I
used to live for 2 years right opposite Seacon Square along Srinakarin Road.
Before Centralworld appeared, Seacon Square was the largest mall by floor area
in Bangkok, and is patronized by locals from all walks of life in eastern
Bangkok. Aside of its sheer size, one other aspect of the mall stunned me. Last
I counted, there were no less than 11 hotpot/bbq buffet restaurants occupying
its top floor, with more than half of them completely full half the time. I
later found out that the famous MK Restaurant has a whopping 422 branches across
Thailand, which is more than double that of the number of outlets McDonald's
currently has(!!).
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We finally found a hotpot that we truly
love. |
Even
though Thailand is well and truly a hotpot-crazy nation, with well-established
brands locally (MK, Sukishi, Shabu-shi etc.) and internationally (Coca), I
personally have found it difficult to eat at any of the big names, because a
soup-lover like me cannot bring myself to enjoy steamboats with starting
soup-bases which are almost as bland as water. Some are better than others, but
on the whole, the focus of the local consumers seem to be their dips and the
familiarity of the highly-advertised local brand images.
However,
after 6 years, I am happy to say that I have finally found a restaurant that
serves hotpot like it should be. Ping's Hotpot is located right beside Ping's
Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant in Pathumwan Princess Hotel, which I
earlier reviewed on my blog to serve arguably the most
delicious fish maw soup in Bangkok. I was told that the original soup base used
for the hotpot is the exact one used to make their famous fish maw soup, so
that's a good starting point. Ping's serves 4 other soups, the Teochew Herbal,
Mongolian Spicy Herbal and 2 versions of Tom Yum, clear and milky. If you ask
me, if you are here for the first time, you absolutely have to go for the
original soup base, and probably the Tom Yum with coconut milk, just because you
are in Thailand.
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The original soup base on the left, and milky tom yum on
the right, bubbling away. |
Like
its sister restaurant, Ping's Hotpot focuses on bringing out the best in quality
ingredients. I especially enjoyed their assorted meatballs made in-house, as
well as their seafood set, which included premium fish like salmon, cod and 2
incredibly sweet and succulent scallops.
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My wife and I finished all
these! |
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Wide range of sauces available, together with minced
scallions, chilli padi and garlic. If you are not sure, just ask the helpful
wait-staff to help you make a standard dip, which is what I usually
do. |
If
what you just read is not tempting enough, let the Stranger in Bangkok tell you
a secret that's not on the menu. If you have finished all your food but still
have some soup left, there is actually a way to conveniently finish every last
drop.
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|
Order the boiled rice/ khaotom
set! |
In
fact, I am almost embarrassed to admit this is my favourite part of the entire
meal. With the remaining soup (preferably the original soup base), the
meticulous waiter will require a few minutes to incorporate the ingredients
above and turn it into the tastiest porridge you would have eaten in a long
time.
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A shot of the shimmering egg yolk before it's carefully
beaten into the porridge. |
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Tadaa... the perfect ending to a satisfying meal. The
porridge set costs 140THB and gives you 4 rice bowls of
porridge. |
I
think I will need to end here. It has been an utter mistake writing this in the
middle of an afternoon in which I do not have the time and resources to have a
proper lunch. Time to grab a bite.
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