Amid the rapidly changing modernization of the Charoen Krung area, there remains a small corner where time seems to slow down. Those who have visited the "Bangkokian Museum" will be familiar with the shady atmosphere of the old wooden house full of stories.
At this year's Bangkok Design Week 2026, there is something special beyond just touring the house. "Ruan Waraporn," a charming wooden house located nearby, will open its kitchen to welcome visitors with the aroma of authentic home-cooked Thai dishes.
This is the only opportunity of the year to taste flavors of cherished memories from the Insat-Sa-ang Foundation, which aims to preserve cultural heritage through cooking. It presents three rare dishes from the recipes of "Grandma Sa-ang Surawadee," mother of Associate Professor Waraporn Surawadee, founder of the Bangkokian Museum, who has passed down love and warmth through food to generations.
Dining at Ruan Waraporn is not merely about satisfying hunger but about experiencing the lifestyle of old Bangkokians. Every dish served during this festival is a "favorite household recipe" of the Surawadee family, prepared with meticulous care as if for family members, amidst the warm atmosphere of the wooden house shaded by large trees, evoking the feeling of descendants returning to their ancestral home.
This year, the foundation has selected three highlight dishes, which received overwhelming praise last year, to satisfy cravings once again.
Cool down with "Khanom Jeen Saow Nam," an ancient recipe
The first recommended dish is a cold meal traditionally enjoyed during the hot season. Grandma Sa-ang's Khanom Jeen Saow Nam stands out for its "completeness": chewy rice noodles topped with freshly simmered coconut milk that is just the right richness, balanced by chopped pineapple, sliced ginger, and Thai garlic, delivering sweet, sour, salty, creamy, and slightly spicy flavors on the tongue. This authentic Thai refreshment is now hard to find in its traditional form.
The taste of Bang Rak with secret-recipe "Kuay Teow Lord"
Reflecting the dining culture of the Bang Rak neighborhood, the Kuay Teow Lord here is more than just rice noodle rolls; it is an art of steaming the dough to a soft yet chewy texture. The key lies in Grandma's special soy sauce recipe, passed down through generations, with a harmonious salty-sweet flavor deeply infused into the dough. Complemented by the crispiness of freshly fried garlic and pork cracklings, it offers a simple yet wonderfully heartwarming taste.
Complete your afternoon with "Fresh Spring Rolls" packed with fillings
Ending with the family's popular snack, fresh spring rolls stuffed with crisp fresh vegetables and braised pork filling. The highlight is the dipping sauce with a "just right" balance—not overly sweet to be cloying—cutting through with fresh chili and accompanying herbs. This dish evokes the atmosphere of gathering under the house’s veranda on a lazy afternoon, reflecting care in freshness and delicate seasoning.
If you want to experience "dining at a friend's home" in a nostalgic setting and taste the legendary flavors of the Surawadee family, be sure to visit Ruan Waraporn (near the Bangkokian Museum, Soi Charoen Krung 43) from 29 January to 8 February 2026, 11:00–17:00 (closed every Monday).
Don't miss this once-a-year special opportunity. Join in piecing together memories of Bangkok through the tastes of food at "Ruan Waraporn."