Somboon Seafood is a top seafood restaurant in Bangkok, renowned for its juicy, savory, and mouth-watering cuisine. One dish that stands out is their fried curry crab, which is sure to delight your palate!
But if you don’t make a reservation in advance, chances are you’re gonna be waiting for over half an hour to have your seats ready. In this food review, I’m gonna share with you my secret tip to not get involved in the queue, how to order, and if the price is up to par. Let’s go!
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Where is Somboon Seafood?
Somboon Seafood has 8 different branches all over Bangkok, which can be found listed on their website, I chose to dine at the Siam Square One Branch where located on the 4th floor of Siam Square, a super convenient location right in the middle of the city that allows you to combine with a visit to the mall too.
But if you’re looking for a truly exceptional dining experience, be sure to visit their Surawong branch, which has been awarded a MICHELIN Plate in the 2021 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Thailand with 2 black knife-and-fork symbols.
The Space
The interior decor of Somboon Seafood’s Siam Square One Branch truly stunning with a modern vibe, low-key luxury, and unexpectedly large. Get ready to be drowned in the crowd if you choose to come over for dinner as I did!
On the flip side, the dining space is spacious enough so that’s not the end of the world. Just give you a heads-up that it’s gonna be noisy sometimes.
The Food
The menu is available in Thai, English, Chinese, and Japanese, broken down into different categories ranging from crab (of course) to fish, shrimp, and signature Thai dishes. So overall, I’m gonna rate Somboon as a family restaurant rather than a seafood-only venue.
Most of the dishes are priced between BHT 300 to 500 – which for me – is acceptable for such a good service.
Signature Fried Curry Crab
Somboon Seafood’s legendary fried curry crab has been a global sensation since 1969, putting this seafood chain on the culinary map.
The fried curry crab is definitely a must-eat. Drool-worthy guarantee! It was so fresh and the sauce was very tasty. I was surprised that the sauce was not spicy at all, which is a delightful thunderbolt for those who are not into spicy food that much.
I like the fact that the crab shell comes pre-cracked so you don’t have to drown your hands and fingers in the mess. If needed, you can ask the waiter to help you crack it further.
If you need some carbs to go with it, their crab-fried rice is definitely worth a try. And don’t worry about getting your hands dirty – they even provide handwashing water scented with lime, along with some refreshing hand sanitizer. It’s all about the little details that make the dining experience at Somboon Seafood Bangkok truly enjoyable.
Steamed Fresh Water Prawns with Garlic
Compared to the curry crab, what I would recommend as a must-order dish at Somboon Seafood is actually their shrimp dishes. Unlike other seafood restaurants I’ve been to in Bangkok where the cooking style is relatively simple, Somboon offers a wide range of delicious shrimp dishes.
There’s no denying that the shrimp at this restaurant is fresh and juicy. Not only is it easy to peel, but it also has a fantastic texture. We opted for the garlic shrimp, which tasted similar to Chinese-style garlic steamed shrimp, but with an even more pronounced garlic flavor. This dish truly brought out the essence of the seafood, and the cooking technique was certainly worth the price. It was a mouth-watering experience that I highly recommend to any seafood lover out there.
Stir-fried Water Spinach
Other than that, I highly recommend you order one or two portions of greens to go with the main course. I went with some stir-fried water spinach and it was delightful.
Online Reservation
Once again, an online reservation is definitely worth it for such a reputable place like this Michelin-awarded seafood chain. I’m gonna drop a link right here so you don’t end up running into the ever-lasting queue when you’re there.
Final Words
Do I recommend Somboon? Heck yeah! On the downside, the order time still has space for improvement. The garlic prawn is unexpectedly better than their signature curry crab (which may appear to be overly greasy for some people). But if crabs are where your heart is, do check out another well-received restaurant – that for me – serves better crab dishes with classic Thai dishes – Savoey Thai.
Check out more food ideas in Bangkok:
- Blue Elephant Restaurant Review
- Heng Heng Khao Man Khai Chicken Rice
- Mae Varee Mango Sticky Rice
- Rung Rueang Pork Noodles: Bangkok’s Famous Thai Pork Noodle
Travel Guide to Thailand
Explore more of our adventures around Thailand:
- Bangkok Travel Guide:Get Around, Best Hotels, Good Eats, & Sample Itinerary
- 20 Coolest Things to Do in Bangkok to Try This Year
- Where to Stay in Bangkok: Best Hotels in Bangkok
- Best Places to Visit in Thailand to Unleash Your Wanderlust
- What to Eat in Thailand? 15 Signature Thai Dishes to Inspire Your Palate
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