[Bangkok] Boat Noodles is one of my favourite Thai dishes, included with pork or beef in a flavourful robust-tasting broth. The soup is usually seasoned with pig’s (or cow’s) blood (which is an ingredient not incorporated in Singapore’s versions).
While most people go to the Victory Monument neighbourhood for authentic Thai Boat Noodles, I decided to try Thong Smith which is found at several swanky malls.
Yup, you can have Thong Smith after shopping which includes Siam World (3 FL) Siam Paragon (G FL), Central Embassy (5 FL), Emquartier (7 FL), and Central Ladproa (2 FL).
Setting up shop in a mega shopping mall, Thong Smith’s interior is posher and more upscale than the usual places, yet designed with the traditional rustic vibes.
Indulge in nothing less than excellent Siamese boat noodles here.
The one thing I noticed was that the restaurant was still full-house even though I visited off-peak hour during a weekday, and filled with many locals. Should be good – I thought?
They serve up Boat Noodles in several combinations and permutations, generally in spicy soup or dry, with beef or pork. There is also a Chicken Noodles with Clear Soup (139 THB) if you do not take either of the meats.
Accompanying the regular boat noodle creations are choices with more premium ingredients, air flown straight from Australia, to take things to the next level.
These choices come in when you order a bowl of the basic Beef Ball, Sliced Beef, Liver and Tripe Noodles (149 THB, 199 THB).
Another permutation gets you Ox Tongue, Beef Ball, Sliced Beef, Braised Shank and Tendon (279 THB). Apparently, the ox tongue is simmered for a day to tenderise it and impart it with the flavour of the herbs.
Quite unforgiving to those uninterested in spicy food, there are three levels of spiciness you can pick.
I tried the Beef Ball and Sliced Beef Noodles with Spicy Soup (149 THB). which you can order with Original Rice Noodles, Vermicelli, Egg Noodles, Flat Rice Noodles, or Konjac Noodles (+20 THB).
There is also a without noodle option at 199 THB.
And oh, the broth was so rich and flavourful, what you may describe as intense, with an interesting tinge of sourness and sweetness.
The spicy soup itself, at the second level of spice, had a strong kick already. It was decently salty to provide more taste to the ingredients within.
The Original Rice Noodles are nice, soft and slightly chewy. Even when soaked in soup, the noodles retain its bounciness.
Next time I would be keen to try the Sliced Australian Wagyu Ribeye (499 THB).
I also had the Pork Boat Noodles Dry (139 THB) with pork ball and sliced pork, and was impressed with the quality and taste of the egg noodles.
The egg noodles are specially sourced from a supplier that produces its goods the traditional way.
The noodles without soup still has a spice paste for you to mix thoroughly with (if this bowl was available in Singapore, I would eat this very regularly.)
For variety, you can enjoy appetisers like the Cracklings (20 THB), Crispy Pork and Shrimp Wontons (100 THB) and Grilled Beef Ball with Sweet Chilli Dip (119 THB).
Then cool down with drinks such as the Thai Iced Tea (89 THB), Longan Juice (89 THB), Plum Soda (89 THB), Pandan Juice (89 THB) to Bael Fruit Tea (78 THB).
If you are looking for refuge from the busy streets and to dig into hearty Boat Noodles in a pleasant environment, Thong Smith is where you should be at.
Thong Smith
Central World 3rd Floor #B302, 999/9 Rama 1 Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 068 6588
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
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* Written by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Dean Ang. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
