COCONUTS HOT SPOT – JAM defies categorization. During the day, it’s a café that serves locally roasted coffee. Come evening, it morphs into a restaurant and bar, offering western comfort food, beer and cocktails – all at rock bottom prices. It’s also an art gallery featuring the work of local Bangkok-based artists, a sometimes indie movie venue and an in-the-know-but-not-pretentious party spot.
You might arrive at 3:30PM (when JAM opens) for an espresso (THB50), read or do some work on your laptop, drink an Asahi on draft (THB70) and devour a generous bowl of onion rings (THB80). Afterwards, you might take a nap on the sofa, chat with owner Dhyan Ho, then order dinner.
Here you’ll find burgers for the masses, and we’re not talking nausea-inducing fast food. Carnivores might opt for the Jamburger, which is a beef patty topped with house barbequed chutney, caramelized onions, tomatoes, lettuce and cheese (THB150). Pescatarians will likely go for the breadcrumb-battered Dory Fish Burger, done up with flavorful Japanese mayonnaise (THB120).
Need more meat? No problem. Add on homemade organic bacon for THB50. Meat not your thing? Go veggie with an eggplant and mushroom patty held together with a spicy but light breading that doesn’t obscure the vegetables with a one-dimensional fried flavor (THB120). All of the burgers come with expertly done fries.
JAM is a place where people tend to know each other, not because it’s exclusive (it’s anything but), but rather because people who come for a visit tend to come back. Currently, the work of Bangkok-based Brazilian street artist Cece Nobre is up on display in the restaurant. His oversized portraits of his skateboarder friends, done up with bold colors and subtle textures, take cues from street art.
The exhibit is officially over, but don’t fret if you missed it. With JAM, there’s always something new in the works.
FIND IT:
JAM – 02 673 9009
41 Soi Rong Nam Kang (Charoen Rat Soi 1), Sathorn
Bangkok, Thailand
Surasak BTS, Exit 2.
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James Yu is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow him on instagram @jamcyu and tumblr.
