A World of Inspiration At Bangladesh’s Best Restaurants

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Pan Tao serves authentic Thai cuisine in the heart of Dhaka. Head Chef Pharatee Sakhunsong hails from Thailand and has a culinary career spanning 27 years, from hawker stalls in her homeland to restaurants in the United Kingdom. Her menu is based around the four main tastes of Thai cuisines – sweet, sour, spicy and salty – with ingredients flown in from Thailand. Regular patrons rave about the tom yam gung ya (king prawn soup) and the yam pak boong (white mushroom salad). Lovers of seafood will not be disappointed either with dishes like pla ka pong som rod (fried whole white snapper with sweet and sour sauce) and pla jaramed nung buoy (steamed pomfret with pickled plum) waiting to delight their palates.

Izumi, meaning ‘fountain’ or ‘spring’ in Japanese, is a peaceful oasis in hustling, bustling Dhaka despite its location in the popular Gulshan region. The elegant and modern restaurant resides in a picturesque courtyard which guests are able to dine in. Beautiful bonsai trees, a rock garden and waterfall lend Izumi an authentic Japanese style, while artwork by local artist Ashraful Hasan adorns the exterior walls. Inside, the restaurant is spacious and softly lit and patrons can enjoy familiar Japanese fare like sushi, sashimi and tempura or something a little less typical such as the yaki spit-roasted scallops or the grilled fresh eel with sweet eel sauce. For meat lovers, try the teppanyaki steak wagyu, 200 grams of Australian wagyu beef served with vegetables, rice and dipping sauce.

George’s Bistro is a cozy venue established an American expat with years of culinary experience in America. The interior and ambiance are more akin to a trendy Tribeca coffeehouse than a Dhaka restaurant. The menu features filling sandwiches like Italian chicken sausage with sundried tomatoes or tender spiced BBQ beef and a range of New York-style hot dogs with Big Apple-themed names like the Times Square Dog (sauerkraut with BBQ onion and yellow mustard) and the Wall Street Dog, topped with kimchi, relish and brown mustard. For a lighter snack try a brownie washed down with a delicious cup of coffee.

Located on Dhanmondi’s busy Satmasjid Road, Cilantro serves a wide variety of food influenced by Latin American, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. Cilantro has an interior of exposed red brickwork which contrasts with light wooden tables and seating, while clusters of recycled mason jars illuminated with tiny lights cast the restaurant in a soft glow. The diverse menu includes patatas bravas (potato chunks in a spicy tomato sauce), grilled sirloin steak and chicken souvlaki, a Greece-inspired grilled skewered chicken dish. A array of desserts is also available: choose from treats like a slice of lemon chocolate cake or sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.

While Dhaka offers a great deal of choice for diners, there are a number of fine restaurants beyond the capital and the Mermaid Cafe is one of them. It’s part of the Mermaid Eco-Resort in Cox’s Bazar, located in south-eastern Bangladesh, a seaside town and fishing port best known for its 78-mile long beach, one of the longest in the world. The Mermaid Cafe is located on a stretch of this stunning beach overlooking the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal. It serves a mix of both Bangladeshi fare and internationally inspired dishes, with seafood caught daily from Cox’s Bazar as its specialty. Choose from dishes like fresh lobster, stuffed Indian salmon, grilled snapper or garlic prawns with spinach linguine.

Ambrosia is located in the port city of Chittagong, less than 100 miles north of Cox’s Bazar. Situated in the heart of the city, close to the harbor in the commercial Agrabad area, Ambrosia offers a diverse menu with dishes from Thai, Indonesian, Bangladeshi and continental cuisines. The large restaurant boasts high ceilings and beautiful exposed brickwork. Guests can choose from either a buffet lunch featuring 66 dishes or an a la carte menu. Highlights include steamed red snapper with lemon pineapple sauce, grilled tiger prawns or lobster thermidor.