Hero Food & Gathering’s superpowered decor outmatches its slightly weaker menu.
Hero Food & Gathering
International
Tue-Sun, 11:30am-9pm Sukhumvit Soi 4 Fb.com/herofoodandgathering 098-940-4434
The set-up
If you weren’t sent to Earth from Krypton yesterday, you’ll know American superheroes have been dominating international pop culture in recent years; in fact, people seem to have developed a literal appetite for their beloved men (and women) in tights.
Hero Food & Gathering in Soi Nana creates a cool, industrial atmosphere for superhero lovers, whether they’re aged three or 30. You’ll find characters from both DC and Marvel universes co-mingling in this twostorey themed restaurant, which is decked out with props and backdrops ripe for photo-ops. The ground floor features a bar and dining area with life-sized sculptures of Batman and Captain America. A replica of Thor’s hammer, the mighty Mjolnir, is smashed into a wall, should you want to pretend to be the Norse god himself. The upper floor is also impressive, featuring another dining area, its walls are covered in striking, hand-painted scenes from comic books, and another life-sized hero — the Henry Cavill version of Superman — handsomely stands guard. Cute figures are available on the tables, in case your food porn need a few props.
The menu
While superheroes are splashed across the venue, they aren’t the source of inspiration for the menu (you won’t find a black Batman burger you can cut with a Batarang here). But the menu is extensive, featuring appetisers, salads, Thai and Western entrees, and cocktails.
The Spring rolls (B160++ for six) are audibly crunchy. We dig that there are two flavourful fillings on one plate — three pieces contain spinach and bacon, the others ham and cheese.
Smoked duck breast with orange sauce (B350) almost hits the spot. Succulent slices of duck are served on chickpea puree and assorted veggies. The duck skin is crispy yet chewy. What stops the dish from being a flavourful ka-boom is the orange sauce, which is too sharp for the duck and reminds us of concentrated orange juice.
We received the Spaghetti with cream salmon (B290) lukewarmly. Although we like the al dente pasta and pieces of refreshing zucchini, the sauce is too mild for our liking. Had smoked salmon been used instead of normal salmon, we wouldn’t have asked for salt.
We’re completely floored by the Grilled NZ lamb chop with krapao sauce (B460), packed with flavourful punches from the succulent lamb, aromatic and fluffy fried rice, and spicy basil sauce with minced pork and mushrooms.
Raspberry yoghurt smoothie (B140) needs more spins in the blender — it contains ice bits instead of the smooth sips we’d hoped for.
Insider tip
Hero Food & Gathering is the brainchild of Nithit “Min” Arunvongse Na Ayudhaya, a recent grad from Chula who transformed his family’s old restaurant with permission from Marvel and DC, using pieces from own collection as decor. The restaurant’s upper floor can be rented for private gatherings. The cost is B10,000 for a party of up to 25 children, or B20,000-38,000 for a party of 20-30 adults. Parking is available next to the restaurant.
Value & verdict
The décor is super — the F&B department not so much. Despite Nana’s parental-guidance notoriety, the restaurant is nevertheless a good option for a family gathering, as it is located in a quieter area down the soi. We recommend it for cool parents looking to treat their children to a fun meal — and adults who haven’t outgrown superheroes. Tourists staying in the area should also stop by to snap a few Instagram pictures.