Partying Chinese style

Partying Chinese style
Joke Club's Toy promises a culinary celebration on every floor of her brand-new Soho Seafood restaurant


Lovers of fine Chinese cuisine will be happy to learn that the Soho group of restaurants is in the process of re-locating and refurbishing. Joke Club on Sukhumvit Soi 11, long popular for its congee, no longer exists, having closed down and, as of December 1, re-opened on New Phetchburi Road as Soho Seafood.
Right next to the former Japanese embassy, Soho Seafood has a small car park for around 30 cars, with valet parking across the street, and owner Jarukorn "Toy" Quewpaisarn is currently negotiating with office buildings nearby to expand parking facilities.
For sure, Soho Seafood is going to need as much parking space as possible. These new premises are huge, much larger than Soho by Joke Club on Sathorn Rd. The new restaurant has three floors, each with a capacity of 100 diners, as well as two private rooms. The lounge and bar areas can also be sectioned off for private parties.
Toy has decorated her new restaurant to look completely different from her Sathorn Soho. Soho Seafood has walls decorated in Chinese murals, which she has brought in from Hong Kong. She's also brought in plants, vases, and other decorations, mildly reminiscent of someone's home - someone's huge home.
"Parties, parties, parties, big or small!" Toy says gleefully. With the new restaurant, she's working on making dreams come true - offering a party on every floor, with diners enjoying the vast range of dishes on the menus she's personally prepared.
To make your party planning as easy as possible, Toy has introduced a large number of set menus ranging in price from Bt2,700 to Bt20,000 per person. If you still don't see a menu you'd like, she's willing to sit down and help you create your very own personalised set of dishes.
Although the a la carte menu is new, many of the popular dishes that diners came to love at Joke Club are still featured. The fried rice dishes are as tasty as ever. Toy uses a special cooking method, so very little oil is used. In addition, bits of grilled smoked salmon are added - a tasty alternative to bacon.
Soon to be added to the menu is tiger prawn with garlic and butter. When you sink your knife into this crustacean, the sauce is so creamy that you might think cheese has been added, but no, cheese really isn't necessary for this delicious entree.
Those seeking healthful but hearty dishes should try out the range of bean curd dishes on offer, such as the bean curd fried with garlic and chilli and the sweet and sour bean curd. These are vegetarian dishes, but each has a distinctive taste and texture.
Toy is proud of her bean curd dishes, as well as the very popular Hong-Kong style deep-fried chicken and her duck dishes, but in her new restaurant, she aims to emphasise seafood. "That's why we call it 'Soho Seafood'," she explains.
For an unusual, tasty and dramatic dish, try the "lava shrimp". At your table, a plate of shrimp is emptied onto a dish of extremely hot black stones, with a hefty helping of Chinese white wine drizzled over to get things sizzling.
Within seconds, the shrimp is cooked, maintaining their fresh, salty taste and going beautifully with the dipping sauce.
Another popular dish is the seafood hot pot, where you cook your choice of seafood yourself in a mellow consomm้. (Serving for three or four, Bt400).
Drop by and check out the menu yourself. The restaurant is easily accessible from the Phetchburi Underground Station.