Modern Thai Food at Paste Bangkok

Looking for exciting and marvelously delicious modern Thai food in Bangkok? Paste Restaurant is as far as you need to search.

What is Modern Thai Food?

The first thing to know about modern Thai food, as Chef Jason clearly states, is that it’s not fusion.

Fusion is the combining of different cuisines; An exaggerated fusion example is Khao Pad American (Thai fried rice with hot dogs). Modern Thai food is not fusion.

The menu at Paste restaurant does include some brilliantly creative combinations, but they are combinations within the Thai food sphere, not extending into other cuisines.

Modern Thai food is an extension of Thai cuisine, it’s the high end, high quality version of Thai food.

Modern Thai food is also not just about decoration. There are plenty of high end Thai restaurants in Bangkok that prepare normal Thai food, then present it artfully, and charge high prices. That’s not what Paste is about, and while they are experts in presentation, their main focus is on ingredients, flavor perfection and remaining fully Thai yet with a modern take.

Using only super high quality ingredients (often local and organic), paying meticulous attention to fine preparation details, and taking ultimate care in cooking techniques (most of which have been researched far into the culinary history of Thailand), modern Thai food comes into existence.

One thing the chef duo at Paste don’t compromise is flavor. Dishes are never compromised to weaken the flavors intended, but are instead packed with natural flavors that will elevate your taste buds to new levels – they way they are supposed to.

Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา)

So, on to the amazing dishes I ate…

My first bite was a dish called Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา) – a dish that’s rare nowadays, but always rings a bell for Thais who associate it as a royal dish.

Wild ocean king prawns, crispy catfish (similar to yam pla duk foo), lemongrass, young ginger, and a variety of different herbs were the main ingredients. But rather than being dressed in normal lime juice like nearly all Thai salads, this dish only used kaffir lime juice mixed with a hint of mandarin juice.

The diversity of textures, the herbs, the perfectly cooked shrimp, and the kaffir lime juice made their Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา) banging with zesty flavor.

Price: 420 THB

Melt in your mouth flavorful pork

One of Paste Restaurants signature dishes is their master stock poached organic pork (หมูตุ๋นเสริฟ์กับเกรฟฟรุ๊ตและดอกไม้ไทย).

If you can’t already conclude from the close up photo of this pork, let me tell you that it was nothing short of stunning.

From the inside to the outside, the pork was saturated in flavor. It came on a plate with a light salad consisting of  basil, cilantro, red grapefruit, avocado, toasted rice, and local flowers.

Price: 380 THB

Steamed sea bass in turmeric sauce

To round things up, we had the wild sea bass which was steamed and smothered in an insanely delicious sauce made from turmeric, logan honey, and fennel. Crispy shallots and hair-thin shaved kaffir lime leaves added a brilliant finishing touch.

The fish was the perfect consistency, and the sauce was heavenly – not heavy like a curry – but lighter and packed with flavor. Along with steamed jasmine rice, I was a very happy diner.

Paste

The Bottom Line

Chef Jason and Chef Bee are delivering top notch modern Thai food in Bangkok at Paste, and their passion shines through their cooking.

They serve a menu of incredibly tasty dishes that are creatively prepared and truly focus on getting all flavors balanced in perfect harmony, and packed with a complexity of fresh and lively ingredients.

Paste Restaurant is real special treat for anyone that loves Thai food, and I personally would highly recommend it. You’ll be amazed at the flavors and combinations you experience at Paste!

Paste Restaurant Bangkok

Prices: Expect to pay around 600 – 1000 THB per person for a truly memorable meal, they also have a full menu of cocktails and wines
Website: http://pastebangkok.com/
Address: 120/6 Sukhumvit Soi 49 (Opposite Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital) Klongton Nua, Vadhana, Bangkok 10110
Open Hours: Lunch Wed – Sun 12.00 pm – 2.30 pm Dinner Tues – Sun 6.00 pm – till late
Reservations: +66(0)2 392 4313

How to get there:

Paste is located in the backstreets of Thong Lor. If you take the BTS, get off at Thong Lor, walk over to Soi 49 and then grab a motorbike taxi to Samitivej Hospital. Just past the hospital, and on the opposite side of the road you’ll see the sign for Paste. You could alternatively just hop in a taxi.

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