Songkran's over but the temperature is still smothering. Stay cool with Life's selection of Thai-owned, home-made novelty ice cream parlours.
Only when you order six scoops or more will you get the hot-pot. (Itim Morefire Yotse 1)
Itim Morefire Yotse
Customers declared their undying love for the hit ice cream flavours at Soi Yotse, partly by nicknaming the nine scoops served in a bowl as "Earthquake". In reaction to this, owner Surachai Sermkasemsin knew he had to create a novelty of his own.
There's lots of places where ice cream is served in a hotpot, but it is at Itim Morefire Yotse where it first started three years ago. People usually come for the weird but delicious flavours such as Redbull-vodka, lyryju (lychee and soju), beer and Horlicks, along with more Thai tastes such as Yakult jelly and kod nom (damn milky). The picturesque dry-ice smoke makes it appetising for the eyes too. Don't miss the popular and seasonal offering of sticky rice, mango and milky ice cream. There's currently nine branches of Itim Morefire Yotse, with the 10th opening at Bangsan tomorrow. But for the original, air-con-less atmosphere of eating at a local townhouse stall by the street, head to Soi Yotse.
Itim Morefire Yotse Soi Yotse, Krungkasem Road. Open daily 7pm-11pm. Visit @itimmorefireyotse on Instagram. Prices start at 30 baht per scoop.
The eight-scoop set comes with two free pieces of fudge. (Creamery 1)
Creamery Boutique Ice Creams
This seemingly low-key little parlour has made it to second place on Trip Advisor's ranking of top ice cream parlours in Thailand. That the awesome ice cream can be found in the middle of a shadowy block is hard to believe, but it becomes clearer when owner Chompunuch Jomsangawong reveals she previously worked in the dessert department at Mandarin Oriental.
There's lots of funky flavours here, but the funkiest of them all is Brit Pop, a mixture of bacon and eggs. It's not full-on salty and savoury though, as the egg comes from custard texture and the crisp bacon bits as the topping. Among our favourites are Ca.Le.Ho.Yo (cardamom, lemon, honey yoghurt), a zesty sweet and sour one, perfect for ladies who love detoxing, Counter Strike (a camouflage-like texture of pistachio, caramel and chocolate fudge) and Zombie Food, a passion fruit sorbet with jelly (brain-like) bits. Choc-a-lot, a soft and doughy lava cookie topped with a scoop of ice cream that comes straight from a piping hot oven, is another must-try.
Creamery Boutique Ice Creams U-Center, Soi Chula 42. Open daily 11am-9pm (closed on national holidays). Visit @creamerybkk on Instagram. Prices start at 49 baht per scoop.
Mahachai Kai Kang
The treat found at Mahachai Kai Kang has been around for over half-a-century and could once be easily found in Phitsanulok, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, Ranong and in Bangkok. Today, it's all but obsolete, apart from in small stores like Mahachai Kai Kang.
The coconut ice cream they serve has streaks of orange yolk, which gives the generic flavour a richer and chewier eggy texture. To make this peculiarly pleasant mix, a thin layer of fresh egg yolk is poured onto the ice cream and left to harden in the freezer.
As the yolk leaves the ice cream tasting less sweet, free toppings — as many and as much as you want — are offered so you can boost up the sucrose level to your heart's content. Help yourself to a range of colourful jellies, cornflakes, fruits and traditional Thai toppings such as corn, beans and salim (coconut milk).
Mahachai Kai Kang Queen Sirikit National Convention Center food court. Open Mon-Fri 8am-2pm and whenever there are events on the weekend. Visit www.facebook.com/mahachaicoconuticecream for details about the next events or fairs they will be attending. Prices start at 35 baht per cup.
Itim Lamoon
This retro-cool parlour sports a wooden interior with colourful flags, tin toys and lightbulb-framed signs that transport you to the atmosphere of temple fairs. Serving quintessentially Thai flavours such as a Sugus, Sala Cider & Lime or Broken Heart Rum Raisin, which is made with SangSom rum, owner Danupon Umnouypreechakul founded Itim Lamoon after noticing that many Thais had turned their backs on local ice cream carts.
Danupon loves the distinctive charm these carts bring with them, but doesn't deny that they might attract more people if their ice cream actually tasted better. Lamoon's Signature Coconut Milk is much heavier and more aromatic compared to the roadside stalls. It's delicious when served as a Bangkok Banana sundae (69 baht) — being topped with nuts, sweetened banana and incense-smoked wafer rolls.
Those with a milk allergy can treat themselves to other coconut-based flavours, be it Mango & Coconut Milk, Butterfly Pea & Coconut Milk or Durian & Coconut Milk, all of which gives a different tropical feel from the usual milky fares.
Itim Lamoon Central Rama III, 5th floor. Open daily 11am-9pm. Visit @itimlamoon on Instagram. Prices start at 45 baht per scoop with one free topping.
Bangkok Banana sundae.
Yakult and Fancy Jelly.
Fresh egg yolk is added to coconut ice cream. (Mahachai Kai Kang 1)
