I visited Bangkok last week for my annual pilgrimage to make offerings to a Buddhist monastery, sincerely wishing that the monks will strive hard in their quest for enlightenment and that the Dharma of Buddha will spread widely to bring peace to our conflicted world.

However, being just an ordinary person, my visit to the Buddhist temple was limited to a quick 15-minute affair where I dropped my accumulated monthly alms into a donation box. I would have loved to spend more time reflecting on the Dharma or meditating, but alas, the allure of good food and shopping proved too strong to resist. My travel companions and family had also been complaining about my many temple visits during vacations, and my partner even shared his frustration with friends.

To balance my desire to visit temples with the feelings of my friends and family, I told myself that the true temple is in my heart; a physical visit means nothing if my mind isn’t practicing the Dharma.

So, what did we do instead of visiting more temples in Thailand? We visited countless shopping malls! And it left me feeling jaded and empty. How many pairs of shoes and t-shirts can one person buy? On the other hand, Thai malls can be quite fun, especially when they innovatively incorporate religious icons into pop culture. I know some people might cry blasphemy, but Buddhism has never been about idol worship. Buddhist art has always adapted and transformed according to societal needs.

The following is a picture of Lucky Alley inside the latest mall, One Bangkok. Walking through this alley is supposed to bring good luck and of course it leads you to more shelves of products and merchandise.

Loud colors, neon symbols, moving icons, and colorful devas wearing Sunglasses!

Unfortunately, my Thai language is limited and I am not sure if there are innovative messages encouraging good karma or other positive behaviors. But honestly, I was too distracted by the loud clashing colours to notice anything else. Maybe that is why temple designs have to be serious.

Food-wise, Bangkok continues to innovate, and I love the creativity of the chefs there. I revisited Banthat Thong Road and was glad to try out several tasty restaurants. Banthat Thong is very accessible (a 15-minute walk) if you’re staying near the famous MBK shopping mall.

You can spend an entire week having all your meals there and will not cover all the restaurants. Here’s what I ate and enjoyed.

Elvis Suki and Seafood

This restaurant serves traditional Thai seafood dishes alongside grilled seafood. Notice the Michelin signs plastered on the shop front? Their menu is extensive, but we only managed to sample three dishes. The grilled scallop was my favorite. They innovatively incorporate a piece of fatty pork into the scallop before grilling, and the seasoned pork fat truly enhanced the flavor! I imagine a fine-dining establishment might keep this secret ingredient hidden, but this street-side stall-turned-restaurant proudly displays it in the dish. The pork was delicious, too. Coupled with their homemade plum and chili sauce, it was simply yummy.

The glass noodle baked with river prawn was nicely seasoned and scored well as a traditional reciped dish. No surprises but satisfactory.

The Dry Beef Suki is a glass noodle dish that incorporate their specialty sauce that blend Japanesn and Thai recipe. Again it was satisfactory but did not arouse much excitement in me.

Overall, the food was delicious and decent. Well executed and fulfilling. Taste is very personal and my favourite was just the scallop and I would go for it again if invited. But there are sooo many other stalls around….

After dinner, we walked a bit to help with digestion and came across a brightly lit stall with a line of people waiting in the rain. It must be good, right? So, I got hungry again! Nueng Nom Nua (Banthat Thong) specialized in cute little toasted buns with their signature flavoured milk. I ordered takeout to enjoy later in my hotel room, which was a good idea. No QUEUE! The bread was soft, the filling was tasty, and the rich milk made it a perfect late-night treat.

The rain intensified, and we reluctantly decided to postpone our exploration until the following evening. As we turned to leave, fate intervened—or perhaps my insatiable appetite—in the form of a stall selling fried oyster omelettes!

This isn’t just any omelette; it’s a traditional Chinese dish, a culinary legacy brought to Thailand by immigrants from Southern China. The temptation proved irresistible, and I promptly ordered a takeaway.

The perfect oyster omelette is a testament to the cook’s skill. A delicate balance is required: a crispy exterior encasing a moist, almost gluey interior, achieved through a special batter of expertly blended flours—each chef guarding their secret recipe. The batter must be infused with the briny sweetness of fresh oysters.

Thai cooks, however, have cleverly sidestepped the years of practice needed to master the perfect fry. They create a separate, crisp, and crusty batter base, then simply top it with a gluey egg mixture. Ingenious! It may not be the traditional method, but it delivers delicious results.

Paired with their fiery and sweet chilli sauce, this omelette was a revelation. While purists might insist on a pilgrimage to Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, in Southern China, to experience the ultimate version, I found the Thai adaptation utterly satisfying.

The plump, succulent oysters, the satisfying crunch of the crust, and the vibrant kick of the chilli sauce combined to create a truly memorable late-night snack. My intuition had been right; despite the empty stall, the takeaway omelette was exquisite. As I walked back, a hotel staff member spotted my package. “That’s my favorite!” he exclaimed, his face lighting up. For a moment, I considered sharing my treasure, but the siren song of pure, unadulterated deliciousness proved too strong. Greed, I confess, won the battle. I devoured the entire box, savoring every last bite. Despite the rain, it was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

May all be well and happy.