Showing yet again that dessert cafés never go out of style, the newly opened Kyo Roll En (M/F, Gateway Ekkamai, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok, 02-108-2660. www.kyorollen.com) shines the spotlight on the humble roll cake in a two-story wood-dominated venue. Owned by the same company as ice cream shop Sfree, the team boasts that the recipes and matcha green tea have been brought over from Kyoto.
As the name suggests, The Gallery Sushi Bar (19th Bld.,19 Chidlom Rd., Bangkok, 02-250-7280) rolls together two things: sushi and a gallery (of travel photographs). The owners promise high quality fish and all the benefits more than ten years’ working in a Japanese kitchen in the US brings. Recommendations include the sashimi platter (B590) and some fusion rolls like the Salmon Solomon (rolls topped with salmon and lemon with chili mayo sauce, B400). Heineken draught beer also comes in cheap at B249 for 1 liter.
KiSara (3/F, Conrad Bangkok, 87 Wireless Rd., Bangkok, 02-690-9999) is the new name for the rebranded Drinking Tea Eating Rice. To mark the makeover, Chef Kenji Shindo has created numerous new dishes promising authentic Japanese flavors utilising fresh ingredients, like the snow fish with black truffle wrapped in sasa leaves and doused with sake (B980). You can still watch all the action at the teppanyaki table, where you can order some Matsusaka beef teppanyaki (B8,450 for 180g). Also, drop by on a weekday for the buffet lunch at B1,000.
Inspired by the man behind the well-known travel-focused Passport bookshop, a group of friends open the new Dialogue Coffee and Gallery (533 Phrasumen Rd., Bangkok, 084-754-8799). Expect occasional rotating exhibitions in a space that feels part home office and part gallery, all set in a hundred-year-old house. Park your ride in the large spot for bicycles out front before enjoying a cappuccino (B65) along with a quesadilla with meat sauce (B90) or homemade pate with toast (B120).
Compared to the famous version served in Yaowarat, the soup here is more full-bodied and, as a result, more scrumptious. You’ll get a bowl (Chinese noodles, B40) with a good balance of shredded pork, sliced pork, sieng jee (kidney) and properly cleaned and perfectly cooked intestines. But we recommend you ask for some extra parts (B10) as portions aren’t the largest and, really, too much is not enough.
081-859-1480, 086-557-1466. Open daily 6pm-10pm
Splashed all your cash during the festive season? Head down to Charoen Nakorn to get good deals on good meals.
Gastronom (A-Square, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-259-6138) has added a tapas menu to its formerly very breakfasty offering. The new tapas dishes combine touches of Thai and Australian cuisines such as seared quails with quince aioli (B220), seared scallop with romesco sauce, braised pork belly (B320) or some Aussie oysters (B200), from 6:30pm.
Our top spots to enjoy some khao kha moo.
Set in a handsome glasshouse in the leafy surrounds of faraway Thung Mangkorn, Baan Suan Pak (Thung Mangkorn Soi 12, Bangkok, 089-006-6112) is dedicated to all things healthy, from organic vegetables and cooking oil to body products. They also do hampers if you can’t entirely make up your mind up. Check out all the healthy stuff (prices start from B900) before trying their tasty homemade ice cream.
Only You Sushi (297/452 Sathupradit Soi 19, Bangkok, 02-674-1634. onlyyousushi.com) is all galvanized iron and bare concrete walls. As for the food, it’s sushi with a twist, such as the red dragon roll (B350) that comes in a smiley worm form. More classic options are also available, like the sashimi set (B490 for small), or smoked oyster with ponzu sauce (B200); and they do delivery.
Tucked away in the Senabadee 1 Building, the newly opened Caffe Undici (4/7 Paholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok, 02-279-6368) serves up classic sweets like flourless chocolate cake (B85) and chocolate crepe with ice cream (B95) together with iced Matcha green tea latte (B90).
