Going in for the combo

Nothing spices up a dish more than bringing together different tastes and textures that come from worlds apart. That's why we here at Guru have hunted down some of Bangkok's hottest culinary combos! Here are some top picks that'll send your palate on an adventurous path!

NOTHING BEATS BREAKFAST

It looks like a waffle, but tastes like a croissant!? Say hello to the craffle, available at... you guessed it, The Craffle! These particular ones come in four varieties: Ham and cheese, Spinach and cheese, Chocolate (All B80) and the Original (plain) drizzled in honey (B60). Cut and quartered after creation for perfect dunking, this pastry has a fun and unique texture combo that is appealing for both waffle and croissant lovers. The fillings range from sweet and silky like the Original with honey to the subtly savoury like the Ham and cheese. Despite the filling or topping, the entire craffle remains light and crisp. While you're there, make sure to check out the soft cookies. Swollen with filling, this is a cross between a cookie and a lava cake and comes in a variety of flavours as well.

The Craffle, Southwest Corner of Lasalle 46 Alley and Sukhumvit Road Soi 105, Bangna. Mon- Fri 7am- 5pm, Sat-Sun 8am- 5pm. 090-990-8314. http://goo.gl/kf4Yrk.

OH MY LARB!

Daniel Thaiger is a household name in Bangkok and synonymous with good burgers, so it only makes sense that their home base establishment Crying Thaiger would concoct a culinary bridge between a western staple and an Isan classic. The Porky larb (B290) is an ingenious spin on the spicy meat salad that takes minced pork, packs it with spices and herbs, makes it into a patty, grills it and places it open faced on a patty of fresh sticky rice, layering it with homemade Larb mayo. Finally, the whole thing is topped off with fried basil leaves. The patty was spicy and delicious, juicy with lime zest and large tantalising hints of chili peppers. Every bite was both addictive and filling. It was larb on an entirely new level. Thick and plentiful, it's a must for larb lovers.

While you're there, don't forget to try the Larb feta fries (B195), an appropriate side for any meal here; a heap of crispy hot french fries is draped in larb mayo and sprinkled heavily with feta cheese, complementing the sauce exquisitely. The mayo uses the exact same ingredients as traditional larb dishes, so no matter what it carries that one of a kind Isan kick.

Crying Thaiger, 27/1 Sukhumvit Road Soi 51. 5pm- 11pm. 097-052-8861. http://fb.com/cryingthaigerbkk.

SUNS OUT BUNS OUT

Known as the steamed bao, or gua bao, the traditional Taiwanese street food has been reinvented and reconfigured with new delicious fillings and sauces for a sumptuous kick! Starting off initially as a food stand at Thammasat University in Rangsit, Hotto Bun has rapidly grown into a chain of hot and ready restaurants popping up at university campuses all over Bangkok and beyond.

Seated at a middle table inside the busy Kasetsart campus, we were greeted with two wooden plates stacked with two very beautiful looking sandwiches. Both the Crispy chicken bun (B65) and the Fish tempura bun (B65) sit on top of a soft snow white bun that's still smoking from the bamboo steamer. A strip of seaweed is stuck on the outside for extra texture and flavour. Steamed lettuce is added to the bottom first, then fresh out of the deep fryer comes the golden cuts of fried chicken and tempura. Breaded and deep fried on the spot, it comes out of the oil cackling and you can hear how crispy it is before you even bite into it. Afterwards it's smothered in a homemade dressing that's glowing orange and blended in spices along with subtle fruit flavours to bring about a sweet and tangy yet spicy and savoury taste. So much sauce is piled on that they give you plastic gloves just to keep your fingers dry. A pinch of seasonings is lightly sprinkled on top of it all and it's pierced with a fancy toothpick to keep the whole thing together. At a price like this, make room for seconds and take a shot at their bestseller, the Spicy braised pork bun (B75).

Hotto Bun, Mon-Fri 7.30am - 8.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10.30pm. 096-717-1608, http://fb.com/HottoBunThailand, find all 11 locations at http://goo.gl/9mxS8p.

SAY YOU'RE SHARI

Shari Shari is offering a plus size alternative for folks with a substantial appetite for sushi. A whopping selection of thickly rolled sushi burritos is what sets this establishment apart from the endless list of sushi places Bangkok has to offer. The fiery Tuna sushi burrito (B240) is tightly wrapped in a giant sheet of seaweed in place of a tortilla and it's packed top to bottom with all the traditional fillings you'd find in a tuna roll and much more. Added inside the roll were fried shallots which kept the texture alive right through to the end. Surprisingly, the paper thin seaweed held itself together until the very last bite.

Made to order immediately before your eyes, don't expect a long wait. Within two minutes, this thing is rolled up and ready to go. Perfect for the sushi lover who's too busy to break out the chopsticks, this grab-and-go style of sushi masters quality without sacrificing quickness. Also, try the eggplant fries (B65); served with a side of creamy ranch, you'll find all the texture and taste of normal fries present, but without the guilt!

Shari Shari, Silom Complex, B/F, Silom Road. 10am-9.30pm. 097-926-9293, http://fb.com/sharisharibkk.

MORIMOTIVATED

Morimoto Bangkok serves up signature dishes invented by the world famous Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. The Duck taco (B110) begins its journey 24 hours before being served as it's slow roasted overnight to make the meat soft and succulent. It is tucked into a crisp and golden gyoza wonton crafted into a mini taco shell and then topped with julienne Tokyo scallions and cucumber. An in-house hoisin mix and apricot jam are lightly squirted side by side on top to finish it off.

We also tried the Hamachi tacos (B290 for a set of three). Enveloped in the same crispy gyoza shell, it was packed with cubed Hamachi tossed in yuzukosho, a fine Japanese chilli pepper paste. Topped with green onion, some local peppers and the homemade Morimoto guac -- strained from avocados for that smooth glossy texture -- each bite tastes fresh and brisk. To amplify the flavour, freshly squeezed limes are a must.

Morimoto Bangkok, MahaNakhon CUBE, 4/F, 96 Narathiwat Ratchanakharin Road, Next to BTS Chong Nonsi. 11.30am -2.30pm, 6pm -11pm. 02-060-9099. http://fb.com/MorimotoBangkok.

CONE CRAZY

Pizza in a cone? Okay you've got our attention. Stopping by Kono Pizza for the Spicy chicken pizza cone (B159), we found the entire cone all around pleasant. Taking a baked pizza dough cone, they stuff it with squirts of pizza sauce and cheese, and we mean they really stuff it hard. The topping and shredded cheese is packed in there nice and tight and then topped with pizza sauce. This routine happens about three or four times until the cone is overflowing with cheese and spicy chicken. After this they take it for a lap in their custom built cone oven, which takes these cones for a slow ride at high temps until they come out the other side with golden crusts and the cheese and chicken looking all too tempting. Eating out of a cone allows for those giant and filling bites. To all pizza lovers out there, it might not be what you're looking for when a pizza craving hits, but it's a cool concept and worth a trial run.