With a spacious art space, an ice-skating rink, bowling alley, brand-new Cineplex and the swanky Muangthai Ratchadalai Theater (see First Person, page 30), The Esplanade (Ratchadaphisek Rd., MRT Thailand Cultural Center Exit 3) seems to be delivering on its promised “arte-tainment” concept. The mega-mall is also proving to be a hotspot for new cafes and restaurants, attracting hungry diners from as far as Bang Na thanks to its modern design and innovative concepts.

Allure

The setting: The two-stories are modern and minimalist, juxtaposing floor-to-ceiling glass windows, chic bar and unfussy dark wood tables. The second floor is more homey though, thanks to floral walls and upholstered sofas. A resident DJ spins requests and current hits nightly from 6pm onwards.

The fare: They’re good with fish here, especially grilled salmon with spicy mango salad (B200) and salmon satay (B150). The small menu offers pricey small-portioned Thai and western dishes that are perfect for health-conscious ladies, who care more about their weight than wallets. But you can opt for the affordable special of the day set (B88) that includes a single-dish main, a soft drink and dessert. Tuesday and Thursday are Ladies Days, when girls enjoy a 50 percent discount on food.

• G&M/F, 02-660-9283/4. Open daily 10am-midnight

Gindaco

The setting: Located on a prime spot next to Tops supermarket, Gindaco grabs your attention and makes your mouth water with the delicious aroma of freshly made takoyaki (octopus dumplings) that drifts out the front booth. On weekends, the lines are long, but the friendly staff still greets customers with smiles.

The fare: Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside with chunky pieces of octopus, takoyaki (B99 for 6 pieces, B140 for 10) is the one and only specialty here. Almost 80 percent of the ingredients, as well as the head chef, are imported directly from Japan. Served in a boat-shaped dish made from pine, the takoyaki here are huge and filling. And Gindaco uses low-cholesterol corn oil, so you can feast on the octopus balls without worrying about getting a stroke. The sets include matcha tea (B125 for 6 takoyaki, B165 for 10).

• B/F, 02-660-9141/2. Open Mon- Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm

Moom-Muum Park

The setting: Graffiti walls, stylish black-and-white leather settees, Chinese carved wooden partitions, dimly-lit rustic sake bar, outdoor terrace—Moom Muum Park has made efforts that pay off, achieving a hip look befitting its trendy clientele. Service can be haphazard, as the self-conscious servers, clad in oh-so-stylish uniforms, spend way too much time looking at themselves in the mirrors or gossiping among themselves.

The fare: The menu, like the décor, is eclectic, offering Thai from Tai Thai, Italian from Fallabella and Japanese from Japan X. Whether you fancy pad thai (B100), California
maki (B220) or lasagna (B220), its one-stop dining that hits the spot. Sake is B380-480/bottle, house wine is B150/glass.

• 2/F, 02-660-9301/-5. Open daily 10am-10pm

Shibuya

The setting: Don’t expect much from the setting. This small ramen shop is cramped with tables so tightly spaced together you can hardly move. During peak hours, it’s crowded with families and office workers, not to mention its many employees. The main draw of Shibuya, however, is the front display kitchen where customers can take a peek at how their noodles are freshly made.

The fare: The menu, though small, offers a good variety of noodles and rice dishes along with other side dishes, all at affordable prices. There are five kinds of noodles: udon, soba, ramen, inaniwa and somen. Try the sushi soba (B69), tuna udon salad (B89) and raat naa-like Chanpon ramen (B95). If you need some heat, there’s also spicy tom yum ramen (B89). They’re adding new items this month such as Rainbow Salad, with wakame (seaweed), crab sticks and shrimp roe.

• B/F, 02-660-9337/-9. Open daily 11am-9pm

Wasabi

The setting: Simple and clean, there are no booths or tatami seating here, just dark wood tables sprinkled loosely around the venue. As you would expect, the spicy Japanese root is dominant here, from the ceiling with its wasabi leaf motif to the huge wasabi-shaped pillars. A white brick wall divides the dining area into two areas: Shuzenji and Yugashima, the towns in Shizuoka that export the most and (supposedly) the best wasabi in Japan. Customers are mostly office workers at lunchtime and families in the evening.

The fare: Living up to its name, the restaurant grates its wasabi on the premises to guarantee freshness. The extensive menu features a wide selection of sushi and sashimi—some fishes even come from the famed Tsukiji Market in Tokyo—along with noodles and shabu sets (B390) with soy milk broth. Bento sets start at B220 and go up to B450 for grilled Japanese eel. To end the meal, try wasabi ice cream (B45) or the wasabi & green tea crepe (B80). They taste much better than they sound.

• 3/F, 02-660-9276. Open daily 10am-10pm

Whittard of Chelsea

The setting: Snug orange sofas make the seventh Whittard outlet in town a good spot to linger over an after-dinner cup of tea or dessert. Wifi is B30 for customers who spend at least B150.

The fare: In addition to its favorite Chai Tea Latte (B70), Whittard recently introduced new beverages like Iced Hazelnut Coffee (B80) and Peppermint White Chocolate Latte (B95). Though a few still top B100, the café has reduced the price of most cakes to B95. Try White Chocolate Raspberry.

• B/F, 02-619-0995. Open daily 10am-10pm