Gaggan is a “modern Indian” (you will see what I mean in the pics below) in Bangkok Thailand. Since its opening in 2010, it has consistently ranked in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the Michelin Guide. Currently, as of 2023, it is ranked as 17th on the World’s 50 Best. Gaggan closed his original restaurant in 2019 and reopened in the current location. I had a reservation to visit in 2020, but due to COVID, I had to cancel; so here we are again in 2023, finally made it to Gaggan. The arrival reception was disorganized and disappointing for such a renowned restaurant. He actually has 2 restaurants in the same building and there was some confusion as to where we should check in. Then, upon checking in, there was only a tiny area for us to wait as the dining room was not ready yet. There was a bar, but the hostess did not offer a seat for a drink or anything other than “wait”. Also, it was raining at the time and the waiting area is not covered! Anyway, when we were finally led into the dining room, we were shown to a table on the very edges of a U-shaped table with a very bad view of the kitchen “stage”. I asked to move and eventually, they sat us closer to the center. TIP: You should make sure you get a seat near the center for a good view of the amazing experience to come! The dining room itself was very impressive and almost had a nightclub like atmosphere which would be very appropriate later!
At each place, there was an interesting plate.
The first “course” was yogurt, placed directly in your hand.
The meal basically consisted of a series of small snacks and bites. With each course, a chef, or Gaggan himself, would put on a huge production preparing the dish and a big story explaining the concept. I should also note that all the drink pairings were included. After the yogurt, another series of bites.
This ball was made of mushrooms, and basically, that’s all I remember from the night. #1 the atmosphere was so FUN that if you take notes, you will not enjoy the meal #2 they serve so much wine and drinks, its very hard to remember each dish.
At this point, the man himself showed up. We were lucky because he was here this evening and stayed with us throughout the entire meal. Someone I bought a dinner for here a few weeks later was not so lucky and Gaggan didn’t show up at that dinner.
Here is an example of how funny and entertaining he is.
…and more food…
During some parts of the meal, I felt like I was watching a mad scientist. He truly is a creative genius in the culinary world.
Have a look at this use of neon!
I remember this was a biryani.
As the night progressed, and as people drank more, the music got louder, and the place felt like a really really fun nightclub!
At this point, we moved on to desserts.
For the last dessert, we were asked to lick the plate!
Overall, except for the weird reception, service was beyond incredible. The meal itself was so fun, creative and unique. I don’t remember if the food was good or not, I know some dishes were really yummy, but frankly, I don’t care in this case. The whole experience was 100 out of 10. I would return and highly recommend you experience it for yourself!
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We visited as part of a larger group. Two friends were seated separately due to “assigned seating,” and a staff member initially told us they would try to rearrange seating but never communicated that the plan changed. When I politely asked for clarification, Chef Gaggan approached, told me to “stop talking,” and stated I was “not allowed to talk.”
Being told as a paying guest that I wasn’t allowed to even clarify a situation was demeaning. I said that I am a customer (as in a free human) and will not dine anywhere I’m denied the basic right to ask a reasonable question. Instead of resolving it, he immediately snapped into performance mode, trying to frame it as if I was leaving because I didn’t get a seat change. He acted as though he was “kicking me out,” had staff remove my plates in a performative way, and my two friends who also wanted to leave were told they wouldn’t be refunded – clearly afraid more people would walk.
My friends only stayed because I asked them to and out of respect for our larger group who had planned this evening for a long time. I chose to handle it quietly and with composure, refusing to engage in ego games. I would have normally been more stern and expressive in putting these clown in place. Ironically, choosing dignity and restraint seemed to unsettle him more – because nothing frustrates someone invested in domination more than a woman who will not shrink, submit, or perform obedience. He then continued posturing to some members of our group, about his “principles” and “equality” (meaning expecting total submission) instead of simply treating guests with basic respect.
Beyond this incident, the experience aligns with what many reviewers already note: heavy theatrics and performance dining, rather than substance – mediocre food that does not justify a $500 price tag masked by (often cringy) ego theatrics.
I’ve dined at higher-ranked global restaurants that deliver excellence with dignity, warmth, and class – where the focus is on extraordinary cuisine and genuine hospitality, not persona displays or power dynamics.
Afterward, I read numerous public accounts and discussions from others describing concerning behavior patterns (public reviews/accusations of disturbing abuse).