Exciting Dishes at Dusitd2 Davao’s Benjarong

We have read about many new restos and cafes opening here and this featured story about Benjarong Davao is not a new resto but might as well be with its new menu and new Thai chef Woon Krissana.

Yes, Benjarong has a new menu with dishes that are still authentic, flavorful, and with a fresh take. I was also very pleased to learn that Benjarong Davao is now halal-friendly and they serve pork-free dishes for Muslim guests and non-pork eaters.

Hor-Mok Talay Ma-Prow Oon (Steamed mixed seafood curry custard with young coconut)

Benjarong Davao is now halal-friendly and they serve pork-free dishes for Muslim guests and non-pork eaters

Executive Chef Piya Suthasiri, Benjarong Chef Woon Krissana, and Executive Sous Chef Dinan Recaborda (c) dusit D2 Davao

New menu items that I highly recommend:

We sampled some items on the menu and so far, my favorites are:

Yaam Pla-Dook Fu (appetizer) is a crispy catfish and young mango salad with garlic and chili vinaigrette. If this dish doesn’t make you crave more food, I don’t think anything else will. Can you imagine crispy flakes of catfish and spicy mango salad? Very oriental but just enough to open your appetite!
Tm Hang- Wua (soup) is a Southern Thai slow-cooked oxtail in its broth, fresh herbs, and mushroom. This is a clear soup that screams THAI SOUP! I am not an expert on Thai dishes but this reminds me of our trip to Thailand a few years back.
Khai Jiew (main dish-wok) is a Thai omelet stuffed with onion, chili, coriander, spring onion, and oyster meat. This is super similar to our (Filipino-style) omelet which should not come as a surprise being neighbors with Thailand. Executive Chef Piya also shared that Khai Jiew is also a typical breakfast item that they enjoy with steamed rice and their spicy fish sauce!
Hor-Mok Talay Ma-Prow Oon (main dish-steam) is a steamed mixed seafood curry custard with your coconut. I still crave the right balance of coconut and curry in this dish. At least for my taste, the cream fits perfectly to the amount of curry that is often overpowered by an unskilled hand. Can you fail with an actual coconut for presentation? Try it and let me know!