Monday, January 11, 2016

Mutton Biryani at Bang Rak


[The Muslim Restaurant has announced its closure on 1 September 2020.]

A pity that Home Cuisine Islamic Restaurant (196-8, Soi 36 Chaoroenkrung Road) in Bang Rak was closed for a few days over the New Year holidays. We miss its fantastic goat biryani. But never mind, we sorted out lunch at the nearby unimaginatively named Muslim Restaurant (ร้านอาหารมุสลิม) situated diagonally across from the State Tower.

Muslim Restaurant is super old school! I like! Apparently it has been around for 70 years! This is Bangkok and in a tourist belt, so menus are provided in English too. I had no idea what mutton biryani is called in Thai, till this meal. Hahahaha. The Thais simply call biryani 'khao mok' (ข้าวหมก), so chicken biryani is 'khao mok gai' (ข้าวหมกไก่); goat biryani is 'khao mok paek' (ข้าวหมกแพะ).


I'm not sure we could talk about authenticity in terms of Indian-Muslim-Thai food in Thailand. The spices used are really different, resulting in a completely different fusion of Indian-Muslim flavors we're used to in Singapore and Malaysia. Well, we aren't looking for 'authenticity'. We want to know how Thailand, or rather Bangkok does these flavors. It's most interesting to see how the flavors have consolidated and taken on a unique Thai identity from immigration and trading patterns.

The man loved the roti canai with chicken curry. He liked it so much that he ordered two pieces. Aiyoh. Hahaha. For all the carbs we ate, gotta either sweat it off or walk it off. Same same. The restaurant doesn't do goat. They have mutton biryani. Cool. And indeed, mutton biryani was the star dish on our table. Slow roasted mutton. OH SO GOOD! The meat simply fell off when the fork gently prodded it. This biryani used a different sort of rice. Short-grained, not basmati. The restaurant offers 'mataba' or what we know as 'murtakbak'. Didn't order that though. No more stomach space!


Muslim Restaurant
1354-56 New Road (Soi 42) Charoenkrung
Silom Road, Bangkok 10500
Hours: 6am to 5pm daily, except during Ramadan
T: 02 234 1876

ร้านอาหารมุสลิม
1354-1356 ซอยปากซอยเจริญกรุง 42
ถนนเจริญกรุง สีลม บางรัก กรุงเทพฯ 10500
เวลาเปิด – ปิด : ตั้งแต่เวลา 6.30 – 17.00 น
โทรศัพท์ : 02 234 1876

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