Thanying Restaurant

Thanying Restaurant
10 Thanon Pramuan / 10 Pramuan Street
Silom Road
Bang Rak
Bangkok 10500
Thailand

http://thanying.com/

Royal Thai Meal

Eye-Opening, Royal Thai Dishes

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 9
Value for Money: 7
Spent about THB ฿870 / SGD $34 per person.


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The posh Thanying Restaurant claims to offer 'a genuine Royal Thai dining experience'. Founded in 1988 by Mom Rajawongse (M.R. - a Thai royal title which denotes a sovereign's great-grandchildren) Sorut Visuddhi, and his Thai actor business partner Mr. Kriangkrai Unhanandana, the restaurant is named in homage for Her Serene Highness Princess Sulabh–Valleng Visuddhi, the former head chef of the Thai royal family. Having dined at Thanying Restaurant, I find the experience itself to be very good, with the food being an eye-opening experience, totally different from typical Thai food. However, I doubt the 'Royal Experience' is truely authentic.

Ambience at Thanying Restaurant is posh elegance, exuding a refined sophistication. Think old-world, colonial European charm, with simple cushioned wooden furnishings, white table clothes, chandeliers overhead, and ample greenery surrounding the quaint, restored bungalow. Decor consists of a mix of classical renaissance style paintings, oriental style vases, and Thai inspired patterns. Very nice! The small and limited dining area means few other people are around, so there is some small measure of privacy.

Service at Thanying Restaurant befits its Thai fine dining status. Staff are polite and professional, welcoming guests, and seating them quickly. I note they are fluent in English, able to converse decently, and able to provide additional descriptions of dishes beyond what is stated on the menu, good product knowledge. The menu is clear, with English descriptions, though I would have liked to see more pictures. Tableside service is unobstrusive and quick, staff take care not to disrupt the flow of conversation at the table. However, food orders take time to fulfill, be prepared for a waiting time of at least 20 minutes.

Food at Thanying Restaurant revolves around Thai Royal cuisine. Dishes are well executed in texture, presented beautifully, and carry good flavour. That said, I find that it's not completely authentic Royal Thai, as the general taste of curry dishes, instead of being nicely balanced, tends to be overly sweet. Very unusual, I personally am not that used to Thai curries being this sweet, though the chef insists that this is 'real'. However, the other non-curry dishes are tasty and delicious. Their appetizers in particular, are outstanding. Portion sizes are generally small, sized for individuals. For common locals, prices are expensive, but foreigners and affluent locals may find prices to be affordable.


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Thanying Restaurant Signage

Thanying Restaurant Exterior

Thanying Restaurant Interior

Thanying Restaurant Address & Contact

Seating Outdoors

Seating Indoors

Seating Communal

Bar Counter

Table Setting

Table Setting

Pretty good Thai Iced Tea (THB ฿100 / SGD $3.90) here, smooth, milky, with good tea flavour. But super expensive, I would not order this again.

Thai Iced Tea (THB ฿100 / SGD $3.90)

The Coconut Slushie (THB ฿120 / SGD $4.70) features a whole, hollowed coconut, whose flesh and water / juice, has been blended with crushed ice and a little coconut milk. Good value for money, this cooling, refreshing beverage is fantastic on a warm day, though it's also really filling.

Coconut Slushie (THB ฿120 / SGD $4.70)

They also offer Beer Singha (THB ฿150 / SGD $5.90) here, a decent choice of beverage for warm nights.

Beer Singha (THB ฿150 / SGD $5.90)

The Khao / White Rice (THB ฿40 / SGD $1.60) is beautifully presented, in a conical shape on a clean, white plate. But portion size is small, and it's also very expensive for a staple.

Khao / White Rice (THB ฿40 / SGD $1.60)

Khao / White Rice

Loved the Khao Pod Tod / Sweet Corn Fritters (THB ฿160 / SGD $6.20), with its crispy texture and sweet corn flavour. But it's also 'heavy' on the stomach due to being fried, though the sweet chili dipping sauce helps.

Khao Pod Tod / Sweet Corn Fritters (THB ฿160 / SGD $6.20)

Khao Pod Tod / Sweet Corn Fritters

Loved the Khao Tang Na Tang (THB ฿160 / SGD $6.20), the crisp home made rice crackers carry good crunch, and you can actually taste the flavourful grains. The creamy, savoury sweet, meaty minced pork and shrimp sauce enhances each bite, and really makes this dish outstanding. Satisfiying one-bite morsels. Highly recommended!

Khao Tang Na Tang (THB ฿160 / SGD $6.20)

Khao Tang Na Tang

Khao Tang Na Tang

The Miang Kham (THB ฿180 / SGD $7) is a traditional Thai snack and appetizer, that is not commonly sold in the streets anymore. Available here, it's a fun, build-your-own snack dining experience, allowing for great interactivity and exploration of taste. In terms of flavour, I find this to be very good, and the portion size is suitable enough for sharing. Worth ordering for the experience alone. Highly recommended!

Miang Kham (THB ฿180 / SGD $7)

Miang Kham

Miang Kham

The Set Of 4 Curries (THB ฿480 / SGD $19) is a good sampler platter if you're unsure what to order, though note that the restaurant, oddly, does not allow you to swap curries. It's these 4 types, and nothing else. Not very appropriate service for 'royalty' I feel. Generally, this is where I have the most issue, the curries are all overly sweet, instead of being balanced like true, authentic Royal Thai cuisine. That said, the texture within each curry is great. Being a sampler, the portion size is naturally smaller than usual.

The Gang Ga Ree Gai / Yellow Curry Chicken is possibly the sweetest curry of the lot, lingering on the palate. Love the creamy smooth texture of the yellow curry, its fragrance, and the tender, moist deboned chicken within. The savoury sweet, and slightly spicy Kaeng Phet Pet Yang / Red Curry Duck has a good contrast of textures between all the vegetables / fruits (peas, tomatoes, pineapple) within, and the tender duck, which isn't gamey. The Kang Massaman Nuer / Massaman Beef Curry is decent, while the beef is tender and falls apart easily, the rather oily curry is also overly sweet, instead of being savoury spicy. The Kaeng Khiao Wan Goong Nang / Green Curry Prawn features a large, fresh, meaty prawn with shell on, and the curry is smooth, rich, and creamy, though again a tad too sweet instead of savoury sweet.

Set Of 4 Curries (THB ฿480 / SGD $19)

Gang Ga Ree Gai / Yellow Curry Chicken

Gang Ga Ree Gai / Yellow Curry Chicken

Kaeng Khiao Wan Goong Nang / Green Curry Prawn

Kaeng Khiao Wan Goong Nang / Green Curry Prawn

Kaeng Phet Pet Yang / Red Curry Duck

Kaeng Phet Pet Yang / Red Curry Duck

Kang Massaman Nuer / Massaman Beef Curry

Kang Massaman Nuer / Massaman Beef Curry

This unique fusion dish of Roti Gang Gai / Roti Bread With Green Curry Chicken (THB ฿180 / SGD $7) has Indian roti bread, which is fragrant and crisp. And while the Kaeng Khiao Wan Gai / Green Curry Chicken is too sweet, instead of savoury sweet, the curry texture is rich, smooth, and creamy. The chicken and pea eggplant within is tender, and pairs well with the roti.

Roti Gang Gai / Roti Bread With Green Curry Chicken (THB ฿180 / SGD $7)

Kaeng Khiao Wan Gai / Green Curry Chicken

Kaeng Khiao Wan Gai / Green Curry Chicken

I'm used to this dish being soup spicy, so it's slightly odd to have a Tom Yum Goong (THB ฿180 / SGD $7) here which is sour sweet spicy. The texture of the soup / broth is a little thinner than usual, though it carries good flavour, and I suppose it's balanced in its way. Love the fresh, meaty, shell on prawn within, and the tender straw mushrooms too.

Tom Yum Goong (THB ฿180 / SGD $7)

Tom Yum Goong

The Tom Kha Gai (THB ฿160 / SGD $6.20) here is properly milky and rich, with good flavour. Nice when poured over the white rice. The chicken is tender, and the curry is sweet spicy. Decent dish.

Tom Kha Gai (THB ฿160 / SGD $6.20)

Tom Kha Gai

The Yam Tua Plu / Wing Bean Salad (THB ฿170 / SGD $6.60) features crunchy wing beans, stir-fried with tender slices of savoury pork loin, sweet deshelled fresh prawns, served in a thin, sour spicy gravy. Loved the complex combination of textures and tastes, very appealing. Good!

Yam Tua Plu / Wing Bean Salad (THB ฿170 / SGD $6.60)

Yam Tua Plu / Wing Bean Salad

The Nuer Plu Pad Pong Ga Ree / Stir-Fried Curry Crab Meat (THB ฿320 / SGD $12.40) was possibly the best dish we ate here. Fresh, sweet, deshelled crab meat, stir-fried in a savoury sweet, mild curry gravy, along with spring onions and egg. Absolutely tasty and delicious. Highly recommended!

Nuer Plu Pad Pong Ga Ree / Stir-Fried Curry Crab Meat (THB ฿320 / SGD $12.40)

Nuer Plu Pad Pong Ga Ree / Stir-Fried Curry Crab Meat

Nuer Plu Pad Pong Ga Ree / Stir-Fried Curry Crab Meat

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