Ban Kao

My girlfriend (yes, we are back on!) loves Asian food – probably a bit of cultural heritage here. And that means Thai as well. So, yesterday, a Thai restaurant suddenly showed up in our schedule for dinner in São Paulo…

Ban Kao is right in the middle of Itaim Bibi neighbourhood, next to João Cachoeira Street, but actually in a narrower and darker street. When you cross the door you enter into a dark bur sober and modern world, into a very well decorated dining room. I personally choose the couches area…

You can actually skip the “trouble” of choosing between the many available dishes – you can opt for a “tasting” option that will allow you to share with everyone on the table a choice of 3 starters, 3 entrees and 2 desserts elected by the chef. I wanted to choose, so… starters promise a feast for your mouth if you are into Asian cuisine. You have a mix of dim sums, spicy bittersweet chicken, salmon sashimi, scallops and rice pudding delicacies combined in unique and “yummi” dishes – just remember each portion is actually for 2 persons (something a specific person forgot to notice…). When you go to the entrees, you need to pay close attention if you like spicy (like my girlfriend – again, the genetic herigate issue) or non-spicy food (my choice). The you can think about the several curry or coconut based shrimps or sea basses, the chicken Wan Gai, the steak dressed in exotic sauces, the several choices of fried rice… Believe me, the cuisine is great, mixing Thai, Vietnamese and Laos influences in a very mouth filling menu. That sets you up for desserts - especially if you went to a spicy food entrée…

Ban Kao is a very good Asian restaurant – mainly Thai, but with good influences from all Southeast Asia. It is a good place to have dinner with your spicy-food girlfriend, in a quite, charming and sophisticated place, with great tasty options.

Where: São Paulo - Brazil

Address: Rua Manuel Guedes 444 - Itaim Bibi

Phone: +55 11 3168 0662

Website: http://www.bankao.com.br/

Expensive: Around €35

Last visit: November 2011