I had heard so many great reviews of Bangkok’s Cabbages and Condoms restaurant and decided to head down Sukhumvit and try out the restaurant myself. I can see why those reviews were glowing!
What the hell is Cabbages and Condoms?
The uniquely named restaurant gets attention across the city and the world because of its ‘out there’ name. But it is actually a Thai restaurant with a variety of food from all provinces of Thailand and has a great ethos.
The concept of the restaurant came about by its founder Mechai Viravaidya, who believed:
“You can go to any shop around Thailand and you will always find cabbages … condoms should be like cabbages which are ubiquitous and accessible to everyone.”
Mechai Viravaidya
The restaurant looks to promote a better understanding and acceptance of family planning and contraception whilst generating money for different non-profit organizations in Thailand including the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) – a sex education and AIDS prevention group.
The food
The menu is extensive with many great Thai options. You can expect all the popular Thai dishes you see across the country as well as a range of curries, salads and soups. The menu includes pictures too and you can request more or less spice if you wish.
As there was four of us, we were able to try quite a few dishes here.
For appetizers, we tried the chicken and pork satay as well as the Khao Tang Na Tang and the Tom Yum Gung. The soup has a tomato taste but was very spicy; our friend loved it because of the chillies so if you like spicy food, definitely try this. The Khao Tang Na Tang was really tasty, it was crispy and the sauce was spicy but you could choose how much sauce you put in your lettuce leaf. I love satay so of course, this satay was perfect; I find it like comfort food, warm and tender with a sweet hit from that peanut butter sauce; perfect!
For mains, we shared Chicken in pandanus leaves (Kai Hor Bai Teoy); we have had these before and the chicken very tender with a hint of garlic. I ate some Mussaman curry; the chicken was served on the bone, which I am not always a fan of, but it came off the bone very easily. The sauce wasn’t spicy at all but had a great taste and was served with soft potatoes and onions. Calum enjoyed the Penang curry, again, it wasn’t spicy but you can add chillies if you wish.
The setting
The restaurant is well organised and surprisingly big. Tucked away in a Soi, it could be easily missed, but as you walk through an archway, you come out to a very large restaurant area. With choices of inside and outside, as well as a few event rooms, you will always be able to find a seat at Cabbages and Condoms.
Everything is clean and the seats are comfortable. The staff were friendly but I would suggest ordering appetizers, waiting for them to arrive and then ordering your mains if you want to eat one before the other. We forgot to do this and all our dishes arrived at once – not really a problem but it made the meal a bit more rushed than we prefer.
Whilst you are there, make sure you check out the artwork; educational posters, lifesize characters made from condoms and edited famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa holding the pill.
To top it off (literally), the tables inside the restaurant have a layer of different coloured condoms behind a glass tabletop.
The location
Head to the Asoke BTS or the Sukhumvit MRT and take the exit to Sukhumvit Road. Head down Sukhumvit 12 and you will see signs to the restaurant. Cabbages and Condoms Bangkok is around a 3 – 4 minute walk from Sukhumvit Road.
Alternatively, you could catch a taxi or grab; the restaurant is listed in English on the Grab app and taxis will know where Sukhumvit 12 is.
Cabbages and Condoms prices
The prices are fair for the location and restaurant. You will be able to get cheaper noodles and curries from street vendors but I would say the food quality matches the price. As you can see from the menu above, prices are generally between 200 – 500 baht for a main course whilst most starters are under 200 baht.
Souvenirs?
Yep, you read that right. At the entrance of the restaurant, there is a sizeable souvenir shop with magnets, posters, mugs and so on, all related to the theming. Admittedly, Calum liked a glass with the logo on it, so we picked one up for 60 baht.
Other C&C locations
You can also find a Cabbages and Condoms restaurant in Pattaya, Chiang Rai, Krabi and even the UK.
We really enjoyed our meal at Cabbages and Condoms and will definitely be heading back there soon. Prices are reasonable and the food is good quality and delicious. They really do cater to all types of groups; whether you are looking for a romantic date location or a place to bring your group of friends or colleagues.
Cabbages and Condoms are open 11 am to 11 pm (last orders at 10.30 pm) and you can reserve a table (recommended for parties) at http://cabbagesandcondomsbkk.com or call them on +6622294610.
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I have wanted to try this place forever thanks for the insight into what the experience is like