André — Restaurant in Bang Rak Subdistrict

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a rustic French feast inspired by Bangkok street food at André, a hidden culinary treasure tucked away in the centre of Bangkok. From the moment I stepped into this rustic establishment, I knew I was in for a meal to remember. André's commitment to serving genuine French cuisine in a laid-back, street-food-inspired setting was impressive.

Starting with the true star of the show - the succulent steak and golden hand cut frites. As I sank my teeth into the juicy steak, it was as if the flavours were performing a symphony on my taste buds, each note more delicious than the last. The meat was so tender and succulent that it practically dissolved in my mouth, leaving behind a lingering richness that I won't soon forget. The steak, cooked to a faultless degree of doneness, was a true testament to the culinary mastery that André holds in high regard. With a velvety Béarnaise sauce as its sidekick, the dish soared to new levels of decadence. The luscious, zesty sauce was the perfect accompaniment to the flawlessly prepared steak, resulting in a harmonious blend of tastes that left me yearning for another bite.

For my side, I went with the Niçoise salad. It's a bright and lively medley of fresh ingredients that really hits the spot. The lettuce was crisp, the eggs boiled to perfection, the olives briny, and the vinaigrette tangy. It all came together in perfect harmony, taking my taste buds on a journey to the sunny shores of the French Riviera. The salad, my friends, was a true delight. It provided a much-needed contrast to the richness of the main course, injecting a burst of freshness that elevated the entire dining experience.

Ah, now we come to the pièce de résistance, the crème brûlée. The ethereal caramelised top and velvety custard underneath made for a truly enchanting experience, a quintessential French dessert that never fails to impress. As I plunged my spoon into the caramelised layer, I was immediately struck by the luxurious texture and the impeccable harmony of sweetness. André's crème brûlée was a flawless execution of this cherished dessert, showcasing the finesse and meticulousness that imbued every facet of the dining experience.

Closing your eyes you would forget the street food atmosphere and the contry style presentation to feel you were sitting in a fine french cafe somwhere on the Champs-Élysées.

This particular establishment has earned a special place in my heart as a go-to spot in the vibrant...

Let’s be clear—there’s absolutely nothing wrong with choosing low-cost ingredients and pricing accordingly. It’s a business model, and it clearly works here: the restaurant is packed every night, mostly thanks to diners who aren’t necessarily looking for authenticity, but for a “Western vibe” at street-side prices.

That said, if you walk in expecting French-Mediterranean standards based on how busy it looks, manage your expectations. • No air conditioning—just a giant outdoor fan that circulates not just heat, but the full flavor of street traffic and tuk-tuk fumes. • Cheese platter served at room temperature—room being well over 30°C—which is maybe a bit too “ripe.” • Spanish ham served lean (fat removed?) and tasting closer to supermarket deli than anything artisanal. • The beef tartare… well, after six years in Thailand, it seems to have acquired a local personality: drowned in onion and Tabasco, more Thai than French. • Lamb rack? Surprisingly decent. Credit where it’s due. • Bread basket? 30 baht—just enough to make it not feel complimentary.

The real punchline, though, is the Evian water listed on the table. When asked, they served 7-Eleven plastic bottled water without explanation. Only after insisting did we realize… no one around us was drinking Evian either.

To be fair, this place isn’t pretending to be fine dining. It’s giving people what they want: the illusion of French food at Thai prices. For those who care more about atmosphere than authenticity, this may hit the spot. For those who know what French or Mediterranean cuisine really tastes like—there are better options in town, even if you have to...

We had a fantastic meal at Andrés. My only wish is that we got to eat here sooner so we could go again but they were closed often for holidays or earlier than the posted Google hours. Once we finally made it here it was worth it though. We had a gourmet meal of 2 appetizers, 2 mains, and a bottle of wine for about 3000 Baht ($85 USD). Keep in mind you don’t have to spend that much for a good meal here. We went all out and had tuna steak, scallops, and 2 tenderloin steaks.

The only complaint we have is that the scallops weren’t very good. Pretty hard and more of a spongy texture. You can see from the photos, they cooked with a coating instead of splitting from a good sear. I wish there were fewer scallops that were higher quality. But everything else was so good that it didn’t matter.

The salmon steak was well seasoned and only partially cooked as it should be.

The tenderloin was cooked perfectly, which we were really pleased about because we had tenderloin elsewhere in Bangkok (at more than double the price) that was cooked very unevenly. The accompaniments, including roasted garlic, delicious potatoes, horseradish mustard, sea salt, and thyme all paired well, making it quite an exciting plate.

NOTE: No A/C

Wish we could go back but we unfortunately only got here on our last...