Go Eat, Go Out!The bars, clubs and restaurants of Thailand, and especially Bangkok, make the destination an excellent stopover - or even home base - for those who enjoy a wide variety of cuisine and a good night out of culture or clubbing. Get ideas and gain insights on dining (Go Eat!) and entertainment (Go Out!) in the kingdom.
There are numerous Middle Eastern restaurants located along Sukhumvit Soi 3 (Nana Neua) and Soi 3/1 in downtown Bangkok. You'll see on a map that there is even a lane called Middle East Street, which connects Soi 3/1 with Soi 5, demonstrating clearly the significant Arabic influence in the area.
While many visitors to the capital of many faiths and ethnicities choose to dine around here, locals clearly have their own particular favorites. Shahrazad is one such restaurant, which is popular among Muslims of all ages, as well as attracting a large number of overseas visitors.
With 20 years of catering experience, Sharazad has built up a remarkably comprehensive menu, offering the option of either Arabic or Indian-inspired dishes, ranging from soups, salads, various kinds of rice-based dishes, grilled dishes, as well as a selection of curries.
The Indian options include numerous kinds of biriyani (a dish made with spices, rice [usually Basmati], and meat or vegetables), as well as chapati and roti, the flat unleavened breads synonymous with Indian cuisine. You can also get several kinds of dishes flavored with massala, a popular blend of spices in South Asia. Arabic flavors
Since I have had plenty of experience of sampling Indian cuisine, I
decided to carefully browse through the menu twice before opting for
some dishes that highlight the restaurant's Arabic roots.
I ordered Saloona Samak (160 baht [US$4.57]), a kind of seafood soup
with tomato and spices, which at this eatery features sea bass, along
with a portion of mixed steamed rice (90 baht) to start my meal.
From a selection of fruit juices, teas and coffee (including Arabic and
Turkish), I opted to try a yogurt-based smoothie (90 baht). The
waitress asked me whether I wanted plain or a sweeter but sourer
version. On her advice, I opted for the latter since, frankly, the idea
of plain yogurt didn't really appeal.
Prompt, efficient service
Within a matter of minutes, items from my order began to arrive. The
soup came accompanied by some fresh vegetables, including slices of
cucumber and spring onions, as well as pickles and a bowl of chili
paste.
The mixed rice dish actually included three different portions of
steamed rice, each with a different color. The waitress explained that
the yellow (Asfar) rice is cooked with saffron, while the red (Ahmar)
rice is cooked with tomatoes. Apparently the white (Abiad) rice is steamed with butter or using water that had been used previously to cook macaroni.
The white rice comes topped with cashew nuts and raisins, while the
yellow and red rice were mixed with pieces of potato. The red rice had
the spiciest taste while the white rice was the oiliest. The three
distinctive kinds of rice are also compatible when mixed together.
The white rice worked well with the hint of sourness from the tomatoes
in the soup. The consistency of this soup is similar to a clear soup
and yet its color is distinctive due to the inclusion of tomatoes.
However, it also resembled an Indian curry dish somewhat as it included
chunks of potato and meat, while also having a spicy side to it. I was
to later learn that there are alternatives available, such as chicken
and mutton versions.
The accompanying vegetables, pickles and chili paste proved useful,
too, since they helped minimize the somewhat greasy taste of the white
rice.
The yogurt-based smoothie I ordered to accompany my meal was similar to
other smoothies sold in stores in and around Bangkok, although it was
rather less sweet and a little on the sour side for the Thai pallet.
Nevertheless, it certainly refreshed me following my walk to the
restaurant from the skytrain station (BTS Nana). Plenty of options
There are also plenty of lighter dishes on Shahrazad's menu, such as
rice cooked with minced lamb, stuffed in vine leaves (200 baht).
Meat lovers might enjoy Riyash ('Grilled lamb chop'), or several other lamb dishes, featuring kidneys or other cuts.
There are several dessert options, too, such as Crème Caramel, which
tastes rather like a standard egg custard, as well as Um-Ali ('Baked
milk with raisins and bread') and Arabic custard topped with ground
almonds, cocoa powder and ground coconut. All are served cold, and
feature a sweet yet creamy flavor.
Shahrazad opens daily from 9 am through to 3 am the next morning. For
further information, or to make a reservation, call Tel: +66 (0)2 251
3666.
Transport connections: Train: Take Exit 1 at Nana BTS skytrain station and walk back to
Sukhumvit Soi 3/1. You'll see Shahrazad about 500 meters into the soi
on your left-hand side.
Go Eat, Go Out! 
Go Eat, Go Out!
The bars, clubs and restaurants of Thailand, and especially Bangkok, make the destination an excellent stopover - or even home base - for those who enjoy a wide variety of cuisine and a good night out of culture or clubbing. Get ideas and gain insights on dining (Go Eat!) and entertainment (Go Out!) in the kingdom.
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