ASADO Gaucho Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Chalong

This restaurant is an hidden gem. At first sight I thought the price a bit high compared to my country (France) as almost same price, but after I tasted my rib-eye beef, I understood it was an higher quality standard (Australian) that the beef meat I get in France (from french beef). This said and having check after on other steak house in Bang Tao, on the countrary it was a bargain compared to other steak houses in Phuket, as not only it cheaper than average steak houses, but probably as good or even better.

I paid 680B my 250g rib-eye and regreted not to have taken the 790B option for 350g.

Believe it or not (please note this judgement is base only on the rib-eye), this is simply the best piece of beaf I ever had in my whole life and I am 53. I probably went in around 100 beef restaurants in my life (in France only). So tender and so tasty.

I look at their technique of cooking. They have two different fires in their barbecue and move from one to other with very sophisticated technique. Very hot one for first minutes, then put a cover during one minute to avoid the meat to be dry, then second fire a bit less intense for slower cooking and put a cover Only sadness, the restaurant was almost desert, so I was scared the meat was not fresh. On the contrary, tasty and extra soft. No need of special knife.

For 130B in addition of french fries I had extra salad and only the salad would be sold 200B in another restaurant. Abondant fresh green salad with a few small tomatoes and real vinaigrette.

The atmosphere looked a bit old style, even if the decoration is pretty decent. Probably I got this feeling because we were almost the single customers. I hope my review can help this restaurant not to be empty anymore as I saw in Bang Tao a restaurant called El Gaucho selling the same type of beef at 3 times the price and probably not the same master art of cooking. Next time I will go, I will make my best to add a video.

I insist I am very picky on beef meat. I never buy in supermarket as I prefer eat beef occasionnaly but only premium one. So when I say it was the best piece of beef in my life, I am not kidding, not any friend of the boss and it was the first time I came in Rawai and chose randomly from Google map, attracted by the name "Gaucho". If it is always the same quality I will become a regular customer as I live in Phuket. I am not even sure the restaurants selling beef at 2000B is better and frankly I don't even want to try as I can't see what I can get more in term of taste and tenderness. No need to say cooking was perfect. I have to say the chief was able to focus on us, so maybe in peak season it might be not as perfect, that is the reason I will update in the future.

There was a blue cheese sauce (but frankly salt and pepper would have been enough) among four choices of sauce. It was a real western taste sauce, even slightly below the beef itself. I just hope that my review will not encourage the boss to increase its price as the pleasure comes almost for the value. If you eat a good food but as very high price, there is no surprise. I really don't understand what other customer found not to put a 4.9 or 4.95 stars after I checked the price of other steak house the days after this incredible value (OK 700 is not cheap, if you add a starter or desert and wine, but other I saw were over 2000 for same meat).

One of my best experience in Phuket island so far, all kind of foods and all kind of prices, much better than all clichés and expensive SeaFood restaurants.

I had only one regret after leaving. Not having chosen the 350g option instead 250g as I still had the taste in mind on the way back :-)

I will inquire if this restaurant is new or just changed of owner, but still can't understand why it was empty. Maybe location at the exit of Rawai is not popular... as normally such a place should be...

Nice bar/resto, not far from Phuket pier. While in Phuket with a friend to look at boats for sale in the area, on our first night, we met up with a local boat builder, Gunter Knutt, who recommended it. Very nice open-air ambience, and the "inner" area, though open to the outside is actually air-conditioned, making it very comfortable while sitting at the bar enjoying our beer. We ordered a "starter" on the menu - skewered chunks of Angus beef, flame-roasted to perfect medium-rare, and roasted veggies... It was sooooo good! In fact, we enjoyed that meal so much, on our last evening in Phuket, we decided to eat here again. Nina, the hostess, is super-nice, and so are her entire staff. Highly, highly recommend this...

Yesterday we had dinner there, we were a group of 7 with 2 kids. We arrived at 8.40 and we were served almost 1 hour later (it was us and 1 more table at the restaurant). I ordered a rib eye steak priced 620 thb and asked for a medium rare cooking, the served me a RAW steak first (after having waited for 1 hour) and then an overcooked one. The waiter had the courage to ask me if it was OK, you can judge by yourself from the pic, even a dog refused to eat it. The service was more than poor, waitress started to take things away from the table while I was still eating. Not sure how they have all these good recommendations cause they really lack professionalism, 1 star is...