Tao Huay Apollo in Bangkok
For enthusiastic foodies out there, we know that not a day goes by where you’re not stalking IG review sites or TikTok vids to hunt for new food spots to try after work or on the weekend. Living in Bangkok, this is more so a way of life, than a chore for most locals. However, if you’re a newcomer here, you might struggle to find a restaurant that stands out in the city.
Here’s our pick for reasonably priced dumplings and authentic noodles in the Silom area. Tao Huay Apollo is a nondescript Chinese restaurant hidden in Bang Rak, Bangkok where you can enjoy Yunnan-style noodles & Mala pork dumplings, just a 7-minute walk from the Sala Daeng BTS station.
Check out below to see whether their food recipes will trigger your hunger.
More places in Thailand to explore:
- The Oxygen Pattaya is a Bali-themed cafe with sunset views
- Ban Rak Thai is a lakeside village with Yunnan vibes
- Wat Niwet Thammaprawat is a Gothic church-style temple in Ayutthaya
Tao Huay Apollo has Yunnan noodles & Mala dumplings
Basically, Tao Huay Apollo is a Chinese restaurant with a menu centred around their grandmother’s douhua – AKA soy bean pudding – recipe from 50 years ago. Apart from their noteworthy desserts, the restaurant offers rare Chinese dishes that you’ll hardly find elsewhere.
Tao Huay Apollo is, we would say, a mid-sized diner decorated with simple patterns, exuding low-key minimalist vibes. As the place is hidden in an alley in Bang Rak, try to look for a small neon sign on the left of the restaurant or a black sign with a Chinese name. If you know what you’re looking out far, we think it’ll be hard to miss it.
Once you arrive, you’ll spot a row of small white round tables placed on the right, facing a wooden bar counter. Don’t hesitate to step in and check out the food items listed on their menu.
Speaking of their signature dishes, new visitors should def order at least 1 serving of Dou Hua Mi Xian at ฿85 (~USD2). You’ll get a bowl of noodles served with soft tofu, peanuts, herbs and minced pork, doused in a mildly spicy sauce. This menu staple is a Yunnan dish that was created by the store’s owner who had lived in Beijing for eight years. For those who love Yunnan food, we’d suggest trying this as your first option.
Next, Mala Pork Dumplings is another dish that you shouldn’t leave without trying. Priced at ฿36 (~USD1), you’ll get 3 pork dumplings topped with charred garlic, spring onions, and served with mala sauce in a bamboo streamer. However, if you can’t eat spicy food, you can opt to order another option without mala sauce at the same price.
To round out your meal in the most satisfying way, ordering a dessert is absolutely a must. Apollo offers guests quite a bit of variety – think Chinese desserts like Iced Soy Milk and Assorted Beans & Barley in Syrup. For those who have sweet tooth like us, we would definitely get Bualoy Nom Sod – 4 rice balls with fillings in fresh milk for ฿60 (~USD1) to combat the capsaicin in our mouth.
Getting to Tao Huay Apollo
So if you feel like your stomach is craving some new options when you’re in town, but you have no idea where you should go, keep Tao Huay Apollo in mind. If your experience was anything like ours, we bet you’ll fall in love with their authentic Yunnan & Sichuan-inspired dishes in no time. We also love the fact that it’s located near a BTS station, so it’s pretty convenient to reach the location via public transport. In short, you can get on a BTS train headed towards Sala Daeng BTS Station, and walk out at Exit 2. After that, you’ll need to head over to Silom 3 Alley, which will take less than 10 minutes, to find the restaurant.
Tao Huay Apollo
Address: 9/8 Si Lom 3, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Opening Hours: 10AM – 7PM | Closed on Sunday
Nearest Train Station: Sala Daeng BTS Station
Telephone: +66 9 2284 0717
Tao Huay Apollo’s Facebook | Google Maps
Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @munchmunchallday, @nini_dou_nini, Where Eat It แวะกินที่ไหนดี
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