[Bangkok] Diving deep into the city of Bangkok, there is a rustic place on Wattana with a charm.
I have seen quite a number of viral food videos on this “50-year-old beef stock” (most reported 40 plus years) that I had to make my way to Ekkamai for a taste.
If you fancy a very long walk, the eatery is about 1.8km or about a 23 minutes’ walk from Ekkamai BTS station. Or find other ways of transport.
Plainly decorated, the bare ventilation, exposed concrete floors and weathered façade does not seem to reveal much fanfare.
However, it is the unmissably large cauldron in the front that works the magic.
While there is always a constant line of locals, delivery drivers, and curious tourists armed with cameras (shooting at that big pot of simmering broth), the queue moves relatively fast and I got my seat within 10 minutes.
At Wattana Panich Beef Broth, the pot of beef broth has been simmering for more than 40 years, with decades of flavour intensified in one place.
These sorts of stew can be found all over the world. Each day, as the stew nears emptiness, it is kept in a boil.
It becomes a stock base for the next day, when water and new ingredients are added to the mix.
If you are concerned about how it sounds, do not worry. Because the stew is never taken off the heat, it remains safe to consume.
At Wattana Panich, it is exactly this method that allowed the stew to pass from one generation to another, keeping the tradition and taste alive.
The main ingredients in this stew are beef bones and an assortment of meat, together with a secret blend of Chinese herbs and spices.
On the menu are Gao-Lao of sliced beef, stewed beef and beef balls served with rice, Stewed Goat, Stewed Bovine’s Tendon (Bovine is a term relating to cattle), or Lad-na which is a noodle dish with your choice of meat.
If you do not read Thai, the on-the-wall menu may be slightly confusing, but each bowl is priced generally at 100 THB or 150 THB (100 THB is SGD3.90 or USD2.85), with all-in-one Goat or Beef Bowl at 200 THB.
While I was there, I noted the faithful crowd of diners chowing down bowls of the beef stew. It goes without saying that I had to get the same: noodles served with sliced beef, stewed beef and beef balls.
I got both the soup and the dry version. Under the firm beef balls and tender beef slices, the chewy noodles are perfect for the rich broth.
The thing that surprised me was the broth – I expected it to be more intense, but the flavours were actually just nice without being too overwhelming.
It had a slightly thicker consistency that made it quite different from all other similar beef soups I had.
The meats were stewed in the very same broth before it is cut up and served. The pieces were not too gamey, were firm-enough yet soft to the bite.
I wanted to try a dry version of the vermicelli (I know, I know), and it unfortunately didn’t come with an accompanying small bowl of soup.
Still, the mix of the sauces turned out to be rather flavourful – so no regrets.
Wattana Panich Beef Broth
336 338 Ekkamai Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 9am – 7:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Wattana Panich Beef Broth
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* Written by Daniel Ang and Dean Ang. Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
