The Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is a dining hub in its own right. It’s not only home to the majority of the city’s new generation of modern contemporary Thai chef modern who have pushed the traditional culinary boundaries. They have raised their art to the next level with a passionate commitment to use the best quality ingredients they can source. It’s also home to top western chef who bring their culinary heritage and serve it with a modern twist. It was also my neighbourhood for nearly two decades.
By Laurence Civil
In compiling any top 10 list it’s always going to be both subjective and a snap shot of a moment in time. Please enjoy my pick which are in no particular order, my take of the best of the best in my backyard.
Philippe Restaurant
A native of Corsica Philippe Peretti first came to Asia to set up The Palace Food & Beverage menu for Prince Ranariddh Sihanouk before moving to Bangkok to make it his home and to open this restaurant 20 years ago. The menu focus on the freshest produce available which is slow cooked to produce classic French country dishes and casseroles.
Address: 20/15-17 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Bangkok 10110, Tel +66-2259-4577/8, www.philipperestaurant.com
Taper
An Asian inspired brunch restaurant that was born due to a passion for comfort brunch dishes culitivate by Chef Thitid Tassanakajohn (Ton) of LeDua and Chef Tatchapol Choomduang (Toon) while they were studying at Culinary Institute of America in New York. They decided to take that passion and express it their way as modern Thai inspired cuisine, western dishes interpreted in a Thai way. These two chefs are both rising stars of the new generation of Thai chefs who know what they want and how to do it their way with comfortable excellence.
Address: 44/11 Soi Akkaphet (Thonglor 13) Bangkok 10110, Tel +66-99929-5464, www.taperbkk.com
Aston Dining Room & Bar
Chef Zra Jirarath is one of the new generation of emerging Thai culinary talent. He serves modern European cuisine with an Asian twist. The bar is on the ground floor with the open kitchen dining area on the 1st. He is passionate about sourcing the best quality produce with uncompromising attention to how it’s cook. The absolute professional.
Address: 68 Sukhumvit 31, Bangkok 10110, Tel +66-84561-5559, www.astonbkk.com
Siam Wisdom Cuisine
A fine dining authentic Thai cuisine restaurant set in a stilted teak house in a quite residential lane. At the helm in the kitchen Thai Celebrity Chef Chompol Jangprai who was previously cooking globally at Blue Elephant and Anantara. For dinner there are three set menu options, ancient, classic and innovative, a la carte is available for lunch. They work closely with the best quality local producers and the Royal Projects in the north to produce and excellent dining experience.
Address: 66 Sukhumvit 31, Bangkok 10110, Tel +66-2260-7811, www.siamwisdomcuisine.com
Little Beast Bar & Restaurant
Chef Nan Bunyasaranand started her culinary career at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. Then while in New York she studied at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) which lead to her gaining experience with the culinary masters Jean-George Vongerichten and Thomas Keller. After returning to Bangkok she open Little Beast, a contemporary French-American restaurant in 2012. She is inspired to see how to incorporate local seasonal ingredients with her western dishes. This is a small space serving small portions with bold flavours meant for sharing.
Address: next door to Taper, Tel +66-2183-2670, www.www.littlebeastbar.com
La Bottega di Luca Restaurant
Chef Luca Appino cooks up generous portions of imaginative yet authentic dishes made with the finest and freshest ingredient the most important of which is his passion for culinary art. The restaurant offers a choice of either lounge style setting on the deck or a touch more informal inside. The price reflects the quality of the dining experience.
Address: 2nd Fl Terrace 49 Building, Sukhumvit Soi 49, Tel +66-2204-1731
The Glass
Luc Business the 4th generation of Champagne makers has created his own Bistro Moderne, by enhancing the classic single dish Bistro dining concept by offer 36 wines by the glass and pairing two of them with each dish on the menu to guide his customers in their wine selection. Every wine poured is made by winemakers who are his personal friends.
Address: Sukhumvit Soi 63, Tel +66-2108-8982, www.theglassbangkok.co.th
Akanoya Robatayaki
This is the first Robatayaki restaurant in Thailand. The name means fireside cooking but often its shortened to just robata. A cooking style similar to barbecue with a variety of food items on skewers slowly cooked over charcoal. It originates from the northern most Japanese island of Hokkaido where fisherman would cook their fresh catch around a communal hearth.
A place of great ceremony and noise with boisterous shouting of orders between chefs and waiters. Once the order has been taken the head waiter calls out the chef’s name, the table, the customers seat number and each of the dishes order. After each call all the staff in the restaurant reply Hai in a large voice acknowledging the order.
Address: 48/10 Sukhumvit 49, Tel +66-2662-4237, www.akanoyabangkok.com
Whale’s Belly Restaurant & Bar
After five years cooking professionally at Shangri-la Bangkok chef Apirawat ‘Mai’ Chaopon moved to Le Normandie at Manadarin Oriental Bangkok. Working alongside visiting three star Michelin chefs such as Juan Amador inspired his commitment to one day becoming a Chef a Michelin starred restaurant.
Becoming the Head Chef at Whales Belly at just 26 years old was both a professional compliment and challenge to prove he could lead his kitchen team and deliver the expected standards. Being the youngest chef to win Iron Chef Thailand in 2014 came as a surprise, the benefit was it attracted young enthusiastic cooks eager to join his team .
He is balanced, in his kitchen he focuses on every minute detail, while outside of work he admits he behaves like a 26 years old teenager.
Address: 2nd Fl Boulevard Tower, Sukhumvit Soi 39, Tel +66-2160-0333, www.whales-belly.com
Dine in the Dark
It’s often said that we eat as much with our eyes as we do by taste. DID takes diners out of their comfort zone but rewards them with an unforgettable experience and true insight into the world of the blind.
In 1999 a Swiss socialite living in Zurich who is blind brought together sighted friends for cocktails and social gatherings to enjoy hospitality as they did without the of sight in total darkness. Since then this concept expanded into fine dining restaurants and social clubs in Germany, Paris and London, more recently in Bangkok. Full info