Taste Test: Bangkok's best macarons
Emquartier is opening, bringing with it Pierre Herme’s legendary macarons. To honor their arrival, we put them to a blind taste test against eight other top brands.
9 years ago
This list is in no particular order. Numbers refer to the image.
1. Pierre Herme (BK Pick)
(Infiniment Chocolate Paineiras, TBA)
The look: Chubby, with a hearty size and comforting homemade look.
The shell: Not perfectly smooth but coated in appealing traces of cocoa powder. Beautifully fluffy.
The filling: Silky, with the rich, bittersweet taste of expensive chocolate. You even get some sour, fruity notes.
Verdict: Perfect imperfection.
Emquartier, Sukhumvit Rd. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS Phrom Phong
2. Fauchon (Runner-up)
(Chocolate, B95)
The look: Average size, little skirt and chocolate-y brown coloring. Every bit the typical macaron.
The shell: A bit too hard, crunchy and notably layered.
The filling: Dense in texture, with a rich, dark chocolate taste.
Verdict: A simple macaron with what it takes to be a macaron––from the look to the taste.
G/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-7802. Open daily 10am-9:30pm
3. Paris Mikki (New!)
(Chocolate, B65)
The look: Reminds us of Thai tea: bright, orange-y brown.
The shell: Underneath the smooth surface, it’s a bit moist.
The filling: Like chocolate ganache—creamy but not buttery. You don’t get the intense chocolate flavor but can still feel that it’s made from good chocolate.
Verdict: Tastes much better than it looks.
Metha Wattana Building, 27 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 088-870-0020. Open Tue-Sun 11am-8pm
4. Paul
(Chocolate, B450/12 assorted macarons)
The look: Small with rather a sad, dull color.
The shell: Almost no bite. Chewy, somewhat sticky and not well layered.
The filling: Very moist and chocolate-y.
Verdict: Stick to the pain au chocolat.
1/F, Central Embassy, 1031 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-001-5160. Open daily 8:30am-10pm. BTS Phloen Chit
5. Laduree
(Venezuela Chocolate, B120)
The look: Like Pierre Herme’s twin only flatter and with shorter feet (the ruffle on the macaron’s edge).
The shell: Dry and crumbly with no fragrance of cocoa at all.
The filling: Sticky and with a chemical-like aftertaste.
Verdict: Reminds us of cheap brownies. Pretty poor show.
M/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-129-4771. Open daily 9am-9:30pm. BTS Siam
6. Erawan Bakery
(Chocolate, B30)
The look: Petite compared to the other macarons, and the only one with a small sheet of chocolate on one side.
The shell: Scented with almonds but a bit too dry and crunchy.
The filling: More like caramel than chocolate.
Verdict: We like the almond aroma, but wish the chocolate came through more strongly.
LL/F, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, 494, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-254-1234. Open daily 7am-10pm. BTS Ratchadamri
7. Dhara Dhevi (Budget Pick!)
(Uganda Chocolate, B45)
The look: Average sized and with a reddish brown color, sprinkled with gold.
The shell: Fluffy and a bit too crumbly, but all the layers are distinct from one another.
The filling: Very sweet yet with a nice bitterness.
Verdict: Great for the price.
G/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 087-448-8449, Open daily 11am-10pm. BTS Siam
8. Mandarin Oriental
(Chocolate Truffle, B49)
The look: So smooth and flawless it looks like resin. Also oversized with a mild color.
The shell: Satisfying—not too hard or soft.
The filling: Very creamy, with a mild chocolate truffle aroma.
Verdict: The taste and size match up with the price. It feels like eating a slice of chocolate cake.
G/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9845. Open daily 10am-9pm. BTS Siam
9. Masatomi
(Valrhona Chocolate, B50)
The look: Flat, round and pale.
The shell: Dry both on the surface and inside.
The filling: Tastes like cocoa powder, which had us baffled when it was revealed they use such premium chocolate.
Verdict: Not very fun. Go for their Japanese flavors.
4/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-235-6643. Open daily 11am-10pm. BTS Siam
Advertisement
Latest News
This breezy Phrom Phong dining hotspot is perfect for alfresco bites this winter
This is the time of year when we can actually enjoy the outside world. Make the most of it.
Alliance Française opens family-friendly French cuisine spot with Bonjour Bonsoir
A space to watch for French events and culture.
Jiaozi Jiuba at Gaysorn Amarin tries to make dumplings cool again
Chinese drinking bites and signature cocktails.
