Somtam

The location could be a bit of a turn off, at least for those who think life ends after Ekkamai, but this simply decorated, family-friendly restaurant, serves up a great selection of cheap, mouth-watering Isaan delicacies, making it well worth the road trip. The eatery is big and plays host to a good cross section of Thai society—from the loud sia and his family of ten to the young working professionals looking to down some beer and sing some karaoke. No matter where you’re seated (in or out), service is spot on—thanks to their army of employees ogling at Thai soaps, but always ready to be called on. The menu, extensive and quite overwhelming, is a straightforward sheet of paper allowing you to tick items off the list. It’s divided into sections: somtam (obviously), fried foods, Thai salads, grilled meats and seafood, curries and soups, stir-fried items and single dishes. Venture out of the common (but ever-so good) somtam Thai, tam poo, tam pla raa and get yourself a tam poo khai dong, raw crab in a yaam sauce. It’s an acquired taste, but the crab is extremely fresh and sweet working well with the sour and spicy dressing. Balance it off with something fried, like the ped daed deaw, crunchy thin strips of marinated duck meat or the hefty Isaan sausage. For seafood, try the baked mussels, served with seafood sauce, or opt for the plaa nin thale phao klue (salt-coated grilled fish). The fish’s skin oozes salt which perfectly penetrates and flavors the meat. For dessert, you’ll notice the use of real coconut milk, not the stuff out of a can. If you’re there on a weekend, order yourself the homemade khanom thuay (3 pairs). The bottom layer is made of pandanus and is topped with a layer of coconut cream and tiny bits of fresh coconut giving it the perfect blend of sweet and salty. So take advantage of the currently low gas prices and venture out into the suburbs for a fantastic and inexpensive meal, which recreates the flavors of the baan nok within city limits. No corkage charge.