BANGKOK BOLD KITCHEN: A MUST-TRY BEEF CHEEK DISH IN A BUDGET-FRIENDLY, AWARD-WINNING BANGKOK RESTAURANT
The Cost -$9 per person
The Atmosphere – Bangkok Bold Kitchen’s location in the Lumphini district of Bangkok can be found in the ultra-luxurious Central Embassy shopping center, one level below the ground floor. The contemporary, yet basic-looking space doesn’t offer much in the way of décor but provides you with a clean, comfortable dining environment, something that is not generally present when it comes to Bangkok’s street food locales. The restaurant operates on a first come first served basis, accepts credit cards, and is casual attire friendly. It is also a good option if you happen to be looking for dinner on the later side as it is open until 10pm.
For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of the Bangkok food scene is street food; mall food is probably the last thing that comes to mind. However, Bangkok Bold Kitchen, which has earned rave reviews and even a Michelin Bib Gourmand, is not your typical mall food. With Chef-owner Chortip “Nhoi” Ouypornchaisakul at the helm, the restaurant puts forth a menu that includes Thai classics in addition to some unique and creative dishes. And overall, the meal is only slightly more expensive than one you would get on the street even though it is located in a chic mall, one floor below Bangkok’s Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Saint Laurent stores.
The Order – Morning Glory, Chicken and Glass Noodle in Fish Broth, and Marinated Beef Cheek in Coconut Cream.
The Fantastic – Beef cheek may not be the thing that everyone rushes to order when it’s on a menu but missing out on the Marinated Beef Cheek in Coconut Cream at Bangkok Bold Kitchen would be a true shame. The coconut cream, which is essentially a coconut curry, has a good number of purple onions in it and is really lovely. But the beef cheek is the reason you order this dish – the soft, extra-flavorful meat was absolutely delicious and does not have any sort of off-putting taste or texture to it despite the fact that it is a part of the cow not traditionally seen on most menus. And while at first glance the entrée looks a little small, it is an appropriate amount of food for a single person’s meal, especially with a shared appetizer. Given the dish’s rating and its $9 price tag, we consider it a must-order.
The Great – If you’re looking for something a little more filling and substantial, the Chicken and Glass Noodle in Fish Broth fits the bill. A wide bowl filled with a dark broth and an ample amount of glass noodles, the dish was quite large and filling. The noodle soup came with loads of fresh dill on top and had small pieces of chicken mixed in with the noodles and the really nice fish broth. It was a dish that easily could have been served to you in a plastic bowl by a street food vendor and that was certainly not a bad thing.
The Good – It wasn’t on the menu as a stand-alone item but we asked for an order of Bangkok Bold Kitchen’s Morning Glory anyway, and we were glad that they had no problem making it for us. Served on an appetizer-sized plate, the green, hollow-stemmed vegetable which is grown all over Southeast Asia and is sometimes called “water spinach,” was nicely stir-fried with a little bit of chili. The basic preparation of the vegetable made it a nice side dish, which wasn’t spicy despite the chili.
The Verdict – Bangkok Bold Kitchen serves up some wonderful dishes at incredibly reasonable prices. For those that are a little nervous to go the street food route while in Bangkok, the restaurant offers many of the most popular street food dishes and more in a comfortable setting without sacrificing much on the quality side and without a large difference in price. So whether you came to Bangkok to only eat street food or whether street food isn’t an option for you, Bangkok Bold Kitchen’s marinated beef cheek in coconut cream should definitely be something you try while in Thailand.
Bangkok Bold Kitchen
facebook.com/bangkokboldkitchen
1031 Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand