Bites: The Crispiest Pork Stir Fry @ Bangkok on William, Northbridge.

Bangkok on William was a place that I visited before actually going to Bangkok again last week.  But does Thai food 5,000 kilometres from its home have to taste all that bad?  Surprise surprise, it was actually not bad at all.  Bangkok on William was good with courteous service.  One that you would expect when visiting the land of smiles.  That night, my hungry family of 4 ordered a meal enough to feed 6.  

The serious highlights that day were the strong set of appetisers and amazing dish of vegetable.  Spongy, and tasty spiced up fish cake was perfection while the fresh Som Yam (Papaya salad) was impossible to dislike with its tangy sauce giving the mouth a refreshing feel.  Then comes the Tom Yam Goong that just amazes with its rich prawns flavours and generous amount of the crustacean.

Som Tam (Papaya Salad)

Thai Fish Cake

Larb (Meat Salad)

When the rice came,  we enjoyed a few other dishes like the Panang Curry, Basil Stir-Fry Chicken and the most amazing Crispy Pork Roast with Kai Lan.

The Basil Stir Fry here was so much better than the Basil stir-fry dishes my friends and I had in Thailand.  Bangkok on William ensured the meat stayed juicy while spiking the dish with generous amount of basil, fish sauce and chilli! Just the way I like it!

Then comes the most amazing crispy Pork Roast with Kai Lan.  As vegan as this sounds, this dish was more a carnivore with generous amounts of pork roast.  From that amazing stir fry sauce to the crunchy pork, this was spot on when served with steamed rice.

With my food palate now toned to the level of quality that Bangkok provides, I expected myself to feel slightly concerned at writing about a Thai restaurant in Perth  But this post was easy as.  That night the 6 dishes (not all pictured above) were a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly.  The favourites that night were the Som Tum, Tom Yam Goong, Basil Stir-Fry and Crispy Pork with Kai Lan.  The larb was slightly to salty while the Panang Curry was too bland!  Definitely needed balance there.  One thing I noticed was that just because I was in Bangkok, it does not guarantee that I was getting the best food as proven by the Basil Stir-Fry and Thai Fish Cake.  If you are looking for a well-priced Thai place with great food, I would most definitely recommend Bangkok on William.    That night the bill came to $130.

WenY

Bites: Casual Thai Dining @ Piyawat The Sweetery, Victoria Park.

Piyawat the Sweetery first came under my radar a couple months back while I drove through the Vic Park strip. With its bright orange sign board saying “the Sweetery” I initially thought off it as a dessert only place.  I soon found out that they did proper meals too and decided to come in for lunch on a Thursday.

Piyawat the Sweetery has the usual one dish suspects with a few interesting additions.  For lunch, I enjoyed Crispy Prawn Tom Yam.  A dish that truely has its own bragging rights with its super creamy tom yum sauce being the highlight.  It was simply awesome when paired with fluffy steamed rice.  What more can you ask for?  Crispy prawns, and fragrant tom yam! Flavour bomb, Definitely not your traditional Thai dish but super potent and delicious!

We also ordered the Pad Thai Gai which is Pad Thai with Chicken.   While it did not blow me of my socks or anything, it was definitely cooked well. Which means it is one of the more decent ones out there.  I will go back and try their stir fry flat noodles the next time! My sis said it was pretty good when she went there.

Alas, Piyawat the Sweetery is known for their famous desserts.  Whether its the Mango Sticky Rice or their Dessert Toasts, the ending is always sweet here.  

Piyawat’s Thai Milk Tea Toast was the highlight of my meal. Probably the best I have had since my first encounter with the amazing buttery bread in Taiwan. Fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside with generous amount of butter. Then you have the silky Thai milk tea which was silky smooth and fragrant without an overpowering sweetness courtesy of the tea. Lastly, the coconut ice cream was generous bits of coconuts making it absolutely brilliant! So much to like on that dessert plate.  Very well executed and not just your boring toast with “vanilla” ice cream though sometimes that might be all you are craving for.

If you are looking for something new, fun and different to eat in town the definitely to the Victoria Park to try Piyawat the Sweetery.  Also note that Piyawat the Sweetery closes at 6pm every day folks, so definitely do not plan a dinner here unless they change their timing which you can always check on Zomato!

WenY

Bites: Classic Thai Dining with a Modern Touch @ Itsara, Nedlands.

We finally got our ex-colleague Win out to eat with us.  This time, at Itsara in Nedlands.   The bloke who previously dined with me at Nahm Thai reunites for a whole new level of Thai dining!  His reluctance to join us  is understandable as he was not keen on being a victim of high spec Thai dining.  At Itsara, diners a choice of indoor sitting or outdoor sitting in the garden.  Typically, I would not like to sit outdoors in summer because it is stinking hot!  Fortunately, both choices of sitting are air-conditioned!  That evening we were given the option of the group dining menu or the ala carte. We opted for the set menu as it guarantees the complete Itsara experience for the table.  

After ordering some drinks to start, a host of appetisers made their appearance.  The betel leaf wrap and chive dumpling on a spoon.

While the dumpling was pretty decent, I enjoyed the Betel Leaf Wrap better.  Filled with prawns, roasted desiccated coconut, and Thai spices, it was super refreshing.  

The next dish I believe is called the Fleeing Fish.  Catchy as is, the flavours of this dish send me on another roller coaster ride.  On first bite you get the saltiness of the fried fish.  As you chew, the freshness of the mangoes and acidity of the lemon juice all of which mellowed nicely with the sweet sauce made for a perfect appetiser! 

Crispy fish of the day with fresh mango, lemon grass, kaffir lime, ginger, lime zest and cashew nuts tossed with complex homemade sweet and tangy chilli dressing.

Initial impressions of the duck were very positive with its tender flesh and perfectly cooked outer bit means the fat was perfectly rendered. This gave each bite a hint of smokiness.  Then you have the “full-flavoured” pineapple dressing which was nice, though I would question the full-flavoured portion of it ha ha.  Another dish that despite being a meat dish was extremely refreshing!

Pretty Duck; Char-grilled marinated duck with fresh green mango, shallot, cashew nut and homemade full-flavoured pineapple sweet chilli dressing.

Believe it or not, we were already feeling pretty full at this stage and the mains were not even out!  But as the kind host started bring rice out, we knew it was time for the mains. 

Green Curry w/ Chargrilled Chicken.

Itsara Island; Bite sized pieces of barramundi drizzled with caramelised tamarind lime and fish sauce on a bed of crispy Thai herbs

Besides the 2 mains above, we also had a delicious prawn dish and the Itsara Mignion Curry which tasted similar to a Massaman. Each dish were worthy of praise without doubt.  The Mignion Curry was a pairing between tender beef and a rich curry sauce while the chicken was perfectly grilled on the outside with a fragrant green curry paste.  Also, who does not like crispy fish with a tangy dipping sauce?!  The best part of it all?  Fresh plump prawns cooked spot on, and the sauce was super good.  Heaps of chilli and garlic! Not quite sure what sauce was used but I could not stop putting spoonfuls of it on my rice.  Very nicely done.

Feeling very full, we decided to skip dessert and go to Koko Black for dessert.  So how did my friends and I feel about Itsara that night?   While the upscale Thai food at Itsara was every bit enjoyable, I have to question the vibe I get.  My friend who’s part Thai thought the food’s sugar level was a notch too high while the rest thought Nahm Thai ranked better.  Did it?  I really wondered because I felt Itsara had better balance on the tasting plate by alternating the curries, and the palm sugary sauced dishes. Presentation the food at Nahm Thai made a much better statement though!   Unfortunately its closed now!  Putting comparisons aside, there is a good reason why eating Thai food always has a special place in my earth.  The service of is a notch above the rest.  Then comes its flavours, I do not think there is any cuisine in this world better at balancing its flavours than Thai food.  It is the pinnacle of multi-flavoured balancing!!

WenY

Copenhagen: Modern Thai Dining @ Khun Juk Oriental, Kobenhavn K - Copenhagen.

I took my first step out of the Netherlands this month.  And it’s to the home of the new Nordic movement, Copenhagen.  The old city is home to several restaurants which are considered to be among the worlds finest.  Over my 3 days of stay, I visited several interesting eateries.  From the morning staple of Danish Pastries to a trendy Thai eatery before finishing on a Michelin starred ecstasy, it was safe to say I ate a lot. :)!

First night out and I am venturing out to a surprise candidate for my late night fuel.  Khun Juk Oriental is a modern Thai eatery Located not too far away from the touristy Kobenhavn area in Copenhagen.  If you fly in late Friday like me, its almost a blessing that most would have already finished their dinner, so I walked in to Khun Juk Oriental without a reservation at 8.30pm with no difficulties!  The sitting area was beautifully oriental and the service was welcoming. A rare combination coming from so many thousands of miles away.  Knowing it was going to be a modern Thai dinner, I did not quite know what to expect.

A hot towel sat waiting and tap water was served.  After refreshing myself, a prawn toast topped with sticky sweet chilli sauce was served complementary of Khun Juk Oriental.   This followed by my order of Tom Kha (98 DKK), a creamy - coconut almost Tom-Yam like chicken soup.  

Slurps!  Nothing complements a hot bowl of soup than a drizzly cold weather.  The fragrance of the galangal root, citrusy lemon grass and coriander just made melodies in my mouth.  It has probably been too damn long since I have had a decent soup from Thailand and this was sensational.  Tender chicken pieces and a creamy consistency could have easily made this a meal with steamed rice!

My main for the night was a very simple Lamb Massaman curry (238 DKK), only if you believe my very definition of “very simple”!  

If you are the type who always feel like their is nothing but sauce in a curry, then this dish is for you my friend.  A perfectly cooked rack of 6 lamb chops.  They were tender and pink in the middle with a lovely charr on the outside.  Served with celeriac chips, a vegetable stir fry, rice and a generous serve of Massaman sauce, it was top notch.  The slightly nutty, spicy and aromatic Massaman sauce is the perfect start for anything.  Use it as a a celeriac chip dip, sauce for the meaty rack of lamb or simply to put on your steamed rice.  It could go with anything!   I really liked how the racks were served like that.  It adds a sense of dimension where you really get your meat worth from the meal! Not just little pieces of piece which hardly adds up to much.  They also serve a similar thing with duck breast, and sirloin steak if lamb is not your kind of meat.

Despite being full, I found it hard to walk away without dessert.  I have had some amazing Thai dessert since I was a kid and I knew that I wanted something.  The menu came and there was only 1 dessert.  No choice dilemma here for sure haha.

Thai coconut pancake with caramel sauce with coconut ice cream and fresh tropical fruits from Thailand (85 DKK).

Piping hot pancakes with a silky caramel sauce and coconut ice cream is like playing with ice and fire together.  Its hot, its cold, and it stupendously delicious.  In fact, the caramel was the tastiest palm sugar I have had in awhile.  Yummy!!  This brings me recent memories of my mom’s sago pudding with palm sugar.

Khun Juk Oriental served me a meal worthy of calling my best first meal on a trip.  The service was courteous, and the food - amazing.  But the delicious food at Khun Juk Oriental does not come as a surprise considering the effort, the taste and the presentation poured into something one normally takes for granted.  My meal at Khun Juk Oriental is not cheap though, so I will not kid myself and claim that this was a simple take away.  I called for the bill and paid 420 DKK that night.  But for what I got, I still thought it was decently priced.  In comparison, a stall side hot dog costs 30-60 DKK and a meal at McDonalds is approximately 100 DKK.  

WenY

eatBANGKOK: WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat in Bangkok

I am no expert in eating but I have no hesitation in claiming Bangkok as one of the top cities for eating. In this mini series called eatBANGKOK, I bring you what my homeboys Yobi, ZS and I ate through this bustling city.  Everyone boasts to present the cuisine in this Royal loving city best so the quality of food here can quite easily get diluted.  But are you really eating Bangkok’s best? This is WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat Bangkok’s  popular and hidden eateries.

Most Local

Wang Lang Market @Thonburi  & Soi 38 @Sukhumvit

Here, go street food eating like a local and even chance on some rare offerings like the infamous Daniel Thaiger burgers.  Do not be afraid as most dishes are often cooked on the spot.  So whether its a piping hot coconut pancake, or the grilled pork coated in sticky sweet sauce, there is always something to keep your hands busy.

Nai Mong Hoy Tod @ Chinatown

Oyster omelette? More like Oyster fritters.  These crunchy fritters are delicious and with a little dipping sauce, they make a treat.  Just do not forget the small plates of perfectly fried crab rice.  

Best Beef @ Sukhumvit

Typical cuts of meat are boring talk.  But include coal for a back to basic cooking experience and life changing sauces, aced it Best Beef did.  And its all for less than 250 Baht.

Jae Piak @ Chinatown

Curry crabs are so yesterday.  So Jae Piak does generous portions of prawn with glass noodles cooked in a secret sauce like no one does.  Fantastic seafood clay pot dishes means finger actions at its best!  With only 4-5 dishes on offer, its simplicity at its best.

Doy Kuay Teow Reua @ Thanon Ratchawithi

With 4 exits around the monument, you have a 1 in 4 chance to hit the right spot for Bangkok’s best boat noodles.  Following a local’s advice, I took the road less traveled.  Just 5 minutes further in walking distance, this 15 Baht Boat Noodle is the best Bangkok has to offer. 

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Pad Thai Thip Samai @ Chinatown

Large juicy prawns, and wok-fried noodles coated in Thip Samai's special shrimp oil is all the rave.  Fill your nostrils with the fragrance of the rich shrimp oil. The queue of locals speak for itself.  But with a kitchen at the back to fry and a kitchen at the front to finish, the turnover is quick.  

Som Tam Nua @ Siam Square

The basket of fried chicken holds the brand name better than their papaya salad does.  That batter coating the juicy wings are aromatic with hints of garlic, onion, and ginger is simply sensational.  The seasoning is perfect and damn it was good.

Petite Audrey @ Siam Square

Exploited in so many flavours, the Mille Crêpe or million layer crêpe is a common dessert nowadays.  But Thai Milk Tea is not one of them, and Petite Audrey makes a unique one where the silky sauce matches a potent tea flavour with balanced sweetness.

Mango Tango @ Siam Square

Bangkok is laden with quality mango sticky rice desserts but no one serves a more elaborate mango dessert than Mango Tango.  Housed in a small container off Siam Square Soi 3, this mango inspired dessert house in Siam Square specialises in everything mango.

Tom Yam and Fish Cakes at “J-Eung” @ Chatuchak Market

No questions asked, this was down right the most mesmerising form of liquid I have had during the trip. This tom yam deviates away from the original one which is usually clear.  It was rich and cloudy for most parts and no, this was not Tom Kha.

A photo from my boat ride to Wang Lang market:

eatBangkok: the Best Tom Yam and Fish Cakes @ Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak market or JJ Market is the world’s largest day market and there is absolutely no doubt about this.  With such a title, Chatuchak has a lot to offer when it comes to feeding the hungry locals and tourists.  If you are unable to visit the food-loaded Wang Lang market or Soi 38 in Sumkuvhit, Chatuchak is easily your best one-stop-has-it all.  The food here might not be the best but coming from so far away, most amateur buds will find it hard to tell the difference.  But if you are here to dig out some of the must eats, these are mine!

The trip to Chatuchak was all about reliving that first mates trip I had 5 years ago.  With the best Tom Yam I have ever tasted, I was excited to be here again.  9.30am is a little early to be at Chatuchak, but this gave me the opportunity  to have a serve of boat noodles for breakfast .  (FYI - the soup is made out of pork blood and bones).

The way I like it topped: thin slices of tender pork, springy pork balls, fresh vegetables and some crunchy pork crackling.

The thought of eating noodles served in a broth made from pig’s blood might sound daunting but with the broth formed from generous amounts of pork bones graced by countless herbs and spices, the broth might be one of the tastiest one yet!   Dark, rich, slightly sweet and over all, just  spectacular! Its a big claim to make and most will definitely give this one a miss, but if you are all about mind over matter this 40 Baht bowl of joy might just be your thing!

The morning heat in Thailand during my trip was a mild one, but I’d make any excuse to stop for a serve of coconut ice cream.  6 years ago, this shop was just one.  Now, there are plenty in the market.  For something like 25 Baht, you get a scoop of ice cream with a choice of three toppings. 

Being in Thailand, I decided to keep my choice of toppings minimalistic and local.  My choice of toppings were the roasted peanuts and sticky rice.  Out of the many possible combinations, I loved my mine for several reasons.  First one though is because I simply love my sticky rice haha.  But there is a reason for everything!!  Just think of the fragrant sticky rice cooked to perfection before being paired with the creamy coconut ice cream and finished with crunchy peanuts. *re-drool*

The ladies serving the delicious coconut ice cream.

After snooping around for interesting shirts which threw me into a limbo of what do I really want to buy, I decided that eating is more important!  (Oh and I ended up buying nothing!)  My lunch was at J-Eung a small little Thai place at the very back of the market near the noodle shop and the rest rooms. 

Seats in this restaurant is limited but when you see locals queue, you know it is worth the wait.  But for us early birds, we were seated like royal customers. The joke though is that the restaurant seated us at 11.30am but only took our orders at around 12pm.  Got time?  No worries, keep eating. So I had  the opportunity to drink some hand squeezed mandarin juice.  

This uncle squeezes every drop of juice by hand.  His effort is every bit appreciated in this amazing juice he makes.  It is fruity, sweet and mildly sour with a pulp content that is neither too over- or underwhelming. Spot on is the word.

But my interest in the juice was short lived as soon as the waitress brought us our first appetiser, Tod Mun Pla or fishcakes.

Across all the Thai fishcakes I have had in Bangkok, this simply comes tops.   The fishy cake was springy, and the spices in there was amazing.  The sauce it came with was no less impressive especially when you considering the amount of chilli, cucumber and peanuts they had in there.  It was not one of those boring adulterated sauces you get elsewhere.  How good was it?  We ended up ordering two plates!  Enough said.

The mortar and pestle kit opposite us was not just for show.  Moments after servings us the Thai fishcakes, the lady walked up to the kit and started making our Som Tam.

The result of the mortar and pestle action is a Som Tam in its simplest form.  Finely chopped young papaya, peanuts, snake beans, plump tomatoes, garlic portions and herbs pounded together before being dressed.  If Som Tam Nua did the salad great, this place does it even better.  The sauce was a vinegary syrup carrying a burst of lime juice and fish sauce. Dress a salad the way this place does, and I could have salad everyday!

We also ordered a fried chicken to share.  

It was yums but nothing to rave about.  I felt that it should be cooked on the spot or re-fried at the very least.    These were just chopped and serve crispy but its lukewarm temperature means it lacked the necessary kick one gets from eating freshly fried chicken!

They say keep the best for the last.  This restaurant takes such advice and served their Tom Yam Gung last.

No questions asked, this was down right the most mesmerising form of liquid I have had during the trip. This tom yam deviates away from the original one which is usually clear.  Here, it was rich and cloudy for most parts and no, this was not Tom Kha.  There was a certain depth in this Tom Yam that no other places seem to be able to achieve.  I would like to believe that the secret lies in the generosity of the chef.  In other places we get plenty of shrimps in the soup, but here there were 6-7 large prawns (legit size check!) in there and boy were they good!   With a bill that totalled below 400 Baht (RM45/$AUD17), we walked away with a big grin.  It could not have been any better!

The internet is a place which presents the food at Chatuchak from many angles.  Some good, some bad, some hype but many still stay traditional.  Coming here guide-less, just think like local and you will enjoy most of the food.  My eats at the market are no less common that what a typical Thai person would eat.  But if you come here and decide to feast on some random Spanish Paella, then I have no more words for you :P!

WenY

About eatBANGKOK

I have not travelled to many parts of the world, but Bangkok is easily one of the top cities for eating and in this mini series called eatBANGKOK, I bring you what my homeboys Yobi, ZS and I ate through this bustling city.  Everyone boasts to present the cuisine in this Royal loving city best so the quality of food here can quite easily get diluted.  But are you really eating Bangkok’s best? This is WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat Bangkok’s  popular and hidden eateries.  Keen on a Bangkok food itinerary?  Look no further.

eatBANGKOK: Thai-style Barbecue and Suki @ Best Beef

This post really sucks if you are a vegan.  Otherwise, if you have 250 Baht in your pocket and are looking for endless serves of tasty barbecue meat, look no further than Best Beef in Sukhumvit.  This very local Thai barbecue place only costs 220 Baht (RM24/$AUD9) per person for the buffet with the option of adding a boiling pot of Thai Steamboat also known as Suki for 30 Baht per person.  Surely enough, we had the Suki with no regrets!

If all you eat are scallops, lobster and wagyu, you might want to give Best Beef a miss.  The meat here is typical but not boring for sure.  They serve humble cuts of meat like pork belly, pork loin slices, beef tongue, brisket, bacon, and chicken fillet as well as a list of seafood including prawn, squid and fish.  As ordinary as it sounds, Best Beef has to be one of the tastiest barbecues I have had for two reasons.

Firstly, the basic cooking technique works.   The meat here cooks beautifully thanks to the use of a pan laid over flaming charcoal and NOT gas.  Every one knows it is different when you cook food this way.  The flavours are in many ways tastier when it gets the treatment of the red flames!  Also while the Koreans use nothing on their pan, the waitstaff at Best Beef send you little knobs of butter to ensure your meat does not stick to the pan.  I cannot think of a better way to barbecue the meat!

Secondly, the sauces that Best Beef had were phenomenal.  Each person gets three dipping sauces which blends a mix of spices, and herbs with varying levels of heat and flavour.  One was sweeter whilst the other was more sour.  Dipping the barbecued meat in these sauces before dishing it into my mouth with the complementary serves of garlic fried rice was an amazing experience.  

The concept here is so basic yet so exemplary.  It almost reminds me of my first visit to Tong 86 in Perth before its menu became more compelled to conform to what other restaurants were serving.  Good, cheap and honest.  More importantly, delicious! See the map for directions to Best Beef from the On Nut BTS, the nearest BTS to the place.

WenY

About eatBANGKOK

I have not travelled to many parts of the world, but Bangkok is easily one of the top cities for eating and in this mini series called eatBANGKOK, I bring you what my homeboys Yobi, ZS and I ate through this bustling city.  Everyone boasts to present the cuisine in this Royal loving city best so the quality of food here can quite easily get diluted.  But are you really eating Bangkok’s best? This is WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat Bangkok’s  popular and hidden eateries.  Keen on a Bangkok food itinerary?  Look no further.

eatBANGKOK: Delicious River Prawns and Crab Claypots @ Jae Piak, Chinatown

If you leave Nai Mong Hoy Tod with a craving for more seafood, Bangkok has a little place beyond the likes of T&K Seafood in Chinatown for you food lovers.  Andrew Weinns from eatingthaifood.com has again introduced something off the beaten track for the adventurous and those who are not inclined towards the common.  Located a good 15 minutes walk from the Wongwai Yian BTS was Jae Piak (or Aunty Piak) with a concept similar to Somsak Poi Od (recommended by Andrew Weinns) where a single chef cooks up delicious hot pots worth of seafood topped with glass noodles.   The menu here is limited but what it does, it does really well.  Note, Jae Piak only open at night when the leather shop is closed.

The map on how to get there:

Unlike Somsak Poi Od that has its fair of online publicity, Jae Piak is something people might considered a copycat and that made us a little worried especially when prices were not displayed which means lost tourists like us might get ripped off! Fortunately, this was not the case at all.

First dish to come to the table was a Prawn and Glass Noodle dish for 220 Baht (RM24/$AUD9).  

The picture shows 2 big prawns on the side but on the underside is another 2 large prawns.  While it was everything you expected, fresh, juicy and tasty, the highlight for me was the cooking.  Generous amount of little peppercorns, and the chef’s special sauce was somehow made into something phenomenal.  Even Yobi who is not a big fan of glass noodles started to think otherwise.  It was that good.  

Looking at how other tables hungrily devour their crab clay pots had us jump onto the bandwagon and ordered one for ourselves too.  This by memory was 240 Baht (RM26/$AUD 9).  

My presentation sucks but I did not want to destroy the whole plate so I only managed to bring half a shell out from the base :P!  Cooked in a  similar way like the prawns, this is an absolute steal for seafood lovers.  The large meaty claw saw little efforts be rewarded with juicy flesh.  Droolworthy~!  The body parts are a little small but still every bit worth the dollars we paid.  Go anywhere else and be prepared to pay more!

Despite not being able to go to Somsak Poi Od, I cannot help but feel glad to part of an accidental discovery.  A truly special one too.  Maybe if you had come to Jae Paik based on my recommendations you would might not be too chuffed but otherwise, damn it was good.  Many thanks to Yobi who  suggested us to try somewhere different.

WenY

About eatBANGKOK

I am no expert in eating but I have no hesitation in claiming Bangkok is easily one of the top cities for eating. In this mini series called eatBANGKOK, I bring you what my homeboys Yobi, ZS and I ate through this bustling city.  Everyone boasts to present the cuisine in this Royal loving city best so the quality of food here can quite easily get diluted.  But are you really eating Bangkok’s best? This is WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat Bangkok’s  popular and hidden eateries.  Keen on a Bangkok food itinerary?  Look no further.

eatBANGKOK: Sweet Cravings @ Petite Audrey, Mango Tango & Mr Jones, Siam Central

While I am no sweet tooth, it is finally time to kick back and relax after a fill of savoury courses.  3 places frequently mentioned are Petite Audrey, Mr Jones Orphanage & Mango Tango.  All of which are in Siam Central area.  Here we have the famous trio where the hygiene conscious can get their dose of quality desserts in a clean environment away from the Bangkok heat.

Petite Audrey, Siam Central

From the front, Petite Audrey is a French Cafe serving a mix of Thai and Westerns savoury delights but it also seconds as Bangkok’s most popular Mille Crepe or million layer Crepe place.  Their Thai Milk Tea Crepe is to die for and pictures do not lie.

The thickened Milk Tea sauce at Petite Audrey is simply sensational.  It was fragrant, not too sweet, mildly acidic from the potency of the tea and as a whole complemented the fluffy Crepe.  For 130 Baht (RM14.50/$AUD5.50), it is not exactly cheap but its French chic ambience paired with its crowd winning Thai Milk Tea Crepe makes Petite Audrey a great value hangout.

Mango Tango, Siam Square Soi 3

But if English patisserie is not you cue, head on to Mango Tango in Siam Square Soi 3.  If you have not noticed just yet, the streets of Bangkok is laden with quality mango sticky rice desserts but no one serves a more elaborate mango dessert than Mango Tango.  Housed in a small container off Siam Square Soi 3, this mango inspired dessert house in Siam Square specialises in everything mango.  Here I ordered the Mango Sampler for 165 Baht (RM18/$AUD 7).

Ripe mangoes, stick rice, refreshing mango sorbet and a light mango pudding.   What is there not to like?  I tend to go about having the sticky rice first as it is the heavier meal of the lot.  But considering the small amount of stick rice given, it was not all that bad!  The crispy Mung beans at the top gave the fragrant sticky rice some crunch to go with the mango.  Absolutely delicious.

Mr Jones Orphanage

Last but no least is Mr Jones Orphanage situated in the same building like Petite Audrey.  Its venue is build around a child’s playground concept.  The food is decent, and the price you pay is for the uniqueness of its setting rather than amazing dessert.

The cakes at Mr Jones Orphanage is what you would call acceptable but not truly satisfying.  The cakes were a tad dense and the icing was at best mediocre, but thankfully the tea was fine.

Verdict?  My biggest fancy was most definitely Petite Audrey and Mango Tango. Both venues served desserts that brings the flavours of Thailand to the dessert plate in a different way.  Petite Audrey more contemporary than Mango Tango, but both without a doubt are modern in presentation. So why have one when you can have two!?  The serving sizes as both are a lot smaller than what my pictures suggests. So have two!

WenY

About eatBANGKOK

I am no expert in eating but I have no hesitation in claiming Bangkok is easily one of the top cities for eating. In this mini series called eatBANGKOK, I bring you what my homeboys Yobi, ZS and I ate through this bustling city.  Everyone boasts to present the cuisine in this Royal loving city best so the quality of food here can quite easily get diluted.  But are you really eating Bangkok’s best? This is WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat Bangkok’s  popular and hidden eateries.  Keen on a Bangkok food itinerary?  Look no further.

eatBANGKOK: Crunchy Oyster Omelettes @ Nai Mong Hoy Tod, Chinatown Bangkok

Seafood is a big hit in Thailand and the oyster omelette (more like a pancake) or Hoy Tod is one of the most recognisable form where seafood is presented in a basic but extremely tasty form.  From the starchy Taiwanese version topped with pink sauce or Malaysia’s fluffy egg ones, I find that no one does it better than the Thais.  To find the “best” Hoy Tod in town, I headed to Chinatown. 

If you are a tourist, be warned because Chinatown is a place where massive rip offs happen (we got ripped off by the taxi drive and was dropped of along some remote street!). But determined as ever Yobi, ZS and I made our way to the popular Nai Mong Hoi Tod for some delicious Oyster omelette.  The location is hard as to find but this is a google view.  Its address is probably 540 Phlap Phla Chai Road.

Nai Mong Hoy Tod in Chinatown is small but their fame is unquestionable. Nai Mong Hoy Tod closes at around 3pm daily, and yet they were still busy when we got there around closing time.  After a quick scan of their menu, we picked their two most populars Hoy Tod as well as a plate of crab fried rice.  The owners' kids speak brilliant English with a badass accent so do not be worried of coming to this remote place for a yummy Oyster Omeletre. 

For 80 Baht, this had to be one of the tastiest fried rice I have ever eaten.  Its rice was so well fried that each rice grain was on its own.  Not those gluggy ones or broken ones you get from those half-assed restaurants!  Crab pieces were a mix of little shred and larger chunks of crab meat.  Yummy!

The first Hoy Tod to arrive was the crispy mussel omelette and I reckon it was worth every bit of the walk!

Looking back at this picture, I still recall my mouth drooling at the sight of this beautiful Hoy Tod.  Its was fried till golden brown with its crispy jagged edges teasing me visually.  The first bite was always the best and this was no different.  With a little chilli sauce, this was an oyster fritter on steroids!  So yummy! Salty deep fried goodness with that bursty seafood flavour from the chunks of mussel flesh.  Some people dislike floury omelettes and I am one such person.  I could tell that some flour was added to a certain degree but nowhere near what other places put so it was pretty damn good :D!

The second one we shared was the crispy omelette topped with sautéed oysters with diced scallions in a oyster sauce.  

OMAIGAWD this was so good.  Super plump  oysters graced the top of the crisp omelette.  The oysters used here made the ones used everywhere look like cockles!  Flavours were more balanced in this dish  with the crispy omelette going really well with the saucy oysters.  Great stuff!

Writing this post was probably an awkward experience for me because I never really liked oysters in the first place.  But in Bangkok where oysters are incorporated and made into something amazing, damn it was hard to resist.  Me eating Hoy Tod shows my confidence in the cooking in Thailand.  This place was a clear winner for me.  The crispy Mussel Omelette at Nai Mong Hoi Tod was really nice especially for first timers who are afraid of the taste shell fish might have.  If you happen to be a seafood purist though, my second dish the Hoy Tod with sautéed oysters would be your best as the oysters were still really plump and creamy!

WenY

About eatBANGKOK

I am no expert in eating but I have no hesitation in claiming Bangkok is easily one of the top cities for eating. In this mini series called eatBANGKOK, I bring you what my homeboys Yobi, ZS and I ate through this bustling city.  Everyone boasts to present the cuisine in this Royal loving city best so the quality of food here can quite easily get diluted.  But are you really eating Bangkok’s best? This is WHAT, WHERE and HOW to eat Bangkok’s  popular and hidden eateries.  Keen on a Bangkok food itinerary?  Look no further.