip for dinner 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
BEST BRUNCH OCKEN When brunching at Sathorn’s experimental fusion joint, be sure to come hungry and ready to share. Their latest line-up sees now infamous treats like the OcMuffin joined by the Fillet-O-Fish-inspired crispy fish burger, as well as a juicy grilled Cubano sandwich and lighter bites like the super-refreshing tomato salad with creamy burrata, crunchy toasted buckwheat, sour pops of smoked bottarga and zesty finger lime. Be sure to leave plenty of room for dessert—the rosemary panna cotta and sinful sticky toffee pudding are not to be missed.
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BEST RESTAURANTS IN PHROM PHONG Winner
Plu
Philippe Restaurant 20/15-17 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-259-4577. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm
At this French establishment so long-standing it predates the BTS, Corsican chef Philippe Peretti deals in the classics. Expect to be saying things like “creamy,” “buttery” and “Is that really the size of the second course?” as you work through a menu filled with generously sized stick-to-your-ribs dishes of duck liver marbré, roasted quail and lamb loin.
Gaggan Anand “Gaggan [Anand] is the restaurant experience that still haunts me (in a good way).” Top Tables Panelist
Nominees
Pizza Massilia 15/1 Soi Ruamrudee, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-651-5091. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
Italian chef Luca Appino takes an Italy-meets-France approach to pizzas, a vision that has yielded some of Bangkok’s best. Featuring top-quality ingredients and 28-hour leavened dough, the pizzas here come out hot and fast from a traditional wood-fired oven, including signatures like the fior di latte mozzarella and the A’ Regina DOP, which, as its name suggests, is packed with serious DOP produce.
Appia
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary welcome drink and chef’s dessert valued THB 700 when spending via Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi ROP Preferred and Citi Select, and Citi Mercedes (limit 1 set /card /table /sales slip) 01 Jan ‘20 - 31 Dec ‘20
Plu 3 Suanphlu Rd., 062-642-2222. Open daily 11:30am-10:30pm
Haoma
In a standalone house decked out in a tropical-colonial mix of Sino-Portuguese tiles and fern patterns, the owner of Water Library returns to his Myanmar and Thai roots. Classics like the explosively sweet-salty tea leaf salad, blue crab curry with wild betel leaves, and moo palo (48-hour braised pork belly and soft boiled egg with five-spice soup) are elevated by an impressive wine list and fusion dishes like the velevety pumpkin crème brulee. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 1,000 or more/sales slip
Sushi Masato
01 Nov ‘19 - 30 Sep ‘20
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Official Selection
Punjab Grill Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit, 23/2-3 Sukhumvit Soi 13, 02-645-4952. Mon-Sat 6-11:30pm; Sun noon-3pm, 6-11:30pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 20% discount on food only
The Bangkok branch of the global Punjab Grill empire puts a creative spin on North Indian cuisine. Think Mexican-style stuffed chilies and a spiced lamb leg shepherd’s pie. The best stuff, though, comes out of the clay ovens parked in the back of a room—spicerubbed lamb, chicken and seafood redolent of smoke, served in a room where chandeliers and hardwood paneling aspire to fine-dining status.
1 Apr ’20 – 31 Mar ‘21
R.Haan 131 Sukhumvit Soi 53, 02-059-0433. Open daily 6-11pm
Celebrity chef Chumphol Jangprai’s two-Michelin-starred baby celebrates Thai heritage in a beautifully renovated house that’s tailor-made for special occasions. The rotating “samrub” tasting menus showcase seasonal ingredients from local producers, from virgin fish sauce made in Amphawa to wagyu from Korat and hommali rice from Yasothon, highlighting their delicate flavor profiles with a deft touch.
Rang Mahal Rembrandt Hotel, 27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-119-7677. Open daily 5pm-midnight; Sun noon-3pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members
The Rembrandt hotel’s high-flying Indian specialist has been delivering the heart-warming flavors of the Punjab region since 1993. The over-the-top opulent atmosphere—marble floors, sparkling chandeliers, gold-plated cutlery—crank the grandeur to the highest setting. They make a pretty mean butter chicken, too.
Get 15% discount and get 25% discount on Sunday brunch 01 Mar ‘20 – 31 Dec ‘20
BEST DRINKS EAT ME The cocktails being conceived by mixologist Buntanes “Pop” Direkrittikul have become arguably as big of a draw as chef Tim Butler’s always excellent cuisine. Drinks that recall khanom jeen nam ya, gaeng om and even gaeng tai pla always keep you guessing—and going back for another sip.
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UNCORKED
Sakuragawa 1/F Jasmine City, 02-661-7284. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2pm, 6-10pm
THESE ARE THE BEST CORKAGE DEALS YOU’LL FIND AT FINE DINING RESTAURANTS IN BANGKOK.
Like many of Tokyo’s coolest sushi dens, Sakuragawa is located in an unlikely place: a light-wood enclave on the basement level of the Jasmine Tower. Here you’ll find truly authentic sushi-ya. The fish is fresh, the rice is high-quality and the chefs are skilled. Take a seat at the counter to watch them work their magic on medium-fatty tuna, scallop, cuttlefish and more.
Sala Rim Naam 48 Charoenkrung Soi 40, 02-659-9000 ext 7330. Open Thu-Tue 11:30am-2:30pm, 7-11pm
Eat Me B500, but only B50 on Tuesdays
Located across the river from the hotel, ornate decoration, classical Thai performance and a Chao Phraya pavilion setting give the Mandarin Oriental’s landmark Thai restaurant a decidedly swish feel. Royal Thai dishes of pan-fried garoupa with a spicy herb sauce and crispy perch wrapped in betel leaves are both appropriate for the venue and consistently satisfying. Exclusively for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Mercedes, Citi ROP Preferred and Select Authentic Thai Lunch Buffet • THB 950 net/person or THB 650 net /person for children, on Monday – Friday
Thai set dinner with a spectacular cultural performance • THB 2,450 net/person or THB 1,950 net /person for children, on Monday – Sunday Book a table 4 persons and pay for 3 persons 01 Mar ‘20 – 30 Nov ‘20
Ginza Sushi Ichi B500
• THB 1,150 net/person or THB 800 net /person for children, on Saturday – Sunday
Samrub for Thai 100 Mahaseth, 100 Mahaset Rd. Open Wed-Thu 7-11pm, Fri 7pm-midnight, Sat-Sun 5:30pm-midnight
After a short hiatus, former Nahm head chef Prin Polsuk returned full force in late 2019 with this 10-seat private dining counter, tucked in the back of Charoenkrung’s 100 Mahaseth. Seasonally-changing canapes and sharing-style mains invoke Rama VI-era Thai recipes with wisps of Chinese influence, from herbaceous salads to fiery curries.
Le Du B1,000, but no charge if you buy and open another bottle at the restaurant
Saneh Jaan Glasshouse at Sindhorn, 130-132 Wireless Rd., 02-650-9880. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 6-10pm
Traditionalists flock to this suave Michelin-starred restaurant for the zenith of Thai cuisine. Ancient recipes like Rama V-era kaeng run juan and scallops in boiled coconut milk with lotus stems, baby pork belly and soybean paste are revived with fine-dining finesse in a dim-lit modern interpretation of a Thai teakwood pavilion.
Water Library Chamchuri Free of charge
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BEST RESTAURANTS IN SIAM & CHITLOM
Official Selection
Winner
Gaa
Nominees Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant
Savelberg Oriental Residence Bangkok, 110 Witthayu Rd. Open Fri-Sat, Tue-Wed noon-2pm, 6-10pm; Thu 6-10pm
Ginza Sushi Ichi
Dealing in precise French fine dining, Henk Savelberg’s polished Bangkok outpost respects oysters, lobster, pigeon and sweetbreads with restrained flavor combinations. The high-ceilinged space gains plenty of natural light, ensuring an unstuffy feel.
La Scala The Sukhothai Bangkok, 1313 Sathorn Rd., 02-344-8888. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-11:30pm
Paste
A 2018 makeover thrust the Sukhothai hotel’s flagship Italian restaurant back into the collective consciousness of Bangkok diners. Although long-time chef David Tamburini has recently departed, the restaurant hasn’t missed a beat under the direction of New Jersey native Anthony Burd. Here, it’s all about comforting flavors and D.O.P. ingredients, with a few new world twists.
Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant
Smokin’ Pug
37/F Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, 188 Silom Rd., 096-860-7990. Open daily 5pm-1am
This 37th floor wine bar and bistro serves up French comfort food, a selection of dry-aged Aussie steaks and a wine list the length of a New Yorker feature. The best seats are found on the open-air terrace, which boasts enviable views of Silom and the riverside. Make sure to book ahead to score one of those spots. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi ROP preferred and Select, and Citi mercedes
Taan
01 Nov ‘19 - 30 Sep ‘20
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LUNCH BARGAINS SAVE A FORTUNE WITH THESE MIDDAY DINING DEALS
Sensi
Sensi 1040 Narathiwas Rajanagarinda Soi 17, 02-117-1618. Open Mon-Sat 5:30-11:30pm
Bo.lan Five-course menu, B1,200 (B3,280 at dinner)
Sathorn is to Italian fine-dining what Thonglor is to excellent Japanese, and Sensi, one of the neighborhood’s most innovative Italian restaurants, stands at the front of the pack. Chef Stefano Merlo’s interactive tasting menus always push the boundaries—take the burratta-stuffed tomato caprese salad, for example—but never make you question his direction. This is good food in a beautiful setting, with just enough experimentation to keep you guessing. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary dessert valued THB 340 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ‘21
J’aime Five-course set menu, B1,150 (B2,800 at dinner)
Shang Palace Shangri-La Hotel, 89 Charoenkrung Soi 40, 02-236-9952. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm
This long-standing Chinese restaurant, run by chef Chow Wai Man, who brings over 40 years of experience to the table, offers all the classic Cantonese dishes with a few unique touches. Think baked lobster with the chef’s special stock and a brilliant silverfish omelet. The all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet on weekdays (B788) is great value, too. Exclusively for Citi Prestige card members
La Scala Antipasti buffet, main and dessert, B950 (mains start at B1,200 at dinner)
Get 15% discount 01 Oct ’19 – 30 Sep ‘20
Shun by Yanagiya 3/F, Donki Mall, 107 Ekkamai Soi 5, 097-854-2222. Open Tue-Sun 6-11:30pm
Linked to Yanagiya, the invitation-only, two-Michelin-starred wild game specialist in Gifu, this omakase sumiyaki (charcoal-grilled chef’s selection) restaurant might not boast much wild boar on the menu, but it does treat guests to the same impeccable charcoal-cooking. Pair your 15-course menu of oak-smoked quail eggs, unadon and Japanese-style chicken wings with an impressive selection of sakes and wines, as well as seasonal cocktails.
Yamazato Lunch kaiseki, B1,700 (B4,700 at dinner)
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BEST THAI FINE DINING
Official Selection
Soul Food Mahanakorn
Smokin’ Pug 105 Langsuan Rd., 083-029-7598. Open Tue-Sat 5-11pm
Offering a true taste of the American South, this Langsuan smokehouse serves smoky, fall-off-the-bone baby back pork ribs, half chickens, grass-fed lamb and more out of a massive courtyard smoker. The portions are huge, the drinks are served heavy, the atmosphere is raucous. What more could you want?
Sonny’s 1191/2 Charoenkrung Soi 47, 095-816-1004, Open Wed-Fri 6-9pm; Sat-Sun noon-3pm, 6-9pm
SORN Who says spice has no place in fine dining? Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri never compromises when it comes to serving dishes that recall his southern Thai roots. Pungent, fiery, in-your-face flavors combine with next-level service in a total package fueled by responsible, sustainable principles. Thanks to Ice and others like him, regional Thai cooking is finally enjoying its moment in the sun.
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The 14 seats inside this very well hidden Charoenkrung shophouse are almost always full. The ever-changing chalkboard menu featuring honest, home-style French dishes—beef bourguignon, chicken liver parfait, panna cotta—justify the devotion. Don’t expect any highfalutin presentation, or even much marketing for that matter. Sonny’s doesn’t try to be anything other than Sonny’s, and we should all be thankful for that.
Soul Food Mahanakorn 56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-714-7708. Open Mon-Fri 5:30-11pm; Sat-Sun 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:30-11pm
This Thonglor mainstay is the kind of place you can bring your friends from international school, your overseas visitors, even grandma and grandpa, and everyone will find something they love. The brainchild of food writer Jarrett Wrisley and wife Candice Lin, Soul Food keeps things fresh with weekly specials, a laid-back vibe and a signature cocktail list brimming with creativity.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN SILOM Winner
Eat Me
Supanniga (Thonglor)
Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin
“Eat Me is always my go-to place. The staff welcomes you like family, the cocktails keep flowing and Tim Butler’s dedication to quality ingredients shine in his fail-proof menu.” Top Tables Panelist
Nominees
Siam Kempinski Hotel, 991/9 Rama 1 Rd., 02-162-9000. Open daily noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight
The OG molecular Thai restaurant, linked to Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred Kiin Kiin, still packs them in regularly. The flavors stick to Thai tradition, but the presentation is anything but traditional. Frozen red curry, crab laksa served as a mini Cornetto—Sra Bua will always score points for creativity. The double-height dining room is also something to behold.
Indigo
Stage 359/2-3 Sukhumvit Soi 63, 02-002-5253. Open Wed-Mon 6pm-midnight
Former Robuchon chef Jay Sangsingkaew is behind this elegant French and global-inspired restaurant, where seasonal tasting menus run from decadent lobster with beurre blanc to playful hot dogs topped with fresh black truffle and pickled winter melon.
Le Du
Supanniga Eating Room 160/11 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-714-7508. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
Three-generation-old family recipes get the star treatment at the original branch of rapidly expanding Supanniga Eating Room. Here, unabashedly traditional flavors—pork curry with chamuang leaves, slow-cooked beef stews, that oh-so-addictive cabbage stir-fried with fish sauce—meet a cool, contemporary setting. Now with four branches and a dinner cruise under its belt, Supanniga is a chain we can get behind.
Scarlett
Exclusively for Citi credit card members (Tha Tien branch only) Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 500 or more /sales slip 01 Aug ‘19 - 31 Jul ‘20
Somtum Der
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Official Selection
Sushi Zo 63 Witthayu Rd., 064-809-1849. Open Tue-Sun 6-8pm, 8:30-10pm
The Bangkok branch of the LA-born Sushi Zo family carries on a rich tradition of omakase excellence. Hokkaido native Toshi Onishi demands your attention across 18-course menus that feature the day’s freshest catches and rice made using deep well water from Japan. Now that’s attention to detail.
Sushi Misaki Rain Hill, 841/11 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-258-1783. Open Mon-Sat 5:30-11pm
Minimal and easily missed if you aren’t paying attention, Sushi Misaki bears all the hallmarks of a great Japanese restaurant: no sign in English outside, no menu, no sign that it wants your business at all. Shizuoka-born Masahiro Misaki makes good on his omakase restaurant’s promise with absolutely flawless Edo-style sushi (meaning the fish has been through a process of aging, curing or fermenting).
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary drink Valued THB 300 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 drink /card /table /sales slip) 01 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ‘21
BEST EVERYDAY DINING MENSHO TOKYO There’s no two ways about it: we are hooked on Tomaharu Shono’s Tokyo-to-San Francisco ramen chain. In a sleek, monochromatic space, the humble soul food is elevated way beyond the tonkotsu and shio standards with milky-rich tori paitan and slurp-worthy vegan renditions.
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Table 38 8 Sukhumvit Soi 38, 083-399-9888. Open Tue-Sun 5pm-midnight
Chef Andy Yang, whose Thai restaurant Rhong-Tiam won a Michelin star in New York back in 2009, is behind this very exclusive, very swanky chef’s table on Sukhumvit Soi 38. Your meal finds chef Andy in full storyteller mode, drawing on knowledge new and old to reinvent staples like green curry loaded with buttery wagyu, and duck red curry splattered on the plate like a scene from “Dexter.”
Taan 25/F, Siam@Siam Design Hotel, 865 Rama 1 Rd., 065-328-7374. Open daily 6-11pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members - Get 10% discount for Seasonal tasting menu and TAAN’s tasting menu - Get a complimentary mocktail valued THB 330++ when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 glass /person /table /sales slip)
Taan runs with Bangkok’s new pack of locally focused, innovative-yet-devoutly-Thai restaurants usually found in Charoenkrung back alleys or converted warehouses. There’s only one catch: this one sits inside a perfectly air-conditioned glass box 25 floors above Siam. Here, the kitchen team uses ingredients sourced fresh from local farmers to craft ever-changing— and, starting at B1,500 for eight courses, ridiculously good value—tasting menus.
1 Mar ’20 – 28 Feb ‘21
Teppen 14 Sukhumvit Soi 61, 063-205-1889. Open Mon-Fri 6pm-midnight, Sat 5pm-midnight, Sun 5-11pm
Ekamai’s standalone, wood-floored Teppen is that rare breed of izakaya that caters to more than just Japanese expats. Here, chefs hold court over an open kitchen, serving up robatayaki (charcoal barbecue cooking) and house specialties like katsuo warayaki (fresh bonito seared over a traditional straw fire) to a dedicated fan base. Loosen that necktie, order some ice-cold Asahi and settle in—this is casual, social dining.
SOMM OF THE YEAR FREDRIK WOHLRABE The Swedish head sommelier at Gaa, better known just as Fred, has taken on the challenging task of pairing wines with chef Garima Arora’s vibrant dishes. He’s nailed it. Nothing is what you would expect. Your chaat starter pairs with a home-fermented lychee drink (think tepache, but made with lychee). For your seafood feast, you might get the sublime, extremely sought-after Francois Raveneau Petit Chablis. With dessert, coffee kombucha. It’s all unexpected and a bit wild, an irony you’ll surely note after you’ve experienced Fred’s cool and quiet demeanor first-hand.
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BEST RESTAURANTS IN SATHORN & YENAKAT
Official Selection
Winner
Uno Mas
Suhring
The Local
Nominees
32-32/1 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-664-0664. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
This traditional wooden house filled with antiques is one of the best spots to bring overseas visitors for a taste of authentic Thai cooking. The phonebook-thick menu covers hard-to-find Thai court recipes like the Rama V-era gaeng lun juan (tender beef with Thai herbs and shrimp paste) and regional specialties like gaeng tai pla (southern-style fish curry). Clara Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on food only 01 Nov ‘19 - 31 Dec ‘20
Tonkin Annam 69 Maharaj Rd., 093-469-2969. Open Wed-Mon 11am-9:30pm
J’aime
The real-deal Vietnamese food served at this Tha Tien shophouse goes far beyond your standard spring rolls and bowls of pho. Highlights include the bun bo Hue, a noodle soup made according to a family recipe that’s richer and heavier than pho, and the banh cuon, silky rice crepes stuffed with ground pork and plenty of chives. It’s small and busy, so remember to book ahead.
Uno Mas 54/F Centara Grand, 999/99 Rama 1 Rd., 02-100-6255. Open daily 4pm-1am
Nahm
The Centara Grand at Central World’s 54th-floor indoor-outdoor restaurant deals in bold Spanish flavors backed by impressive views of the skyline. Go for the spicy gambas (tiger prawns with paprika and cayenne served on a sizzling plate), wagyu croquettes and Galician octopus, stay for a nightcap of gin Xoriguer or any of the 36 wines by the glass. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 15% discount on food only for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Mercedes, Citi Royal Orchid Plus Preferred and Select (including Dining Deck and Champagne brunch)
Saawaan
01 Jan - 30 Jun’20
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WATER AWARDS THE RESTAURANTS BLAZING THE TRAIL FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER.
Haoma Recycled water is at the heart of this pioneering urban farm and restaurant. Their 100,000-liter rainwater reserves are put to good use in everything from their fish farm to the aquaponics irrigation system. They even pass it through a three-way charcoal filter and then mineralize it for the restaurant’s still and sparkling drinking water.
Water Library Chamchuri 2/F, Chamchuri Square, 315 Rama IV Rd., 095-085-7777. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10pm
Long a pioneer on the Bangkok dining scene, Water Library uses local, seasonal ingredients to prepare menus influenced by modern European cuisines. That leaves it plenty of room to operate, and the freshness of the ingredients yields some bold flavors. The glass-walled modernist space and centerpiece column of imported water bottles screams “special.” For drinks, expect some of the best of the Napa Valley and beyond. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount when spending THB 2,000 or more /sales slip 01 Jan ‘20 – 31 Dec ‘20
Ocken This Sathorn mainstay is ahead of the curve when it comes to drinking water. Using a high-tech machine built in-house, they filter their own still and sparkling water using a five-step process before serving it in glass jugs, with free-flow priced at B60.
White Lies Peninsula Plaza, 153 Ratchadamri Rd., 065-319-8877. Open Mon-Sat 6:30-9pm
Italian omakase is now a thing, thanks to chef Maurizio Menconi (formerly of La Scala). Inside an elaborate dining room strung up with a ceiling full of glass chandeliers, the renowned chef serves a cultural smorgasbord combining the “chef’s choice” menu concept with Italian fine dining, featuring the likes of caviar, Kobe beef, game and lobster. Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get a complimentary Edible Sea Shell valued THB 400 when spending via Citi credit card (limit 1 piece / card /table /sales slip)
Olta Suan Phlu’s modern British hotspot ditches plastic bottles in favor of free-flow glasses of water, priced at a pocket-friendly B30.
01 Nov ‘19 - 30 Nov ‘20
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Out of Bangkok
Phuket
Pru
Acqua
Suay
Trisara Resort, 60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Rd., Phuket, 076-310-100. Open Mon-Sat 6-10:30pm
324/15 Prabaramee Rd., Kalim Bay, Patong, Phuket, 07-661-8127. Open daily 5:30-11pm
177/99 Si Sunthon, Phuket, 093-3391890. Open daily 3-10pm
At Pru, executive chef Jim Ophorst grows his own produce, works with local farmers and even goes foraging himself to create incredible tasting menus for the only restaurant in Phuket that Michelin has deemed star-worthy. It’s all fresh, bold and honest.
Chef-owner Alessandro Frau’s intricate degustation menu will appease the taste buds of serious seafood lovers with its line-up of Sicilian red prawns, sous vide octopus salad and fried U.S.A. scallops. Overlooking the Andaman Sea, the trendy aesthetics pair well with the awardwinning wine being offered.
La Gaetana
Raya
354 Phuket Rd., Phuket, 076-250-523. Open Mon, Tue, Fri noon-2pm, 6-10pm; Thu, Sat, Sun 6-10pm
48 New Dibuk Rd., Talat Yai, Phuket, 07621-8155. Open daily 10am-10pm
This six-table Phuket Town institution is one of the best places to go for hearty Italian cooking on the entire island. The focus is on southern Italian classics, but the chalkboard menu offers a selection of different daily specials. Larger-than-life owner Gianni Ferrara ensures dinners are always entertaining.
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Housed in a century-old building, complete with its original mosaic-tiled floor and adorned with pictures of Thai monarchs, this traditional Phuket restaurant offers satisfying classics like moo hong (steamed pork with pepper and garlic), gaeng nue poo bai cha ploo (crab meat with curry and coconut milk) and pad sataw kapi goong (stir fried bitter beans with shrimps).
Phuket’s creative Thai-fusion restaurant promises table-side hotplate theatrics and internationally-infleced Thai cuisine, from foie gras miang kham to lemongrass lamb chops with papaya salsa. Inside, the natural, airy interiors complement the large garden area.
Bampot Kitchen & Bar 177/99 Si Sunthon, Phuket, 093-339-1890. Open daily 3-10pm
This urbane restaurant utilizes topshelf local and imported ingredients in well-presented, modern-European fare like herb and zucchini risotto, whole Andaman seabass and the Brit-indebted fisherman’s pie. Tropical cocktails and a diverse selection of wines make up the drinks menu.
Chiang Mai
Blackitch Artisan The Service 1921 Kitchen 27/1 Nimmanhemin Soi 7, Chiang Mai, 081-881-9144. Open daily 11am-2pm, 6-10pm
Chiang Mai chef Phanuphon “Black” Bulsuwan is one of the busiest movers and shakers in the north. From his six-year-old chef’s table, he serves up Asian-inspired food that forgoes rulebooks. Local ingredients play a big role in chef Black’s cooking, as do fermentation, umami flavors and artful presentation.
Oxygen Dining Room 369/1 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai, 053-931-999. Open daily 11:30am10:30pm
At this upscale spot in the Wat Ket neighborhood, chef Alexandre Dumard turns organic local produce, procured from the Royal Project, into colorful, fresh menus that link French and Thai techniques and flavor profiles. The vegan tasting menu is excellent, and the B990 lunch set is hard to beat.
123-123/1 Charoen Prathet Rd., Chiang Mai, 053-253-333. Open daily noon-12:30am
Located inside what was once the British Consulate, this handsome hideaway (hint: look for the bookshelf) serves full-flavored Szechuan, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. The cocktails, with inspiration ranging from the British secret service to Lanna flavors, are excellent.
David’s Kitchen 113 Bamrungrat Rd., Chiang Mai, 091-068-1744. Open Mon-Sat 6-10pm
Set in a converted house just outside the city center, this family-run, special occasion restaurant serves up awesome French classics. Think beef bourguignon reduced over 48 hours and lobster bisque with white port.
Cuisine de Garden Huen Muan Jai 99 Moo 11, Nongkwai, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, 053-441-599. Open Tue-Sun noon-2pm, 6-10pm
This cuisine-blurring restaurant, now with a second branch in Bangkok, deals in seasonal Thai flavors with French and Japanese twists, in a warm and welcoming space with an earthy palette. Expect daring modern techniques and bright, immaculate plating throughout the tasting menu.
24 Ratchapruk Rd., Chiang Mai, 053404-998. Open Thu-Tue 11am-9pm
This Lanna restaurant serves up uncompromisingly fiery flavors and hard-to-find seasonal dishes from a former “Iron Chef Thailand” competitor. Set in an airy teakwood house, the environment is charmingly makeshift and plating authentically unpretentious.
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Out of Bangkok
Upcountry
Samuay and Sons
Locus Native Food Lab
133 25 Phon Phisai Rd., Tambon Mak Khaeng, Udon Thani, 099-473-6464. Open Tue-Sun 11am-2:30pm, 5-9:30pm; Wed 11am-2:30pm
171/5 Santarnlhuang, Rimkok, Chiang Rai, 065-023-2627. Open Tue-Sun 6-11pm. Reservations only
Even from the far-flung culinary regions of Udon Thani, chef Weerawat Triyasenawat has made a big impression among in-the-know diners. Equipped with training from the one-Michelin-starred Commonwealth in San Francisco, he takes local wisdom to the next level by combining native Isaan ingredients with modern cooking techniques. His creations include cross-regional Thai fusion dishes like northern- and southern-style curry combinations, all with a backdrop of beautiful countryside.
Each night, chef Kongwuth Chaiwongkachon serves only a single group of diners, attentively telling the story behind each dish in the 10-course tasting menu. Spotlighting northern Thailand’s abundant produce, his dishes range from namprik orng (tomato and mince relish) simply plated among a variety of blanched veggies to a light and refreshing lemongrass chiffon cake with spicy cucumber sorbet and crispy nam pu (crab sauce)—a unique take on traditional sa ba tang cucumber spicy salad.
Hua Hin and Pattaya
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Andreas
Let’s Sea
Pippa
4/91 Soi Mooban Nongkae, Tambon Nongkae, Hua Hin, 099-910-1018. Open daily noon-2pm, 5-11pm
83/155 Hua Thanon Soi 23, Hua Hin, 032-536-888. Open daily 7am11:45pm
Mytt Beach Hotel, 10 Moo 9 North Pattaya Beach Rd., Chonburi, 038-259589. Open 4:30pm-midnight
After working with the late, great Gualtiero Marchesi, chef Andrea Bonifacio brought his comforting, upscale take on traditional Italian cuisine to Hua Hin. Highlights include the classic Sunday lasagna and a pizza served with mortadella and black truffle. Whatever you order, it’s delicious.
Before the resort of the same name opened around this restaurant, this was the go-to place for upscale Thai dishes served with unbeatable sea views. The same quality and attention to detail remains, bringing diners back time and again for classics like tang mo pla haeng (watermelon with aromatic crispy fish) and Hua Hin crab with yellow curry.
This stylish rooftop bar-slashrestaurant serves fusion food and progressive cocktails that would seem more at home in Bangkok. Overlooking the beach, the bar area offers the ideal place to snack on Spicy Tuna Rice Crispies—raw tuna, ebiko (sea urchin roe) and ikura (salmon roe) served with spicy mayo on crispy rice—with a glass of clarified milk punch in hand.
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Samui
Long Dtai
Jahn
Namu
Cape Fahn, 24/269 Moo 5, Bo-Phut, Koh Samui
Conrad Koh Samui, 49/8 Hillcrest Rd., Koh Samui, 077-915-888
W Koh Samui, 4/1 Moo 1 Tambol, Koh Samui, 077-915-999. Open daily 6-11pm
Celebrated Australian chef David Thompson—maybe best known for his ground-breaking work at Nahm in Bangkok—heads south for this venture at the stunning Cape Fahn Hotel. Served on a deck with views overlooking the ocean, fresh seafood and sustainable local ingredients dominate the menu of southern-style grilled mussels and curries.
Overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, Conrad Koh Samui’s modern Thai restaurant tells the story of Samui’s fishing heritage in tasting menus of scallops with grape seaweed, sour ginger soup with candy lobster and more adventurous options like crocodile with rosella rice dumplings and coconut soup.
Looking out over Samui’s lapping shores from a warm, bamboo-clad space inside the ultra-posh W hotel, Namu deals in inventive Japanese flavors, punctuated by influences from across Asia. Think lobster udon, wagyu-stuffed gyoza with teriyaki-truffle sauce and super fresh sashimi.
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Dining Essentials
Akira Back 37/F, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5999. Open daily 6-11pm; Sun noon-2:30pm. BTS Phrom Phong There’s a place for everyone at Akira Back—a main dining area, sushi bar, omakase bar, and private dining rooms— all with spectacular skyline views. Step up to the 37th floor to experience dishes blending Japanese and Korean cuisines with other influences. The beverage menu includes a curated wine list, craft beers, and sake.
Benihana Avani Atrium Bangkok Hotel, 1880 New Petchaburi Rd, 02-718-2000. Open Mon-Fri midday-2:30pm and 5-10:30pm; Sat-Sun midday-3pm Situated in Avani Atrium Bangkok Hotel, this Japanese steakhouse is well known for serving teppanyaki (the uniquely Japanese style griddled meats). Be prepare to get a multi sensory dining experience as the chefs slice, dice, and sizzle succulent meats and crunchy vegetables right at your table before serving.
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Amaya Food Gallery Amari Watergate Bangkok, 847 Petchburi Rd., 02-653-9000 Amaya doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, the goal here is a refined version of the hotel formula—a huge selection of Thai and international dishes served in a comfy and welcoming setting. These include live cooking stations, delicious salads, desserts and stir-fries. There’s also a Friday seafood night, Sunday Brunch, lunch and more.
Blue by Alain Ducasse 1/F, ICONLUXE, ICONSIAM, 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd., 02-005-9412. Open daily 11am-10pm Blue by Alain Ducasse brings the art and elegance of contemporary French finedining to the Chao Phraya river at ICONSIAM, offering guests the experience of the cuisine of iconic chef Alain Ducasse at his first restaurant in Thailand. In the kitchen, longtime Ducasse deputy Wilfrid Hocquet pays homage to French cuisine, indulging guests in a taste of France in Bangkok.
Baan Ice Baan Ice, Somerset Building, 115 Sukhumvit Soi 55, 02-381-6441. Open daily 11am-10:30pm Baan Ice is from the same guy behind Sorn. It also specializes in southern Thai cuisine with recipes drawn from the owner’s grandmother’s cookbook. The delightful main courses and wonderful desserts come amid a comfy bistro setting. If you can’t get a table at Sorn, Baan Ice is a very good, wallet-friendly alternative.
Brasserie 9 Brasserie 9, 21 North Sathorn Soi Piphat, 02-234-2588. Open daily 11:30am-midnight This welcoming French bistro on Sathorn Soi 6 sits inside a skillfully remodeled mansion from Siam’s Rama V era. The food on the inside focuses on French classics with a twist, from bouillabaisse to signature Entrecôte Café de Paris and foie gras. The wine cellar is packed with some of the best Old and New World vintages—ask the knowledgeable sommeliers for help.
Cafe Claire Oriental Residence Bangkok, 110 Wireless Rd., 02-125-9000 Open daily 6am–10:30pm Here, Chef Eric Weidmann draws on a palette of the finest ingredients, presenting them with artistic flair and attention to detail to create a range of French bistro delights. Tea lovers can enjoy the best-selling Ferris Wheel afternoon tea set featuring traditional French pastries and served with a selection of premium TWG teas.
HI-SO 29/F and 30/F, SO/ Bangkok, 2 North Sathorn, 02-624-0000. Open daily 5pm-midnight. MRT Lumphini HI-SO is one of the city’s longest running rooftop venues, thanks to its vast selection cocktails curated by expert mixologists, and panoramic views overlooking the city lights and lush greenery of Lumphini park. It’s spread across the 29th floor with a bar and a terrace, and 30th floor with al fresco terrace plus semi-private cabanas and a secret sky platform with a hidden entry.
Chon Thai The Siam The Siam Hotel, 3/2 Khao Rd., 02-206-6999. Open daily 11am10pm Set in a beautiful Thai teak house filled with an impressive array of antiques and collectables belonging to the owner, Chon offers Thai cuisine with delicately balanced flavors and texture. The menu focuses on classic dishes from different regions, including curries from Chiang Mai and papaya salads from Isaan.
Spectrum Lounge & Bar Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, 1 Sukhumvit Soi 13, 02-0981234, Open daily 5:30pm–1am Spread across two floors, Spectrum offers spectacular views of the Bangkok skyline (both inside and outside) along with elegant tunes from a live piano bar or energizing music by DJs on different floor. It’s also a great place to chomp on premium Angus tenderloin MB3+, New Zealand lamb chops from the charcoal grill, Boston lobster, and Hokkaido scallops. The craft cocktails are just as good—try the Mad Mango.
Err Err, 394/35 Maharaj Rd., 02-622-2292. Open Tue-Sun 11am-4pm, 5-9pm This riverside bistro in the shadow of Wat Po is the more wallet-friendly offering from star chefs Duangporn Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bo.lan. Here, the focus hinges on down-to-earth street-food favorites and one-plate specials. Don’t let that fool you, however, the quality of ingredients and chef skill on display is still at an elite level.
KiSara KiSara, 3/F, Conrad Bangkok, 87 Witthayu Rd., 02-690-9999. Open daily 11:30am–2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm Conrad Bankok’s KiSara restaurant has perfected the art of authentic Japanese cuisine. The name itself is two Japanese words that basically mean “sophisticated food beyond expectations”. It’s ingredient list boasts coveted A5 Hida wagyu beef from Japan’s Gifu prefecture. There’s also premium sushi, sashimi, sizzling teppanyaki and a diverse range of sake to round out the experience.
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Dining Essentials
Mahanakhon Bangkok SkyBar
Medici Kitchen & Bar
76/F King Power Mahanakhon, 114 Narathiwas Rd., 02 677 8722. Café Gourmand Open daily 2-4pm
Hotel Muse Bangkok, 55/555 Langsuan Rd., 02-630-4000. Open daily midday-2:30pm and 6-11pm
Afternoon tea with a million-dollar view, that’s the headline for Café Gourmand. Enjoy savory French pastries and an exquisite selection of the finest coffee and tea at the top of Bangkok’s skyline at Mahanakhon Bangkok SkyBar. The interior is a mix of French flair with elegant touches of Thainess and warm colors—all framed through floor-toceiling-windows.
Medici Kitchen & Bar is aptly defined as one of the best Italian restaurants in town. It offers a range of authentic Italian dishes, from traditional fare to rare indulgences. It boasts an intimate dining experience to enjoy classic and seasonal Italian flavors. The brand-new lounge area also serves cocktails and a vast selection of Italian wines to enjoy alongside rich operatic performances.
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant
R-HAAN
Rang Mahal
R-HAAN, 131 Sukhumvit Soi 53, 02-059-0433. Open daily 6-11pm
26/F Rembrandt Hotel & Suites, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7050, Open daily 5pm-midnight; Sunday brunch noon-3pm
4/F, Marriott Marquis, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5555. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm and 6–10pm. BTS Phrom Phong Pagoda boasts warm and welcoming ambiance with round tables, lowhanging chandeliers, and porcelain vases. The dedicated dim sum master and barbecue grill chefs offer authentic Cantonese cuisine with premium ingredients and spices imported directly from Hong Kong and China. There’s also private rooms available.
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R-HAAN is all about locally sourced ingredients from across the country and the Royal projects. Since opening just a few years ago, the establishment has already won two Michelin stars as of 2020. It’s set menus lean on the best bits from Royal Thai featuring a eight tantalizing core flavors that make up “The Symphony of Thai Tastes”.
Nagiya Wa Dining Nihonmachi, 115 Sukhumvit 26, 02-258-2016. Open Mon-Fri 5pmmidnight; Sat-Sun noon-midnight This longstanding izakaya is filled with an energetic atmosphere from the thunderous bellows from the cooks as patrons come and go and steam rising from the yakitori grill, but here you can grill them yourself to your liking. On the bar side, you’ll find large and more comfortable tables and chefs in joyous Japanese style costumes.
One the Bangkok’s most revered and acclaimed Indian restaurant’s for more than two decades, Rang Mahal features a vast menu of Indian specialties representing a broad spectrum of that country’s diverse cooking styles. The kitchen is helmed by long-time Head of Indian Cuisine, Chef RajanMisra. Popular dishes include butter chicken, raan e khyber, and lamb roganjosh.
Signature
Sushi CYU
Tenko Omakase
VIE Hotel Bangkok - MGallery, 117/39-40 Phaya Thai Rd., 02-3093939. Open daily 6:30-10:30pm
Sushi Cyu, 3/F, CentralWorld, 999/9 Rama 1 Rd., 065-731-4844-5, Open daily 11am-10pm
Thanks to a comfortable atmosphere with lush carpets, bold colors, and panoramic views of Bangkok, Signature (opening in May 2020) is clearly the VIE hotel’s premier venue. Here, twoMichelin-star Chef Theirry Drapeau adds a classic touch to modern dishes. The dining room includes live piano performances. A vast selection of wines is also available, with labels from around the world including some intriguing and affordable selections.
The sushi arm of this sushi-and-yakiniku specialist lets you try the omakase (chef’s selection) experience at a fraction of the usual cost. The omakase comes with roughly 11 types of fish, but your enjoyment largely hinges on what’s available on the day. As with most at this level of sushi prowess, the ingredients are imported from Japan.
G/F, Pullman Bangkok King Power, 8/2 Rangnam Rd., 02-680-9999. Open daily midday-2pm and 6-10pm
Tenshino
Kisso
Yamazato
2/F, Pullman Bangkok King Power, 8/2 Rangnam Rd., 02-680-9999. Open daily 6-11pm
Kisso, 8/F, Westin Grande Sukhumvit, 259 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-207-8000. Open daily 11am1:30pm; 5-9:30pm
24/F, The Okura Prestige Bangkok, 57 Wireless Rd., 02-687-9000. Open daily 6–10:30am; 11:30am – 2:30pm; 6–10:30pm.
Kisso’s dimly-lit dining room has a bit of a retro feel courtesy of cherry blossom patterns, rows of sake barrels and Japanese partition screens. The venue offers a journey through the authentic, classic and creative sides of Japanese cuisine, so expect some twists and signature dishes prepared by skillful chefs.
The Okura Prestige Bangkok’s signature Japanese restaurant located on the 24th floor has a well-deserved international reputation under the guidance of Master Chef Shigeru Hagiwara. The restaurant puts a beautiful focus on the details, from the intricate plates to the carefully selected decor.
With a hint of bohemian vibes courtesy of the emerald green walls, weave ceiling lamps, wooden tables, and a wall covered in framed paintings, The menu focuses on Japanese canapes, raw seafood, hearty mains, desserts, to a daily selection of fresh sushi and sashimi imported from Toyosu market in Tokyo. There is also a very respectable sake list.
You’ll completely forget this omakase specialist is inside a hotel, thanks to the lush garden out back surrounded by koi ponds. The menu reflects the changing seasons in Japan, with ingredients flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market several times per week. These include Takeshima A4 wagyu beef, Hokkaido scallops, red sea urchin. Omakase available for 2 rounds: 6-8pm; and 8pm onward.
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Want a digital copy of Mexicano 1/F Rembrandt Hotel & Suites, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7060. Open Sun-Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 6pm-1am; Sat-Sun brunch noon-3pm
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Descended from one of Bangkok’s very first authentic Mexican cuisine brands, Mexicano offers a menu of exciting house-original and traditional Mexican fare, like braised Angus beef salsa verde, sea-bass and shrimp ceviche and ribeye beef tacos. There’s also a full bar serving Sangria (fresh fruit wine) and Margaritas.
Wah Lok Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant, Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, 491 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-090-7888. Open daily 11:30am–2:30pm; 6–10:30pm, BTS Asok Situated on the second floor of Carlton Hotel Bangkok, Wah Lok offers Chinese delicacies in a refined setting. Don’t miss the perfectly formed Cantonesestyle dumplings or the succulent Peking duck with crispy skin, served with soft egg pancakes. Other options include dishes like the diced Australian beef tenderloin sautéed with garlic in black pepper sauce.
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DINING GUIDE 2020
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Index A
I
Acqua 88 Aesop’s 42 Akira Back 42 Allium, The 44 Andreas 90 Appia 44 Arno’s Butcher & Eatery 44
Il Bolognese 50 Il Fumo 58 Indigo 68 Indus 68
B Baan 46 Baan Ice 48 Baanual 46 Baltic Blunos 48 Bampot Kitchen & Bar 88 Billy’s Smokehouse 48 Blackitch Artisan Kitchen 89 Burapa 50
C Carne 52 Charcoal Tandoor Grill 54 & Mixology Chef Man 54 Chim by Siam Wisdom 56 Clara 56 Cuisine de Garden 89
D David’s Kitchen
89
E El Mercado 71 Elements 56 Enoteca Italiana 58
F Funky Lam
58
G Gaggan Anand Gianni Ristorante Ginza Sushi Ichi Ginza Tenharu
62 62 62 68
H Huen Muan Jai
89
J J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain 69 Jahn 91
K Khao 69 Khua Kling + Pak Sod 69
L L’Oliva 74 La Bottega Di Luca 50 La Casa Nostra 52 La Gaetana 88 La Scala 79 Le Cabanon 52 Lenzi Tuscan Kitchen 70 Let’s Sea 90 Locus Food Lab 90 Long Dtai 91
M Mei Jiang 70 Mensho Tokyo 70 Mia 71 Mihara Tofuten 71
Pizza Massilia 76 Plu 76 Pru 88 Punjab Grill 77
R R.Haan 77 Rang Mahal 77 Raya 88
S Sakuragawa 78 Sala Rim Naam 78 Samrub for Thai 78 Samuay and Sons 90 Saneh Jaan 78 Savelberg 79 Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant 79 Sensi 80 Shang Palace 80 Shun by Yanagiya 80 Smokin’ Pug 81 Sonny’s 81 Soul Food Mahanakorn 81 Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin 82 Stage 82 Suay 88 Supanniga Eating Room 82 Sushi Misaki 83 Sushi Zo 83
T
Namu 91 Nan Bei 72 New York Steakhouse 72 Nonna Nella by Lenzi 72
Taan 84 Table 38 84 Teppen 84 The Local 85 The Service 1921 89 Tonkin Annam 85
O
U
Ocken 74 Odtomato 74 Olta 75 Oxygen Dining Room 89
Uno Mas
N
P
85
W Water Library Chamchuri White Lies
86 86
Penthouse Bar + Grill 75 Peppina 75 Philippe Restaurant 76 Pippa 90 DINING GUIDE 2020
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