Cafe Chilli Isaan Rustic Northeastern Thai Open daily 11am-midnight Soi Ruam Rudee Call 063-902-2405 Visit www.fb.com/CafeChilliIsaanRustic
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The Setting
No stranger to serving flavourful and spicy Isan cuisine, Cafe Chilli has set up shop with its third branch within Soi Ruam Rudee, right by Athenee Residence. While the menu is more or less identical to sister branches at Siam Discovery and EmQuartier, its unique bar along with strikingly colourful and vibrant contemporary interiors helps set it apart.
Although focused on the northeastern region of Thailand as one notices from relics around the resto-bar fusion, the playful colours evoke feelings of being in a tropical and/or Mexican restaurant. The design choice is meant to change customers' perception that Isan food should not always be associated and themed around traditional designs, but to have it look modern with a fun, radiant vibe. A wide outdoor area is also available for those who prefer to chill outside. Having a bar means the restaurant aims at pairing your hot meals, ingredients being advertised as locally-sourced, with chilly alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The Menu
Cafe Chilli strives to focus on the healthy side of Isan, although diners are not limited with their choices as an extensive menu seems to cover everything -- from fried and grilled dishes to soups, som tum, larb and nam tok. There is definitely a lot to try.
If you're looking for a low cholesterol choice, try their free-range Grilled turmeric chicken (B295 for half, B585 for whole). The bird, which is grilled for an hour, is lathered in aromatic Thai whiskey and is firm and soft. Expect high protein and low-fat when you have a chew at it. Conversely, from the fried menu, we tried the Cafe Chilli fried pork (B150) and paired each chopped slice of meat with four dipping sauces -- sweet and sour, basil, jaew and ginger jaew sauces. They're great for appetisers, each one providing a different flavour. However, it could be oily for some. The four homemade dipping sauces will be sold in small bottles in the near future, so stay tuned.
The Spicy soup with bouncy pork balls (B230) had the right amount of spiciness for my taste and as the name suggests, the pork balls were juicy enough that when combined with the soup, gives it a tangy punch. The Deep-fried baby back ribs (B180) were too crisp but like all good larb it has that magic balance of spicy, sour and sweet.
For desserts, we suggest the coconut ice-cream (B130) served with an assortment of mix and match Thai sweet condiments for your experimental pleasure. Highly presentable when served, it will make you feel like a kid in a candy shop all over again.
Cho-muang.
Insider's Tip
This review wouldn't be complete without taking a dive at their signature artisanal Thai cocktails (B250 each), with each drink using Mekhong spirits as the base. You have a choice between the apple-orange-lemon mix of muan-lai with a dash of cinnamon and brown sugar, the sweet longan and honey flavoured lam-yai and the purple cho-muang, the combination of which is lemon, butterfly pea and lemongrass.
A live band plays every Thursday and Friday night. If you decide to hangout for drinks with your buddies for the night, why not have a go at their retro Gottlieb Super Spin pinball machine. B10 for 3 balls is all it takes to get a chance to play, dear pinball wizard.
Value & Verdict
If you've tried Cafe Chilli somewhere else, expect more of the same. However, for those who have yet to try their extensive Isan menu and might be looking to wind down after a hard day's night, head on over to this "Isan Rustic" branch on Soi Ruam Rudee, with reasonable prices and spicy Isan food.
Deep-fried baby back ribs.
Coconut with 8 Thai sweet condiments.
Spicy Soup with bouncy pork balls.
