Thai beef noodle shop hasn't changed the broth pot for nearly 50 years

Wattana Panich - Ảnh 1. — Wattana Panich's giant pot of broth - Photo: Business Insider

Located on Ekkamai Road, central Bangkok, Wattana Panich is a family restaurant run by three generations.

Diner Marielle Descalsota told Business Insider that during a business trip to Bangkok, she spent time eating and experiencing the space here:

"From morning to evening, the restaurant is always bustling with diners and delivery drivers coming to buy the special noodles, which have been cooked non-stop since the 1970s.

The space has a nostalgic feel. The walls are decorated with paper, newspaper collages and framed photos of monks, and there are also certificates awarded by the Michelin Guide (Wattana Panich was once listed in the Michelin Guide Thailand in the Street Food category).

Behind is the crowded preparation area, where more than a dozen kitchen assistants work tirelessly.

The atmosphere is almost boiling at Wattana Panich - Video : Bk Magazine

The taste of beef noodles carries the essence of nearly half a century

On Google Maps, many diners said the biggest reason they came to this restaurant was because they were curious about the pot of broth that "has not been turned off for nearly 50 years".

Chi Quyen Tang commented: "I came to the restaurant after reading reviews from TikTokers, and was especially impressed with the giant pot of broth that has been maintained for 50 years", but she commented that the beef noodle broth was blander than Vietnamese taste, not as expected.

Hien The also expressed his feeling that beef noodles have a distinct traditional taste, and when eaten, you can feel the "quality of time" of more than half a century.

The restaurant has about a dozen dishes, including popular dishes like Chinese herb goat stew and beef noodles. Nattapong Kaweenuntawong explained that the Chinese herbs make their broth different from the traditional broths of other Thai restaurants, which use ingredients like lemongrass and local chilies.

Wattana Panich - Ảnh 2. — Beef noodle soup is considered to have a flavor that carries the essence of nearly half a century - Photo: Janie Lin - Google Maps

"This pot has been boiling for over 45 years," current owner Nattapong Kaweenuntawong told Business Insider . "We don't make a new pot of broth. Instead, we preserve the remaining broth every night and add meat, spices, and water the next day to continue cooking. The pot never runs dry."

The concentrated broth flavor from bones, meat and spices slowly seeps into each noodle, soaking into the tender meat, making many diners of Wattana Panich say that after just one taste, they will remember it forever.

On Google Maps, the restaurant has attracted thousands of positive reviews, mostly from international visitors with a high average score and many describing the noodles as "so unforgettable that you want to come back to Bangkok just to eat it again." The price of each meal here ranges from 100 - 250 Thai baht, depending on the dish.