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Jidori Cuisine Ken is a little gem loaded with Japanese atmosphere

Recommendation

Jidori Cuisine ken is your fastest route from Bangkok to Tokyo. The Michelin Guide got it right this time. I have been highly critical to the work the guide have done in Bangkok, but this time I credit them for putting me on track for this little intimate Japanese gem.

Interior of the kitchen and the long sitting area

Jidori Cuisine Ken is a Japanese Izakaya, or tavern if you like. But the atmosphere at Jidori Cuisine Ken is anything but a typical western tavern. When entering the doors you immediately realize that you leave Bangkok and enter Tokyo. They are known for their yakitori that is grilled chicken skewers, but there is plenty of other alternatives as well, including vegetarian dishes. They have a really good set up of different Sake that should fit even the most discerning guest.

Cold Soba noodles with hot chicken soup

Before I move on the food I have to apologize for the bad quality of the photos. I only had an old smart phone available that don’t tackle anything but sunshine. The food was well presented and looked inviting and a million times better then what the photos shows.

I started out with the cold Soba noodles with a warm chicken soup. The soy based soup came with different bites of chicken and with grilled leaks in it. A very pleasant combination. The noodles was of course cooked to perfection, after all we are talking true Japanese food culture here. Details matter, and they show it in their work at Jidori.

I think they had different kinds of ramen on their menu, too. We’ve all had ramen in some form or another, but it would be wonderful to taste authentic Japanese ramen. Although I couldn’t try it this time, I’m sure I’ll be coming back to this place soon enough!

Chicken tight with salt and with green yuzu peel

Then I moved on to their Yakitori menu with a number of different chicken skewers to choose from. I started with pieces of chicken tight with salt, as Jidori pay special attention to the use of salt, a blending of Italian and American salt. They add salt through out the process to ensure more complexity to each of the small bites served.

Both skewers were really taste and juicy and barbecued to perfection. Both the salt and the Yuzu version had a distinctive character, especially the salt version. Both are served with shredded radish to give it a small zing.

Medium raw chicken skewer with wasabi

Then i went for the medium raw chicken skewer with wasabi, that was a very positive surprise. It looked pale on the outside, while the center of the meat looked almost raw, but when chewing it, it was a delicious experience. This is probably the moment to inform that the chicken they use are free range chicken. That said, a lot of free range chicken might as well have a lot of issues you don’t wont to deal with. But knowing that I was sitting in Japanese restaurant with their serious culture about food, I didn’t have any doubt that it would be healthy and sound bites. If you come here, I wouldn’t hesitate about ordering it.

Home made tofu at Jidori Cuisine Ken

I’m a big fan of tofu and at Jidori Cuisine Ken they make their own tofu. It came with a chicken based sauce. I have to say it was a very good dish. The tofu was amazingly delicate and smooth with delicious and clean flavors from socking up the soup that really added complexity to the dish.

I have to mention that my neighboring seated guy had one of those japanese salad dressings with bacon and it both looked good, but that will have to be for next time.

I came alone and got a seat along the bar. That is fine if you come one or two persons, but if you are a group of three or more persons I would definitively book one of the few tables. They also have private rooms upstairs. A big part of the cliental is of course Japanese people living in Bangkok.

They are tucked away at the end of a dead-end soi with plenty of with small Japanese restaurants and dodgy looking massage parlours.

Name: Jidori Cuisine Ken (meaning something like the best type of chicken)

Food: Japanese with a focus on Yakatori

Price: Medium to high priced. Expect to pay around 700 – 1200 per person for a full meal

Open: Mon – Sat 5 pm – 12 am, Sunday 5 pm to 10 pm

Phone: +66 2 661 3457

Address: 10/12 Soi Sukhumvit 26

How to get there: Take the BTS to Phrom Phong station, exit # 1 and walk from there. When you get to Sukhumvit Soi 26 it is about 150 meters before you take to the right into an alley. When you look into the alley from Soi 26 you will see plenty of with Japanese lightened signs with black letters on. It is 50 meters into the alley on the right side.

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