NEW FACE, SAME BUNS
Recently renovated Panlee Bakery remains a magnet to the Bang Rak area
Panlee Bakery in Bang Rak district is one of the oldest bakeries in Bangkok, dating back to 1950. The family-run venue has undergone a facelift, providing patrons new and old with a more inviting atmosphere. From its humble beginning as a vendor selling baguettes and loaves from a basket, Panlee has grown into two shophouses offering a great variety of cookies, stuffed buns, cakes and more.
Saipin, the second-generation owner, received help in refining her recipes from a relative who’s a chef at the now Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. She also tried a barbecue pork bun while visiting Hong Kong and decided to create her own version, which has since become a bestseller. Chinpat Watanatepong, Saipin’s nephew and the current man in charge, has ushered the family business into the selfie age, adding a coffee corner and a mezzanine level. One thing has fortunately remained the same throughout the years: the very reasonable pricing. The inviting interior blends the colonial feel associated with the old shophouses on Charoen Krung Road and a Chinese accent, an homage to the bakery’s history and its founder Pu Han Ti’s Hainanese background.
Barbecue pork bun (B15) has sizeable amount of aromatic stuffing inside the very soft dough. Pandan bun (B10) bursts with sweet green custard. If you have a real sweet tooth, pair it with a refreshing cup of Thai iced tea (B50). Another bun to try is the Ham & cheese bun (B15), which offers chopped ham mixed with mayo and cheese inside. Kanom
na taek (B50 for four pieces) are Chinese-style cookies, made without butter or milk. The cookies come in two types: savoury, with dried shrimp, and sweet, with cashews. They are surprisingly moist. If all you want is just a quick, freshly brewed coffee (from B35) to go, order one from outside the shop through a window. Panlee also does delivery and snack boxes for events. If you happen to be in the area, we recommend the neighbourhood bakery for a no-frills break.