Available for Lunch and Dinner at Benjarong, Dusit Thani ManilaLast Updated: February 02, 2022
Benjarong Experience is the multi-course tasting menu of Benjarong Manila featuring modern interpretation of traditional and regional Thai dishes served in a Western-style tasting menu. Benjarong Experience is served in a 5-course lunch menu and an 8-course dinner menu. A wine pairing option is also available.
Chef Watcharaphon Yongbanthom (Chef Ja), the Thai Chef de Cuisine of Dusit Thani Manila, developed the dishes featured in the Benjarong Experience menu. In every dish, Chef Ja creatively blended authentic Thai flavors, Western cooking techniques, and contemporary food presentation.
Benjarong Experience Tasting Menu 2022
| Features Dishes | Lunch 5-course |
Dinner 8-course |
Wine Pairing |
| Pla Samun Prai ปลาสมุนไพร |
1st | 1st | --- |
| Hor Mok Gung ห่อหมกกุ้ง |
--- | 2nd | --- |
| Yum Sum O ยำส้มโอ |
--- | 3rd | white |
| Khao Giep Pu ข้าวเกรียบปู |
2nd | 4th | white |
| Gaeng Phed Ped Yang แกงเผ็ดเป็ดย่าง |
3rd | 5th | red |
| Nuea Pa Lo เนื้อพะโล้ |
4th | 6th | red |
| Pa Ka Krong ผกากรอง |
--- | 7th | --- |
| I-Tim Durian Thed ไอติมทุเรียนเทศ |
5th | 8th | --- |
Above are the dishes included in the 5-course lunch menu and 8-course dinner menu as of February 2022. Please advise the restaurant in advance if you have food restrictions so an alternative dish can be arranged for you. Dishes are designed to pair well with wine but if you prefer cocktails, you can see below my personal recommendations for every dish.
Welcome Drink
Guests availing the Benjarong Experience tasting menu are served with Benjarong's signature welcome drink, the Benjarong Tom Yum Gin. The drink is infused with fresh lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal, and mixed with fresh lime. Its citrusy taste is very refreshing and will surely stimulate your appetite.
Pla Samun Prai (ปลาสมุนไพร)
Pla Samun Prai is a traditional Thai salad consisting of crispy fried fish fillet mixed with fresh Thai herbs and fish sauce dressing. Chef Ja interpreted this dish as a Western-style amuse-bouche consisting of a crispy fried rice wrapper tube filled with fresh salmon with tom yum spiced mayo. It is then served on a fresh betel leaf which is eaten together with the dish. This amuse-bouche goes well with the Benjarong Tom Yum Gin welcome drink.
Hor Mok Gung (ห่อหมกกุ้ง)
Hor Mok Gung is a steamed prawn red curry custard dish traditionally cooked in a banana leaf container and then topped with a thickened coconut cream. In this tasting menu dish, Chef Ja used a young coconut shell as the container for the hor mok gung. It is then topped with coconut sabayon, crunchy shrimp floss, and garnished with fried basil, basil flowers, and coconut tuile. The sweetness of the young coconut meat balances the salty and savory taste of the dish. This dish also goes well with the Benjarong Tom Yum Gin welcome drink.
Yum Sum O (ยำส้มโอ)
Yum Sum O (Thai pomelo salad) is one of the most popular Thai salads and it is served in its classic form as part of the Benjarong Experience tasting menu. This dish also comes with a serving of pomelo sherbet on the side. Chardonnay is served with this dish for wine pairing. If you prefer cocktails, I recommend the Lemongrass Spritz, a refreshing drink with gin, lemongrass syrup, and lime juice.
Khao Giep Pu (ข้าวเกรียบปู)
Khao Giep Pu is a Thai dumpling made with steamed rice noodle wrapper stuffed with crab meat. In this tasting menu, Chef Ja colored the wrapper with butterfly pea flower tea. The dumpling is then served with a soup made with crab broth, coconut milk, and turmeric. Chili oil is also added to give the soup a slight kick. The dish is very flavorful with well-balanced sweetness and saltiness. Chardonnay is also served for wine pairing. For cocktails, the Lemongrass Spritz also goes well with this dish. The tartness of the drink will bring out the umami of the soup.
Gaeng Phed Ped Yang (แกงเผ็ดเป็ดย่าง)
Gaeng Phed Ped Yang is a royal Thai cuisine of red curry with roasted duck. As part of the Benjarong Experience tasting menu, Chef Ja served this dish in a Western-style presentation with slices of seared duck meat placed on a bed of red curry sauce, chopped pineapples, grapes, and tomatoes, and then drizzled with coconut foam, and finally garnished with slices of caramelized pineapple, basil leaves, curry leaves, and cherry tomato. The dish comes with a variety of rice crackers. Shiraz Cabernet is served with this dish for wine pairing. If you prefer cocktails, I recommend the Raspberry Spiced, a vodka-based drink with calamansi juice, spiced syrup, and raspberry puree. Classic version of this dish is also available on the a la carte menu.
Nuea Pa Lo (เนื้อพะโล้)
Nuea Pa Lo is a classic Thai dish of five-spice braised beef and eggs. For this tasting menu, Chef Ja used US beef short rib braised for hours in soy sauce and five-spice. Once cooked, the meat is then sliced into cubes and served with quail eggs. Steamed brown rice and red rice are served on the side together with mustard pickle. Shiraz Cabernet is also served with this dish for wine pairing. For cocktails, I also recommend the Raspberry Spiced which has the same flavor profile as the dish.
Pa Ka Krong (ผกากรอง)
Pa Ka Krong is a Thai dessert made of coconut dough balls stuffed with mungbean paste. The coconut dough balls are then styled to the shape of lantana flowers (pa ka krong in Thai). This dessert goes well with Thai Iced Tea or Thai Iced Coffee.
I-Tim Durian Thed (ไอติมทุเรียนเทศ)
I-Tim Durian Thed is an ice cream made with fresh soursop (called durian thed in Thai) and encased in coconut jelly. It is served with slices of ripe mango, popcorn with caramelized palm sugar, edible flowers, and mint leaves. This dessert also goes well with Thai Iced Tea or Thai Iced Coffee.
Wine Pairing
The 8-course dinner menu is also available with wine pairing for an additional ₱1,000++ per person. Chardonnay is served to pair with the third and fourth course, the Yum Sum O (Thai Pomelo Salad) and the Khao Giep Pu (The Rice Noodle Dumpling with Crabmeat), respectively. Featured wine brand of the day varies.
Shiraz Cabernet is served with the fifth and sixth course, the Gaeng Phed Ped Yang (Red Curry with Roasted Duck) and the Nuea Pa Lo (Five-Spice Braised Beef), respectively. Featured wine brand of the day varies.
Prices for 2022
| Benjarong Experience Tasting Menu |
Regular Price | Dusit Lifestyle* |
| 5-Course Lunch | ₱1,800++ ₱2,211 net |
₱1,800 net |
| 8-Course Dinner | ₱2,500++ ₱3,070 net |
₱2,800 net |
| 8-Course Dinner with Wine Pairing | ₱3,500++ ₱4,298 net |
₱3,800 net |
*Dusit Lifestyle members enjoy special rates as part of their membership benefits. The regular members' discount of 30% does not apply here.
24-hour advance booking is required. Call (02) 7238-8888.
Benjarong
Ground Level, Dusit Thani Manila
Ayala Centre, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact: +63 (02) 7238-8888
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