When it comes to Indian food, I believe many people will have some kind of reaction, and most of them tend to be negative. This is because Indian cuisine is not as popular in Thailand as Japanese, Chinese, or Korean food. Moreover, many people have a preconceived notion that Indian food is spicy, has a strong smell of spices, will cause diarrhea, or other various things. But did you know that many Indian restaurants actually serve delicious and easy-to-eat food? More importantly, there are many Thai people who love this type of food.



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Today, I, "Husband Used by Wife," will take you to try Indian food at Bawarchi, one of the most famous Indian restaurant chains in Bangkok. Established in 1998, Bawarchi has been serving the city for almost 20 years. This longevity is a testament to the quality of the restaurant, suggesting that it must be truly exceptional to have endured for so long.



Bawarchi currently has four branches in Thailand: Chidlom, Sathorn, Sukhumvit Soi 4, and Sukhumvit Soi 11. Today, we will take you to try the Chidlom branch. The restaurant is located on the B floor of the InterContinental Hotel. You can get there by car, bus, or BTS Skytrain and get off at Chidlom Station. Once you arrive at the InterContinental Hotel, go down to the B floor and walk to the front of the hotel. You will see the restaurant like this. If you walk down the stairs in front of the hotel on Sukhumvit Road, you will see the restaurant on your right hand side.



Upon entering the restaurant, the ambiance was noticeably dim. This is likely due to the restaurant's location in the basement, which limits natural light. Additionally, the restaurant's deliberate choice of lighting creates a sense of intimacy for patrons.



The restaurant's interior and exterior decor exudes an Indian ambiance. Based on a visual estimate, the total number of tables and chairs in the restaurant can accommodate approximately 80-100 people.



Today, the restaurant prepared all the dishes for my wife and me. To be honest, even if I had looked at the menu, I wouldn't have known what to order. The meal consisted of a starter, a main course, and dessert.



Starter

1. Papadum Cones & Chutney: Crispy, cone-shaped papadums served with chutney.

2. Papadum Salsa: Crispy papadums served with a vibrant Mexican-style salsa.

3. Chicken Masala: Tandoori-spiced grilled chicken

4. Tandoori Broccoli: Roasted broccoli with cream cheese

5. Tandoori Lamb Chop: Grilled Lamb

6. Dahi Kebab: Yogurt and garlic kebab



Main Course

1. Rogan Josh: A lamb curry cooked with spices.

2. Butter Chicken: Chicken Breast Curry

3. Sagg Paneer: Indian cheese (paneer) and spinach curry.

  1. Dal Makhani: Lentil Curry

5. Saffron Rice : Indian Rice

6. Garlic Naan & Original Naan: Garlic naan and traditional naan.



Dessert

1. Kulfi Mango Flavor: Indian ice cream

2. Gulab Jamun: Rose-Scented Sweet Dumplings

3. Rasmalai: Cottage cheese dumplings



While waiting for the chef to prepare the food, I ordered a drink to enjoy. The drinks I tried included:

• Mango Lassi

• Pineapple Smoothie

• Mojito



The Mango Lassi is the signature drink of the restaurant, with a delicious taste. The Pineapple Smoothie has a standard flavor. Finally, the Mojito is a very healthy drink, with a strong herbal flavor. Therefore, I recommend the Mango Lassi for those who want something delicious and authentically Indian.



Note: The water bottles here are beautiful. Although they are Italian, I think the shop has chosen a brand that matches the mood and tone of the shop well. It makes everything look cohesive.



After a short wait, the dishes began to arrive at our table. Let me go through them one by one, starting with the starters. I must preface this by saying that my wife and I are not food experts, especially when it comes to Indian cuisine. Therefore, I can only share my personal experience with the taste and general information that I was able to discern. If there are any inaccuracies, I apologize in advance.



The first item on the menu is Papadum Cones & Chutney, which are crispy cone-shaped crackers served with four different sauces: garlic yogurt (white), tamarind (yellow), mint (green), and beetroot chili (red). To enjoy, dip the cone-shaped crackers into the sauces provided. Each sauce offers a distinct flavor profile, with the beetroot sauce having a slightly spicy kick. Choose your favorite, or try them all! Personally, I prefer the tamarind sauce, while my wife enjoys the garlic yogurt and beetroot sauces.



Next up is Papadum Salsa, or crispy papadum cones filled with a spicy Mexican-style salsa. Similar to the first item, these cones are made of a crispy dough, but this time they're filled with a fiery Mexican salsa that packs a punch. Be warned, this dish is quite spicy, so if you can't handle the heat, it's best to avoid it. But for those who love bold flavors and a spicy kick, this is a must-try.



The next dish, Chicken Masala, or tandoor-grilled spiced chicken, is served with a total of 5 pieces. The pieces are not very large, the taste is delicious, easy to eat, and boneless.



The next dish was Tandoori Broccoli, or grilled broccoli with cream cheese. This was a favorite of my wife's, and it's amazing how they managed to combine flavors so well in such a slightly strange-looking dish. For cheese and broccoli lovers, this is a must-try.



The next dish is Tandoori Lamb Chop, which is grilled lamb. This dish comes with 3 pieces in total. The restaurant claims that it is grilled with a special high-temperature oven and should be eaten immediately because the taste will decrease significantly if it is not hot. This is indeed the case, as I have personally verified. Therefore, I recommend that you eat this dish immediately upon arrival.



The Starter menu concludes with Dahi Kebab, or yogurt-garlic kebab. The appearance of this dish is similar to shrimp cakes, while the inside resembles smooth, bouncy, and chewy tofu. The taste is slightly sour. Personally, I don't like this dish very much, but my wife does.



We have now finished the Starter dishes. To be honest, I'm starting to feel full. Normally, six dishes for three people is a good amount for a meal. But since they have prepared it for us to try, we should give it our best shot. If we can't finish it, we can always take it home.



The main course features six dishes that can be enjoyed together, resulting in a visually stunning presentation.



Let's start by tasting the rice and curry first, as they are the main staples that we eat with various curries.



The restaurant offers two types of naan: traditional and garlic. My wife and I prefer the garlic naan because it is fluffier, thicker, and more flavorful. The Indian rice is also delicious, with long, slender grains that have a subtle aroma.



Let's take a look at the four types of curry: lamb curry, chicken breast curry, spinach curry, and lentil curry.

At first glance, the four types of curry may seem like they are not very large. However, if you think that three people can finish it, you should think again. No matter how much you eat, it seems like it will never run out.



The lamb curry, chicken breast curry, and spinach curry are served on trivets to keep them warm. The flavors of each dish are as follows:



• Rogan Josh (Lamb curry with spices): Delicious, my wife loved it, which is unusual as she doesn't normally enjoy lamb or goat dishes due to their strong smell. However, the chef prepared this dish perfectly, eliminating any odor and making it very enjoyable.

• Butter Chicken (แกงอกไก่): This dish is a personal favorite. The chicken breast is tender, and the curry sauce is rich and flavorful. It's my go-to curry dish.

• Sagg Paneer (Indian cheese and spinach curry): At first glance, I was hesitant to try this dish and left it to my wife, as I thought it would be too vegetable-heavy. However, upon tasting it, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a unique and flavorful dish that I had never experienced before. The chef expertly balanced the spinach and cheese flavors, creating a harmonious and satisfying experience.

• Dal Makhani (Black Lentil Curry): This was another dish that I was hesitant to try at first, but I was equally impressed once I did. It was delicious, with a subtle fragrance, especially when chewed.



From all the Main Dishes I've tried, I must admit that at first I was prejudiced against the appearance of many of them. I thought they wouldn't be delicious or to my taste, but after trying them, I was impressed by almost every dish. Most importantly, the aroma of the various spices wasn't overpowering at all; it was just right. And that's why, after the three of us analyzed that we definitely wouldn't be able to eat all the Main Dishes, I asked to pack the remaining naan and curry to take home and enjoy another day. Because it was that good! <3



Following the main course, it's time for dessert. To complete the experience, the restaurant offers three of their signature desserts. The presentation of all three items is visually appealing, and the flavors are as follows:



• Kulfi Mango Flavor (Indian ice cream): Made with goat's milk, this ice cream is not too cold, with a perfect level of coolness. It has a delicious taste and, importantly, melts slowly.

• Gulab Jamun: A renowned Indian dessert. I have tried this dish elsewhere and found it to be excessively sweet. However, the sweetness in this rendition is significantly better balanced. While still sweet, it is not overwhelmingly so.

• Rasmalai (cottage cheese dumplings): The taste is similar to bread soaked in milk, but the bread itself remains firm and does not dissolve. The flavor is delicious.



All three desserts were impressive, but the last three were the most memorable part of the meal.



After finishing my dessert, I asked the restaurant to pack some sticky rice and curry for me to take home. @_@ The restaurant, Baan Wachi, then brought me a silver box containing spices to be eaten after the meal. The one that looked like a sugar cube was okay, it was fun to chew on. But the green leaf one is a matter of personal preference. It is a fragrant leaf for some people and not so fragrant for others. @_@



Let's now summarize the key takeaways from today's discussion. I will break down the main points into the following categories:



Taste: Delicious and easier to eat than expected. The spices are not strong, but rather fragrant with a faint aroma at times. However, this is a matter of personal preference, as some people may not like the smell at all. For this meal, my wife and I enjoyed it and would give it a passing grade.


Culinary Diversity: Frankly, I couldn't understand their menu. Even though I could read it, I didn't know what anything was or what category it belonged to. However, judging from the number of pages on the menu and the dishes I had today, I would say that this restaurant has a wide and varied selection of food. Some of the dishes I wouldn't have expected to find on a menu like this.


Shop Cleanliness: Although the shop may appear dimly lit, it is clean and hygienic.



Employee Service: The service was good and prompt. However, one drawback is that the staff here primarily speak English. Only a few can speak Thai, and even then, it is difficult to understand. So much so that I felt it would be better to continue communicating in English. Therefore, anyone planning to visit should be prepared to communicate in English.



Convenience of travel: The restaurant is conveniently located on the B floor of the InterContinental Hotel, making it easily accessible by BTS Skytrain. Passengers can simply get off at Chit Lom Station. However, for those who drive, parking might be a challenge due to traffic congestion and the somewhat confusing parking layout.



Value for money: I am unable to provide an accurate assessment of the value for money as I do not have access to the specific prices of each dish on the menu. However, based on a cursory glance, the majority of dishes appear to be priced between 200-300 baht per plate, with some exceptions reaching 500-600 baht per plate. It is important to note that national dishes of this type often carry a higher price tag compared to Thai or other familiar cuisines. Nonetheless, I believe that many individuals would be willing to pay a premium for the opportunity to experience the unique and delectable flavors offered by this cuisine.



Summary: If you are adventurous and enjoy trying new and unique dishes, or if you are already a fan of Indian cuisine, Bawarchi is a restaurant that is likely to impress you. The menu features a variety of unusual dishes, the spices are not overpowering, and the restaurant is frequented by many Indian patrons, which suggests that the food is authentic and delicious. However, if you are not open to trying new things or if your stomach is sensitive to new flavors, this restaurant may not be the best choice for you. Nevertheless, it is worth keeping Bawarchi in mind as a potential option if you ever need to find an Indian restaurant to entertain guests.



This concludes my review. If there are any omissions or errors, I apologize. This review is based solely on my personal experience on the day of my visit. Each individual's experience may vary in terms of service and taste.



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See you again in the next review. Goodbye.



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