The best new restaurants that opened this year

It doesn’t take much to get the party started at this new brightly-decorated branch of Fatboy Izakaya. You can enjoy fatboy roll (B650) or ramen cacio e pepe (B280) surrounded by Japanese manga art featuring Crayon Shin-Chan, Astro Boy or Mario – overlooking the bustling Ratchaprasong area. But it won’t be long before you are up and dancing.

3/F Gaysorn Amarin, Phloen Chit Rd. 083-949-5646. Mon-Thu 11.30am-2.30pm & 4pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 11.30am-2.30pm & 4pm-1am, Sun 11.30am-2.30pm & 4pm-midnight

Located at the Amari Bangkok hotel off Ratchaprasong, Nila presents the cuisine of coastal India, loaded with Portuguese influence, promising to offer a Goan homecoming within the warm environs of an Indian merchant in the early 20th century. For seafood lovers, try konju pal curry in the B2,200 tasting menu, with prawns simmering in aromatic spices and coconut. Vegetarians, indulge yourselves with bharli wangi (B390), pot-roasted brinjals stuffed with peanuts and red onions in a richly spiced gravy, accompanied by rice bhakri (flatbread).

4/F Amari Bangkok, Phetchaburi Rd. 02-653-9000. Daily 5.30pm-midnight

No need to pack your suitcases to New Orleans because Tina’s Sathorn is in the centre of Bangkok. Discover contemporary New Orleans fine dining in the leather chairs and behind the velvet curtains of Tina’s, brainchild of owner chef Louisiana native David Cleland and a Big Easy homage to his late mother and her mantra “excellence demands love”. Feast on prawn and grits (B630) – locally sourced sautéed prawns paired with bacon and crispy parmesan grit cakes – or linger over a bowl of gumbo (B450), a stew of prawn, duck and andouille sausage served with steamed rice. Live blues at brunch time on Sundays.

7 Suan Phlu Rd., Thung Maha Mek. 062-141-6549. Tue-Fri 11.30am-3pm & 3.30pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am-3pm & 5pm-11pm. Closed Mon

Each dish at Tapori was inspired by owner Rohit Sharma’s travels across India, featuring 29 of the 300 dishes that the hospitality veteran discovered. Try the rural natukozhi pulusu (B690) from the southern-central state of Telangana, high on the Deccan Plateau: grilled chicken with spices and coconut, paired with steamed finger millet porridge. Or masur tenga from Assam in the northeast, a fish curry served with fermented dried fish chutney and timur (like sichuan pepper) spiced rice. A 32ft-long oil painting of the backwaters of Kerala is a highlight of the dining room’s traditional Indian decor rounded off with a contemporary feel.

22/2 Sukhumvit Soi 47. 064-569-3798. Tue-Sun 12.30pm-3.30pm & 5.30pm-11pm. Closed Mon 

Tap in the secret password sent out to diners and the sliding door will reveal Kuma no Yakitori, a Japanese restaurant originally from Osaka, where – omakase style – you leave it to the owner chef Yoshinari Takagi to choose a 16-course (B2,600) experience built around grilled chicken on skewers (yakitori). Twelve guests can be seated around the counter and the private room can seat seven diners.

1/F Rain Hill, Sukhumvit Soi 47. 02-258-6173. Tue-Sun 5pm-10pm. Closed Mon

Hidden in an anonymous backstreet low-rise, Cento is a welcoming oasis of hospitality that offers mostly Italian fare under chef Mutaro Balde and founder Manuel Palacio, underpinned by an extensive wine list. Try pici (B650), a thick hand-rolled Tuscan pasta made with just flour and water and served with lemon butter and crab or, from the grill, wagyu m6 flank steaks (B1,280) with spring onion and beef jus. The main dining area can seat 70 guests, the garden 40, the wine room eight and up to 12 in the private room.

120 Sala Daeng Soi 1/1, Silom Rd. 094-567-7779. Mon-Sat 5.30pm-midnight, Sun midday-2.30pm & 5.30pm-11pm

From breakfast to dinner, dine al fresco on the terrace under a 200-year-old fig tree or inside the cosy dining room at Take Eat Easy all-day kitchen and bar. Maine born and New York and California trained, chef Tim Butler is known for his Asian-influenced international comfort food through his work at the evergreen Eat Me. At Take Eat Easy Butler fuses northern Californian cuisine with Thai flavours: try the buttery king crab on crispy-seared brioche and fresh herbs (B1,250). Pooches are welcome.

19 Yen Akat Rd, Chong Nonsi. 080-154-5000. Daily 8am-midday

This new fried chicken place in Ari offers you more flavours than just your original fried chicken, in a Taiwanese style. With the crispy and tenderness, they offer a set of chicken with three size selections (from B350) where you can choose your spicy level. A glass of strawberry milkshake (B190) goes well with fried chicken as it is an American tradition. Nightlifers might go upstairs for its cocktail bar and sip chu me some love (gin, apple, jasmine tea, seltzer and butterfly peas, B350) after a long day. 

10/2 Ari Soi 4. 098-263-6435. Daily 11am-midnight

It might be hard to find a lot of seafood-based ramen in Bangkok but hono shoyu ramen (B279) in this restaurant offers you different Japanese noodles just from their base soup. You might taste prawn, oyster and fish flavours in the soup while shoyu ramen (B229) still contains an original taste with a chicken-only base if seafood is not your style.

633 Sukhumvit Soi 103, Bang Chak. 098-287-3282. Mon-Tue 11am-8pm & Thu-Sun 11am-8pm. Closed Wed

This Hong Kong chain took on the giants with its hand-rolled sourdough pizzas and filled doughnuts freshly made on the premises. Every pizza comes with a garlic and herb dipping sauce so that those raised crusts are never wasted. Try the seasonal special, pepperoni supreme (B430), with tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage and oregano, followed by a doughnut (B130) with a choice of five fillings from Nutella to Thai milk tea.

G/F Gaysorn Amarin, Phloen Chit Rd. 090-923-2871. Daily 11am-10pm

This bistro at the Sathorn villa Baan Turtle is the brainchild of chef Marc Vasseur, a veteran of l’Atelier Robuchon in London – as well as Cote by Mauro Colagreco and Alpea Bistrot in Bangkok – in homage to his grandmother Jaja, who inspired him to cook. From the menu of French cuisine with an Asian twist, try sea bass ceviche (B480): local sea bass marinated with lime juice, coriander and chillis, and served with avocado cream and coconut lime dressing. Beef tataki mosaic (B580) features tenderloin marinated with teriyaki sauce and wrapped in nori, served with chipotle mayonnaise, pickled custard seeds and chive oil.

Baan Turtle, Suan Phlu Soi 2. 080-949-9690. Wed-Sun 11.30am-14pm & 5.30pm-9.30pm. Closed Mon-Tue

Smizzle Burger has added another branch to outlets in Thonglor and Central Embassy grilling, smashing and sizzling meat to be served up in brioche buns. Try uncle sam (B258) with beef or pork double patties, double cheese, sliced onion, dill pickle and Smizzle sauce. Crusty blondy with beef or pork double patties (B286/B296) features crusty cheddar cheese, sliced onion, dill pickle and Sriracha mayo sauce. All that with five kinds of fries: French (B95), curly (B115), truffle (B175), messy (185) and tater tots (B145).

23/1 Soi Si Fa, Phahonyothin Rd. 063-204-7870. Daily 9am-10pm

This fusion fried rice restaurant gives choices of ingredients to make comfort food just for you. Starting from B85, you can choose Thai jasmine, Thai sticky, Japanese,  or basmati as a base for fried rice. Salted egg squid option might be a choice for local seafood flavour. Asian food lovers can also try japanese seaweed or kimchi fried rice or any of the other dozen sauces because you can pick what you prefer. 

169 Samsen Rd, Wat Sam Phraya. 096-719-9689. Tue-Sun 11am-2pm & 5pm-9pm. Closed Mon

Take a trip back in time to the Cantopop era of the 1980s at this upmarket porridge restaurant’s new branch. Try peng you fried beef (B490), fried pudding tofu (B180) or spicy shrimp in fish sauce (B260) before basking in the glow of the red neon light with a signature cocktail.

26 Sukhumvit Soi 61, Khlong Tan Nuea. 065-964-4239. Daily 11am-midnight

Dumplings rule at this new izakaya-style pub serving classic Chinese cuisine with a modern twist for a night out with friends or a leisurely lunch amid some garish decor. Try the Sichuan-inspired mapo tofu Australian wagyu (B295) with rice from the a la carte menu or jiaozi combo (B195), a signature soup bowl with noodles, dumplings and braised pork belly. And enjoy a “summer in hutong” – passion fruit, orange or mango iced tea.

4/F Gaysorn Amarin, Phloen Chit Rd. 080-835-7504. Daily 11am-9pm

This colourful dim sum restaurant on Sathu Pradit Road is the latest project from Thitid Tassanakajohn, aka the Michelin-starred Chef Ton, famed for his work at Le Du, Nusara, Baan and Lahnyai Nusara. Gowin offers both premium and regular options: from crab har gow (B149) to prawn dumplings (B39) or a large bowl of Gowin steamed pork rice (B459).

11/1 Sathu Pradit Rd. 061-614-9498. Mon-Tue 8am-5pm & Thu-Sun 8am-5pm. Closed Wed

Its terracotta tile and red neon lights take you to Southern Europe. Sababa blends Mediterranean flavours with a dash of Japanese culture at this relaxed izakaya in a low-rise residential street in Thonglor Soi 13. Eat inside the welcoming dining room or in the villa’s garden with the kitchen under the command of co-founder Maxim Baile. Try the pistachio carbonara (B490) with chopsticks.

53 Soi Torsak, Thonglor Soi 13. 080-280-8787. Mon 5pm-11pm, Wed-Sun 5pm-11pm. Closed Tue 

They call it the borderless brunch and it begins at 8am in Ngam Duphli alley in Sathorn. Under the concrete ceiling dry-aged duck congee (B280) elevates Thai comfort food to another level. For coffee lovers, the signature drink salted caramel crunchy (B160) gives more texture to your white coffee from a waffle and sliced almond.

8 Soi Ngam Duphli, Thung Maha Mek. 082-664-7191. Daily 8am-4pm

This new seafood restaurant is by the same masterminds behind Ega. You could have crab lump omelette (B950) or chilli oil fried prawn (B390) which present Thai flavours. Flowers and neon lights in this restaurant also fit the history of this area on Song Wat Road.

1298/1306 Song Wat Rd, Chakkrawat. 094-671-9146. Daily 8am-10pm

Fukuoka-style ramen restaurant where you can pick the thickness of ramen noodles. The menu here features four kinds of ramen noodles: signature tonkotsu, (B190); rich tonkotsu (B210); shoyu (B230); and spicy shoyu (B250). And you can indulge yourself with extra toppings such as nori or seaweed (B30), wonton (B50) and cha-shu pork (B80). And extra noodles (B45). Just tick your order sheet!

G/F Jasmine Building, Sukhumvit Soi 23. 083-718-6038. Daily 11am-11pm 

Comfort food galore at the second branch of Kenny’s BBK at Sukhumvit Soi 31. Try bucatini carbonara (B350) or Kenny’s special pizza (B390) with mystery ingredients. Beef lovers check out the 300g hanger steak grilled on charcoal with chimichurri (B590). And watch English Premier League matches at weekends.

24/1 Sukhumvit Soi 31, Khlong Tan Nuea. 090-995-2040. Daily 10am-3am

Indulge in the full-course hanjeongsik (B3,950), a tabletop filled with small dishes, at Onggi’s 55th floor eyrie, where chef and founder Injin Kim has set out to showcase Korea’s fermented food culture. Onggi takes its name from the traditional earthenware vessels whose porous nature makes them perfect for storing the vegetables (which then became kimchi), rice (makgeolli) and soybeans (jang) used to create the fermented sauces and pastes used in Korean cuisine.

55/F Empire Tower, Sathorn Rd. 065-969-6823. Tue 5pm-10pm, Wed-Sun 12.30pm-3pm & 5pm-9.30pm. Closed Mon

After building up an appetite with some physical exertion at the Racquet Club, there’s one place to find some comfort food. From the local favourites, try beef stew served with spicy sauce (B229) for those rich Esan flavours. The steamed crab rice served with seafood sauce (B299) will transport you to the coast while you’re still surrounded by the bright red, white and yellow packing boxes that create a cool local market vibe.

The Racquet Club, Sukhumvit Soi 49/9. 063-956-2778. Daily 10am-10pm

Choose from an international menu at this elegant colonial-style house in the heart of the city. Try french omelette (B250) or breakfast burritos (B270) in the airy, wooden-floored dining room or take an iced Thai tea (B120) on the verandah.

2 Sap Rd, Si Phraya. 081-641-6611. Daily 8am-11pm