Sam Lor — Restaurant in Bang Rak Subdistrict

During my recent visit to Bangkok, I had the pleasure of dining at Samlor, a restaurant that promised an intriguing fusion of traditional and contemporary Thai flavors. The menu, boasting an array of meticulously crafted dishes, did not disappoint. Each dish offered a unique taste experience, testament to the chef's mastery over local ingredients and culinary techniques.

I began my culinary journey with the Thai Style Prawn Ceviche, a refreshing mix of fresh prawns, chili, garlic, shallots, and cos lettuce. The balance of flavors and textures set a high standard for the rest of the meal. Following this, the Grilled Eggplant Salad with its water bug vinaigrette provided a delightful surprise, demonstrating the chef's ability to transform simple ingredients into a dish of complex flavors.

The Smoked Duck Breast, seasoned with Chinese 5 spice, was cooked to perfection, offering a smoky, aromatic flavor that melted in the mouth. Similarly, the "Moo Ping" Smoked Pork Rib with Jaew Sauce was a standout, its succulent meat falling off the bone, accompanied by a sauce that was a perfect blend of tangy and spicy.

However, the true highlight of my dining experience was the Samlor Thai Omelette. This dish was a revelation—akin to a soufflé, it was fluffy and light, with a perfectly cooked egg yolk oozing out from the center upon cutting. It was, without a doubt, the best Thai omelette I have ever tasted, elevating a simple dish to an unforgettable delight.

Beyond the food, the service at Samlor was excellent. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, contributing to an overall dining experience that was as pleasant as it was delicious.

In conclusion, Samlor is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the depths of Thai cuisine in Bangkok. It's a place where traditional flavors are given a modern twist, resulting in dishes that are both familiar and excitingly new. The Samlor Thai Omelette, in particular, is a culinary masterpiece that alone is worth the visit. Highly recommended!

It's important to note that Samlor's popularity means that securing a table can be a challenge; reservations are a must, ideally made at least three weeks in advance. This level of demand is a testament to the quality of the dining experience...

We made a reservation at 6pm but were running 50 mins late due to traffic. I texted Samlor to inform them..not only did they keep the table for us, they allowed us to order ahead of time taking into account the 2 hour dining time (6-8pm).

Our food quickly came when we arrived at the restaurant. First dish was thai style prawn ceviche where you get to choose between a bitter and non-bitter option. I would recommend the non-bitter option as the bitter option was too overpowering..Next dish we had was the spicy thai wagyu tartare. Both of these starters are great, made like the classic dishes with tangy and spicy flavour for the thai twist.

We then had the grilled kale to ensure we get our veggie intake for the day..nothing more to say about the dish except it's grilled and nicely charred the way grilled kale should be.

And finally, the star of the meal arrived - The jay joe crab omelette. The egg is foamy, fluffy, gooey yet crispy at the same time..what an absolute work of art! They also have a version with just the omelette and rice but that comes without any sauce..I think the sauce from the crab plays a big role in bringing in some acidity to the dish to enhance the flavour, so I would definitely recommend getting the one with crab.

Just when we thought nothing can get better than that omelette, the desserts are absolute winners too. Samlor's take of the mango sticky rice is so decadent and exquisite..and the khanom chun (coconut & butterfly pea thai mochi with coconut ice cream and crumble) was also really yummy! It's kinda like the dessert version of chee cheong fan.

We have seen many guests get turned away because they are always full, so make sure to plan in advance and make a reservation to avoid...

I'd like to give 4.5 stars to be honest, since it deserves more than a 4 but not quite a 5.

As many have mentioned, the Sam Lor omelette is an absolute winner - simultaneously fluffy and crispy with a gooey, savoury interior. Its served paired with two types of complementary chillies.

However, the first thing we ordered was quite a dismal miss - the Wagyu Tartare, which was 170 baht for a single bite (it's charged per pc), and was served alongside sake that (to be frank) tasted like the cheap nail polish variety. On top of that, it has finely-chopped cilantro mixed in that wasn't listed on the menu (dropping a note at this point that there is a proportion of people with a genetic variance who cannot tolerate cilantro due to smelling it totally different from normal, so it should definitely be listed in the description). My dining companion also found it a bit too spicy and overpowered the wagyu's natural flavor.

Fortunately this first bad experience was quickly salvaged by the other dishes, which were fairly good - Including the cashew chicken, salted egg squid and chicken mid-wings.

The pork Rib 'moo ping' wasn't too bad as well but to be perfectly honest for a mere 5 pieces it wasn't worth the almost 800 baht price tag.

As a final note, near the end of the meal all of our eyes started to water painfully. We suspect we were seated a bit too near to the kitchen where they were probably chopping onions.

Was the food good? Absolutely. Worth a visit even if only for the omelette alone. Overall though, I have had an overall more comfortable experience from hole-in-the-wall unknown eateries for a fraction of the price. In short - worth a visit, but...