Nestled in the Pavilion on the 6th floor of Iconsiam, MaiMai Boat Noodle lies comfortably in the middle ground between tradition and modernity. The 35-year-old recipe of the restaurant's specialty dish -- boat noodles -- has been passed down through the generations of the family of Dusit Thani Bangkok's founder.
Those who were fans of Le Jardin, a much-loved restaurant that served Thai and Western cuisine in Peninsula Plaza Bangkok, ought to recognise the thick, aromatic broth served at MaiMai Boat Noodle. This is no coincidence. A few years ago, Chalita Salirathavibhaga, from the family's third generation, rebranded Le Jardin to MaiMai Eatery. MaiMai Boat Noodle is a branch of MaiMai Eatery, but with a focus on boat noodles.
Set in front of a stunning 15m multimedia waterfall, the restaurant is snuggled inside a metal cocoon and is one of Iconsiam's 10 eateries designed by Thailand's leading artists. Its open kitchen is framed by bronze-coloured metal and the circular dining area is dominated by a navy blue colour scheme.
The food is as impressive as the restaurant's setting. The menu elevates your standard boat noodles using a variety of quality meat options. The characteristic that stands out even more than the meat is the concentrated, bold-flavoured broth that's prepared with salted cow's blood, a secret blend of spices and a touch of fresh coconut milk.
To get a taste of everything, order the Beef boat noodle hot pot (B1,198), which comes with sliced ribeye, braised beef, beef balls, fried wonton sheets and a bowl of rice. You can also get a pork version (B798), which comes with sliced kurobuta pork, braised pork and pork balls. Also worth trying is the Boat noodle with Australian ribeye (B338), with five noodle choices available, namely egg noodles, glass noodles, flat rice noodles, rice noodles and vermicelli.
Elsewhere on the menu are classic Thai small bites that were popular back at Le Jardin. They include Steamed chive dumplings (B138), Fried tofu and taro with plum sauce (B158) and Pork cracklings with sweet chilli dip (B88).
Come time for dessert, you really need to get the Coconut crème brûlée (B188) that features ultra-creamy custard studded with chunks of coconut. For something more indulgent, the Banana in syrup (B88), which is served with a splash of salted coconut milk, will do the job.
MaiMai Boat Noodle, 6th Floor, Iconsiam, Charoen Nakhon Road / Call 02-108-9977, visit fb.com/maimainoodleth.
