Paste Restaurant – Scrumptious Modern Thai Food in Bangkok

Looking for exciting and marvelously delicious modern Thai food in Bangkok? Paste Restaurant is as far as you need to search.
NOTE: You can read my more recent review of Paste at Gaysorn here.
NOTE: And as of 2018, congratulations to Paste for being awarded a Michelin Star, and to Chef Bee Satongun for being awarded Asia’s Best Female Chef 2018 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants!
What is Modern Thai Food?
The first thing to know about modern Thai food, as Chef Jason and Chef Bee clearly state, is that it’s not fusion.
Fusion is the combining of different cuisines; An exaggerated fusion example is Khao Pad American (Thai fried rice with hot dogs). Modern Thai food is not fusion.
The menu at Paste restaurant does include some brilliantly creative combinations, but they are combinations within the Thai food sphere, not extending into other cuisines.
Modern Thai food is an extension of Thai cuisine, it’s the high end, high quality version of Thai food.
Modern Thai food is also not just about decoration. There are plenty of high end Thai restaurants in Bangkok that prepare normal Thai food, then present it artfully, and charge high prices. That’s not what Paste is about, and while they are experts in presentation, their main focus is on ingredients, flavor perfection and remaining fully Thai yet with a modern take.
Using only super high quality ingredients (often local and organic), paying meticulous attention to fine preparation details, and taking ultimate care in cooking techniques (most of which have been researched far into the culinary history of Thailand), modern Thai food comes into existence.
One thing the chef duo at Paste don’t compromise is flavor. Dishes are never compromised to weaken the flavors intended, but are instead packed with natural flavors that will elevate your taste buds to new levels – they way they are supposed to.

Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา)
So, on to the amazing dishes I ate…
Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา)
My first bite was a dish called Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา) – a dish that’s rare to find in Thailand nowadays, but always rings a bell for Thais who associate it as a Royal Thai dish.
Wild ocean king prawns, crispy catfish (similar to yam pla duk foo), lemongrass, young ginger, and a variety of different herbs were the main ingredients.
But rather than being dressed in normal lime juice like nearly all Thai salads, this dish only used kaffir lime juice mixed with a hint of mandarin juice.
The diversity of textures, the herbs, the perfectly cooked shrimp, and the kaffir lime juice made their Seng Wa Goong Pao (แสร้งว่ากุ้งเผา) banging with zesty flavor.
Price: 420 THB

Master stock poached organic pork
Master stock poached organic pork
One of Paste Restaurants signature dishes is their master stock poached organic pork (หมูตุ๋นเสริฟ์กับเกรฟฟรุ๊ตและดอกไม้ไทย).
If you can’t already conclude from the close up photo of this pork, let me tell you that it was nothing short of stunning.
From the inside to the outside, the pork was saturated in flavor. It came on a plate with a light salad consisting of basil, cilantro, red grapefruit, avocado, toasted rice, and local flowers.
Price: 380 THB

Steamed sea bass in turmeric sauce
Steamed seabass in turmeric, logan honey, and fennel
To round things up, we had the wild sea bass which was steamed and smothered in an insanely delicious sauce made from turmeric, logan honey, and fennel. Crispy shallots and hair-thin shaved kaffir lime leaves added a brilliant finishing touch.
The fish was the perfect consistency, and the sauce was heavenly – not heavy like a curry – but lighter and packed with flavor.

Amazingly refreshing and balanced
Their rice is no ordinary rice; It’s steamed in water that’s been soaked overnight with organic jasmine flowers to create a superb fragrance. I was a very happy diner!

Paste, Bangkok, Thailand
The Bottom Line
Chef Jason and Chef Bee are delivering top notch modern Thai food in Bangkok at Paste, and their passion shines through their cooking.
They serve a menu of incredibly tasty dishes that are creatively prepared and focus on delivering all flavors, layered and balanced in perfect harmony, and packed with a complexity of fresh and lively ingredients.
Paste Restaurant is a special treat for anyone that loves Thai food, and I personally would highly recommend it. You’ll be amazed at the flavors and combinations you experience at Paste.
Paste Restaurant Bangkok
Prices: Expect to pay around 600 – 1000 THB per person for a truly memorable meal, they also have a full menu of cocktails and wines
Reservations: +66(0)2 656 1003 or [email protected]
Website: http://pastebangkok.com/
Address: 3rd Floor, Gaysorn, 999 Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok
Open Hours: Lunch Monday – Sunday 12.00 pm – 2:00 pm, and Dinner Monday – Sunday 6:300 pm – 11:00 pm
NOTE (March 2016): The former Thong Lo branch of Paste is NO longer open. Their main branch is now located at Gaysorn Shopping Centre.
How to get there:
By public transportation, take the BTS skytrain to Chit Lom station, exit on the skywalk and walk to Gaysorn Shopping Centre. Paste is located on the 3rd floor.
Yvette
6 years ago
Hi Mark, What places in Bangkok do you recommend that would have great food that are not so spicy?
andrea
7 years ago
Hello
but it is still that the restaurant location or moved to GAYSOrN center ??
Arnaud
8 years ago
hi mark,
For the first time, i am posting a comment when I am still at the restaurant… And what a restaurant!!! I was quite relunctant until now with modern Thaï, as a real street thai food lover. But what a surprise, what flavors, what a creativity!!! For having been recently in a Michelin star thai restaurant in Copenhagen (not sure it was still thai food… Sorry), I’d highly recommand to the Michelin’s guys to come here. This is modern food, but trully respecting authentic thai food!!! Worth the very reasonable price for this quality.
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Hi Arnaud, good to hear from you, so glad to hear your report on Paste. Did you go to this location, or the new location at Gaysorn?
andrea
7 years ago
Hello,
I write here for the first time and wanted to ask info.
But the restaurant has moved to Gaysorn Centre?
Mark Wiens
7 years ago
Hello Andrea, Paste has 2 locations, this location, and a new branch at Gaysorn.
Suvro
9 years ago
Is avocado easily available in Thailand? I have not seen it used in Thai cuisine here in SoCal, but I can see it working well with basil, cilantro, red grapefruit, and toasted rice.
Recently we ate at one of our local restaurants a Brazilian themed dinner (to celebrate the ongoing World Cup) where they served a mango, napa cabbage, cashew salad with a guava vinaigrette – unusual combinations, but it worked well as a light starter.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Suvro, avocado is one of the only things I miss living in Thailand – it is available occasionally, and more so in the north of Thailand, but they’re just not overly common. That sounds delicious.
Palmz
10 years ago
how do the chef make these rare Thai dishes. All of them looks great and unbelievable. I look forward to visit their restaurant soon.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
The chef’s have done extensive research and and truly passionate about traditional / royal Thai cuisine and then making it in a modern style using their own creative ideas.
Philip
10 years ago
Yummy and great timing. I’m in Sukhothai and jumping on the night train to BKK in a few hours. I reckon this chef knows where he’s having a splurge meal in town this week.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Philip, great to hear that. You’re going to really enjoy Paste!
Mike | Earthdrifter
10 years ago
The Steamed Sea Bass in Turmeric Sauce looks and sounds like a culinary dream and a fantastic value for around $13. I never bet, but I would bet that I’d love that dish. Everything pictured looks beyond tasty.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Mike, yah, super high quality fresh ingredients, and flavors that were absolutely stunning. If you come to Bangkok, Paste serves outstanding food!