Meals on wheels doesn’t have to be som tam. There are plenty of Western and gourmet options being served from the backs of trucks, vans and tuk-tuks in Bangkok — many of them creatively renovated and strikingly attractive.
Much as Thai street food has become famous around the world, now the world’s food is available on Bangkok’s streets. Brunch slipped on the trainers and hit the road to see what’s on offer.
DANIEL THAIGER
Step aside Big Mac, Daniel Thaiger (tiger ... geddit?) is serving Bangkokians some of the juiciest, freshest-grilled burgers in town. It’s time we waved farewell to old-hat fast food outlets, headed to Sukhumvit Soi 38 and followed the tempting smell of hot, sizzling patties.
Honey and Mark, owners of Daniel Thaiger, gained an appreciation for food trucks and the great taste of American-style burgers while living in Los Angeles. They were determined the taste wouldn’t be relegated to memory, bringing their passion to Bangkok. The couple said, “There were many friends of ours who complained about the scarcity of fine American burgers here, and we couldn’t agree more, so we came up with the idea of Daniel Thaiger.”
Honey added, “The main concept of Daniel Thaiger is to offer our customers casual in-and-out dining with the best-quality ingredients. Obviously, we try to maintain the essence of the American burger, like our must-try Mr Steve Burger, or in the pastrami sandwich, which incorporates a lot of the traditional American elements.
“We also try to develop new recipes whenever we are struck by inspiration. This has resulted in our weekly specials — from the heavy taste of homemade chilli sauce to make our cheeseburger hotter than ever, to adding a French sensation to our foie gras burger, to the Greek burger that’s reminiscent of a Mediterranean holiday.”
One thing that never changes is the high quality of their ingredients. Freshly baked sesame-seed buns, sharp Californian cheese, fresh lettuce and tomato, all topped with delicious homemade Thaiger sauce — then there’s the meat.
The meat for the premium all-beef patty is carefully selected by the couple themselves, and is grilled to ensure a tender texture and maximum juiciness. It melts in your mouth.
The past six months have been good to Daniel Thaiger. Still, Mark and Honey prefer to take things step by step, and see their success and that of others with food trucks as the start of something special.
“I think the food truck culture is quite refreshing within Thailand’s food scene and I can’t wait to see other trucks come out and join together in street food gatherings helping to solidify our status in the near future.”
Daniel Thaiger is located on Sukhumvit Soi 38, and is open daily from 5.30pm-10.30pm. They normally sell out quickly, so it’s advisable to arrive early.
on the scene: Kofuku brings a taste of Tokyo to Bangkok, opposite Town In Town.
KOFUKU
With izakaya lanterns and bamboo slats adorning this renovated pickup truck at The Scene in Lat Phrao, we sensed that an umami feast was waiting for us.
Pathakorn Rodpoung, 28, and friends set Kofuku’s wheels in motion two years ago after coming up with a distinctive flavour for their tonkatsu (pork cutlet) recipe.
“We tried not to stick with the original, and after countless experiments we’ve finally found the taste that represents our unique characteristic,” Mr Pathakorn said.
The inspiration was to transplant a taste of casual and lively Japanese street food into the The Scene in Town in Town, one of the hottest spots for bars and restaurants in Bangkok.
The crispy crunchiness of the katsu, although juicy on the inside, comes in many forms — a sandwich served as an appetiser, and there are large plates of rice and curry with options including tonkatsu, fried fish, chicken karage and scallops. With an atmosphere that attempts to mimic the cosy nature of Tokyo, those seated at the counter also have the bonus of seeing how the food is prepared.
Kofuku is parked at The Scene, Lat Phrao Soi 94 (Town in Town), and is open daily from 6pm-1am. A second branch is at Chokchai 4 Soi 37, and is open daily from 6pm-12am.
frosty treat: Annette i tim Tuk Tuk’s homemade Italian-style ice-cream on a stick.
ANNETTE I-TIM TUK-TUK
Does the Bangkok heat make you crave refreshing, chilly dessert? Then maybe treat your sweet tooth to a freshly-made gelato stick from Annette i tim Tuk Tuk.
This is where the luscious sweetness of homemade gelato intersects with nostalgic vibes and creative thinking. Fitting, really, as the tuk-tuk is parked in the Major Ratchayothin Complex, at the intersection of Ratchadaphisek and Phahon Yothin roads.
Duangdhamon “Anne” Kaewphongsri, the founder of this three-wheel freezer, said her goal was to own stylish and hygienic food trucks at popular tourist attractions.
“Being able to get around is key. With mobility, we can approach our customers wherever and whenever they are,” Anne said. “However, we don’t need a large truck to carry our ice-cream around. I was looking for something that is cute but also has a vintage feel. There’s no doubt a tuk-tuk is the perfect choice here.”
After a year of training in the art of making gelato, Anne launched the first tuk-tuk of its kind.
“Since scooped gelato can be found in almost every shopping mall here, we needed to create something different. That’s the reason why we sell our gelato on sticks.”
The hardest part is choosing a flavour, whether it’s classic fresh milk, the more sophisticated tiramisu, sassier fruit salad or the nostalgic hit of bubblegum, there’s plenty to tempt the taste buds. The best seller is mango and passion fruit.
Not only a taste sensation, the gelato works as eye candy too. Plenty of customers can’t resist snapping a shot to make their friends on social media jealous, and many take selfies with the lovely baby blue tuk-tuk in the background.
Annette i tim Tuk-Tuk is located at the Major Ratchayothin Complex (in front of Greyhound Restaurant). Open daily from 11am-5pm. Also at Chatuchak Weekend Market (across from Toilet 1) Price: 80 baht per stick.
MANOP SUKI
As if to prove serving food from the back of trucks is not simply a hip trend, Manop Suparbsoonthorn has been operating something of a permanent pop-up in Chinatown for 28 years. It started off as a combination of street-side suki outlet and family transport, but the restaurant’s days of movement have come to an end.
“Even though its mobility has come to an end, the truck is still, and will always be the trademark of Manop Suki. It is how customers remember us,” said Pongsak Suparbsoonthorn, from the second generation of the family business.
The dish that Manop Suki has always served over the years is a pleasant assembly of wun sen (glass noodles), marinated meat (pork, chicken or seafood), egg, fresh napa cabbage, morning glory and a scrumptious sweet and chilli suki sauce. It comes dry or as soup.
While not as striking as the trendy Western-style food trucks, Manop Suki’s truck has a quaint charm and is definitely worth seeking out.
Manop Suki is on Soi Charoen Krung 27 (across from the entrance of Wat Traimitr). Open daily, 6pm-9.30pm. Prices start from 40 baht/plate.
LA MONITA
No, there’s nothing wrong with your eyes. Yes, it’s a truck parked on the ground floor of Siam Paragon. No, you can’t actually drive away with all the tacos.
Made in the image of California’s famous taco trailers, this taqueria (taco shop) is about much more than looks — head turning though they are.
Taking its inspiration from the Mission district of San Fransisco, the truck is packed with fresh ingredients, great wraps and to-die-for sauces. One of the highlights on the menu is the tequila shrimp tacos. Flamed in tequila, the shrimps are combined with cheese, lime, chillies, onion and a smattering of parsley in a freshly-made tortilla. Also popular is the Paragon baja gordita, a soft, homemade gordita (a deep-fried pocket of cornmeal dough) encasing cheese, your choice of meat, lettuce, fresh tomato salsa and a special creamy sauce.
Also available are a taco salad, burritos, nachos and quesadillas. With quick and efficient service, all you need to focus on is the food.
And when the traffic looks too congested, just remember the taco truck isn’t going anywhere.
La Monita is on the ground floor of Siam Paragon, and is open daily from 10am-9pm.
BLUE SKY BAR
Usually vehicles and alcohol don’t mix, and we don’t recommend it, but this case is an exception. The staff at Blue Sky Bar will never let you get behind the wheel.
The roof of the Volkswagen combi van, covered in delightfully gaudy graffiti, lifts up and has a mirror ball.
Also inside is an earnest bartender who is ready to shake drinks for you. What more could you want from a retro minivan than to also be a pop-up cocktail bar?
Sukhumvit Soi 11 has become the hub of Volkswagen bars in Bangkok, and they offer a nifty alternative for revellers who feel the need to pop outside for a spell for a quieter, more down-to-earth atmosphere.
Blue Sky Bar’s Prayuth In-gong explained it was his day job in the car industry that fuelled his passion for classic, retro vans. This in turn drove him into his current career.
He also said the future for this kind of mobile bar in Thailand is promising, and he is glad to have been part of the retro spirit lighting up the soi for the past four years.
Retro style might be in, but hipster pretentiousness is out. Come along in your flip-flops and shorts and you’ll be welcomed with a big smile. There’s a wide range of cocktails to choose from — mai tais, mojitos, even sex on the beach, plus the bar’s own creations.
Oh, and the cost is super wallet-friendly as well. So if you are looking for pre-party drinks or an economical tipple to top off a long day, these vans could just be the place. n
Blue Sky Bar is on Sukhumvit Soi 11, about 500m from the main road. The bar is open from 8pm onwards.
