Thai-style steak: Old-school diner serves up tasty ribs

By Coconuts Bangkok

Jan 15, 2016 | 11:25am Bangkok time

COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Hidden in the old, haunted-looking Florida Hotel is a dining hall that serves steak — or rather, a wonderful Thai adaptation of what Westerners call steak.

Florida Hotel looks almost too outdated to offer anything to impress its guests. The hotel’s semi-abandoned lobby area is almost always dark, and quite frankly, a wee bit too eerie for my choice of downtown accommodation.

Walking through the main entrance of the hotel, you will immediately notice to your right another door leading into the hotel’s dining hall — our destination. Keep in mind, the theme for this Hot Spot is not “pretty Instagram-worthy dishes,” but rather “delicious and nothing more.”

Located by Phaya Thai BTS station, the hotel is extremely convenient to get to. Contrary to the busy vibes of this intersection, the diner inside is quiet and just as outdated as the hotel it sits in. Tiled floors, an old school bar kitchen, unfashionable wood built-ins, boring table sets, and old-fashioned booth seats by the window all contribute to the diner’s passé atmosphere. Perhaps the owners are aiming for a retro look? Either way, intentionally or not, this could be the perfect spot for shooting a scene from any 90’s-themed movies.

In fact, this place actually did serve as a movie set. Last year, several scenes from the successful GTH movie “Freelance” were shot right here to deliver the vibe of a late-night diner. But what really deserved the silver screen spotlight was the food.

I ordered “BBQ Sauce Pork Ribs,” which were beyond expectation. I was served a beautiful rack coated in red BBQ sauce, modestly yet stylishly plated on a round wooden cutting board. Who would have imagined a run-down diner like this place could serve up such a solid course of fine protein?

For just THB235, you are already in for a treat. The gorgeous ribs come with a baked potato, a tiny little pickle, and a small bowl of house salad with dressing. I also opted for an extra piece of Butter Roll (THB47), which was just a nice filler for a hungry stomach. I didn’t care that the bread wasn’t excellent, when my ribs were so well cooked, the meat so tender, falling off the bone. The sauce was delicious.

There was nothing sophisticated about the dish. It was just primitively delicious — just how I remember those meals when I was first introduced to Thai-style western foods as a child. And I couldn’t get enough of it.

By the way, the ribs are not the only hidden gems. I couldn’t help noticing that my neighbor’s T-bone steak looked and smelled just as heavenly. From the look of it, the same theme applies: simply delicious, nothing too fancy.

As you can see from the pictures, the platter is filled with just the necessary bits: beef, potato, some greens, and killer sauce (THB350).