When Somtum Der featured in the Michelin Guide New York 2016, it made headlines as the first Thai-owned restaurant to have been awarded a Michelin star. The Manhattan outpost was Somtum Der’s second branch after the original eatery opened in Saladaeng, Bangkok in 2012. Since then, the celebrated Thai-Isaan restaurant has also expanded into Ho Chi Minh City and Tokyo.
“Our philosophy is ‘local Thai, global favorites’, and the challenge of opening overseas is keeping every dish as authentic as possible to maintain the standards we set in Bangkok,” said Somtum Der co-owner Thanaruek “Eh” Laoraowirodge.
Proving this approach is achievable, Blue Elephant has been serving Royal Thai cuisine abroad for some 36 years, not only at its restaurants, but also with branded cooking schools and ready-to-eat meal kits. In addition to Bangkok and Phuket, Blue Elephant also has restaurants in Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen, and Malta.
Exporting snapshots of the contemporary Bangkok bistro scene is Greyhound Café, a fashion-slash-food brand with 18 outlets in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia. Its debut beyond Asia opened in London’s Fitzrovia in December 2017.
Over a decade earlier, London was the first overseas location for Patara, a fine Thai cuisine restaurant which opened in the British capital in 1990. Patara’s presence in London has since increased to six outlets, along with restaurants in Singapore, Beijing, Vienna and Geneva (at the Beau Rivage).
Perhaps the most prolific of all the Thai restaurant brands is Mango Tree. Since the first restaurant opened in Bangkok in 1994, Mango Tree has gone on to operate some 30 branded eateries in 12 countries around the globe including UK, UAE, India, Nepal, Japan, Hong Kong and China.
“Over the last 15 years we have started to see a more adventurous type of customer emerge who is open to delving into the unchartered territories of Thai cuisine,” says Trevor MacKenzie, managing director, Mango Tree Worldwide.
Thanks to these global ambassadors of Thai cuisine, foodies around the world are increasingly spoilt for choice.
Here is what our Inspectors said about Somtum Der (Michelin Plate, MICHELIN Guide Bangkok 2018)
While other regional Thai cuisines are represented, Isaan dishes from northeastern Thailand dominate the menu at this cozy eatery in the busy Silom neighbourhood. The homemade grilled sausage and spicy herbal soup are standouts, but the big draw is som tum, the famous Thai papaya salad, served ten different ways. The team of Thai owners have another branch in New York City and have plans to expand to Ho Chi Minh City, Tokyo, and Beijing.
Here is what our Inspectors said about Blue Elephant (Michelin Plate, MICHELIN Guide Bangkok 2018)
Under the helm of chef Nooror Somany Steppe, this long-running restaurant is a stalwart of the Bangkok culinary scene. Blue Elephant's Bangkok outpost is brought to life in a traditional colonial style home on bustling Sathorn Road with an elegant dining room that fills nightly with out-of-towners and locals here for a special occasion. Order the tasting menu and savor a range of royal-style recipes. Hands-on cooking classes are available during the day.
Here is what our Inspectors said about Patara (Michelin Plate, MICHELIN Guide Bangkok 2018)
There is real care for detail and presentation here at Patara, and the flavors are authentic, especially in dishes like duck red curry, deep-fried grouper with lemongrass, and the assorted appetizer platter. Patara is the owner's name and the restaurant, which occupies a beautiful two storey house and has a lovely garden, is in the heart of nightlife-heavy Thong Lo, making it a great first stop on a night out in Bangkok.
