Video #25 | March 1, 2018
In this video, I’m going to look at an emotive subject to Bangkok-foodies; the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok.
The video will be broken down into 5 sections:
– 5 restaurants that are contenders for; the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok.
– My choice for the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok; Momotarou Ramen.
– How to get to Momotarou.
– The food at Momotarou.
– Momotarou’s [amazing] katsu curry rice!
Click on the following link to check out more Bars and Restaurants in Bangkok.
#VIDEO TRANSCRIPT#
Welcome to the twenty-fifth video of Bangkok Unmasked! The YouTube channel that helps you get the most out of your visit to Bangkok city! If you’re new here, please consider subscribing! In this video I’m going to look at an emotive subject to Bangkok-foodies; the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok.
Let’s get started!
After living in Bangkok for 18 years, there’s one thing that I can confidently say about the restaurant scene. The Thai love Japanese food. It’s not a push to say that it’s their favorite food after their own national cuisine. No matter what type of Japanese food you like, it’s well catered for. Whether it’s sushi, sashimi, ramen, udon, shabu-shabu or tonkatsu. In a good number of restaurants you’d be hard-pushed to find better execution of certain dishes in Japan.
The other thing that fans of all things Japan will like is the set-up and atmosphere of the top-tier Japanese restaurants in Bangkok. Also, if you take a stroll down certain sections of Sukhumvit Road or Silom you can be fooled into thinking you’ve been teleported to Tokyo!
Which is the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok? [My top 5]
So…which is the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok? The following restaurants are certainly all contenders.
- Goji Kitchen + Bar [Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park]
- Nami Teppanyaki Steakhouse [JW Marriott]
- Tsu Japanese Restaurant [also at the JW Marriott]
- Benihana [AVANI Atrium Bangkok]
- Above Eleven [Fraser Suites, Sukhumvit 11]
In my opinion, the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok is located in what can be labelled Bangkok’s ‘little Japan’. Soi Thaniya. The name of the restaurant is Momotarou.
Momotarou
A Thai friend introduced me to Momotarou quite a few years back. Since I often go to Silom for Traditional Thai massage, this is one of my top stop-off places if I want something to eat after the massage.
The easiest way to get Momotarou is via the BTS. Get off at Sala Daeng BTS station and then walk down soi Thaniya going towards Surawong Road. Momotarou is on the right hand side of the soi about 25 meters from where soi Thaniya meets Surawong road. There’s a big red sign above the restaurant so you can’t miss it. The full address is; 9/19-21 Soi Thaniya, Surawong Rd., Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500. Their phone number is: 02-235-0108. Momotarou’s hours of business are 11 AM through to midnight.
One important note: The location is not family-friendly after dark. The reason why is that many of the girls who work at the hostess bars on soi Thaniya are sitting outside trying to entice Japanese men into their clubs. It’s not overly raucous, but young children may start asking a lot of questions that parents would rather not answer.
The food at Momotarou
The food at Momotarou definitely makes the trip worthwhile! The Ramen is spectacular. Fresh ingredients, generous portions and great prices. The customer service is also excellent.
Tip: Try the Chashumen i.e. chashu ramen, or Miso Ramen. For those not familiar with Ramen, Miso ramen soup is flavored with soybean paste [miso]. This results in a thick, brown soup with a rich, complex flavor. The style originated in Hokkaido where the long cold winters spurred the need for a heartier type of ramen soup, but it has spread to the point where it can be found pretty much anywhere in Japan.
Chasu is a popular Ramen topping. It’s fatty slices of roasted or braised pork. Chashu is a very common topping, and standard bowls of ramen usually come with one or two slices of it. Most ramen-ya also serve Chashumen [chashu ramen] which is a ramen dish with additional pieces of chashu.
Katsu curry rice; Japanese comfort food…
I’m a huge fan of Japanese curry, and have eaten it at many restaurants throughout Bangkok. It’s a difficult one, but I think that Momotarou’s katsu curry rice is probably the best. A silky curry sauce is slathered all over perfectly cooked rice. The dish is packed with enough calories and carbs to get you through the afternoon or evening! This is what it looks like. Trust me, it tastes as good as it looks!
As an aside, I was quite surprised to learn that the Japanese eat curry. My first encounter with the dish was at a Japanese restaurant in Bangkok 18 years ago. From what I have read, British traders introduced curry powder to Japan at the start of the Meiji Era [1867-1912]. Local cooks were apparently initially put off by the exotic flavors but, impressed by how nicely curry could be paired with white rice. They adapted the recipe with new spice blends and the addition of familiar meats and vegetables.
Very few Western customers
If you’re looking for great Japanese food in Bangkok, Momotarou should definitely be on your list. I really do think that it could well be the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok! One thing you’ll notice when you go is that most of the customers are Japanese. There are a few Thai, especially at lunchtime on weekdays. Westerners do not seem to frequent Momotarou. This is odd given the restaurant’s proximity to Silom/Patpong. If you can, do check it out.
Anyway…That’s it for this video. Expect a new video shortly. It should be posted in about a week, or so.
For all you techies out there, this video was shot on a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, and edited using HitFilm Express.
Finally, please don’t forget to subscribe to this channel through the button below! Also, if you have any comments on this VLOG post, please do write something in the comments section!
Thank you very much for watching. I’ll see you next week. Goodbye.
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