Ji Jong Wa (จีจ้งหว่า ภัตตาคาร)

Recently, while wandering around Pahurat in Phra Nakorn district of Bangkok, we needed something to eat. Stumbling into Ji Jong Wa (จีจ้งหว่า ภัตตาคาร), I decided to give it a try. It’s kind of at the far west side of Chinatown Bangkok, across the street from Khlong Tom Market.

It’s a nice looking restaurant, an old-school Chinese shop house like Kope Hya Tai Ke, and it reminded me of being in Singapore.

Tender pot of stewed duck

The bowl of fall-apart-tender duck drumsticks at the front of the restaurant is the big draw. You can smell it from across the road and see the egg noodles being blanched unleashing fumes of steam.

The master cooking the egg noodles

Ba mee, fresh yellow egg noodles with duck is what Ji Jong Wa (จีจ้งหว่า ภัตตาคาร) specializes in, and that’s what I’d recommend you eat there if you go.

Ba mee – egg noodles!

They make the noodles fresh, and then set them in individual portions within wooden crates waiting to be ordered and cooked.

Ba Mee Bpet Toon (บะหมี่เป็ดตุ๋น)

Here’s a close up of the Ba Mee Bpet Toon (บะหมี่เป็ดตุ๋น), a bowl of egg noodles with super tender stewed duck and a few duck dumplings added as well. The duck was so tender I didn’t even need my teeth to chew it.

The noodles were fresh and perfectly cooked and the soup was a little sweet with hints of cinnamon.

Giew Nam Bpet Toon (เกี๊ยวน้ำเป็ดตุ๋น)

We also just ordered Giew Nam Bpet Toon (เกี๊ยวน้ำเป็ดตุ๋น), the same luscious duck drumstick with fresh dumplings instead of egg noodles. It was also quite good.

Pad See Ew (ผัดซีอิ้ว)

The Pad See Ew (ผัดซีอิ้ว) was not the best I’ve ever had, but it wasn’t bad. I particularly enjoy Pad See Ew (ผัดซีอิ้ว) when they’ve cooked it on a really high heat, so you can taste a bit of smokey char, and also when they use plenty of dark soy sauce, but this was less flavorful.

One thing I did really like about this is that they included bamboo shoots in the mix, not a common ingredient, but I liked it.

Pad Kra Pao Goong Kai Dao (ผัดกระเพรากุ้งไข่ดาว)

Wanting to eat some rice as well, I decided to also try their Pad Kra Pao Goong Kai Dao (ผัดกระเพรากุ้งไข่ดาว), and we got it with shrimp and a fried egg on the side. The egg was good, the rice and the rest of the dish was sadly terrible.

At this restaurant I would stay far away from the rice dishes, they really aren’t very good and for some reason they use really low quality rice. I guess they specialize in yellow egg noodles (ba mee) and punish anyone who tries to order otherwise! So stick with egg noodles if you go.

The Bottom Line

The only thing to eat here is Ba Mee Bpet Toon (บะหมี่เป็ดตุ๋น), everything else is ok at best. If you really love yellow egg noodles, check this place out. However, if you really love duck I would recommend a place more like Bpet Paloe Goliang 2.

Ji Jong Wa (จีจ้งหว่า ภัตตาคาร)

Address: 872 Thanon Mahachai, Wong Loo Lapa, Pirlom, Pranakorn, Bangkok, 10200
Phone: 022225973
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily

จีจ้งหว่า ภัตตาคาร
ที่อยู่ 872 มหาไชย แขวงวังบูรพาภิรมย์ เขตพระนคร กทม 10200
โทรศัพท์
เวลาทำการ
ทำการทุกวัน 09:00-17:00

How to Get There

It’s not close to any mass transit stations, so the easiest way to get there is to walk from Chinatown, or take a taxi / tuk tuk. Across the main street from Khlong Thom Market is a brand new shopping center (to the right of the Chinese Shopping Center). From there walk back one block, turn right and you’ll find the restaurant.

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Ethiopian restaurant in Bangkok

Apart from Thai food, Ethiopian food has long been one of my favorite cuisines in the world.

I vividly remember my first bite of Ethiopian food, a home cooked meal that was prepared by some Ethiopian friends of mine while I was living in Nairobi, Kenya.

My eyes closed and I cherished that bite like it was gold… until swallowing and taking another bite… and another bite until I was so stuffed the only thing I could physically do was take a nap.

Ok, enough of my love for Ethiopian food and on to the new Ethiopian restaurant in Bangkok, and it’s simply Ethiopian Restaurant.

Ultimate combo at Ethiopian Restaurant in Bangkok

In 2009, I had read that there was an Ethiopian restaurant in Bangkok, in the Nana area on Sukhumvit Soi 3.

So years ago, I decided to explore the region and search for the restaurant. Three hours later, and after asking numerous business owners in the vicinity if they had any clue where it was, I came home with an empty stomach (ok, well not really, I just ate Thai food instead).

I was disappointed. The Ethiopian restaurant no longer existed.

I had to wait until returning back to Africa where I stuffed my face at The Smart Village in Nairobi about eight times in the course of two weeks to get my fill before coming back to Bangkok.

Doro Wot – famous Ethiopian stewed chicken and eggs

Having given up hope for any Ethiopian food in Bangkok, I wasn’t expecting to hear about a new one in the near future.

But fellow Ethiopian food connoisseur Kevin Revolinski, heard about a new spot, checked it out and we all decided to try it for first time.

The menu includes most of the Ethiopian food classics: kitfo, doro wot, tibs, shiro wot, alicha wot, and the glorious realm of different side dishes.

We chose, the mixed ultimate plate – a 700 THB platter of everything you see in the photos. Mixed vegetarian sides, a generous bowl of raw hamburger kitfo paired with paneer like cheese, and a centerpiece of famous doro wot, chicken stew simmered in berbere spices.

While the vegetarian dishes were a little on the mild side, both the kitfo and the doro wot were superb!

Kitfo – raw minced beef mixed with spices and Ethiopian butter

So go get some Ethiopian food in Bangkok now!

It’s located in an ex-club, so the entrance is kind of dark and night club like, but once you get inside it’s a normal looking Ethiopian restaurant with dim lights and a stage set-up for a live band – but not sure at all when that goes down.

The Bottom Line

With great Korean food, Japanese food and Lebanese food in Bangkok, it’s great to finally add Ethiopian food to the array of international restaurants.

Ethiopian Restaurant served delicious food, the injera was wonderful as well as the doro wot and the kitfo. The vegetables dishes could have been a bit stronger spiced.

Overall, excellent food and the staff were all very friendly and eager to have customers!

Ethiopian Restaurant in Bangkok

Address: Sukhumvit Soi 3, less than 100 meters down the road on the left hand side.
Hours: 11 am – 10 pm daily
Phone: 089 798 1307
Prices: The mixed ultimate platter costs 700 THB and that fed 3 of us. There is aslo, I think a 17% addition for tax and tips. You’ll likely spend 300 – 400 THB per person.

How To Get There:

Take the BTS Skytrain to either Nana or Phloen Chit station. Walk to Sukhumvit Soi 3 and walk down on your left side about 100 meters until you see the green, yellow and red sign that reads Ethiopian Restaurant.

When we went, the yellow shutter gate was closed, making it look like the restaurant was shut, but in reality it’s open. Go to the right of the shutter.

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Thai Lao Yeh Restaurant at Bangkok’s Cabochan Hotel

Even though it’s just steps away from noisy Sukhumvit Road, stepping into Cabochan Hotel was like entering a colonial country club on a golf course.

The luxurious residence aims to depict the golden years of Bangkok’s “Shanghai chic” era, with French and Austrian architectural influence.

On the bottom floor of the hotel is Thai Lao Yeh, a cozy restaurant that specializes in authentic Isaan and Loas cuisine. It’s an atmosphere that if in a movie, the men would be sitting back with glasses of whiskey while puffing on thick cigars.

But if you know me by now, I went for the food!

moo krob (หมูกรอบ)

We started things off with a few small starters.

These pleasant morsels of moo krob (หมูกรอบ) were like pig candy, fried to a crisp, yet soft and easy to chew on the inside.

We also ordered a bowl of larb gai yang (not pictured). The tender chunks of grilled chicken soaked up the larb sauce remarkably well and the fresh herbs and fried chili peppers topped things off.

Fried frog

Deep fried pieces of frog, paired with slivers of garlic, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai green peppercorns was also a treat to nibble on.

Northern Thai sausage (sai ooah ใส้อั่ว)

I love dissecting a sausage and being able to distinguish the ingredients, rather than peering into a sausage only to see lumps of transparent fat. That’s one reason I love northern Thai sausage (sai ooah ใส้อั่ว) so much.

The sai ooah was a really small portion, but the sausage was really nice, and neatly served with roasted peanuts, raw cloves of garlic, and chili peppers.

kha gai super (ขาไก่ซุปเปอร์ super chicken feet soup)

Normally a sloppy bowl of fiery hot liquid that looks more like a chicken feet graveyard than a dish, is kha gai super (ขาไก่ซุปเปอร์ super chicken feet soup).

The version at Thai Lao Yeh was a lot tamer looking than my usual street side chicken feet soup, but the flavors in the soup were still impressive.

Though a fancy restaurant, they did not slack when it came to sour, spicy, and strong with galangal and lemongrass. Each slurp of the soup was an explosion of lemon and chili softened by those sweet chicken feet.

Gaeng Om at Thai Lao Yeh

Along with the lovely chicken feet, we ordered gaeng om. Heavy on the herbs and loaded with frog, this little bowl of soup is what I consider a more gardeny, instead of the foresty tasting version of Thai jungle curry. Both excellent.

Nam prik ong

My lesser favorite dish was the steamed veggies with nam prik ong. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but perhaps my taste buds were overjoyed by the fierce and sour other dishes so by the time my tongue came in contact with this lesser spicy platter of vegetables and dipping sauce, it just wasn’t as thrilled.

nam tok pla chon

Another satisfying dish of the meal was the nam tok pla chon, deep fried bite sized pieces of snake head fish, combined with a generous amount of shallots, green onions, fried chillies, and drizzled in lime juice and fish sauce.

The crunch of the fish with the excellent dressing was fantastic.

Thai Lao Yeh at Cabochon Hotel

The Bottom Line

All the dishes were superb. Flavors were spicy and sour as they should be, and herbs and garnishes were fresh and aromatic. Our meal was balanced to perfection. I had by far the fanciest helping of larb pla duk (ลาบปลาดุก) I’ve ever had in my life, and it was extremely tasty.

My only complaint would be that dishes were quite dainty. Quality was excellent, portion size was tiny, prices were quite steep.

Special occasion Thai food with a lovely ambiance.

What to order: Menu is fully in English and includes descriptions of each dish

Thai Lao Yeh at Cabochon Hotel

Address: 14/29 Sukhumvit 45 Road, Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Prices: 300 – 600 THB per person for a good well rounded meal

How to Get There

The Cabochon Hotel is literally just a stones throw from Sukhumvit Road on Soi 45. The soi dead ends right into the hotel. Closest BTS station is either Phrom Phong or Thong Lor.

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Menu at Gold Curry Bangkok

Eating Japanese golden curry is about as comforting as being in your mother’s arms.

I’m not kidding.

I’d had it before a few times in Hawaii, and a number of times I made Japanese golden curry from a box mix (which by the way is pretty tasty too) during university.

It’s not a pungently strong curry, but more of a subtle soothing thick golden gravy that warms your heart with every bite. It gives you that same overwhelming food comforting feeling as a loco moco in Hawaii.

About 300 meters down Sukhumvit Soi 39 (Phrom Phong), is Gold Curry Bangkok, a comfort restaurant straight from Japan.

Though everything on the menu, from the omelets to the hot dogs, looked tempting, I was there for just one dish: Chicken katsu curry rice.

There are four different sizes, depending on how much rice you want at the bottom of your bowl. I, of course, wanted nothing but the LL size – a saucer of 450 grams of high quality Japanese rice.

Miso Soup

A nice feature at Gold Curry Bangkok is the self service miso soup, which happened to be delicious.

There she is, my beautiful metal bowl of comforting chicken katsu curry rice

There it was, a gorgeous pile of rice lathered in bronze gravy and topped with a flawless fillet of crispy fried chicken.

Japanese rice cooked perfect

Japanese rice, cooked perfectly, is hard to beat.

The crunch on that katsu was heavenly

The chicken was marvelous as well – the light katsu sauce drizzled on top, and the golden curry oozing onto the rice and chicken – almost unbelievable.

Habanero Tabasco

At the beginning I was so excited to dig in that I somehow missed the condiments on the side of our table.

A few generous pours of Habanero Tabasco added another lovely dimension to my chili addicted mouth. I was flying high with satisfaction at this stage.

Stirring up all the goodness

I think it’s Japanese red pickled radish. Anyway, it was lightly sour, and also went extremely well to switch up the salty gold curry and fried chicken.

Every single bite just got better and better… and more comforting.

Gold Curry Bangkok

The Bottom Line

Golden curry is one of the top Japanese comfort foods.

When I was looking around the restaurant, apart from a few Thais, I noticed some Japanese businessman straight from the office and some other Japanese guys that looked like they had just woken up and were still in their pajamas.

The curry and rice topped with chicken katsu is marvelous.

Gold Curry Bangkok

Address: 20/3 Soi Sukhumvit 39 Sukhumvit Rd. Klongtannua Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand 10110
Phone: 02 662 5003
Hours: 11 am – 2 am daily
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GoldCurryBangkok
Prices: My meal cost 200 THB, expect to pay around 150 – 300 THB per person

How to get there

Take the BTS Skytrain to Phrom Phong station. Exit towards Sukhumvit Soi 39. Walk straight down the road, you’ll pass Yong Lee, and after about 400 meters or so you’ll see the orange Gold Curry Bangkok restaurant on your right hand side.

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I’d like to say, if all you look at is the map at the bottom of this blog post, you have a great advantage that I didn’t finding this hidden spot for Thai vegetarian food (menu has some other dishes too)!

The place is hard to find, then you see a little park and all of a sudden you’re in this beautiful colonial style house, surrounded by fake meat.

The garden at The Vegetarian Cottage

Signature Cocktail: The Fall Down

Finally found it, but needed an emergency aperitif, so I had their signature Fall Down cocktail made with tequila, gin, dry sherry, and cream de cassis.

Was pretty strong. I suspect that for the average vegetarian knocking back a few of these, you wouldn’t care if they were serving real meat or not.

But on to the faux-carnage!

Fake duck red vegetarian curry (150 THB)

First out the kitchen was a yummy curry with a soy protein fake duck. It wouldn’t fool you into thinking it was really meat, but they went to a lot of work to make it similar. I was surprised there was even a layer of fake skin on the duck and overall I approve of it’s fakeness.

Spicy Mushroom Salad (120 THB)

Spicy mushroom salad to share, was light and packing some heat. Another cocktail please.

Meatless Mania: Fish?

There’s sirloin steak on the menu, but because I didn’t want to get upset at anyone, I ordered the fish instead.

Errr… now I’m fake full, but these real fried bananas helped.

Real Fried Bananas with Ice Cream

The Bottom Line

Once you find this place, I have to say the atmosphere is pretty surreal. Love the old house, you’re kind of transported to some meatless world where things are quiet, beautiful, and green. The service was excellent, even if everything was a bit more old school than I would usually prefer. Expect an older crowd and both Thais and foreigners hanging out as the prices are pretty reasonable.

The best vegetarian food in Asia? Not even the best in Bangkok. But I’ll give them the crown for the best fake meat I’ve had in Asia.

The Vegetarian Cottage: S.P.A. Foods

The Vegetarian Cottage สปาฟู้ดส์ สาขากระท่อมมังสวิรัติ

Prices: I think I spent around 1000 baht, but I ordered a lot and had drinks with friends. I expect you should probably only spend half of that. Majority of the dishes range from 150-300 baht.
Hours: 11 am – 2:30pm, 5:30-9:30 (Monday-Friday) or 11:30am – 9:30 on weekends
Address: 41/19 Soi. Chokairumit Vibhawadee-Rangsit Soi 16/21 Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: 02-691-5083
Website: http://www.spa-foods.com/thevegetariancottage.htm

How to Get There

Best to get close by going to the MRT Ratchadapisek Station. From there you can get in a minibus if you’re cheap, walk if it’s not scorching, and if I could take it all back, I would take a taxi from the start. The map will be a huge help!

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Tung Ha Seng (ร้านตั้งฮะเส็ง)

While I was in Nakhon Pathom for the annual Nakhon Pathom temple festival, I decided to head over to a long standing restaurant.

Tung Ha Seng (ร้านตั้งฮะเส็ง) is mainly famous for their khao moo daeng (red barbecued pork over rice ข้าวหมูแดง), but they also serve khao na bpet (rice and duck), duck soup, and other things like that.

Khao moo daeng (ข้าวหมูแดง)

But having already eaten quite a few snacks and a giant piece of grilled chicken with sticky rice, I settled just for a single plate of khao moo daeng (ข้าวหมูแดง).

Red barbecued pork, a few slices of moo krob (crispy pork belly), and few cuts of Chinese sausage, were all placed on the rice. It was then smothered in their sweet red barbecue sauce and garnished with cucumbers and cilantro.

Ok, but not the best I’ve had

Overall it was a decent plate of khao moo daeng, the sauce was sweet and tangy, but nicely flavorful, and all the pork was excellent.

However, it was far behind my favorite khao moo daeng in Bangkok.

Tung Ha Seng (ร้านตั้งฮะเส็ง)

Here’s a quick video so you can get an accurate picture of the food and the atmosphere:

Thank you for watching!

(If you can’t see the video, click here)

The Bottom Line

If you’re in Nakhon Pathom and want to sit down and have a plate of khao moo daeng, Tung Ha Seng (ร้านตั้งฮะเส็ง) is alright.

Definitely don’t make the trip out to Nakhon Pathom just for this restaurant – but there are lots of other snacks and restaurants in the vicinity.

Tung Ha Seng (ร้านตั้งฮะเส็ง)

Address: On the corner of Phaya Kong and Thanon Rotfai
Phone: 034241322
Hours: 7 am – 4 pm daily
Prices: Khao moo daeng – 30 THB

32/3 อาคาร บริเวณป้อมตำรวจองค์พระปฐมเจดีย์ ถนนนครปฐม – บรรจบทางหลวงหมายเลข 340 (สุพรรณบุรี) (นครปฐม) ตำบลนครปฐม อำเภอเมืองนครปฐม นครปฐม 73000

โทร.0-3442-2564

How To Get There

Once you’re in Nakhon Pathom, the restaurant is just a 2 minute walk from the big temple and right near the city center. It’s on the corner of Phaya Kong and Thanon Rotfai

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Yen Ta Fo (เย็นตาโฟ)

Yen Ta Fo (เย็นตาโฟ) is a distinctively pink noodle dish in Thailand.

While it’s not quite as popular as boat noodles, it’s still one of the more popular local soup noodles, and retains its share of loyal connoisseurs.

While you do have the possibility to order Yen Ta Fo with a choice of different rice noodle, sen yai, the Thai wide rice noodles, are most common (and I think the best in this dish).

I recently went to a famous restaurant known as Nai Uan Yen Ta Fo (นายอ้วนเย็นตาโฟ), located walking distance from the Giant Swing near Chinatown Bangkok (video).

Nai Uan Yen Ta Fo (นายอ้วนเย็นตาโฟ)

One of the best things about a bowl of Yen Ta Fo (เย็นตาโฟ) is the assortment of tasty toppings.

Chunks of pork, fish balls, slices of squid, fried tofu, slices of water morning glory, rectangles of coagulated blood, and a big crispy chip, were all floating around in this particular dish.

That’s not even including all the other flavoring ingredients like the fermented soybean paste, chillies, vinegar, fish sauce, and pepper that combined to form the flavor.

So Why Is It Pink?

The pinkness comes from the fermented soybean paste that’s added to every bowl of Yen Ta Fo.

When combined into the soup mixture, it gives a lightly sweet, almost flowery essence to the broth. Other than that, to me it still remains a mystery as to why it’s so pink.

Also, this bowl of yen ta fo was not nearly as pink as some others I’ve seen.

Nai Uan Yen Ta Fo (นายอ้วนเย็นตาโฟ)

Video

Now, be sure to watch this video so you can really see the food and the atmosphere!

Thank you for watching!

(Yen Ta Fo video on YouTube)

The Bottom Line:

This is a well known and long standing establishment in Bangkok that serves Yen Ta Fo. The noodles are excellent and even though I’m not the biggest fan of yen ta fo broth, I really liked all their high quality toppings and the fish balls in particular were wonderful.

What to Order: Get a bowl of the Sen Yai Yen Ta Fo (เส้นใหญ่เย็นตาโฟ)

Prices: A bowl of noodles is 40 THB, which is a little high for most places in Bangkok, but they are famous and located right in the heart of town.

Nai Uan Yen Ta Fo (นายอ้วนเย็นตาโฟ)

Address: 41 Soi Nava Thanon Saochingcha, Phra Nakorn, Bangkok, Thailand 10200
Phone: 02-2229701
Hours: 9 am – 9 pm on Weekdays, 9 am – 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday

นายอ้วนเย็นตาโฟ
41 ตะนาว เขตพระนคร, กรุงเทพ 10200
02-2229701

เปิดวันจันทร์-ศุกร์ 09:00-21:00
วันเสาร์-อาทิตย์ 09:00-16:00

How to Get There:

Taking a direct taxi or the local bus are the best ways to get there. The restaurant is just a few hundred meters down the road from the Giant Swing and is about a 10 minute walk from Democracy Monument.

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Jiew Look Shin Pla Yoawarat (จิวลูกชิ้นปลาเยาวราช) restaurant

After residing in Thailand and constantly eating Thai food, every now and then it’s nice to find unique dishes you’ve never heard of before.

That was case at Jiew Look Shin Pla Yoawarat (จิวลูกชิ้นปลาเยาวราช) restaurant, and that’s precisely why we headed over to Talad Sriyan market one day to EAT!

Pork Stew over Rice (Khao Sa-tew Moo Toon ข้าวสตูหมูตุ๋น)

Pronounce “stew” as a normal English word, and no one will understand you.

Instead, you’ve got to pronounce it the Thai way: sa-tew and make it linger for little bit at the end.

Jiew Look Shin Pla Yoawarat (จิวลูกชิ้นปลาเยาวราช) is well known for their Pork Stew over Rice (Khao Sa-tew Moo Toon ข้าวสตูหมูตุ๋น).

Pieces of potato, carrots, and tender chunks of pork were slow cooked for hours to prepare the stew. It was very Western tasting, yet at the same time I could tell it was Thai, maybe because it was just a tad sweet.

The meaty flavor of the gravy was wonderful, and I also liked the black pepper sprinkle and cilantro on top.

Yellow Egg Noodles in Gravy with Chicken and Mushrooms (Ba Mee Radna Gai Het Hom บะหมี่ราดหน้าไก่เห็ดหอม)

Another dish we sampled was the Yellow Egg Noodles in Gravy with Chicken and Mushrooms (Ba Mee Radna Gai Het Hom บะหมี่ราดหน้าไก่เห็ดหอม), a variation of the common Thai radna noodles.

Despite its not overly attractive appearance, it was actually quite nice. The egg noodles were soft and the gravy was basically just thickened stock including big chunks of chicken and fragrant mushrooms. The noodles went with the gravy remarkably well.

Khao Pra Ram Lum Song (ข้าวพระรามลงสรง)

But the dish of the meal was their very own unique creation known as Khao Pra Ram Lum Song (ข้าวพระรามลงสรง).

Almost like pork satay over rice

It tasted pretty much like a pork satay (moo satay) over rice that was lathered in peanut sauce.

I don’t think the pork was anything special, but it was the lovely rich peanut gravy poured on top, along with little condiments of sliced chillies, prik pao roasted chili sauce, and steamed morning glory (pak bung), that made it really good.

All three dishes weren’t overly strong in flavor, yet they were all comforting style dishes.

Jiew Look Shin Pla Yoawarat (จิวลูกชิ้นปลาเยาวราช)

Video

Here’s a video of the meal and all the dishes!

Thank you for watching!

(Or watch Thai Pork Stew on YouTube)

The Bottom Line

It’s fun to discover unique dishes, that are either made up by the restaurant, or very rare, and Jiew Look Shin Pla Yaowarat has a few dishes that are one of a kind and quite tasty.

The stew is comforting and tasty!

If you are in the area, don’t forge to sample the best durian ice cream in Bangkok!

Jiew Look Shin Pla Yoawarat (จิวลูกชิ้นปลาเยาวราช)

Address: 530-532 Talad Sriyan, Thanon Nakhon Chaisri
Phone: 0-2669-5743,08-6830-8947
Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily
Prices: 35 THB per dish, expect to pay 30 – 50 THB per person

530-532 อาคาร ตลาดศรีย่าน ถนนนครไชยศรี แขวงถนนนครไชยศรี เขตดุสิต กรุงเทพฯ
โทร. 0-2669-5743,08-6830-8947
เปิดทุกวัน เวลา 08.00- 17.00 น.

How to get there

The restaurant is located at the Sriyan Market in the Dusit area of Bangkok. The closest BTS station is Victory Monument and from there you’ll either need to take a 60 THB taxi ride or take bus #14 to Talad Sriyan.

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Pad Thai Thip Samai or Pad Thai Pratu Pi (ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย (ผัดไทยประตูผี))

Pad Thai, as I’m sure you know, is unquestionably the most recognized Thai dish throughout the world.

If you go to a Thai restaurant in the United States or a Thai restaurant in Europe, Pad Thai will most likely be represented on the menu with a top-recommendation icon next to it.

And while Pad Thai is popular in Thailand, because there are so many $1 dishes and so much food to explore, I myself rarely eat Pad Thai. I’m not the biggest Pad Thai fan, I’m more of the strong southern Thai flavors type.

However, occasional Pad Thai can be good.

Pad Thai Thip Samai or Pad Thai Pratu Pi (ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย (ผัดไทยประตูผี)), which translates to “Ghost Gate Pad Thai,” as it’s more commonly known, is one of the most famous Pad Thai restaurants in Bangkok.

Fresh, piping hot, plates of Pad Thai

Starting at 5 pm daily, the fires are kindled, and street chefs beginning churning out wok fulls of Pad Thai like crazy.

You’ll hear a continual clickety clack as the metal spatulas clank against the metal rounded woks.

While many people sit down for dinner, even more people order take-away, often in bulk orders.

Eating Pad Thai in Bangkok

Using charcoal, the chefs are able to fuel the fire so they get the fierce heat required to produce the correct scorched flavor.

Big batches, probably 10 – 15 plate fulls, are cooked at a time in medium sized woks.

Depending on the version of Pad Thai ordered, the recipe often begins first with shrimp that are fried in oil before being joined by thick handfuls of dry rice noodles. The noodles are soaked in sauces and oils as the heat and steam cooks the noodles quickly.

Tofu, baby shrimp, leeks, bean sprouts, and other ingredients per recipe, are all tossed into the mixture. Finally the mess of Pad Thai is scooted to one side as eggs are cracked into the agglomeration.

Wrapping the Pad Thai in a thin layer of egg

After the batch of Pad Thai is finished, it’s divvied out onto individual plates and either served as is, boxed into styrofoam to-go containers, or brought over t0 what I like to call “the gift wrapping station.”

Similar to shopping at a department store and having your gift wrapped in a fancy box and tied with bright colored ribbon, so the Pad Thai is decorated in a beautiful wrapper before being served.

Over a bonfire of flames, an intensely hot wok is thinly layered with beaten egg and swirled around like a crepe.

The egg cooks in seconds, at which point the plate of freshly cooked Pad Thai is dumped into the middle of the egg, wrapped up on all sides, and placed back onto the plate.

The first egg layer is messy with holes in it, so the process is repeated twice, leaving the final Pad Thai neatly wrapped in smokey flavored eggy goodness.

Pad Thai Haw Kai Goong Sot (ผัดไทห่อไข่กุ้งสด)

The version of Pad Thai wrapped in egg is called Pad Thai Haw Kai Goong Sot (ผัดไทห่อไข่กุ้งสด).

Meaty jumbo prawns and perfectly cooked noodles are packed into the egg wrapper which is then garnished with cilantro and slices of pepper.

I like to add chili flakes, crushed peanuts, and a squeeze of lime to my Pad Thai.

Like most Pad Thai, the noodles were slightly sweet, but I could detect that charcoal roasted flavor, and the lime juice balanced all the flavors together. The egg was the highlight, a great asset to the dish.

Pad Thai Sen Jan Man Goong (ผัดไทเส้นจันมันกุ้ง)

This Pad Thai Sen Jan Man Goong (ผัดไทเส้นจันมันกุ้ง), noodles fried with the head juices from jumbo shrimp, may not sound too appealing when described, but it sure was good.

The noodles had that same wonderful hint of smokiness which complemented the subtle shrimp seafood flavor. Rather than being wrapped in egg, this style included scrambled eggs mixed within.

Pad Thai Pratu Pee ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย (ผัดไทยประตูผี)

The Bottom Line:

If you like Pad Thai and are visiting Bangkok, you have no choice but to eat here.

Even if Pad Thai is not your favorite (like me), the experience of watching the chefs make batch after batch of Pad Thai over huge flames is a lot of fun.

Also in the area is a historical coffee shop where they serve great strong brews, but don’t try the food… it’s not so good.

What to Eat: Pad Thai Sen Jan Man Goong (ผัดไทเส้นจันมันกุ้ง) – Pad Thai with prawn head juices, and Pad Thai Haw Kai Goong Sot (ผัดไทห่อไข่กุ้งสด) – Pad Thai wrapped in an egg.

Prices: This restaurant is expensive for Bangkok prices, but it’s in a good location, and very famous, which bumps up the cost. You’ll pay around 70 THB for a plate of Pad Thai here.

Pad Thai Thip Samai (Pad Thai Pratu Pi) ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย (ผัดไทยประตูผี)

Address: 313 313 Thanon Mahachai, Phra Nakorn
Hours: 5 pm – 3 am daily
Phone: 022216280

ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย (ผัดไทยประตูผี)
313 อาคาร บริเวณภูเขาทอง ถนนมหาไชย (มหาชัย) แขวงสำราญราษฎร์ เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพฯ 10200
เปิดทุกวัน เวลา 17.00-03.00 น. (หยุดทุกวันพุธต้นเดือนและปลายเดือน)

โทร. 022216280

How To Get There

Pad Thai Thip Samai is located in the old district of Phra Nakorn, just a few minutes walk from the Giant Red Swing near Chinatown Bangkok, and very close to the Golden Mountain.

If you go as soon as they open, you can take the Khlong Saen Saep canal boat to the final Panfa Leelard station, exit towards Ratchadamnoen, make a left on Mahachai, and the restaurant will be on your left hand side. Alternatively, you can either take a taxi directly there or a bus. It’s also an easy 5 minute walk from Democracy Monument.

View Bangkok Eating Thai Food Map in a larger map

Ratchaprasong Thai Food (ราชประสงค์ ไทยฟู้ด)

I think this Bangkok street stall is as photographed as the Grand Palace!

If you’ve spent time in Bangkok, or even if you’ve just visited for a few days, you’ve undoubtedly passed these street food stalls just outside Central World shopping center (เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์).

I’ve eaten here numerous times, but have just failed to write anything. So finally, here it is, one of the most popular and possibly the most easily accessible street restaurant in all of Bangkok: Ratchaprasong Thai Food (ราชประสงค์ ไทยฟู้ด).

Thousands of pedestrians stop to admire this Thai street food!

Located in one of the busiest locations for foot traffic in all of Bangkok, the series of Thai street food restaurants just outside of Central World shopping center, attract the masses.

Everyday thousands upon thousands of tourists and locals as well make the trek from Siam to Pratunam market (video) area, passing, taking photos, and admiring the jaw dropping grills on display.

Bangkok street food at Central World

During the daytime, the section of sidewalk is filled with clothes vendors and small street food stalls, but starting at 5 pm each day, the scene shifts to much more impressive and tasty things.

There are about 5 or so restaurants that take control of the sidewalk, all of them serving just about the same menu.

I personally go to the first stall closest to Central World, known as Ratchaprasong Thai Food (ราชประสงค์ ไทยฟู้ด), mostly because the owner and the crew of staff are all extremely friendly.

Duck beaks?

Among the selection on the menu are grilled duck beaks.

They don’t look that good, but they do make an exotic, and pleasantly tasty Thai dish.

How could anyone not want to stop here and eat?

From the appearance of the street stall, one may assume that the chickens have been cooked by electrocution. However, they are most likely just grilled!

Classy dining atmosphere

Classic Bangkok fold up tables are lined up along on the sidewalk cafeteria style.

It’s not exactly a peaceful dining experience; Traffic roars in all directions, pedestrians never stop, and both the heavy smoke from the grills and the fumes from the vehicles makes the air far from fresh.

People tend to eat and go quickly, it’s fast paced street food!

Grilled Snakehead Fish (pla chon pao ปลาช่อนเผา)

The main attraction for me is the grilled snakehead fish (pla chon pao ปลาช่อนเผา).

They are by all means not the most attractive creatures in the world, but what they lack in their looks, they sure make up flavor wise.

Thai vegetable plate

Like all Isaan restaurants, you’re first served a plate of raw vegetables: cabbage, long beans, cucumbers, and sweet basil.

The meal from above

We went a little light, just ordering the basics, as I was most interested in eating a snakehead fish.

Grilled Chicken (gai yang ไก่ย่าง) at Central World street food stalls

We also got a half a grilled chicken (gai yang ไก่ย่าง), which in my opinion was just a little dry (perhaps it got electrocuted?), not as good as the chicken from Sabai Jai Gai Yang.

That’s just sort of the luck of the draw when you eat Thai street food – I’m sure other chickens on the skewer were more juicy and moist.

Nevertheless, it was a good and meaty chicken for those that aren’t interested in the grilled fish.

Som tam (green papaya salad ส้มตำ)

Som tam (green papaya salad ส้มตำ), is of course a must.

While I wouldn’t rate it as good as the som tam at Silom’s graveyard street stall, it’s pretty good.

Another great thing about Ratchaprasong Thai Food (ราชประสงค์ ไทยฟู้ด) is when you ask for spicy, they won’t fail to deliver.

Hot means hot – no joking!

Flaky, moist, and flavorful: Roasted Snakehead Fish (pla chon pao ปลาช่อนเผา)

Finally to the main attraction, the roasted snakehead fish (pla chon pao ปลาช่อนเผา).

Stuffed full of lemongrass and rolled in salt before being slow roasted over the fire, the fish was excellent. It was moist, flaky, and the sauce was particularly wonderful.

Grilled fish and sticky rice is the best reason to go to the street food stalls outside of Central World!

Bangkok traffic on Ratchaprasong

Here’s a quick shot of the traffic at 5:30 pm in Bangkok at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Ratchaprasong Thai Food, Bangkok, Thailand

And here’s one last photo of the busy pedestrian sidewalk that flows right next to the hot grill.

Ratchaprasong Thai Food (ราชประสงค์ ไทยฟู้ด)

Video

Here’s the video to go with this restaurant… I think you may be able to smell the roasting fish from the video!

Thank you for watching!

(Watch this Thai street food video on YouTube)

The Bottom Line

Part of any street food dining experience is the ambiance, and the stalls outside of Bangkok’s Central World offer an extremely fast paced environment for a meal.

Like any business, it’s all about location, and they perhaps have the best Bangkok street food location. Also, their trophy grill packed with slow roasting creatures is simply irresistible, a Bangkok attraction in and of itself.

As for the food, it’s not the best in Bangkok, but it certainly is tasty Thai street food that’s very worth eating, and extremely convenient.

Ratchaprasong Thai Food (ราชประสงค์ ไทยฟู้ด)

Like I mentioned above, there are about 5 different stalls to choose from, but I prefer the very first stall, which is closest to Central World. The staff is nice and friendly, and I think the food looks the best.

Hours: 5 pm – 2 am daily
Prices: 100 – 200 THB per person for a full meal, the meal we ate above came to 300 THB
Address: Sidewalk outside Bangkok’s Central World shopping center

How To Get There

Take the BTS to Chit Lom station, walk towards Ratchaprasong road and cross the street over to Central World. Walk all the way past Central World on your way to Pratunam, and it would be impossible to miss these Thai street food stalls (only begin at 5 pm).

View Bangkok Eating Thai Food Map in a larger map

Video:

Finally, here’s the full video of the restaurant, which you’re going to love (just press play below)!