I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (2024)

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Bangkok is a food paradise — the capital city of Thailand is home to over 320,000 restaurants. Before my trip to Bangkok, I had heard of a legendary restaurant called Wattana Panich. The family-owned restaurant is famous for its half-a-century-old beef and goat soup. When I arrived at the restaurant for lunch, throngs of delivery riders, locals, and tourists were busy collecting and making orders. A chef was preparing dishes from a huge cauldron of boiling soup. The aroma was heavenly. I took a look at their menu, which Kaweenuntawong says was influenced by Chinese cuisine. The family is of Thai-Chinese descent. There were pots filled with meat in various parts of the restaurant — including right outside, by the sidewalk. The interior of the restaurant was old-school, colorful, and cluttered. A dozen assistants helped prepare ingredients at the back of the restaurant, where everything from utensils to kitchenware was stored. The restaurant has amassed dozens of awards over the years, with plaques from the Michelin guide hung on a wall. After a 10-minute wait, my soup arrived. I opted for the very first item on the menu: goat stewed in selected Chinese herbs. It reminded me of a dish that's popular in Singapore and Malaysia called bak ku teh, or pork rib soup. I also ordered a bottle of roselle juice, which is made from the Hibiscus flower. It was the perfect pairing to the hearty broth — light and refreshing. My visit to Wattana Panich exceeded all my expectations. I'm no stranger to trying out unusual foods, but it's rare that I end up enjoying it this much. FAQs References
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Marielle Descalsota

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (1)

  • I traveled to Bangkok in late July to try one of the city's most famous soups.
  • Wattana Panich is best known for its beef and goat soup that was first cooked half a century ago.
  • The owner of the restaurant said they store the soup every night and add water to it in the morning.

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Bangkok is a food paradise — the capital city of Thailand is home to over 320,000 restaurants.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (2)

Bangkok is one of most popular destinations in the world, with 40 million people visiting the city in 2019. Many foodies travel to Bangkok for its abundance of dining options, from street food to family-owned restaurants to Michelin-starred establishments.

I traveled to Bangkok in late July on a reporting trip to learn more about the city's food culture.

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Before my trip to Bangkok, I had heard of a legendary restaurant called Wattana Panich. The family-owned restaurant is famous for its half-a-century-old beef and goat soup.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (3)

The restaurant has rave reviews online, with fans describing their dishes as "delicious and aromatic" with a "real depth of flavor that's hard to explain."

As a big fan of meaty soups, I decided to take a 40-minute ride from Sathorn to Ekkamai Road in central Bangkok to taste one of their most popular dishes for myself.

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When I arrived at the restaurant for lunch, throngs of delivery riders, locals, and tourists were busy collecting and making orders. A chef was preparing dishes from a huge cauldron of boiling soup. The aroma was heavenly.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (4)

Nattapong Kaweenuntawong, the owner of the restaurant, told me the woman who was cooking is his mother. He explained that the family-run business is now in its third generation, and that he, alongside his parents, prepare the dishes.

"The soup has been boiling for over 45 years," Kaweenuntawong told me in Thai. "We never make it new, instead, we store it every night and we add new ingredients and water to it everyday." He added that the cauldron "never gets empty."

There were around 40 diners at the restaurant during my visit, most of whom looked to be locals and tourists from around the region.

I took a look at their menu, which Kaweenuntawong says was influenced by Chinese cuisine. The family is of Thai-Chinese descent.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (5)

The restaurant had around a dozen menu items, including the most popular dishes, goat stew in Chinese herbs and beef noodle soup. Kaweenuntawong explained that the Chinese herbs make their soup different from traditional Thai broths, which use ingredients like lemongrass and local chillies.

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There were pots filled with meat in various parts of the restaurant — including right outside, by the sidewalk.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (6)

Some of the meats used in the soup include goat, bovine (which can sometimes be buffalo), and beef.

The interior of the restaurant was old-school, colorful, and cluttered. A dozen assistants helped prepare ingredients at the back of the restaurant, where everything from utensils to kitchenware was stored.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (7)

The ingredients were cooked over a stove before being mixed into the simmering soup. There were also large rice cookers that cooked rice to accompany the meaty dishes.

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The restaurant has amassed dozens of awards over the years, with plaques from the Michelin guide hung on a wall.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (8)

The restaurant's walls were decorated with certificates, newspaper clippings, and framed photographs of monks.

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After a 10-minute wait, my soup arrived. I opted for the very first item on the menu: goat stewed in selected Chinese herbs. It reminded me of a dish that's popular in Singapore and Malaysia called bak ku teh, or pork rib soup.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (9)

The broth, which is more than twice my age, was the most delicious dish I had eaten during my reporting trip to Thailand.

It was fragrant and flavorful, and meaty but not gamey. It was so good that ate it on its own, without rice or other dishes accompanying it. And the goat was one of the best I've ever had when it comes to soups — it was fall-apart tender. I devoured the dish in a few minutes.

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I also ordered a bottle of roselle juice, which is made from the Hibiscus flower. It was the perfect pairing to the hearty broth — light and refreshing.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (10)

I paid 200 baht, or $5.60, for the goat broth and juice — much cheaper than my $50 bill at another popular Bangkok food joint, Jay Fai.

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My visit to Wattana Panich exceeded all my expectations. I'm no stranger to trying out unusual foods, but it's rare that I end up enjoying it this much.

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (11)

Kaweenuntawong and his family were extremely hospitable towards me — knowing I am a foreigner and don't speak Thai, they took the time to explain the menu to me. His daughter even helped translate his words into English. When I paid for the meal, he gave me a small but much appreciated discount of 50 baht, or $1.40.

If you're ever in Bangkok, I highly recommend giving Wattana Panich a try. The broth deserves its legendary status — I left wishing that Kaweenuntawong's family would never let it stop simmering.

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I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. (2024)

FAQs

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok.? ›

Wattana Panich is best known for its beef and goat soup that was first cooked half a century ago. The owner of the restaurant said they store the soup every night and add water to it in the morning.

What is the oldest soup in the world Bangkok? ›

Wattana Panich - one of the world's oldest soups. (50-year-old beef and goat soup) Definitely a must try resto in Bangkok!

Is the 50 year old soup safe? ›

However, while some may be worried about the cleanliness of the age-old dish, Kaweeantawong reassures that it is safe to eat. “Lots of people think we never clean the pot. But we clean it every evening. We remove the soup from the pot, then keep a little bit simmering overnight,” he explained.

What is the 50 year old stew in Thailand? ›

Wattana Panich's broth has now been simmering for nearly half a century. People are flooding to social media over a restaurant which serves '50 year old soup'. A restaurant in the Ekkamai neighborhood of Bangkok, Thailand has become known for simmering the same broth in the same pot for over 45 years.

What is the old broth in Thailand? ›

"Neua Tune": The soup that has been simmering in Bangkok for almost 50 years. The hearty beef broth has been kept simmering by three generations of one family for nearly half a century.

What is the No 1 soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What is the oldest broth in the world? ›

Wattana Panich is best known for its beef and goat soup that was first cooked half a century ago. The owner of the restaurant said they store the soup every night and add water to it in the morning.

How do perpetual stews not go bad? ›

The pot is never or rarely emptied all the way, and ingredients and liquid are replenished as necessary. Such foods can continue cooking for decades or longer, if properly maintained." Fans of medieval history will know that perpetual stews are a mainstay in descriptions of inns.

Is it OK to live off soup? ›

What Experts Say. "The concept of eating soup to lose weight has spanned decades, but experts say an all-soup diet lacks nutrients and is not sustainable. They do agree it can be smart to eat vegetable-packed soups for some meals, though, as these are filling, nutrient-dense, and low in calories."

Is perpetual soup safe to eat? ›

And yes, because it's always kept at boiling temperature (there was a close call on June 14 when Shayne briefly blew a fuse making toast), and the ingredients are cycled out at a fast pace, it should be safe to eat. Perpetual stews have been around for a while and “have simmered for years on end!” she notes.

What is Thai drinking age? ›

Age – You should note that the minimum drinking age in Thailand is 18 years old. In addition, alcohol beverages can only be sold to a person who is at least 20 years old. If you sell alcohol to an underage person, you may be subject to a criminal penalty of up to 1 year imprisonment and/or up to a THB20,000 fine.

What soup has been cooking for 48 years? ›

Notable examples include beef and goat noodle soup served by Wattana Panich in Bangkok, Thailand, which has been cooking for over 49 years as of 2024, and oden broth from Otaf*cku in Asakusa, Japan, which has served the same broth daily since 1945.

Why is it called Irish stew? ›

Irish stew (Irish: Stobhach Gaelach) or Stobhach is a stew from Ireland that is traditionally made with root vegetables and lamb or mutton, but also commonly with beef. As in all traditional folk dishes, the exact recipe is not consistent from time to time, or place to place.

What is the oldest perpetual stew? ›

In Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), there is an award-winning restaurant called Wattana Panich, where you can order and then eat a beef and goat soup that is 49 years old.

Is 50 year old soup safe? ›

the soup, it's completely safe to eat. And over the 45 years, the broth has gotten better and better. I guess. I'll let you know how my stomach's doing in a few days.

What do we call a French crystal clear soup made from rich stock? ›

In cooking, a consommé is a type of clear soup made from richly flavoured stock or broth that has been clarified, a process that uses egg whites to remove fat and sediment.

Which restaurant in Bangkok serves the same soup for 45 years? ›

The giant pot of neua tune, a beef stew popular in the Thai capital, has been simmering since owner Nattapong Kaweenuntawong was a child, more than 45 years ago. Growing up studying the exact flavor profile of the stew from his father, Kaweenuntawong now balances the flavor himself daily.

What is the name of the famous Thai soup? ›

Tom Yum soup is the most popular Thai soup. In Thai, “tom” translates into “boiled” and “yum” refers to the traditional sour, salty and spicy flavor found in lots of Thai dishes.

What is the history of Tom Yum soup? ›

Origin of Tom Yum Soup

The popular soup option was traditionally made with freshwater shrimp, which were abundant in the rivers and streams of central Thailand. Over time, the soup began incorporating other ingredients such as lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and chili peppers.

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