robuchon-high_res.jpg

How to save a fortune at Bangkok's best restaurants

Follow this cheat sheet to the best dining deals in town.

7 years ago

By Wanvida Jiralertpaiboon | Aug 23, 2017

Follow this cheat sheet to the best dining deals in town.

By Wanvida Jiralertpaiboon
| Aug 23, 2017

1. Make your Sunday brunch Indian

While Sunday brunch at the city’s fanciest hotels costs around B3,000 per head, some of those same places have amazing deals on the city’s best Indian food—and often for under B1,000 per person. Here’s where.

Rang Mahal

The price: B990

The Sunday brunch (11am-2:30pm) features a buffet line of classic options, including grilled paneer (cottage cheese) and the meaty murgh khurchan (shredded chicken cooked with onion and tomato gravy, spiced with green cardamon). Rang Mahal also does some of the best kebabs in town, and all with stunning views over the city.

26/F, Rembrandt Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7100. Open daily 5-11:30pm, Sun 11am-2:30pm

Indus

The price: B755

Time has done nothing to rub the sparkle off this long-established Indian food favorite. The beautifully converted residential location feels both relaxed and special, but while the restaurant has been going down a more fine-dining path with set menus, the brunch (11:30am-3pm) remains one of the finest weekend spreads in town, serving all-you-can-eat a la carte curries and other delicacies.

71 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-4900. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-12am. BTS Phrom Phong

Punjab Grill

The price: B1,000 (B1,600 with free-flow sparkling, wine and beer)

Fine-dining Indian restaurant group Punjab Grill has a dozen venues in India, plus locations in Abu Dhabi, Singapore (where it’s been hailed as one of the city’s greatest restaurants by SG Magazine and CNNGo) and in Bangkok. Sunday brunch (12-3pm) features a parade of chaat, lassi, chole bhature (fried bread with spicy chickpeas), dal makhani (spicy lentils and red kidney beans) and chicken dum biryani (rice with chicken) alongside a live carving station and grill and tawa (frying pan) counter.

G/F, Radisson Suites, 23/2-3 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-645-4952. Open daily 6-11:30pm, Sun 12-3pm

Charcoal

The price: B999 (B1,999 including free-flow prosecco)

The all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch (12-3pm) starts out with a welcome glass of prosecco and unlimited a la carte options, including murgh malai kebab, gosht dum biryani, dal and hot garlic naan.

5/F, Fraser Suites Hotel, 38/8 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 089-307-1111. Open daily 6-11:45pm, Sun 12-2:45pm

The Great Kabab Factory

The price: B500 (vegetarian), B600 (non-vegetarian)

At this Indian franchise, the chef creates a daily-rotating set menu comprising mostly Indian kebabs, which you can tuck into all-you-can-eat style. At brunch (daily 11am-3pm) you don’t have to order or go get your food from a buffet line. Unlimited appetizers include nadru ki tikki (flat dumpling made of minced lotus stem and spices) and murgh malai tikka (chicken with cheese and cream), while main courses feature methi paneer (cottage cheese cooked with fenugreek gravy, butter chicken).

L/F, Majestic Grande Hotel, 12 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-262-2999. BTS Nana. Open daily 11am-11pm

Maya

The price: B800 (B1,200 includes soft drinks, wine and beer)

Indian restaurant Maya sits on a striking cantilevered structure on the 29/F of the Holiday Inn Sukhumvit 22. The Sunday brunch (11:30am-3pm) includes a full buffet line of biryanis, curries, and kebabs also for vegetarians.

29/F, Holiday Inn Bangkok, Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-683-4888. Open daily 5pm-1am, Sun 11:30am-3pm

2. Go fine dining during lunch hours

Want to eat at Bangkok’s best restaurants on a budget? Then eat at lunch. Here are some of the best midday fine-dining deals out there.

Le Normandie

The original face of Bangkok fine dining. Everything’s super traditional, from the polished waiters to the perfect table settings. The set menu comprises three courses: an appetizer or soup, a fish or meat main dish, and a dessert.

The lunch deal: B1,500 for the three-course lunch set menu (12-2pm), B1,900 for four courses (additional wine pairing at B750 for two glasses and B1,100 for three glasses).

Price for dinner: B3,250 for three courses

48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000. Open Mon-Sat 12-2pm, 7-10pm

J’aime

The Michelin-starred Cote Saint Jacques in Burgundy is one of the region’s most respected restaurants, earning it a 90-percent score on La Liste. Jean-Michel Lorain’s Bangkok venture is headed by Amerigo Sesti, who doesn’t shy from Asian inspiration.

The lunch deal: B1,100 for the five-course lunch set menu (daily except Tue and the last Sunday of the month).

Price for dinner: B2,699 for five courses

U Sathorn, 105 Soi Ngam Duphli, 02-119-4899. Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6-10pm. MRT Lumphini

Savelberg

Dutch chef Henk Savelberg’s eponymous restaurant held a Michelin star in The Hague before moving to Bangkok. His pan-European dishes are prepared using delicate French cooking techniques with minimalist tweaks and creative flavor combinations.

The lunch deal: B990 for the two-course lunch set menu and B1,600 for three courses

Price for dinner: B3,000 for four courses

L/F, Oriental Residence, 110 Wireless Rd., 02-252-8004. Open Mon-Sat noon-2:30pm, 6-10pm

Philippe

Philippe is part of Bangkok’s old-guard French establishment. Dating right back to 1998, this once-favorite of the city’s beau monde deals in unremittingly traditional, powerful flavors.

The lunch deal: B650 for the four-course lunch set menu (available every day)

Price for dinner: B2,200 for six courses

20/15-17 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-259-4577. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon

Led by executive chef Olivier Limousin, Robuchon’s Bangkok kitchen combines French techniques and the best ingredients they can get, which means produce from Thailand's Royal Projects along with some European imports related to the seasons.

The lunch deal: B950 for the two-course lunch set menu, B1,450 for three courses, B1,950 for four courses

Price for dinner: B7,500 for seven courses

5/F, MahaNakhon Cube, 96 Narathiwas Ratchanakharin Rd., 02-001-0698. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 6:30pm-10pm

Yamazato

The Yamazato in Bangkok is a more luxurious contemporary dining space than its original in Amsterdam, but still draws inspiration from classic Japanese design and the art of origami. Though specializing in kaiseki (Japanese fine dining), you can also drop by at lunch for less-formal dinners.

The lunch deal: B1,500 for the kaiseki set; B650 for the Gozen lunch set; B550 for the lunch rice box

Price for dinner: B2,500 for the kaiseki dinner set

24/F, The Okura Prestige, 57 Wireless Rd., 02-687-9000. Open daily 6am-10:30am, 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm. BTS Phloen Chit

Rossini’s

Themed to resemble a Tuscan villa complete with a gigantic fireplace, wood-beamed ceiling and large frescos of patrician families, the long-standing restaurant remains as relevant as ever thanks to its expertly-curated wine list, regular visits from exciting guest chefs from Italy, and the kind of consistency only five-star hotels can deliver.

The lunch deal: B980 for the three-course lunch set menu, B780 for two courses

Price for dinner: B1,350 for three courses

1/F, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-649-8364. Open Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm; Sat 6-10:30pm; Sun noon-3pm, 6-10pm. BTS Asoke

Water Library Chamchuri

At the flagship restaurant of Water Library’s empire, German chef Mirco Keller dishes out contemporary fine dining with the occasional Asian twist.

The lunch deal: B1,000 for the two-course lunch set menu and B1,300 for three courses

Price for dinner: B2,900 for nine courses (also available during lunch)

2/F, Chamchuri Square, Rama 4 Rd., 061-852-5411. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10pm. MRT Samyan

M Krub

The Bangkok food empire of Hong Kong-born chef Man Wai Yin (Chef Man, Chairman) reaches its pinnacle at this ultra-fine-dining restaurant where Chinese cuisine meets French plating and culinary techniques.

The lunch deal: B1,300 for the five-course dim sum set lunch

The price for dinner: B4,000 for six courses

2/F, MahaNakhon Cube, 96 Narathiwas Ratchanakharin Rd., 02-019-8105. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm

3. Make dim sum your buffet of choice

Head to these bargain Chinese buffets for all-you-can-eat feasts with a little bit of style.

China Table

The price: B688

Amid faux Ming vases and lazy Susans, this contemporary and fun Cantonese restaurant serves a long list of more than 30 dim sum options along with heavy dishes like stir-fried Hong Kong noodles with seafood, and Yang Chow-style fried rice.

3/F, Radisson Blu Bangkok, 489 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-302-3333. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm; Sat-Sun 11:30am-3:30pm, daily 6:30pm-10:30pm

Man Kitchen by Chef Man

The price: B799

The most celebrated name for dim sum in Bangkok, chef Man Wai Yin, serves all-you-can-eat Chinese food at his spin-off, Man Kitchen. Expect steamed bites, crispy pork, Peking duck, egg soup and fresh oysters.

1/F, The Office Zone, Central World, 02-646-1355. Open daily 11am-10pm. BTS Chidlom/Siam

Fei Ya

The price: B850/weekdays, B1,100/weekends

It’s a rich-looking, crimson world in the signature dim sum restaurant of Renaissance hotel, where the dim sum buffet for lunch features a long line of over 40 options like fried scallop dumplings, Szechuan soup, fried rice noodles with fish fillet and black bean sauce.

3/F, Renaissance Bangkok, Ploenchit Rd., 02-125-5030. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm

4. Check Out Sushi Deals Before Leaving Home

Some of the city’s top sushi restaurants constantly run deals through the Line app or on their Facebook page that let you snap up amazing bargains on premium produce they want to shift. Check out some of the latest deals we found now.

Sushi Mori

This Sathorn office-crowd favorite is nestled on the mezzanine floor of Sathorn Square building. The decor combines metal and wood, a red-lit bar and smoke-patterned screens for a look that stands out from your average Japanese opening. While the main focus is sushi and sashimi using fish delivered every other day (plus daily-delivered Norwegian salmon), there are also plenty of hot dishes.

The deal: Currently, they’re offering up to 50-percent off salmon and toro dishes, including salmon sashimi at B144 (down from B240), the super toro set of two otoro sushi, two otoro aburi, two akami, one negi toro and three otoro rolls at B1,400 (down from B2,800), and salmon mentaiko steak at B308 (down from B440).

M/F. Sathorn Square Building, 96 Sathorn Rd., 092-424-4040. Open daily 11am-10pm. BTS Chong Nonsi

Sousaku

One of Ari’s favorite affordable sushi places offers up chunks of fresh fish in various forms, now from a new Soi 4 home. On top of classic nigiri sushi, you can find fusion ingredients like snow crab and Thai mud crab roe. They also constantly roll out new dishes, taking inspiration from several sushi places in Japan.

The deal: Sousaku regularly has promotions going on with different set dishes. Right now, get the “Sashimi Icedome” featuring otoro, chutoro, hon akami, salmon toro, hotate and rotating white fish at B1,499

39/1 Ari Soi 4, 02-279-2461. Open Tue-Sun 12-3pm, 5-10pm

Tenyuu Grand

Situated in the heart of busy Sathorn, this welcoming white house surrounded by a Japanese garden is a haven for sushi lovers. The imported ingredients are delivered fresh daily and put together as both the classics and tweaked dishes. Expect first-class service, too.

The deal: B2,850 for 90-min all-you-can-eat Tenyuu Shabu, which includes kurobuta pork, Hokkaiso A5 beef, A4 wagyu beef, wagyu beef chuck roll, wagyu beef oyster blade, Chilean king crab and Boston lobster.

66 Sathorn Rd., 095-247-2988. Open daily 11am-10pm

Sushi Hiro

The sushi empire has been dramatically growing in the past year. You may still have to queue up in front of some branches though. Known for its fresh produce dished up simply, Sushi Hiro takes its fish so seriously, it even holds a regular fish-filleting show.

The deal: They have a strong Line account worth following, which they use as a direct way to communicate some really amazing deals including regular discounts of up to 70 percent. Act fast though; they’re only valid for a couple of days.

12 branches across Bangkok. Try Eight Thonglor, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 080-080-4951. Open daily 11am-10:30pm

Nippon Kai

This chain is backed by a big importer of Japanese produce. Our favorite joint though is the two-story Nippon Kai Market comprising a sushi bar and Japanese market where you can buy premium imported seafood either to take home or have the chef whip up right there. Head up to the second floor for a cozier dining area that feels less like a shop.

The deal: Nippon Kai offers weekly-rotating deals to those who follow its account. There are also daily deals highlighting different dishes, like B180 foie gras sushi from the regular B300 every Thursday.

Six branches across Bangkok. Try 9:53 Art Mall, 124 Sukhumvit Soi 53, 02-662-5683. Open daily 11am-11pm

Sendo Sushi

This sushi spot hides away on the second floor of the Maze Thonglor commumity mall. Here, the focus goes straight to the sushi and rice dishes while there’s also some space for the likes of grilled fish and salad.

The deal: Right now they’re offering a 40-percent discount on more than 40 different dishes, including the salmon “mentai lava” at B180 (from B300), unagi don at B318 (from B530), and engawa crunchy roll at B270 (from B450). Get there quick, this deal’s going to end this Aug 31.

2/F, Maze Thonglor, Thonglor Soi 4, 02-381-1537. Open daily 11am-2pm, 5:30-10pm

Sushi Shin

Young Bangkokians just can’t get enough of this sushi bar, which combines affordable raw fish, a host of deals and pale wood decor that evokes Muji’s minimalism. The popularity isn’t just down to its actor-owner, Pakorn “Boy” Chatborirak, either. Sashimi and classic sushi options coexist with signature pieces that don’t shy from tempura crumbs, a bit of blow-torching, a sprinkling of shrimp eggs and a dollop of freshly chopped wasabi.

The deal: Each month features different promos. Throughout August, you can get the “Salmon Please,” a variety of salmon parts and slightly blow-torched salmon, at B220 (from B300), and the “Rolling Volcano Roll,” stuffed with shrimp tempura and sauce, at B260 (from B340).

2/F, Nihonmura Mall, Thonglor Soi 13, 091-021-8985. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm