Suikin: Japanese Restaurant @ Embassy Park, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok

Cuisine: Japanese

Map: Suikin: Japanese Restaurant @ Embassy Park, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok - ห้องอาหารญี่ปุ่นซุยคิน @ เอ็มบาสซี่ปาร์ค ถนนเพลินจิต กรุงเทพ

Price: THB600 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 30 March 2011

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 5/10

Suikin, an authentic Japanese restaurant, situated on Ploenchit Road withing the Embassy Park area. It may, at first sight, be hard to notice its present, however, the access to this restaurant is pretty easy via BTS (Chidlom Station or Ploenchit Station). Nonetheless, driving here can be hassle due to its limited parking space, especially during day time. Suikin is decorated to resemble the traditional Japanese atmosphere. The space is large with many private seats. Nevertheless, reservation is recommended in case private seats are required to avoid disappointment.

Suikin: Japanese Restaurant

Tofu Mori (Assorted Four Kinds of Tofu - เต้าหู้รวม 4 อย่าง) contained combination of proudly presented tofu here: 1. Goma Dofu (Homemade Sesame Paste Tofu) was smooth and soft with high intensity of sesame sense which has long aftertaste, 2. Kumiage Yuba (Homemade Soy Milk Skin) had strong soya taste, it was light and layered, 3. Mineoka Dofu (Homemade Milky Tofu) had mochi like texture with little sweetness and richy, and 4. Hiya Yakko (Homemade Pressed Tofu) was just a typical tofu but tender. All of which are drastically enjoyable (7/10).

Tofu Mori (เต้าหู้รวม 4 อย่าง)

Kumiage Yuba (Homemade Soy Milk Skin - ฟองเต้าหู้) was my favourite among many choices of tofu here. As mentioned above, this tofu was really delightful and would recommend to anyone who would like to visit Suikin (8/10).

Sashimi Konnyaku (Konnyaku Yam Paste with Miso - หัวบุกญี่ปุ่นและมิโซะหวาน) may sound like fish but not at all, only Konnyaku. Its texture was like jelly and gave freshness feeling due to tangy flavour (6/10).

Kumiage Yuba (ฟองเต้าหู้)

Sashimi Konnyaku (หัวบุกญี่ปุ่นและมิโซะหวาน)

I had also tried Tamago Yaki (Sweet Omelet Japanese Style - ไข่หวาน). It may not be one of the best in town but still better than many places. It stuffed with dried seaweed and came with shiso leaf. The texture was not so soft (4/10).

Tofu To Konnyaku No Dengaku (Grilled Tofu and Devil's Tongue Topped with Sweet Miso Sauce - เต้าหู้กับบุกย่างราดซอสมิโซะ): tofu was soft and konnyaku was rather spongy with sweetness from miso sauce. Not one of the greatest here from my opinion (5/10).

Tamago Yaki (ไข่หวาน)

Tofu To Konnyaku No Dengaku (เต้าหู้กับบุกย่างราดซอสมิโซะ)

Gyu Niku Tataki (Charred Thai French Beef with Condiment - เนื้อรมควันสไลด์บางกับซอสเปรี้ยวญี่ปุ่น) was surprisingly tender and fresh. Taste was also great (7/10).

Gyuniku Houba Miso Yaki (Grilled Beef on Houba Leaf with Miso Sauce - เนื้อย่างบนใบโฮบะราดซอสมิโซะ) had a combination between saltiness and sweetness in scent. Full flavour and tender. Aubergine was also great (7/10).

Gyu Niku Tataki (เนื้อรมควันสไลด์บางกับซอสเปรี้ยวญี่ปุ่น)

Gyuniku Houba Miso Yaki (เนื้อย่างบนใบโฮบะราดซอสมิโซะ)

Saba Shioyaki (Grilled Mackerel with Salt - ปลาซาบะย่างเกลือ) was a typical Japanese dish that was well cooked here. Additional of little lime was splendid (7/10).

Okara Croquette (กากถั่วเหลืองชุบเกล็ดขนมปังทอด) was a disappointment here. Not so crisp and not so smooth for the filling (3/10).

Saba Shioyaki (ปลาซาบะย่างเกลือ)

Okara Croquette (กากถั่วเหลืองชุบเกล็ดขนมปังทอด)

Coming for dessert, the first one was Tonyu Pudding (Soy Milk Pudding - พุดดิ้งน้ำเต้าหู้) was really smooth with strong tofu flavour and had just right sweetness. Personally, I think it was a great choice of dessert here (8/10).

Tonyu Ice-cream (Soy Milk Ice-cream - ไอศครีมน้ำเต้าหู้) again had strong scent of tofu but let down by the icy part (6/10).

Tonyu Pudding (พุดดิ้งน้ำเต้าหู้)

Tonyu Ice-cream (ไอศครีมน้ำเต้าหู้)

Suikin may not be one of the cheapest Japanese restaurant in town but it is definitely worth a visit for great tofu. Those who seek for traditional Japanese food in centre area of Bangkok, Suikin is indeed one of the choice for you.

Suikin: Japanese Restaurant @ Ploenchit Road, Bangkok

546 Embassy Park Plaza

Ploenchit Road

Lumphini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Thailand

ห้องอาหารญี่ปุ่นซุยคิน @ ถนนเพลินจิต กรุงเทพ

546 เอ็มบาสซี่ปาร์คพลาซ่า

ถนนเพลินจิต

แขวงลุมพินี เขตปทุมวัน

กรุงเทพ 10330

Open Hours: 11:30am - 02:00pm for lunch and 06:00pm - 10:30pm for dinner daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2252 2002

Cassia Cafe & Tearoom @ Soi Sawatdi, Bangkok - Kaao Chae (ข้าวแช่)

Cuisine: European

Map: Cassia Cafe & Tearoom @ Soi Sawatdi, Bangkok - แคสเซีย คาเฟ่ แอนด์ ทีรูม @ ซอยสวัสดี กรุงเทพ

Price: THB400 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 24 March 2011

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 6/10

It is Summer and Summer always comes with Kaao Chae (ข้าวแช่). This year Cassia Cafe & Tearoom also has Kaao Chae set as a choice for visitors. At THB350 a set, I must say that the portion was huge and perhaps too big for some person. It may not be one of the best in town but still delicious, especially well cooked Rice in Iced Jasmine-Scented Water. Condiments were enjoyable (6/10).

Previous Review: Cassia Cafe & Tearoom @ Soi Sawatdi, Bangkok

Cassia Cafe & Tearoom @ Soi Sawatdi

ข้าวแช่ - Kaao Chae

Rice in Iced Jasmine-Scented Water

ไชโป๊วผัดหวาน - Chai Pow (Chinese Radish)

เนื้อฝอยกับหมูฝอย - Shredded Sweetened Beef and Pork

พริกหยากสอดไส้ - Pork-stuffed Green Pepper Drizzled with Egg

หอมแดงทอด - Deep-fried Red Onion

ลูกกะปิทอด - Deep-fried Kapi (Shrimp Paste) Ball

พริกแห้งสอดไส้ - Sun-dried Chili Stuffed with Pla Naem (Powdered Dried Fish Meat)

Kra Chai (Chinese Ginger), Spring Onion, and Raw Mango Strips

Cassia Cafe & Tearoom @ Soi Sawatdi, Bangkok

20 Soi Sukhumvit 31 (Soi Sawatdi)

Sukhumvit Road

Khlong Toei Nuea, Vadhana

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

แคสเซีย คาเฟ่ แอนด์ ทีรูม @ ซอยสวัสดี กรุงเทพ

20 ซอยสุขุมวิท 31 (ซอยสวัสดี)

ถนนสุขุมวิท

แขวงคลองเตยเหนือ เขตวัฒนา

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: 09:00am - 10:00pm for Tuesday - Saturday and 10:30am - 10:00pm on Sunday

Tel: +66 (0) 2662 0325

Web: http://www.cafecassia.com/

Phuket Town Restaurant @ Thonglor 6, Bangkok

Cuisine: Thai (Southern)

Map: Phuket Town Restaurant @ Thonglor 6, Bangkok - ภูเก็ตทาวน์ @ ทองหล่อ 6 กรุงเทพ

Price: THB320 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 26 March 2011

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 8/10

Services: 4/10

Phuket Town is surely a Hidden Diamond of Thonglor, in which many of restaurants in Thonglor area are either European food or Japanese/Korean food. This tiny restaurant, accommodates ~ 40 guests, serves variety of fantastic Southern Style Thai authentic food. It is located conveniently at the corner of Soi Thonglor 6 Entrance. Parking along the road is permitted. The nearest BTS station is surely Thonglor Station, which is within the walking distance; ~ 5 minutes walk. Though the place is small, it is still easily spotted with Southern Thai-Chinese decor at the entrance with triangular arch gate and wooden doors and windows. Inside restaurant is furbished to give atmosphere as though you are eating in Phuket: retro style wooden tables, chairs, and floors, wall painted of Phuket Town. Many of Phuket food are in Hokkien (Fujian) Chinese style, which have been adapted and blended with local food. Hence, it would contain both richness of taste while some is also spicy.

Phuket Town @ Thonglor 6

Retro Southern Thai Decor

We started with Pork Belly Stew in Chinese Phuket Style (หมูฮ้องภูเก็ต - Moo Hong Phuket). This may look similarly to typical Chinese pork stew with soy sauce. Here, it tasted a little sweet while maintaining its saltiness. Delicious though not so tender: good with a nice bowl of boiled rice (6/10).

Deep-fried Belly Pork with Salt and Garlic (หมูคั่วเกลือ - Moo Kua Gleua) was crisp on the outside and had some thickness. Some may prefer it to be thin rather than thick though. It tasted little salty (7/10).

Pork Belly Stew in Chinese Phuket Style

Deep-fried Belly Pork with Salt and Garlic

Pak Miang in Coconut Milk with Fresh Prawn (ผักเหมียงต้มกะทิกุ้งสด - Pak Miang Tom Gung Gati Sot) is one of the well-known Phuket dish. Sweet scent came from coconut milk, which was really fresh. Prawn had big size and Pak Miang (Local Southern Vegetable Green Leave) was splendid. A must try dish indeed (8/10).

Next was Stir-fried Pak Miang with Egg (ผักเหมียงผัดไข่ - Pak Miang Pad Kai). This dish may not earn creative point but delightful surely. The highlight was super crisp dry prawn. Personally, I would prefer to have more egg (7/10).

Pak Miang in Coconut Milk with Fresh Prawn

Stir-fried Pak Miang with Egg

Coming along was Stir-fried Sa-Tor with Shrimp with Curry Paste (สะตอผัดเครื่องแกงใต้ - Sa-Tor Pad Kreuang Gaeng Tai). Sa-Tor is Stink Bean, which grows in the South of Thailand. Another of my favourite dish though it was a little spicy. It also had hint of sweetness from shrimp paste (กะปิ - Ga Pi). I think this dish here may not be spicy enough for those from local Southern (6/10).

Stir-fried Pork with Lemon-grass Slice (หมูผัดตะไคร้ - Moo Pad Ta Krai) was not really a Southern dish from my opinion. However, this dish was full of pleasant. Freshness from lemon-grass with a hint of coconut milk. If pork was more tender, it would be more enjoyable (6/10).

Stir-fried Sa-Tor with Shrimp in Curry Paste

Stir-fried Pork with Lemon-grass Slice

Next was another famous traditional Thai dish: Red Curry Pla-Mong Fish Suffle Served in Banana Leaf (ห่อหมก - Hor Mok). It had strong scent of curry paste. It was not spicy but rich in taste. The texture was soft, however, the traditional Hor Mok in Southern style is more watery (7/10). 

Red Curry Pla-Mong Fish Suffle Served in Banana Leaf

Egg Noodle Stir-fried with Seafood in Oyster Sauce (ผัดหมี่ฮกเกี้ยนซีฟู้ด - Pad Mee Hokkien Seafood) was a disappointment here. Too sweet and had no consistency in the texture of noodle: some was too soft while some was undercooked (3/10).

Egg Noodle Stir-fried with Seafood in Oyster Sauce

Last was Rice Noodles with Steamed Crab Meat in Spicy Curry (ขนมจีนน้ำยาปู - Ka Nom Jeen Naam Yaa Bpoo). Another all time famous dish from Phuket. Soft rice noodle combined with thick crab paste curry and condiments was really tasty. At Phuket Town, the curry was thick but the taste of curry was not rich enough (6/10).

Rice Noodles with Steamed Crab Meat in Spicy Curry

Condiments

Crab Meat Curry

I personally appreciate with this tiny restaurant "Phuket Town". A rare gem in the modern era of Thonglor. While many places are European food and Japanese/Korean food, this authentic restaurant brings back charm and fascination of Thai food back to Thonglor area. Overall taste may not be as strong as those in Southern Thailand, but it does suit both local Bangkok and Foreigner from my point of view.

Phuket Town Restaurant @ Thonglor 6, Bangkok

160/8 Soi Thonglor 6

Sukhumvit 55 Road

Klongton, Vadhana

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

ภูเก็ตทาวน์ @ ทองหล่อ 6 กรุงเทพ

160/8 ซอยทองหล่อ 6

ถนนสุขุมวิท

แขวงคลองตัน เขตวัฒนา

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: 10:30am - 10:00pm daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2714 9402