Pang and the honourable hot pot
A new restaurant at The Circle Ratchapruk serves up succulent shabu-shabu
Long recognised as one of the healthiest Japanese foods around, shabu-shabu is often the first choice of health-conscious families when choosing a restaurant.
Among the newcomers to the hot pot tradition is Shabu Shabu Pang, which offers diners a terrific choice of fresh organic vegetables and quality meats.
Opened last April, this modest 60-seat at The Circle Ratchapruk is run by Natthawut Lertsrimongkol and his cousins. Inspired by a shabu eatery in Osaka, it’s designed both for large families as well as solo diners, with long tables for the crowds and separate hot pots on a counter bar.
“We’re aiming to offer a healthy options to diners. We love eating shabu and want to share passion with others,” says Natthawut. “We offer our dishes buffet-style, in set menu and a la carte.”
Customers rave about the flavourful broth made from dried king mackerel and shitake mushroom, as well as the three choices of sauce – goma (sesame seed), ponzu and spicy and sour.
The Bt259 set menu offers a choice of chicken, beef or pork and is served with a basket of Chinese cabbage, morning glory, carrot, baby corn, golden needle mushroom, Japanese onion, tofu and shitake, as well as Japanese rice and green tea.
The meat selections include the superbly tender wagyu, paleron (shoulder) and sirloin tip from beef specialists Pon Yang Kham as well as Kurobuta pork, preserved pork and bacon.
You can also choose your noodles from a list that includes green vegetable, udon, vermicelli and shirataki.
“We serve only organic vegetables, organic pork from CP and beef from Pon Yang Kham to ensure quality and we use low fat peanut butter in our sauce preparations,” says Natthawut. “We’ll be adding more broth choices soon too.”
TUCK IN
>>Shabu Shabu Pang is at Room L12, Basil Street zone of The Circle Ratchapruk. It’s open daily from 11am to 9pm. Call (02) 863 8779, (02) 863 8780-1.
