A World Of Inspiration At Bangladeshs Best Restaurants

Visitors to Bangladesh are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating out. Many restaurants offer traditional Bangladeshi fare, typified by the use of fish and lentils, while others offer such diverse international cuisines as Japanese, French and Thai. From high-end restaurants to cozy cafes, arty bistros to quirky eateries, food lovers holidaying in Bangladesh will be delighted by its varied and vibrant restaurant scene.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Pan Tao

Pan Tao serves authentic Thai cuisine in the heart of Dhaka. Head Chef Pharatee Sakhunsong hails from Thailand and has a culinary career spanning 27 years, from hawker stalls in her homeland to restaurants in the United Kingdom. Her menu is based around the four main tastes of Thai cuisines – sweet, sour, spicy and salty – with ingredients flown in from Thailand. Regular patrons rave about the tom yam gung ya (king prawn soup) and the yam pak boong (white mushroom salad). Lovers of seafood will not be disappointed either with dishes like pla ka pong som rod (fried whole white snapper with sweet and sour sauce) and pla jaramed nung buoy (steamed pomfret with pickled plum) waiting to delight their palates.

Izumi, meaning ‘fountain’ or ‘spring’ in Japanese, is a peaceful oasis in hustling, bustling Dhaka despite its location in the popular Gulshan region. The elegant and modern restaurant resides in a picturesque courtyard which guests are able to dine in. Beautiful bonsai trees, a rock garden and waterfall lend Izumi an authentic Japanese style, while artwork by local artist Ashraful Hasan adorns the exterior walls. Inside, the restaurant is spacious and softly lit and patrons can enjoy familiar Japanese fare like sushi, sashimi and tempura or something a little less typical such as the yaki spit-roasted scallops or the grilled fresh eel with sweet eel sauce. For meat lovers, try the teppanyaki steak wagyu, 200 grams of Australian wagyu beef served with vegetables, rice and dipping sauce.

George’s Bistro

George’s Bistro is a cozy venue established an American expat with years of culinary experience in America. The interior and ambiance are more akin to a trendy Tribeca coffeehouse than a Dhaka restaurant. The menu features filling sandwiches like Italian chicken sausage with sundried tomatoes or tender spiced BBQ beef and a range of New York-style hot dogs with Big Apple-themed names like the Times Square Dog (sauerkraut with BBQ onion and yellow mustard) and the Wall Street Dog, topped with kimchi, relish and brown mustard. For a lighter snack try a brownie washed down with a delicious cup of coffee.

Cilantro

Located on Dhanmondi’s busy Satmasjid Road, Cilantro serves a wide variety of food influenced by Latin American, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. Cilantro has an interior of exposed red brickwork which contrasts with light wooden tables and seating, while clusters of recycled mason jars illuminated with tiny lights cast the restaurant in a soft glow. The diverse menu includes patatas bravas (potato chunks in a spicy tomato sauce), grilled sirloin steak and chicken souvlaki, a Greece-inspired grilled skewered chicken dish. A array of desserts is also available: choose from treats like a slice of lemon chocolate cake or sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.

Mermaid Cafe

While Dhaka offers a great deal of choice for diners, there are a number of fine restaurants beyond the capital and the Mermaid Cafe is one of them. It’s part of the Mermaid Eco-Resort in Cox’s Bazar, located in south-eastern Bangladesh, a seaside town and fishing port best known for its 78-mile long beach, one of the longest in the world. The Mermaid Cafe is located on a stretch of this stunning beach overlooking the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal. It serves a mix of both Bangladeshi fare and internationally inspired dishes, with seafood caught daily from Cox’s Bazar as its specialty. Choose from dishes like fresh lobster, stuffed Indian salmon, grilled snapper or garlic prawns with spinach linguine.

Ambrosia

Ambrosia is located in the port city of Chittagong, less than 100 miles north of Cox’s Bazar. Situated in the heart of the city, close to the harbor in the commercial Agrabad area, Ambrosia offers a diverse menu with dishes from Thai, Indonesian, Bangladeshi and continental cuisines. The large restaurant boasts high ceilings and beautiful exposed brickwork. Guests can choose from either a buffet lunch featuring 66 dishes or an a la carte menu. Highlights include steamed red snapper with lemon pineapple sauce, grilled tiger prawns or lobster thermidor.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.