When we heard that there was a full-on food bus — not truck, bus — parked over at Topgolf Megacity’s Patio, well, we had a lot of questions: Why a food bus? How does it work, especially in the middle of a sports and entertainment venue like Topgolf? What’s the deal with the massive smoker? And, most importantly, what’s on the menu?
It turns out that not only is it a full-size bus, it’s specifically a 12-meter long bus that was custom-built in Ratchaburi province in the style of the classic 1950s Thai white bus. While that’s impressive enough, just as equally impressive is the star of the bus: a massive Lang smoker cooker that was shipped directly over from North Carolina, USA – a first in Thailand. The bus is “parked” at Topgolf’s Patio area, which is connected to the Puttyard (for those who want to enjoy a game of casual minigolf pre or post-meal), and then turns into a lively beer garden at night.
But even if you’re not into golf, the food alone warrants multiple trips to BUSTED!, which holds its own as a standalone restaurant. Despite the presence of the smoker, there’s still plenty for you to pick from if you’re not a meat-eater, or want some lighter fare. There are breakfast and brunch options (waffles, eggs, toast — all the best brekkie classics), a selection of burgers and sandwiches, including a vegan jackfruit sloppy joe, smoothie bowls, Western mains like spaghetti and fish and chips, and hot drinks from Karo Coffee Roasters. There’s also a kids’ menu for the little ones.
That being said, if you are a proud carnivore, are you in for a smokey, succulent, delectable treat. BUSTED! means business, and in addition to bringing over a smoker from the other side of the world, the team also spent a long time preparing the actual wood that is used for the smoke. Sticking to local Thai woods in order to create a distinctive Thai BBQ flavor, they mixed and matched several different options before settling on what they call their “fruit salad,” which gets its name from the combination of green mango and lychee wood.
This fruit salad is the base of the Thai and American classics — a lot of which actually fuse the two cuisines — on BUSTED!’s smoked menu. There’s a make-your-own-curry-bowl option, where diners pick a smoked protein to pair with a hearty Thai curry base of their choice. For a spicy kick, try the krapaow burnt ends, which take the smoked end-pieces and toss them into the wok, along with a handful of garlic, chili, and holy basil. Diners who want to try something not found at your usual BBQ spots should check out the smoked twist on your traditional gai yang, featuring spatchcocked chicken served with a “fruit salad” yum (to accompany the “fruit salad” wood), and a trio of homemade sauces. Want to go fully Thai? You’ve got all the classics including moo ping, maa ouan, and khanom pang na moo — all made with the most perfectly barbecued meats.
BUSTED! can be found inside Topgolf Megacity, which is located near Mega Bangna.
