Fortune Flavours the Bold

BY AIDEN JEWELLE GONZALES

As any Bangkokian can attest, izakayas have an unshakeable grip on the city’s gourmands, with the most popular haunts always chock-full of convivial groups eating, drinking, and making merry to their hearts’ content. Zuma Bangkok, on the ground floor of The St. Regis Bangkok, is no exception; a stalwart in the city’s izakaya scene and part of the globally-renowned and beloved chain of Zuma restaurants founded by Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney, which has branches around the world.

Nevertheless, izakayas don’t often lend themselves to the midday grab-and-go schedule that most office workers have, and Zuma Bangkok has addressed this with their new ebusi lunch menu, which still offers their quintessential quality and flavour, but for the busy city-slicker. Featuring previous favourites and new options that are sure to be a hit with those looking for a quick yet delicious meal, the menu is simultaneously expansive yet still delivers on the expected luxury from this lauded brand.

First Impressions

Like all Zuma locations, Zuma Bangkok’s design revolves around the elements of earth, fire, water, and air, integrated with the archetypal minimalism and natural materials in Japanese design. When you enter, the eye is drawn to the magnificent bar island, featuring plenty of seating arrangements for you to watch the magic happen, while outsized bottles of sake are suspended above you, tempting you with their range of premium labels. 

The capacious space still feels intimate, with its moody lighting; stone pillars; and natural wood elements, from the slatted ceilings to the tables; allowing for an informal atmosphere despite the elegant arrangements. Guests can opt to sit at the terrace outside, with its glut of natural light and verdant foliage; inside, in the variety of comfortable seating available; or even in any of the private dining rooms, perfect for events. At the back is a sushi counter which allows guests to see the fresh produce and watch the sushi chefs put their skills to the test. 

Food and Drink

Named after Ebisu, the Japanese god of fishermen and luck, Zuma Bangkok’s new ebisu lunch menu appropriately features plenty of fresh and innovatively-prepared seafood, while still offering a variety for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Accessibly priced at THB 990 per person, the menu offers guests a choice of two starters and one main course, with the option of a Mochi dessert platter for an additional THB 200. 

 Unlike Zuma Bangkok’s regular à la carte menu, the ebisu lunch menu features dishes that are designed to be enjoyed individually, according to Head Chef Cinzia Pernici, as lunchtime guests are often eating with business partners or colleagues. Your meal starts off with a complimentary bowl of Miso soup with spring onions, served at the perfect temperature – piping hot – and perfect for whetting your appetite for the feast to come. 

 For our starters, we first tucked into their Seared salmon with lime shiso soy, a zesty and refreshing start – make sure you have extra helpings of its sauce, which packs a piquant kick and is extremely moreish. We’d also highly recommend the Thinly sliced seabass with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe, which, while unique, is a combination of flavours that works surprisingly well – the earthiness of the truffle balanced well with the brightness of the yuzu. For the vegetarians, opt for the Avocado salad with tenkasu and spicy lemon dressing, which was surprisingly complex, especially with the spicy kick from the dressing. We couldn’t leave without trying the classic Japanese appetiser, a plate of gyoza, and their Black cod and prawn gyoza elevated this homey dish with its premium ingredients and depth of flavour. 

 According to Chef Pernici, many of the ebisu menu’s mains feature donburis or rice bowls, which are especially popular during lunch in Japan. “[They’re] very versatile and easy to eat. Our aim is to combine this with our own Zuma flavours,” he told us. The wealth of options included spicy beef, salmon teriyaki, shogayaki chicken, as well as Zuma Bangkok’s beloved Sashimi over sushi rice, and more. We chose the Chilean seabass donburi with green chili ginger dressing (an additional THB 420), which was packed with flavour, with the heat from the ginger and chillies as the star of the dish, making for a wholly heartwarming bowl.

 We also ordered the Mochi dessert platter, which I would highly recommend as the perfect sweet end to a decadent meal. With two types of mochi, a refreshing scoop of yuzu ice cream, and an array of fresh tropical fruits, there’s no better way to add some zest to your step before you face the rest of the day. 

 Masala Recommends 

The Spicy beef tenderloin donburi with sesame, red chilli and sweet soy (an additional THB 450), which not only featured tender slices of steak that were seasoned to perfection, but also aromatic lashings of sauce that we simply couldn’t get enough of. 

Zuma Bangkok

Ground Floor, The St. Regis Bangkok, 159 Ratchadamri Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

 ebisu lunch menu available from Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 2.45pm

Tel: 02 111 8999

Instagram: @zumabangkok

https://zumarestaurant.com/locations/bangkok