Taste of Bangkok: Three ways
Earlier this year, I was invited to attend ThaiFex in Bangkok. The show featured a variety of local and regional suppliers for various products such as coffee, bar ingredients, produce and ingredients supply, tech and hospitality requirements. The full three days were dedicated to exploring the show and meeting with suppliers. So it was only after, end of day, or after the three days that I was able to explore.
Bangkok has such a diverse gastronomical scene where you can enjoy food just about anywhere you decide to dine. On this trip to Bangkok, I was able to rediscover Bangkok since it was mostly a solo trip. I was able to experience eating street food, a restaurant on the Michelin Guide, Aunglo by Yangrak, and more. Here are my new finds in Bangkok.
For street food, we decided to try Cheaper & Better along 57, 89 Soi Silom 20, Suriya Wong Bang Rak, which was two blocks from our hotel, Pullman G Hotel Bangkok. We ordered their specialty grilled salted pampano, pad thai, pad see ew, pad kra pao, papaya salad, dumpling noodle soup, vegetarian fried rice and a seafood soup. We were attended to by Alex, who graciously gave each of us Thai balms. For dessert, we had mango sticky rice, then hopped onto the nearest 7-Eleven on the same street to buy snacks for the next few days and to take home.
The next evening, I was invited by Tita Chit Juan to dinner at the Sava Modern Thai, located at the Emporium Mall. We ordered corn fritters for appetizers, crab and fish cake, fried seafood with glass noodles, fish sauce chicken wings, tom yum, crab fried rice and crab curry with an omelette and rice as well as green chicken curry. Sava brings Thai flavors but more mellow and refined, combined with modern presentation.
Right after dinner, Ros and Raffy Celestial of Commune Cafe and I decided to grab a drink. We discovered this place called Em Wonder located at the 5th floor of EmSphere, a new shopping mall. It consists of several restaurants, cocktail bars & lounges, some with live music, others just places to drink and chill. The crowd is a mix of foreigners and locals getting together on a weeknight. I bet on weekends it’s packed due to the abundant selections of bars and the convenient location.
Aunglo by Yangrak is part of the 2024 Michelin Guide specializing in Thai flavors inspired by the Thai street food culture. We pretty much ordered everything on the menu. We ordered the Myanmar-style nuts salad, which was a good balance of flavors and textures. We ordered both fish dishes and absolutely loved them: the fried king mackerel with crab caramel and the grilled triggerfish with cashew nuts relish. We ordered their specialties such as the Tomyum fried rice with dried Krill and their Aunglo’s Moo-Ping or grilled pork skewer, served with an egg yolk where you’re supposed to dip the meat.
Aunglo by Yangrak uses traditional cooking methods such as charcoal stove or Aunglo. You may reserve seats at the counter which will give you a good view of the open kitchen where they prepare most of the dishes over a charcoal flame. It is located at 174/4-6 Decho Roas, Suriyawong, Bangrak and literally within the same block of the hotel.