Irie Bangkok mixes meats and beats at new Khaosan joint

Dance and eat Jamaican dancehall-style at a longtime Bangkok DJ’s bar-restaurant that has reopened just off Khaosan Road.

“Jerk, Tunes & Tings,” promises Irie Bangkok, where DJ Orawan “Elle” Suppasuphawat hosts bass- and dub-heavy nights, and the kitchen serves jerk-cooked Jamaican fare.

“It is the only Jamaican restaurant in Bangkok that provides music as well,” Orawan said. “We want to deliver music culture with food. If people love drum ‘n bass music, than they’ll know where to be.”

The venue, which operated for awhile on Ekkamai, is throwing a grand opening party on Jan. 14 headlined by the Dub Pistols’ frontman Barry Ashworth, who will bring down everything from dub and ska to jungle and punk.

For about two years, Irie Bangkok hosted live gigs at its Ekkamai location, which Orawan opened with her boyfriend Bradley Hart. 

“I’ve been wanting to have a bar for awhile,” Orawan said. “And then, when I met Bradley, he wanted to have a restaurant, so we combined our passion together.”

Hart is responsible for what’s cooking in the kitchen. 

All the chicken is marinated over 24 hours in “jerk” seasoning, a mix of common herbs and spices, before being cooked low and slow over a charcoal grill.

Get a jerk-marinated chicken leg for as little as THB120 or get the eight-piece 420 Special for, well, THB420. At the bar, signature cocktails include the Rum & Roots, a splash of rum, ginger, honey, lime, and soda; or The Painkiller, which mixes kratom with rum and coconut nectar. Both are only THB160.

Ashworth plays at 9pm on Jan. 14 supported by DJs Orawan, Brad-Roc, Kingkong Killa, Klynton, and Animal. Tickets including one drink are THB500 online or THB600 at the door.

Irie Bangkok is located at 48 Chakrabongse Road, a short walk from Sanam Luang or the Phra Arthit pier in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.

FIND IT
Irie Bangkok
48 Chakrabongse Road
Noon-2am, Wednesday to Monday