A lovely view of Wat Arun with varying service quality depending on the individual: Restaurant Rongros (17. December 2023)
Sometimes you have to be lucky! Since we had no clear plan on where we wanted to have lunch, we decided to check out the Guide Michelin app and found the Rongros right next to the Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, with a view of Wat Arun! So, we went there and asked if they had a table (hint: ask, even if the sign at the door says “fully booked, reservation only”), and they ended up having one. On top of that, before any food was served, a table at the window got free, and we were lucky to be moved there so we had a proper view of Wat Arun during lunch.
And again, the idea was to get a few different dishes and share them so we had something to try. Starting with “Benja organic chicken fried rice (Thai jasmine rice fried with organic chicken in pork fat. So simple and so fragrant from the smokey wok breath)” (240 THB), which was that, simple and nice. I liked the chicken, it went well with the sauce, and the fried rice.
What was definitely tastier was the “Krapao basil stir-fried rib eye beef (the most popular dish throughout the kingdom, served with Thai jasmine rice, topped with fried egg)” (290 THB) as the beef was super aromatic, and the combination with the egg and the rice was actually truly enjoyable. It was a bit on the spicy side of things, but it was still okay for the European palate.
Another dish I tried was the “egg fried wild sweetbush sprouts (perfectly chargrilled free-range rib eye seasoned with Fleur de Sel and pepper, served with North Eastern traditional spicy tamarind sauce “Jaew” and 12-month-old Thai fermented fish paste “Plaraa”)” (550 THB) and while it was good, the meat wasn’t anything special. And compared to what you would pay for the other dishes, this felt a bit overpriced.
The “vegetable spring rolls (a vegetarian version of this popular Thai-Chinese appetizer. Stir-fried fresh vegetables wrap with rice flour sheet, deep-fried until golden and crispy)” (160 THB) were – in my humble opinion – a bit too crispy, but they went well with the dip. So, a nice little in between.
Last but not least, I had the best dish of the day – the “stir-fried rib eye in Thai basil (the most loved Thai dish, we use free-range rib eye in this national fry up. So much spices that might make you sneeze, or cry!)” (380 THB) was actually truly enjoyable. The meat was good, the flavour profile was nice, and it was good in combination with the Thai basil and the chilli. So, this ending saved my lunch.
Last but not least, the “Coconut Juice” (155 THB) was a bit of a disappointment. I mean, there wasn’t too much juice in the coconut – plus, I had to wait like 15 minutes for it, and it was served after four of the five dishes had already been served and finished. Not sure why, but it seems like ‘getting beverages to your clients’ is a challenge here (and so far, in my experience, generally in all Thai places).
The view from the table was quite lovely …
… where you could fully see Wat Arun from afar. I imagine if you are booking a table for dinner, resp. for the sunset, then the view is even more marvellous.
All in all, the Rongros is a nice place with generally good food and friendly service. What you can see, though, is the varying professionalism of the different staff – the owner (or the boss) does a marvellous job and is very attentive. The younger apprentices, not so much – they would come take your order and would not take away the empty plates. Repeatedly! In any case, this is a good case of ‘location location location’ with decent food. Booking in advance highly recommended.
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Contact Details:
Restaurant Rongros
392 16 Maha Rat Rd
Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Phra Nakhon
10200 Bangkok (TH)
Tel.: +66 96 946 1785
Homepage: http://www.rongros.com
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
