37 Mahaset Rd
Baan Chamnong may appear baan baan, but its food is stellar. Located on the Mahaset strip, a bit further down from Je Ngor and across from Love Me Tender, this two-story house has an open-air dining area downstairs, where the middle-aged female staff like to gather in front of the TV for their daily soap opera. Diners, however, prefer sitting in the air-con room upstairs where they can park themselves at one of the chunky wooden tables. It might come as a shock to newcomers that this no-frills spot is run by someone who has been working with five-star hotels for over 30 years. And until they start spooning food into their mouths, nothing—not the worn-out laminated menu or the predictable ho-hum Thai classics it offers—would allow them to guess what they’re in for. If what really matters to them is taste, not the setting or dishes with fancy names, Baan Chamnong will soon be their new best friend, though. Seafood is the specialty here. The best-selling pla meuk dad diew look almost like fries—the squid is fried till perfectly golden and served cut in strips with chili sauce. The texture is pleasantly chewy—maybe too chewy for your grannies, but fine by us. Budget diners will be particularly pleased since good things come cheap at this familial eatery. The kaeng som pae sa, for example, is a hotpot containing a large deep-fried whole fish and mixed vegetables in sweet and sour soup. Chamnong seems to have a thing for garlic. The yum sam samut, a combo of plump shrimps, succulent squid and fresh oysters in hot and spicy sauce gets plenty of pickled garlic. It also comes with a plate of fried chopped garlic, chunks of fresh garlic and kratin. With its goong khai ten, Chamnong adds creative twists to your typical khai toon (steamed egg) by throwing in some mixed seafood and tangy lime sauce laden with mint and garlic. If you have a sensitive palette, be warned that this kitchen doesn’t compromise—what should be spicy is spicy. Service is impeccable: servers know the food and your glass will never be left empty. A bit more effort style-wise would just bring prices up; we like Chamnong as it is—authentic, affordable, delicious and welcoming.
