The choices for fish & chips in the center of Bangkok have certainly grown since Covid appeared. Regulars know Stumble Inn, The Oasis, Scruffy Murphy’s and Shenanigans have long served up the popular British classic in their respective watering holes.
Since the lockdown in Bangkok was lifted however, we have seen the likes of Smith’s (in The Red Lion), Busters and PJ O’Brien’s join the fray. We have not seen such interest since the dish was introduced by Joseph Malin in the 1860’s at a restaurant on Cleveland Street in London.
So sweet3mango decided to have a bit of fun, pile on a few extra kilos, stoke the flames of The Great Bangkok Fish & Chips War of 2020 and see who comes out on top.
The rules are simple: we have judged each establishment on
Fish
Chips
Value for money
Presentation
Location
Each category is marked out of 3 (as in the 3 in mango), so the highest score possible is 15.
So, without further boring the pants off you, let’s get down to business.
First up this week we decided to visit The Oasis in Soi Cowboy.
Located midway inside Soi Cowboy, The Oasis is the only real sports bar in Bangkok’s most notorious 150m, and is the best looking bar in Cowboy by a country mile with a unique terrace bar allowing you to peruse the neon-bathed action below. The Oasis was one of the last places to open after the lockdown was lifted, but it has returned with a swagger and some cracking daily deals.
They serve up a great menu packed full of pub grub classics alongside a selection of Thai food if you fancy a change or have a Thai mate that doesn’t fancy pie and chips.
If you’re not a fish-on-Friday traditionalist, then they serve up a great deal on Mondays with Fish & Chips for 299 baht and a free pint of Chang or Tiger chucked in for the fun of it.
The upstairs balcony at 3PM on a weekday is the spot for me, and I pop my order in for fish and chips. The manager Craig tells me that they have just made the decision to move away from dory and go for cod – a definite plus, and one which adds extra value to the prices on offer.
Fifteen minutes after ordering, my late lunch lands and it looks tasty: a cod fillet served with chips, garden peas and a small serving of tartar sauce. The chips are crinkle-cut, which is the norm in Bangkok. To be honest they taste decent enough and I am not so fussy as for me the main event is the fish. Boy, it does not let me down: it’s tender and delicious with a perfectly textured golden batter. We have a fish to beat right from the off!
So down to the scores and here we go.
Fish 3/3 Perfection for me and I could not fault that cod fillet on my plate.
Chips 2/3 Crinkled cut chips (the frozen variety), but a good size portion and tasty.
Presentation 2/3 A great looking plate of food, the only downside being no mushy peas. You northern boys might argue that’s a deal-breaker, but we cater to all tastes at sweet3mango.
Value for Money 3/3 Monday’s deal of 299 THB with a free beer cannot be beaten, and to be fair I would pay 300+ for what I ate.
Location 3/3 The Oasis is unique in that it’s the only sports bar in Soi Cowboy, it’s great looking and convenient – just a 5-minute walk from Sukhumvit/Asok train stations.
Final Score 13/15
So here we have it, an early favorite for the best fish and chips in Bangkok.
The final word goes to Boss Man Craig when I asked him why the good folk of Bangkok should visit The Oasis.
“As well as our tasty dishes and offers on drinks, you can enjoy your favorite sports on one of our fourteen screens, or sit on the balconies and watch the world go by.”
