What is your full name and age?
Dominic Hong Dongxie, 33 years old
What is your current Job Position?
SoCal Head Chef. SoCal is the new restaurant inside the newly refurbished InterContinental Bangkok Hotel.
What do you like most about your profession?
I like the intensity and the camaraderie of being in a kitchen and the ability to see our work being enjoyed by our customers.
How long have you lived in Bangkok, and where did you live prior?
2 years (2019-2021) and 3 months (march 2023 onwards). Before I’ve lived and worked in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai & Taipei.
What do you like most about Bangkok?
Everything!
What is your favorite restaurant?
Thai Boat Noodles. It’s delicious and affordable, and the whole menu is nice, no weak dishes.
What is your favorite “Special Occasion” restaurant?
That would be my own kitchen at home because I don’t really have any “go to” restaurant for a special occasion, if it’s something special, I’ll be cooking most likely.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m pretty boring, the weekly life of a chef brings me enough excitement, so I usually spend my weekends just doing very homely tasks such as housekeeping, grocery shopping, reading etc. If I do have extended free time I’ll go travelling, usually Taipei or back home to Singapore to visit my family.
Where do you recommend first time visitors to Bangkok go?
I ask all my friends to go to “Mensho Tokyo” as to me it’s the best ramen I’ve ever had, also its uniquely Bangkok as they use local ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime and duck which you won’t find in any other ramen shop, not to mention its delicious. I recommend going in the late afternoon to avoid the queue.
On a night out with friends, where do you like to go?
I like going to Thonglor, it’s not too crowded and has the ideal mix of bars and restaurants for a night out with something for everyone at all price points.
Tell us a surprising fact that the public might not know about you?
I don’t speak Chinese very well despite my appearance and name. Despite being Singaporean I spent most of my younger years in American international schools and my teenage years in Sydney Australia so most people are surprised when I start talking.
What is the most outlandish thing you have ever done?
In my second year of business school in Singapore, I decided to become a Chef. ;D