Table talk in Bangkok (July 16-22)

Khao soi is having a moment, but WIANG wants to tell its wider story. Newly opened on the second floor of Erawan Bangkok, the restaurant’s ‘Khao Soi 5 Eras’ concept traces the dish through Chinese, Indian, Muslim and Lanna influences before imagining what comes next. Expect everything from a Yunnan-inspired noodle soup to a chilled futuristic version with clarified coconut consommé. In the evening, WIANG becomes a Khao Soi & Grill Bar, pairing charcoal-grilled northern dishes with wines selected for each course.

Open Thursday to Saturday. Lunch noon-2pm, dinner 6pm-10pm. WIANG, 2/F, Erawan Bangkok

One smokehouse, two cities. DECKLES Smokehouse at voco Bangkok Surawong welcomes executive chef Alain Beom from voco Seoul Myeongdong for a month-long Korean collaboration. The Taste of Korea set menu draws on recipes from the chef’s home kitchen, prepared with the Bangkok team using premium Korean ingredients. It is an easy way to explore his take on Korean cooking without leaving the city.

Available until August 10. B990++ per set. DECKLES Smokehouse, voco Bangkok Surawong

Tokyo’s famously queue-worthy seafood rice bowl specialist is opening its first Thai branch. Tsujihan is best known for Zeitaku Don, which layers premium seafood over rice before seafood broth is poured over what remains to create ochazuke. Four versions run from Ume to the fully loaded Tokujo. Bangkok diners can now skip the flight and head to Central Park instead.

Opens July 18. From B390. Tsujihan Thailand, 5/F, Central Park

TheCOMMONS and Na Projects continue their Monthly Refugee Dinner series with an evening dedicated to the flavours of Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Refugee hosts serve a three-course menu of family recipes, including laphet thoke, fried fish cakes,  Rakhine moti noodle soup, spicy seafood salad and tibs, followed by coconut rice cake. Between courses, guests hear the stories and traditions behind the food. Every ticket supports refugee families rebuilding their lives in Thailand.

July 25, 6pm-8pm. B1,400. theCOMMONS Kitchen & Bar, Thonglor

Photographing dessert first is practically compulsory here. Baan Tepa takes over FV39 for a limited pop-up serving eight sweet and savoury dishes, led by parfaits built around seasonal Thai fruit. Highlights include dok rose lychee, mango peach and mangosteen prikpao parfaits, alongside a selection of savoury plates. It is a rare chance to sample the restaurant’s cooking without committing to the full tasting menu.

Until July 19. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm. FV39, Sukhumvit 39

LARDER is turning four, and it is celebrating the sensible way:  by handing over its kitchen to a very good guest list. KA NAP KI returns as  a two-week chef takeover series, inviting chefs from some of Bangkok’s best restaurants to cook dishes you would not usually find on their own menus. This year’s line-up includes Margo, 80/20, Scuba, Charmgang, SOMA, SDC, La Lupita, Duet, Bisou, Juksunchae and Electric Sheep, with special dishes served alongside LARDER’s regular menu. Drop into Sukhumvit 39 or Chatuchak, or order through LINE MAN, and see what  familiar names do when they step outside their usual kitchens.

July 11-26. Available at LARDER Sukhumvit 39 and LARDER Chatuchak

Summer truffles may not have the cult status of their winter cousins, but they still bring that earthy, unmistakable hit. Akira Back Bangkok is making the most of the season with four limited dishes built around truffles sourced from the French Alps and Italy. The menu includes the restaurant's signature AB Truffle mushroom pizza, seared Hokkaido scallop with miso cream butter, Kagoshima A5 ribeye with truffle beef jus, and a black truffle macaron to finish. Available at lunch and dinner, it is a tidy excuse to add a little more truffle to the season.

Available until August 31. From B390++ per dish. Akira Back Bangkok, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Sukhumvit Road

Some ingredients deserve the full menu treatment. At Summer Palace, grouper takes centre stage across August and September with a seasonal selection celebrating one of Cantonese cuisine’s most prized fish. Expect steamed grouper with egg white and Hua Diao wine, poached whole grouper with pickled cabbage and Sichuan chilli sauce, and more. The one to gather a table for is the whole grouper served two ways, with wok-fried fillets and steamed belly prepared separately to show off different textures. Proper Cantonese sharing food, in other words.

August 1-September 30. Lunch 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 6pm-10.30pm. From B1,288++ per dish. Summer Palace, Mezzanine/F, InterContinental Bangkok, Ploenchit Road

Vietnamese food downstairs, Italian mood upstairs. Ciao SongWat is the latest reason to linger on Song Wat Road, taking over the second floor above SongViet with a European-inspired setting filled with art, vintage finds and an easygoing soundtrack. The menu keeps its roots in Vietnamese cooking, while gelato, spritzes and light bites, including Tuscan bread with Greek yoghurt, tomatoes and olive oil, give the space a slower, more aperitivo-ish feel. Come for dinner, stay for a scoop, or settle in longer than planned.

Open now, 5pm-10pm. Ciao SongWat, 2/F, SongViet, Song Wat Road

Burgers do not exactly need an upgrade, but 25 Degrees has found one anyway. For July and August, the diner inside Pullman Bangkok Hotel G is serving a Japanese A5 Wagyu Burger built for anyone who likes their burger with extra indulgence. Alongside it comes a thick Hershey Milkshake for chocolate lovers who are not pretending this is a light lunch. The specials join the restaurant’s usual line-up of burgers, truffle fries and American diner favourites, making this an easy stop for lunch, dinner or a milkshake-only detour.

July and August. Japanese A5 Wagyu Burger B490. Hershey Milkshake B280 net. 25 Degrees, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, Silom Road