Bangkok 96 Restaurant Review

Asian Delicacies

A Taste of Thailand right here in Dearborn

Bangkok 96 Restaurant

Phone: 313-730-8161
Address: 2450 South Telegraph Road
Dearborn, Mi 48124

By: Diana Young

Experience an evening filled with traditional Thai cuisine. Authentic ethnic taste and environment is what one will find at Bangkok 96 Restaurant, located in West Dearborn. Bangkok offers a full menu ranging from various appetizers to desserts. The menu is very detailed and easy to navigate through. Each dish has a Thai inspired name. For those unwilling to take a chance on mispronunciation or receiving something other than what they ordered, all dishes can also be ordered by their assigned number. Each dish is thoroughly described with the choice of chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp. Vegetarians need not worry. Tofu is a delicious option. An easy to follow spice guide is also included on the menu. Diners can order their dishes from no spice to hot, according to their taste preference. Still undecided? The friendly staff is very knowledgeable and happy to guide you in your choices. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday, with daily lunch specials until 3:00 p.m. Lunch is served with a complimentary bowl of Hot Sour soup. A Thai favorite soup, made with a blend of Asian spices, bamboo, and vegetables. Be prepared, the broth has a spicy kick. I wonder if the pitcher of water, served along side the soup, is a proactive step on the part of the wait staff. Meals are moderately priced. Lunch prices average $8.00-$9.00. Dinner prices increase by a few dollars more, but so do the size of the portions.

Bangkok 96 offers welcoming curb appeal. Large cement planters are filled with fresh perennials of vibrant color. Long strains of green leafy ivy drape the outside rims of the stone pots. Upon entering the restaurant, you instantly feel you have traveled far from home. The wait staff dress in “pha sin,” a traditional dress made of cotton and silk textiles woven into distinctive patterns. Authentic décor fills the dining area. Many decorative pieces tell a tale of Thailand. A wall hanging of sequence-lined elephants represents the hard work in the Bangkok kingdoms. Hanging dragon masks, quietly staring with piercing dramatic eyes, tell the tale of good and bad. Bamboo flute pipes hang playfully throughout the restaurant. Decorative pottery in bronze, golden-metallic, and silver, lines the shelves. Large wall hangings decorated with gold and silver sequins flash and sparkle as the sun shines in from the large windows. The restaurant is surrounded by windows, with matching window treatments, giving the interior a bright, clean feel. Seating is available in booths, tables, and a counter area decorated with silk flowers and bamboo. Booths are divided by swags of natural burlap to provide privacy and a cozy feel. Each table is covered with white linen table cloths, topped with a fitted piece of glass. Plates and silverware sparkle with cleanliness. The restrooms are also clean and obviously well-maintained.

The restaurant is a family owned business that opened in 1996, which deservingly suits its name….Bangkok 96. It is common to see the owner, dressed in a white cooking apron, take a break from the kitchen and greet customers by name. His wife also chats with diners as she confirms diner satisfaction and mingles throughout the restaurant.

Reservations are not required, but you can count on a full house at lunch time. Located conveniently on a main highway in Dearborn; it is a favorite among Ford Motor Company employees. From business suits to baby bibs, all seats are occupied.

Bangkok 96 offers friendly service with a casual, relaxing atmosphere. Patrons talk across tables to question each other about their food choices that look so delicious. Bussers clearing tables hum and chat about the weather with nearby customers. Although, I dined at Bangkok 96 on Friday, October 9th at 1:30 p.m. in the midst of the lunchtime rush, my experience was relaxing and unrushed.

The soft playing background music compliments the ambiance of the restaurant. A rhapsody of instrumental flute solos, nature sounds of birds chirping, and waterfalls, gently fill the restaurant. It is also the kind of place where people who dine alone can enjoy reading. The only noise louder than the music is the sound of the vegetables, being vigorously chopped at an urgent pace. Quickly after the chopping quiets, the sound of vegetables hitting the sizzling hot wok begins. You can’t see the kitchen, but you know it is near, by the sounds and the aroma of Asian spices filling the air.

Try a Thai iced coffee to start. It is a smooth thirst quencher, sweetened just right. The spring roll appetizer is filled with cabbage, transparent noodles, and radish stripes, all wrapped in a spring roll shell. The outer shell crunches as the filling completes the flavor. It is a lot of flavor for the small price of $2.00. Variations of lettuce salads, dressed in lime juice, are another tempting appetizer choice.

The Pad Thai is a famous Thai dish. Bangkok 96 delivers this favorite in a palate pleasing style. Rice noodles cooked just right, crunchy bean sprouts, a blend of Asian spices combined with green onion and egg, create a tasty beginning. Topped off with tofu, crushed nuts, and a splash of lemon, brings it all together.

For diners looking for a little spice in their life, try the Pad Ped. Ingredients include: Thai hot curry, coconut milk, onion, red and green pepper, mushroom, and eggplant. All cooked to a perfect texture, served over piping hot white rice. As you bite into the fresh crunchy peppers, the flavors burst, as the spices explode in your mouth.


All meals are served on large, square white-stoneware plates. The colors of fresh vegetables and hand-carved edible garnishes bring the plates to life. Each dish is the chef’s artistic presentation.

The dessert choice is minimal. Kow Tom Pad is a banana cake, Thai style. You are sure to taste a piece of banana as you bite into the moist cake. Or try the house-made coconut ice cream; it’s a sweet, cool down ending, after a spicy Thai dish.

If you’re in the mood for a “taste of Thai,” let Bangkok 96 bring Thailand to you. Let your taste buds take off without leaving Dearborn. I highly recommend the trip. WDIV Channel 4 agrees….Bangkok 96 was voted one of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit.

*All photos copyright of Diana Young*