Larb Pla Duk (ลาบปลาดุก)
One rule of Bangkok street food is that where there is a large school, there will be a high concentration of delicious street food.
Ramkhamhaeng University may be the largest university in Bangkok, and they pack a near unfathomable amount of street eats into the vicinity.
One of the those truly lip-licking joints is known as Lan Larb Ubon (ร้านลาบอุบล), a little hole in the wall restaurant located just 50 meters into Ramkhamhaeng Soi 29.
At the moment, their Larb Pla Duk (ลาบปลาดุก) is what I consider one of the best in Bangkok. They use only smoked and roasted catfish so it really has an incredible smokey flavor.
Their Larb Pla Duk (ลาบปลาดุก) is not saucy, but it’s almost the kua kling of Isaan food!
On Fire Som Tam
This is one restaurant in Bangkok that if you ask it for “really spicy,” they will actually deliver.
Skip all the joking around.
When you order spicy, they give it to you spicy.
This plate of flaming hot Som Tam Thai above was on fire…and it’s one of the reasons I keep coming back frequently!
Flaming Som Tam
Here’s another shot of their delicious Som Tam.
Of course, if you aren’t so much into spicy food I’m sure you can order it normal and even omitting most of the chilies.
Yam Mamuang
Another specialty at Lan Larb Ubon ร้านลาบอุบล is their Yam Mamuang (Green Mango Salad).
It’s made nearly identical to the Som Tam, just with shaves of green sour mango instead of green papaya.
Nam Tok Moo (น้ำตกหมู)
The food is not by any means fancy, it’s just good classic Isaan dishes done very right.
Another classic dish is just a normal plate of Nam Tok Moo (น้ำตกหมู) – but just like the rest of the dishes, they pay attention to the details and pack as much flavor as they possibly can in every single bite!
Lan Larb Ubon ร้านลาบอุบล
The Bottom Line
You aren’t going to go wrong at Lan Larb Ubon ร้านลาบอุบล if you order any of the classic Isaan dishes. Also, if you ask them to make your food “spicy” they won’t fail in the task!
Lan Larb Ubon ร้านลาบอุบล
Address: Located just 50 meters into Ramkhamhaeng Soi 29, opposite Ramkamhaeng University.
Phone: 081-8042208, 081-4224473
Prices: Normal street food prices, 30 – 40 THB per dish
How to Get There
View Lan Larb Ubon ร้านลาบอุบล in a larger map
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Mark Wiens – has written 359 posts on Thai Street Food and Pictures | Eating Thai Food.
Mark Wiens is a Thai food fanatic. If he's not devouring something on a neighborhood street in Bangkok, he might be on a pilgrimage to locate durian. Visit his travel food website at Migrationology and follow him on Facebook.
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I just wanna go back there right away after reading this post, I miss yum mamuang.
Thanks Thip! Hope you can find some yam mamuang soon!
I used to tell the Isaan restaurants ‘not too spicy’ and it would usually be too hot for my taste buds. Now I tell them ‘no chillies’ and the residual chillies from the pan/bowl from the previous customers usually give it enough zip and no ring of fire in the AM : p Another great review!
Haha, thanks for sharing JJ!
Thanks Mark. You are the best. I stayed there for 3 months in 2008, but got to know the real taste of Thai street food only after starting to visit your website. Going there again next week.
Great to hear that Tharindu, this is a really great comment, I’m so glad you’ve been able to find more Thai food through out site!
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