[Travel Thailand] Let's have lunch @ Banthat Thong | Here Duan | Hokki Phochana

When travel kakis regrouped, it might be time to be legendary again! Checked-in completed at Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square and we called a Grab car to get to Banthat Thong. We only made plans to eat at Here Duan. Seemed popular for  their lava egg crab meat rice.

Here Duan

walk-in customers

We didn't make any reservations and was at the shop at about 1.35pm on a Friday afternoon. Lucky us, there was no queue and a table was just made available.

hardcopy menu

order via QR code

It's convenient as one could order via QR code, hence no worries about any language barrier. Take note of the min. charge of ฿1000 for card payment. Pay after you've finished your meal at the counter.

creamy omelet with stir fried pepper and garlic on rice (with crab) @ ฿740

closer view

raw shrimp lightly marinated in fish sauce @฿340

When the menu stated as 'lightly marinated', it was true to life. I almost thought that the raw shrimp was not marinated at all!

was kind of expecting to see some kind of sauce but there wasn't any

fish paste with fried pork neck @฿180

came with spicy dip and vegetables (blanched and raw)

The most impressive dish was the fried beehoon with seafood. Such strong flavours! Plus, it had some morning glory (a few strands) but that's a plus point, in my opinion. Keke.

stir fried spicy rice vermicelli seafood @฿280

shopfront

Here Duan (Banthat Thong)

เฮียด่วน - สาขาบรรทัดทอง

Address: 1982,1984 Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hereduan-Streetfood/61557757027438/

Business Hours:

Daily 11 am–11 pm

Hokki Phochana

After we've finished our lunch, we were supposed to adjourn to any nearby cafe to relax. But as luck would have it, Tracy spotted a signboard with an icon that looked like a goose that's just across the street.

"Shall we go try some goose meat?" Tracy suggested.

let's go~

Our fate was sealed. Off we trudged to our second lunch place. 

The restaurant seemed like an old establishment and only one other table was occupied. Probably because it was late for lunch. Washroom was clean, so we were also thankful for that.

braised intestines and blood @฿100

braised goose @฿360

The braise sauce was light and mild, so don't be expecting strong flavours. I used the chili dip to elevate the flavours. The goose intestine and blood were rare delicacies.

crunchy intestines, wobbly blood

chili dip for some spice

Our plates were all small orders and the price was rather reasonable. In fact, the portion was straight up generous!

oyster omelette @฿200

The oyster omelette was a mixture of lava egg, flour and loads of oysters! In fact, an abundance of oysters, and of a good size! Amazing and value for money.

fried radish cake @฿60 per piece

Fried radish cake was tasty with crisp exterior. Served hot. The black sauce was a tad too sweet though.

lo han guo drink @฿60

Our drinks seemed to come in steel pots, so one could enjoy about 2 to 2.5 refills into the glass for one pot's volume.

Staff was friendly and efficient. Payment in cash only.

We were super full after the two lunches. 

Hokki Phochana

Address: Soi Chulalongkorn 34, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Business Hours:

Daily 9 am–9 pm

[Travel Thailand] Buffet Dinner at The Square Restaurant @ Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

First night at Novotel and we decided to 'eat in' at the restaurant located at Level 2 of the hotel. The Square restaurant is also the hotel designated breakfast place and they have a dim sum & river prawns buffet menu for dinner. We went to recce the place to check-out the food before making a reservation for 4 pax for 7pm the same evening. However, when we went back at 7pm, the same staff who attended to our queries earlier, can't seem to remember us and wasn't able to find the reservation as well. Nevertheless, another staff on duty managed to get us a table.

let's get the Premium

Tonight was a celebratory dinner and I get to eat FOC thanks to my lovely travel kakis; Tracy, Hence and Ivan. Thank you very much!

The System for Premium Items

We found these pegs at our table. Deduced that it is to order for the premium items. Only thing we need to find out, is the amount of food per serving.

table number pegs

deposit the pegs into the basket to order

So we deposited one peg per different basket to get a sense of the serving size. The wait for the premium foods, really depends on which kitchen counter and if they have an existing batch or is preparing the next batch. On average, we waited for about 10 minutes per batch and some 15 minutes.

premium items

Serving Size

One peg almost equated to 1 serving for 1 pax. Hence, if you have a table of 4 pax, place 4 pegs to order.

2 pegs 2 servings

Happy to report that we were satisfied by the size of the river prawns. However, do note that the prawns seemed unseasoned, so you could utilize the salt and pepper shaker on the table, or just get some seafood sauce (green coloured) from the crispy pork counter.

The prawn flesh was firm and meaty.

peeled river prawn

scallop - 1 serving

suckling pig (skin) - 2 servings ( 1 serving was 2 pieces of crispy skin, with one bun and pickles)

Oh, the pickles I super loved!

eat it together

Staff would help to bring the premium items that you had ordered to the table. No need to wait at the counter. We had some mix-ups with our orders being sent to the wrong table and vice-versa. 

Buffet - Self Service

dim sum menu

popular dim sum pending to be replenished

Tried some of the fried and steamed dim sums. I liked it. 

prawn toast, prawn beancurd, prawn dumpling

shu mai, chicken yam dim sum, custard bun

with a hint of yellow curry

just a regular custard bun

The group agreed that the must order of that night (besides River Prawns) was the crispy pork!

crispy pork

super thick fish maw soup

boat noodles from live noodle station

I didn't try the noodles nor the soup as I was still feeling full from lunch.

my sampler plate; roasted duck and crispy pork

coconut ice-cream with chocolate brownie?

Once again, thank you my travel kakis for the lovely treat! No one went back to the room, hungry.

The Square Restaurant

Address: NOVOTEL BANGKOK, 392 44 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Website: https://squarerestaurantbangkok.com/

Business Hours: 

Daily Breakfast: 6–10:30 am

Sat - Sun: Lunch: 12–2:30 pm

Fri-Sun: Dinner: 5:30–10 pm

[Travel Thailand] Come Experience 2 Nights Stay @ Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

It was time to bid farewell to Anantara Riverside Bangkok and hop on into the Grab to go downtown (which was about 45 minutes ride). It was time to convene with the rest of the troops; Hence, Tracy and Ivan.

Was welcomed at the car drop-off by hotel staff and he kindly helped with the luggage. Such a contrast as this service was missing at Anantara Riverside Bangkok. At the lobby, fiddled for abit to retrieve my passport. Totally understandable when the lady staff gave me a bit of an eye roll. She proceeded to check the booking and all of a sudden, I was invited to the Premier Lounge to complete the check-in. Okay, that's nice as I was then introduced to Janis.

Janis at Premier Lounge was lovely and the check-in was completed in a jiffy. She enquired if I had my luggage tag with me and as I had none, she helped to call the front-desk to arrange for luggage delivery to my room, even though I was going up to my room. Haha, thank you for the hospitality and for making me feel welcomed.

There was staff around the lift area, to help guests with the lift. Thank you to the hardworking and friendly staff there. Three lifts were operating although its speed was slightly slow. I was at Level 17 for the Executive Room, while Ivan who had the Suite was at Level 8. Tracy and Hence were closer to mine at Level 16. Great!

Executive Room

bathroom

shower

coffee machine, mini bar

welcome amenity - fruit platter

Thank you to the hotel for the fruits platter but what do I do with the guava? The butter knife won't be able to slice through it...

view from Level 17

one of my favourite coffee brand

Ok, no time to dawdle. The gang is waiting for the lobby. We went to check-out the Premier Lounge as they had purchased lounge access while mine came with the room. Nice.

Premier Lounge

feels like a meeting room

these are nice

sit by the window and watch the world goes by

let's have a drink

Evening Cocktails

Usually, we'd just drop by for half an hour to try a drink and some snacks before heading out for dinner.

wine selection

Tinto de Verano (sprite + red wine)

Mint was wonderful during the evening cocktails. First evening, she was intrigued by the coffee soda that Hence was having. She would come by and chat with us. Second evening, she made me a cocktail with fruit punch.

vodka + fruit punch

The snacks selection was limited, and usually one could find fried stuffs (I liked the prawn crackers), cheeses, fruits, a carb or two and some cakes.

Breakfast

While the rest would have their breakfast at The Square (Level 2), I had mine at the lounge. One could help themselves to the dishes available and also could place ala-carte orders for eggs, congee or noodles.

eggs, congee or noodles

big breakfast

omelette with everything

healthy bowl of cheese and salad

tasty tom yum sausage and fried eggplant tempura

I guess the juices were served in small glasses as it was very sweet. There was pineapple, orange and cranberry juice.

end with marble cake

love the top layer

While the hotel facilities felt a tad dated and some of the lifts do not have much fan power to ventilate the air, it was the staff that made the stay felt nice, especially Janis, Mint and Mam whom I met at the Premier Lounge. There were staff that we didn't get their names but they were also helpful and kind to guests. So thank you to the lovely staff at Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square.

The hotel is next door to Siam Paragon, so that was also where we hung out for half a day. Plenty of massage places nearby and BTS is also 5 minutes walk away. Downstairs have small stalls if you need to buy any local tidbits/snacks. From the hotel, we made tryps to Banthat Thong, and Song Wat via Grab.

Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

โรงแรมโนโวเทล กรุงเทพ สยามสแควร์

Address: 392, 44 Siam Square Soi 6, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/1031/index.en.shtml