I keep coming back to my fascination with the vast variety of restaurants in and around Bangkok. Lately, I’ve been on the lookout for a great Chinese restaurant, not fine dining, just a solid, authentic place.
One evening, an old and dear friend visited Bangkok. She divides her time between Sweden and Koh Tao, and we’ve shared countless culinary experiences over the nearly 50 years we’ve known each other. She took me to Man Ho Bistro at Erawan Hyatt, a fairly new spot, as I understood it.
The interior was quite sterile, but bright and fresh. The menu was extensive, featuring many beloved Chinese dishes.
My friend, who had dined there multiple times, was greeted by name by the charming head waiter/manager, who remembered in detail what she had ordered and enjoyed on previous visits. We started by sharing a soup-something quite unusual in my experience, but it was an absolute delight. It reminded me of my favorite Cantonese soup from a beloved restaurant in Switzerland.
Next, we had fried prawns with sweet potatoes, though we both agreed the sweet potatoes weren’t really necessary. But the highlight of the evening was the Peking duck-a revelation! I had never fully understood the appeal of the crispy, glazed skin until that night. It was heavenly, served with ultra-thin, almost translucent pancakes that melted in the mouth. The tender meat was enjoyed wrapped in crisp iceberg lettuce with cucumber and other accompaniments-simple divine. I’m not usually one to ask for a doggy bag, but I couldn’t leave without taking the leftovers home.
To compliment our meal, we shared a delicious bottle of Bordeaux, making for a truly wonderful dinner in great company. Time flew by as we reminisced about decades of shared experiences. If you’re craving Peking duck in Bangkok, I highly recommend Man Ho Bistro.
From Chinese Delicacies to Italian Indulgence
For my recent birthday, two gentlemen gifted me a voucher for Opus, an Italian restaurant near Chong Nonsi. Despite living in Bangkok for 18 years and being a huge fan of Italian cuisine, I had never been there before. At my request, my two companions joined me for the evening. I was immediately charmed by the restaurant’s cozy atmosphere. We were welcomed with a glass of Prosecco-a nice touch. The menu was full of tempting dishes.
For starters, we each chose different dishes: Vitello Tonnato for me, a salmon composition for one of the gentlemen, and an artichoke-based dish for the other. We were all pleased with our choices.
For the main course, two of us opted for truffle risotto, which immediately took me back to a trattoria in Campione (near Switzerland), where the most exquisite risottos and pastas were served with freshly shaved truffle at the table. Here, the truffle was grated in the kitchen before the dish arrived, but it was still delightful. The third gentlemen ordered Gamberas, which was beautifully presented.
One of the highlights of Opus is its wine room, where you can personally select your bottle. Every Italian wine imaginable seemed to be available. I had the pleasure of choosing a Montepulciano red, which paired beautifully with our dishes. In fact, we ended up enjoying not just one bottle, but two bottles.
None of us are big on desserts, so we shared a cheese platter for one, which turned out to be perfectly sized for three.
A fantastic evening and a truly wonderful meal. However, one thing is certain: when dining at Opus, make sure your wallet is well-prepared!
