Gaggan: The Rock Star of Indian Cuisine in Bangkok

You don’t walk into Gaggan expecting a quiet, traditional dinner. From the moment you enter the softly glowing restaurant hidden in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district, you know you’re in for something else entirely—something unexpected, irreverent, and unforgettable.

This is Gaggan Anand’s world. And like the chef himself, it’s full of wild energy, unpredictable creativity, and soul. A former drummer from Kolkata who once rebelled against the constraints of Indian culinary tradition, Gaggan found his way to molecular gastronomy through the kitchens of El Bulli in Spain. But Bangkok was where he found his voice. His original restaurant, simply named “Gaggan,” opened in 2010 and quickly became a sensation—topping the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants four years in a row and changing how the world viewed Indian food. Then, in true rock star fashion, he walked away.

After parting ways with his partners in 2019, Gaggan closed the original space and reopened on his own terms just a few months later. The new restaurant, Gaggan Anand, is more personal, more intimate, and somehow even more daring than before. Centered around a 14-seat U-shaped counter, the experience feels more like a theater production than a meal. There are lights. There’s music. And yes, there’s drama. Each night, Gaggan and his team perform a 20+ course tasting menu that might include anything from edible emojis to yogurt explosions. But this isn’t just culinary showboating. Every dish has a story, often rooted in nostalgia—childhood snacks, roadside chaat, or his mother’s cooking—filtered through a mad scientist’s lens.

One moment, you might be licking a smear of curry directly off your plate to the sound of a rock anthem (a signature dish aptly named “Lick It Up”). The next, you’re biting into a small, white puff that looks innocent until it bursts in your mouth with a perfect balance of spice, tang, and surprise. But for all its flash, there’s a clear emotional current running through every part of the experience. Gaggan isn’t trying to shock for the sake of it—he’s trying to tell a story. About where he comes from. About what food can mean. About how far Indian cuisine can go when it’s freed from stereotypes. Dining at Gaggan isn’t about etiquette or perfection. It’s about curiosity. You’re invited to eat with your hands, use your senses, and above all, play. The menu—written entirely in emojis—underscores this spirit. No words, no pretense. Just taste. And while the restaurant has earned its fair share of accolades—including reclaiming a top spot on Asia’s 50 Best list—it remains grounded in something rare: joy. Pure, infectious joy in food, in creativity, in sharing something beautiful.

At a time when fine dining can often feel stiff or over-serious, Gaggan is a breath of spice-scented, neon-lit air. It reminds us that food is not just about flavor—it’s about freedom, feeling, and sometimes, just licking the plate clean.