jfchandler

All this meat talk made me hungry, so last night we went for dinner to the Chokchai Steakhouse on Sukhumvit Soi 23, located in the Prananmit Plaza shopping center.

A lot of the comment here re Chokchai has been at the extremes, very bad or very good, and a lot of it aimed at their Pak Chong farm restaurant. They also have a branch in Rangsit. But we went for the first time to the Asoke area branch, conveniently located about a 5-10 minute walk up from the Sukhumvit MRT station.

All in all, we had a good dinner, and a pair of quite good steaks, at a very reasonable price for Thailand (about 1,000 baht total covering two steak dinners, a pair of non-alcohol drinks and three deserts, and an included 10% service charge). The Asoke restaurant itself is quite nice and comfortable inside, good furnishings befitting a steak house, pleasant atmosphere, and plenty of wait staff when we needed them. We visited on a Saturday night at about 7 pm, and found the restaurant about 3/4ths full, and entirely with Thai or Korean patrons, except for myself.

Our waiter didn't speak any English, but the nearby manager did, and helped explain about their steaks, since the menu descriptions about their different levels of beef quality are only in Thai script. Basically, they seem to have three levels of beef available: their premium, 30-day dry aged steaks in the 600-700 baht range; their regular 15-day dry aged steaks, the same types of cuts but at about half the price in the 300 to 400 baht per entree range; and then just regular steaks, under 300 baht per entree. For our first visit, we chose the middle range steaks, not wanting either tire rubber (as some have complained) but also not wanting to blow a wad...particularly on the first visit.

For 340 baht, I got their dry aged prime rib, bone-in steak requested medium rare, and indeed it was served up on a grill platter at just that level of doneness. I chose the larger "senior" cut, which the manager said was about 500 grams, while they also offered a smaller and slightly less expensive "junior" cut of the same at about 400 grams. The prime rib steak was perfectly tender, nicely grilled, not excessively fatty and quite satisfying all in all.

The GF had their "top blade" steak in the same category, only one size offered of that, at 300 baht and it likewise was a generous, well-cooked cut. Neither was the least bit tough, as some have complained above.

Both entrees came with a small baked potato topped with a bit of butter and sour cream, a medley of steamed vegetables (wedges of carrots, beans, and squash), and a small pitcher of unremarkable brown gravy. To my pleasant surprise, a request for ground black pepper quickly produced a manager with a grinder. But I really would have preferred some au jus to the brown gravy, though none was on offer.

For desert, they offer a range of their own brand of ice cream, "Umm!.. Milk". We had a generous bowl of their rum raisin flavor for 50 baht, and tried what they call their Chokchai Log Cabin for 85 baht, the latter consisting of a scoop of chocolate ice cream, topped with chocolate sauce, some chocolate-coated Pokki-style sticks and sprinkled with corn flakes. Between the two, the regular, simple ice cream was better, having a very smooth, creamy and clean taste and consistency, as did the bowl of "fresh milk' flavor ice cream the GF also tried. As an aside, just outside, they also have a separate "Umm!..Milk" ice cream shop offering small and medium sized containers of the the same flavors and bottled milk varieties either to eat there or take home.

While I can't comment on their Pak Chong location, I'd say that 340 baht for a decent, good sized prime rib steak served in a nice setting off Sukhumvit Road is quite a good value. As I was ordering and eating, it occurred to me that the price of the middle-level prime rib steak there is roughly equal to the price of a single alcoholic beverage drink at any of the fancy hotel steak house restaurants in town. (Hmmm......which to choose, a glass of wine or a prime rib steak???)

No, the middle level prime rib steak at Chok Chai wasn't equal to top-flight steak houses like Ruth's Chris or Arnie Morton's in the U.S., and I didn't expect it to be. But for the money, it was quite good and had none of the failings so often found in regular Thai beef. Rather, it certainly was good enough to make me want to go back again soon, both to try the top level steak cuts to see if they are noticeably better/different for the money, but also to try a few other things that looked tasty and seemed good values on their menu: a 180 baht Chokchai Ranch (Steak) Salad, a 160 baht Chokchai Steak Burger with Cheese, Bacon and Grilled Onion, or the regular Chokchai Burger (with or without cheese) for 130 baht.

After the first visit to Chokchai Steakhouse, all I can say is "Umm!.. Steak"

What's the price for their dinner (?) buffet, as shown above??

I think the list below is a good one with accurate observations. Unfortunately, many of us, while meeting all the non-job criteria, don't meet the ones about working in settings with non-touristy Thai people, either because we're comfortable enough to have retired early or because people have work at home/work alone jobs. In those situations, it's difficult...

I will add, before I moved here, my very close Thai friends in the U.S. warned me of one thing in particular (and these were their words, not mine): be careful about Thai women, because most of them only will be interested in your money.

Now having been here some time, I must say, the warning from my friends has proven to be an accurate one -- not always... but quite often, in my experience.

Although I am not particularly in need of meeting 'nice women' in Thailand, I meet them all the time and they are interested- VERY interested-

May I make a few suggestions?

1. Have a job

2. Have a job involving Thai people

3. Have a job involving real Thai people, not people dependent on you or tourist-oriented people

4. Have a job which involves meeting new groups of people often

5. Be relatively close in age to your target group

6. Be socially functional

7. Be interested in long-term connections with those who date you (they are 'nice women,' after all); i.e., MARRIAGE.

Then you should have no problem.

TF... as in Thai-French beef???

TAWP, the problem is....for the kind of woman you're mentioning above...is where to find/meet them as a single, eligible farang...if you don't happen to be working in the same office as they do.

In my time living in BKK, I've tried various of the Thai-oriented dating web sites, and have rarely/almost never met any women there matching that general description.

Rather, you'll find lots of students, lots of "want you to support me's," nurses and medical staff for some reason...lots of Isaan women with no job or career or education, etc...

So if your friend feels there are too many eligible Thai women out there, you should ask her, where/how is SHE looking for eligible men... or how is she expecting them to find her!!!

Just a few minutes ago I read in this other topic that the Thai consulate in Vientiane issues a non-O visa for the purpose of travelling to Thailand to explore retirement possibility.

--

Maestro

Maestro, here is what Tod wrote exactly in the other thread you cite above....

Last year I was on an education visa, but it expired before I turned 50 last month, so I had already went to Vientiane Lao PDR and received a single entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on retirement. (Even though I was a month short of 50 when I applied for the visa in Lao, I got it no problem). That visa was good until April 5th.

I'm not sure I'd interpret that account as indicating that Vientiane is willing to issue Non-O visas to anyone (or someone who is 47 as in the OP here) for the purpose of exploring retirement...unless you know something more on that subject?? From Tod's account, I was assuming perhaps they just cut him some slack because he was just a month short of his 50th birthday at the time, by his own account.

See post #93 above for the correct information re this restaurant...

And, the Italian across the street on Soi 8 is Via Vai...which actually is pretty good....

Jorge, I like your second response above a lot better than the prior one...

Glad you can try to maintain a good, positive attitude toward your business..and customers, and all their varied opinions.

There are lots of different folks who participate in Thai Visa, and of course, people with all different opinions about food, and everything else. It takes a bit of a thick skin to not be offended, sometimes. Some people love one place. Other people hate the same place. Hard to know why, except everyone has their opinions.

I've never run a restaurant myself. But I always believe, offer good meals at a good price in a good setting, and you'll do well. Sure hope you do. --John

Speaking of breakfasts, and meal values in BKK, stopped by the Old German Beerhouse in Sukhumvit Soi 11 (just opposite the Grand President Hotel, a short walk from Nana BTS) today to try their advertised breakfast special, which turned out to be very good tasting at a great 99 baht price. And it seems to be on offer every day and regardless of time.

Though not overwhelmingly filling as presented, the beerhouse's 99 baht "American Breakfast" is a good value for the price. The breakfast includes a small cup of hot coffee or tea (no offer of refills), a glass of orange juice, a single fried egg, home fry sliced potatoes, about 4 strips of very good/sweet tasting American (maybe German too???) style bacon, a small bowl of corn flakes and milk, and a slice of white bread toast and butter.

I might give the slight edge to Molly Malone's similar 99 baht breakfast, as being a bit more filling (more than 1 egg I believe) and including a large pot of hot tea vs. a small cup. But the two meals are identical in price and pretty close in composition. See the Molly Malone breakfast review above.

But it works out OK either way... If you're nearby Silom, head for Molly Malone's (though their breakfast special is only during the morning hours). If you're nearby Sukhumvit, head for the Old German Beerhouse. Either way, you're covered.

Here's the visuals on the Old German Beerhouse breakfast, with the added note that despite the name and what it might connote for some, the restaurant is actually a very pleasant, airy, open venue with a misting system installed around the perimeter to help keep things inside cool. I believe they also have wireless Internet and, of course, lots of BEER available...

I don't know when I saw you coming off the skytrain at 71 yesterday, you looked quite full.

You snooping on me again, BKK??? Trying to ascertain my restaurant eating habits????

Actually...hadn't eaten at all then. The GF and I were outbound from Phra Kanong BTS yesterday, en route to a breakfast appointment at Dotcom's home for homemade huevos rancheros... He fixed a mean batch of huevos....

Carmine 6, were you doing the Grand President's breakfast buffet as a hotel guest (and thus had it comped/free) or as a paying customer? Any idea of the price to purchase their breakfast buffet...

It sounds good, and the restaurant there has gotten particularly good comments for its Sunday brunch buffet...

I would say...they clearly encourage smoking indoors at the Soi 8 pub...despite having a large outdoors-street side patio that would perfectly well suffice...

The bbq place at Century Movie Complex mentioned in the prior post is the Izumi restaurant, the first one mentioned and reviewed in this thread above.

And, the khanom jin buffet place at Century, although I myself haven't tried it yet, is one that my GF says goes for about 79 baht per person. When we were eating at the MBK buffet the other day, she said she thought the khaom jin buffet at Century was a bit better, though also higher priced (79 baht at Century vs. 59 baht at MBK).

For those among us who appreciate Thai khanom jin (Thai rice noodles served with a variety of sauces and vegetables), there is a new khanom jin buffet restaurant on the 5th floor of MBK that's offering a 59 baht "all you can eat" deal.

In English, the place is called Chaowdin Buffet, and it's an open air place just opposite MBK's so-called international food court. Your choice of 59 baht for all you can eat, or 40 baht for a single plate. Probably about 8 different pots of sauces/toppings to choose from, along with all the various smaller bowls of chopped and sliced vegetables and flavorings to add alongside.

We had lunch there the other day, and it was perfectly satisfactory. The big containers of toppings were heavy on sauces and light on meats, except for the gang keow wan gai (green chicken curry), which was pretty substantial. But we tried several different toppings and all manners of accompanying vegetables, and came away pleasantly filled for a very modest price.

See their advertisement and menu below...

Re the carrying trolleys, just came back from the Thailand International Furniture Show at MTT today, and found at a small shop over in one corner an assortment of fabric case trolleys, two plastic wheels on bottom with almost small suitcase sized fabric box ontop with a top zipper entry, on sale for 200 baht a piece...

Of course, the arena/convention center has their own standard metal wire mesh box trolleys (or whatever they're called) that they loan out to visitors at their shows... Those are pretty indestructable...but not seen that variety for sale anywhere around these parts...

Verasu shops and catalog lately have been advertising a Sevarin model (SEV-3983) breadmaker for 3,900 baht on sale, as I recall... Just got a new catalog from them in the mail the other day...

St. Patties Day update...

sign out in front of the (Sukhumvit) Soi 8 pub today... 99 baht pints of Guinness all day next Tuesday... one baht cheaper than the Dubliner mentioned above... but be prepared for lots of cigarette smoke...

I saw a thai woman on suk rd the other day pulling behind her one of those two-wheeled wire basket kinds with a handle, so clearly there here somewhere... Perfect for a medium grocery shopping, but wheels a bit small for bkk's tattered sidewalks...

Molly Malone's current happy hour drink specials 4-7 pm daily (Silom Soi Convent) are pretty good.... If you want a change from beer, their large jugs of fruit sangria (wine) for 180 baht are a deal....

One day special at the Dubliner for St. Patrick's Day 2009 -- Guinness all day at 100 baht per....

See here....

Also, been meaning to try the 224 baht lunch buffet special weekdays (Monday to Friday, noon to 2:30 pm) at the Grand President Hotel's cafe, also nearby on Sukhumvit Soi 11.... Anyone else sampled it???

In the category of bakeries, noticed yesterday that the bakery shop inside the Ambassador Hotel (Sukhumvit Soi 11) is advertising half off all their products daily from 5 pm onward for takeout.... and the original prices are pretty reasonable as it is... Haven't tried their fare lately, though...

Noticed en route to the Emporium yesterday...

The Dubliner Irish Pub (Sukhumvit Soi 22 at Washington Square) is advertising 100 baht Guinness beers all-day on this year's St. Patrick's Day....this coming Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

And a mention of their regular, ongoing weekly specials...

Anyone else got any St. Patties Day specials brewing???

I believe the prior poster would be referring to the Soi 8 Pub located almost directly across the street on Soi 8 from Adelphi Suites....

Hey, Waza, where in soi 8 is the Argentinian BBQ? I'd like to give it a try. What are their prices like?

I believe he's talking about the restaurant on the ground floor of the relatively new Adelphi Suites Hotel, just a block or so inside Soi 8 on the right hand side of the street as you walk in. The hotel is also just a block or so from the Nana BTS station.

The restaurant has a name consisting of 4 letters, which I can't remember now... like the SPRQ Cafe or something like that. It's not the same as Fogo was, as in, the menu is more general and broader. But as I recall, they do have some Brazilian style stuff on the menu. I ate there once, but didn't try those particular offerings that day.