Soi Bukhao Buffet Bistro Near Action Street

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

(from Facebook)

 

The Soi Bukhao Buffet Bistro is a newly opened establishment that claims on its exterior sign to be more than just a restaurant. I went last night at 7.00 p.m. for the buffet dinner, but didn't see any sign of a beer garden, live music or DJ. I doubt the one ceiling-mounted TV at the front of the bar will attract many sports fans. According to SBBB's Facebook page, the live entertainment gets underway at 10.00 p.m.

 

 

 

Perhaps they have plans for expansion, but it would be difficult to fit all those activities into the existing premises. The enclosed restaurant section seats a maximum 32 customers at eight tables for four. There's also an area at the back which appeared to be the staging area for the buffets (breakfast, lunch and dinner), but I guess it could also be used for live music.

 

However, last night it wasn't a dinner buffet in the sense most of us use the word. The picture from the FB page is misleading. Only Indian dishes were offered and there weren't trays of food from which diners serve themselves as many times as they want. Instead, it was a "mix and match" variation that I remember from the Chinese restaurants in the U.S. when I was a child. Basically, it's "Pick two from Column A and two from Column B" on the menu, plus rice, roti and ice cream for 199 baht. There are no columns, but you choose two starters and two curries from a limited buffet menu. There's no farang or Thai food on the buffet menu.

 

 

As my starters, I picked chicken tikka and a spring roll, but was told the spring roll "wasn't available." At the suggestion of the manager, I had the vegetables Manchurian instead. Apparently it's the creation of Chinese restaurants in India to appeal to local tastes. From the list of curries, I picked the butter chicken and the chicken tikka tawa masala.

 

 

Everything came at the same time on one plate. There was no difference in portion size between the starters and curries. Those bowls may look small, but they hold quite a bit and I was full at the end of the meal. All of the dishes tasted pretty good, particularly the vegetables Manchurian. It was a new one for me; I'd never even heard of it before. It consisted of "vegetable balls" made from shredded carrots, cabbage and red pepper; minced onion and spices that had been fried, then simmered in a tomato-and-soy based gravy.

 

 

 

Bottom line: I don't eat much Indian food, so I won't be rushing back for the dinner buffet. However, I had no complaints about the meal I got. Since SBBB is close to where I live, I may go back to try a farang or a la carte Indian dish. If the menu is correct, it's the same choice of dishes at lunch and dinner, but the lunch menu is 40 baht cheaper. That's a common offer in Indian and Chinese restaurants in the U.S. to attract diners throughout the day. SBBB also has a breakfast buffet for 120 baht.

 

It's possible SBBB plans to switch to a traditional buffet once business picks up, which will be a hard struggle in its current location. If it sticks with the "pick two" model, then the owner should state this clearly on the FB page as the pic of a long row of serving dishes is misleading for now, but would become deceptive should there be no change in the future.

 

Below is the a la carte menu taken from FB:

 

 

 

Evil

Edited August 5, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

According to SBB's Facebook page, the price of the buffet is down to 130 baht for both dinner and lunch.

 

 

I have also read on another board a second-hand report that this restaurant is already up for sale. It has only been open a month. Oh, well ...

Evil

[Lantern 193]

Looks like I could enjoy that. Just love Indian tucker.

Cheers Evil.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Better go quickly, I doubt it will be open much longer. Location, location, location.

 

Evil