Fresh catch from Rayong: Thai tapas bar opens in Thonglor

After successfully bringing mantis shrimp to Soi Ruamrudee from Rayong, Kang Banphe has branched out to a tastefully twee Thai-Spanish tapas bar at Thonglor’s Seen Space 13 dubbed Thaipas.

Like its first establishment in Bangkok, Thaipas excels in simplicity and boasts local produce and wild-caught seafood, offering arguably the most affordable range of small bites and fulsome sharing plates in the area. 

Try the croquettes (THB180/2 pieces) in which chef Anupa “James” Kavindrakolvajira uses fresh wild mantis prawns and stuffs them with crispy and savory fillings. Or, order the duck liver pate baguettes (THB95/4 pieces) topped with fresh-made blackberry jam — a surprising favorite — to share.

During our visit, James brought out his 20-hour, dry-aged sea bass to the kitchen counter and slowly sliced away the…