Soi 71 – a Thai gourmet trip in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Soi 71 – a gourmet trip

Faizul Khan Tanim says his stomach journeyed to Thailand when he ate at this top-notch restaurant

Soi 71, soi meaning road in Thai, is located on Road 71 in Gulshan. This family-run restaurant has become a local favourite since it opened in June 2010. For those who crave authentic Thai cuisine and great ambience this is the place to go.

They also have karaoke! The hustle and bustle on the busy crossroads outside has been creatively blocked out. Once inside, you are welcomed by the friendly staff and step into a peaceful place. The waterfall, fresh flowers, ambient music and the calming affect of the aquarium will immediately relax you.

There are private rooms and a separate children’s play area. The menu will only make the experience more delightful. When I ate there with my family, the three enjoyed a five-course meal that comprised of the house-special fried rice, Thai noodles, a vegetable dish, the spring fried chicken and a delicious fish dish and the bill came to a very affordable Tk 3,000.

Those who come to Soi 71 leave happy and always return for more. A regular is Ashfaq, who keeps coming back for the pad thai, the chicken and beef satay, the vermicelli salad, chicken with basil leaf, red or green curry with duck, the squid, the mixed vegetable with oyster sauce, the grilled lobster and the Soi 71 fusion beef steak!

The food is made with lots of care and attention. This is obvious when you speak to the owners, who are foodies themselves and contribute towards what is served, with passion that goes above and beyond the ace chef's skills.

I met the owners of Soi 71 over a cup of coffee; Nashra Yusuf Sakhawat and Azizur Rahim Chowdhury are the proud proprietors. Asked what makes Soi 71 different, they smiled and stated, “Genuine, wholesome Thai food and nothing but Thai that has been cooked with a lot of passion by our very experienced chef from Bangkok and served with good customer service.”

Sakhawat is proud of the fact that they use organic produce. She counts herself lucky to have known and tasted different cuisines but has always been fanatical about Thai food. “The over-all quality of Thai food in Dhaka reduced a lot lately so I wanted to have a place of my own to quench my thirst and ensure healthy cooking so that my children can have quality food fun as well”, she adds.

This is what Chowdhury and Sakhawat had to say, ''At Soi 71, we are always looking for a reason to celebrate. Join us!'' For those who love Thai food, there can be no better reason to join in the fun so do make sure that you visit them soon.