Cover E-San Bangkok is a modern Thai izakaya by Gaggan Anand and Chalee Kader (Image: E-San Bangkok/Instagram)
E-San Bangkok is a modern Thai izakaya by Gaggan Anand and Chalee Kader (Image: E-San Bangkok/Instagram)
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E-San Bangkok serves up the bold, vibrant flavours of Isan, reimagined with Japanese flair
Isan cuisine deserves celebration for its bold, punchy flavours, and that is precisely what acclaimed chefs Gaggan Anand and Chalee Kader have achieved with the opening of E-San Bangkok in May this year. Blending Gaggan’s trademark creativity with Kader’s ingredient-led approach, they present classic dishes from north-eastern Thailand through a Japanese lens, without compromising their soul.
E-San Bangkok’s menu pushes beyond traditional boundaries while remaining deeply respectful of regional flavours. Highlights include chicken wings takoyaki—fried wings stuffed with shiokara, ginger, cabbage and nori for a rich hit of umami—and a bamboo shoot soup that amplifies the earthy essence of bamboo with yanang leaf broth, roasted rice and chilli flakes, served with crisp mochi puffs.
Read more: Gaggan in Bangkok takes the number one spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list
Above Chicken Wing Takoyaki (Photo: E-San Bangkok/Instagram)
Above Larb Moo, a spicy Thai north-eastern salad of minced pork, chilli, lime juice and fish sauce (Photo: E-San Bangkok/Instagram)
Chicken Wing Takoyaki (Photo: E-San Bangkok/Instagram)
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Innovation continues with miso & fish, where miso soup is enlivened with rice paddy herbs and aromatics, finished with grilled mackerel or the daily catch. Perhaps most intriguing is tum kao pod, a witty reinterpretation of som tam made with grilled corn, salted egg and cured yolk, delivering familiar flavours through unexpected textures.
The drinks programme captures the convivial spirit of Isan dining, where beverages are as much about togetherness as refreshment. A deliberately succinct list features draft beer, bottle service of Regency and Suntory Kakubin, and local sato—a traditional rice brew central to Isan gatherings—alongside a considered selection of red and white wines to complement the food’s robust flavours.
Even E-San Bangkok’s design balances Isan nostalgia with modern flair. Colourful tiled patterns above the pass reinterpret tradition with freshness, while a side station shaped like a sticky rice basket adds a playful touch of authenticity. Each detail reflects both the warmth of Isan culture and the vibrant personalities of its chef duo.
E-San Bangkok
Address: Unit R2-06, One City Center Building (OCC), Level 2, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini Sub District, Pathumwan District, Bangkok 10330
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Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
