Broccoli Revolution seeks to show that vegetarian cuisine can actually be elevated to a fine dining option.
by Dave Stamboulis.
The foodie blitz that continues to storm Bangkok has seen Mexican, Italian, Japanese, and just about every style and cuisine under the sun represented, but strangely enough, we haven’t seen any vegetarian restaurants. This is why it’s refreshing to see the corner of Sukhumvit at Soi 49 taken over by Broccoli Revolution, a veggie lover’s heaven that seeks to show that vegetarian cuisine can actually be elevated to a fine dining option.
Owner Naya Ehrlich-Adam, a Thai woman married to an Austrian man who owns the noted Monsoon restaurants in Yangon and Ho Chi Minh, decided to share her love of good, healthy food by opening a place in Bangkok, but it differs from her previous venues that focused mainly on dishes from Asia. Broccoli Revolution is more of an east meets west approach, with the menu spanning Middle Eastern mezze (appetizer plates) of hummus, baba ghanouj, and tzatziki, or Mexican guacamole and salsa, plus Vietnamese pho, several Burmese dishes, and plenty more, showcasing many of her favorite foods from around the globe.
Top sellers include the quinoa burgers served with guacamole and charcoal buns, along with homemade French fries or salad, and the aforementioned mezze platters, which also have tabouleh, marinated olives, and pita bread in addition to all the dips.
The menu also includes a variety of tasty salads, such as the watermelon and radish salad, which comes served with a touch of hummus and fresh rocket leaves. In a welcome difference from the average trendy new Bangkok restaurant, portions here are actually large enough to fill one up without needing to head out to the nearest street noodle vendor afterwards.
While the restaurant has just finished several months with a soft opening menu, limited to a small selection of appetizers, soups, salads, and main dishes, November sees the launch of a full selection of dishes. Plus, there are weekly specials made from whatever fresh organic ingredients are available on the market, like organic figs or pomelos.
Juices are also a big part of the restaurant, with a long list of hand-pressed fresh vegetable and fruit options to choose from with ingredients like kale, cucumber, spinach, and beetroot prominently featured.
For those who think it’s all purist here, there are plenty of reasons other than the healthy food to entice one to hang out. The restaurant stocks Beer Lao and Chalong Bay Rum, has organic wines by the glass and bottle, and also has a list of fruit cocktails. Additionally, there’s vegan pumpkin pie or chocolate fudge cake amongst the list of desserts, and they even do large berry smoothies served in a bowl.
Broccoli Revolution is located right on the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 49 in a large open-space industrial-style decorated spot with brick walls and lots of hanging ferns and other potted plants – reminiscent of a Manhattan organic green space. Open from 7 a.m., it’s a great place to enjoy the views out of the large windows that give prime street viewing spots, and there are a selection of teas and homemade granola or chia seeds amongst the items available.
Broccoli Revolution
899 Sukhumvit Soi 49
Tel. 02 662 5002
