Chef’s Choice Tasting Menu at Michelin-Starred Aksorn

At Aksorn, the chef’s choice tasting menu unfolds as a richly layered narrative shaped by David Thompson, whose approach to Thai cuisine is as much about storytelling as it is about technique. Set atop Central: The Original Store—the historic site of the Chirathivat family’s first Bangkok shop in 1950—the restaurant evokes a bygone era, where the spirit of mid-century Thailand lingers in both setting and plate. Within a space that once housed a bookstore, Thompson draws from a deep archive of old Thai cookbooks, reinterpreting recipes that might otherwise have been lost to time.

The experience culminates in the restaurant’s signature expression of samrub, the traditional Thai way of dining that sits at the heart of the country’s culinary culture. Rather than presenting dishes sequentially, the main course arrives as a carefully curated assembly of complementary preparations served simultaneously—perhaps a fragrant curry, a vibrant soup, a pungent relish or dip, and a wok-fired stir-fry. Together, these dishes create a harmonious interplay of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. Diners share and enjoy the contrasting elements as a whole, using plain rice as the essential canvas that tempers, balances, and unites the meal’s bold flavors into a cohesive experience.

Each stage of the menu is guided by a singular narrative thread, often inspired by a specific text, cook, or moment in Thailand’s culinary evolution as the country transitioned from its rich Siamese heritage into its modern identity. Forgotten dishes are meticulously revived, their complexity and depth revealed through layers of spice, smoke, and balance, while honoring the hands that first brought them to life—from home cooks and matriarchs to royal and regional chefs. Thompson’s decades of research underpin every plate, allowing these historical recipes to be expressed with clarity and relevance without sacrificing their soul.

As the menu progresses, the experience becomes a dialogue between past and present, where fire-driven techniques and bold, intricate flavors converge with careful scholarship and reverence. Each dish serves not only as a sensory moment, but as a continuation of Thailand’s culinary memory—preserved, reimagined, and shared in a way that ensures these once-forgotten recipes endure for generations to come.

This experience does not include beverages.