As its name implies, Jasmin Hong Kong Restaurant boasts that its expertise lies in Chinese-Hong Kong-style dishes. Though hidden on the fourth floor of Time Square Building in Asoke, it’s no secret to Chinese food-loving businessmen, who pack the dining room at lunch hour, and Thai-Chinese families in the evening.

 

Nearly everything in the modestly-sized room is mismatched , from the contemporary chandeliers to the classic red curtains and graphic-print wallpaper. But you don’t need to worry about that, because the food is so consistently perfect—and priced pretty much like any other Chinese restaurant.

 

We simply love the Hong Hao hors d’oeuvres (six Chinese cold cuts, B500-850), which, from the five-spice pig’s ear and barbecue pork to the sesame-marinated jellyfish, are packed with flavor. The skin to the roasted Peking duck (B970) is trimmed from the meat perfectly, without a trace of fat, while the sweet dipping sauce is just right. The duck meat itself can be ordered in six different ways—we recommend having it stir-fried in sweet and sour sauce.

 

Other standout dishes include the dry, aromatic and pleasinglyburned- tasting stir-fried fish maw (B320, B480, B650) and the salted egg yolk and barbecue meat-packed four-seasons fried rice in lotus leaf (B390-530). The fried goby fish in soy sauce (market price; on our last visit B840) is also divine.

 

The highlights carry on to dessert, with a bua loy hima (B90) that features super soft flour sheets stuffed with sweet black sesame in a piquant ginger soup, and pae guay puek bod (mashed taro with coconut milk and gingko nuts, B80) that proves simplicity is best. If you’re after a convenient, no-frills space to enjoy Chinese delicacies at a decent price, we can think of very few places better in Bangkok. No corkage charge

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This review took place in May 2015 and is based on a visit to the restaurant without the restaurant's knowledge. For more on BK's review policy, click here.