Honmono Sushi (Thonglor)

Honmono is a solid sushi joint that’s worth the high prices and isn’t a bewildering experience for those who are not Japanese salarymen. A year after opening, Honmono still packs in hi-so Thais every night (reservations are a must) with its fresh fish flown in weekly from Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Located in a charming Thong Lor house, way up the road from the usual bustle, the simple Japanese décor doesn’t detract from the food. In fact, we almost recommend sitting at the bar, with its mouth-watering glass displays and the friendly and knowledgeable sushi chefs who are happy to talk you through your choices and make suggestions. That’s how we, on our last visit, tried the grilled-razor clam in soy sauce (B280), which was pretty flawless—fresh (live, in fact) and grilled just right, without sacrificing any tenderness. Their Take Sashimi platter (B1,500) is a favorite, and comes with seven kinds of assorted sashimi: two types of tuna, salmon, octopus, surf clam, hamachi and more. The quality is great, and the pieces are enormous and worth the price. You can also get a larger platter for B3,200. The tuna sashimi is nice and textured, and the lightly torched tuna is melt-in-your-mouth. Their sushi and maki are also good. The classic dragon roll, with barbequed eel, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese topped with fish roe in anago sauce, B300) is just right in terms of sweetness, and the price is decent, for a fancy sushi place. We also like their taraba kani (Hokkaido crab sushi, B500 for two pieces) which feature a large piece of crab meat that covers the entire chunk of sushi rice. The flesh is sweet and smooth and it’s impossible not to feel excited about the experience. Dining at this bustling venue is enhanced with equal doses of their Kagura Tezukuri sweet plum wine (B370 per glass) and the pleasant, efficient service by the waitresses, even when the joint is packed. No more expensive than any other sushi restaurant, Honmono has the added benefit of being friendly and accessible.