Udon - Lob?

[technocracy]

Having to spend more time in Udon of late due to visiting AEK for the wifes pregnancy checkups some I cannot understand it the amount of buffet restaurants in place!

They are absolutely everywhere, every 'restaurant' that ain't a falang or side street store is a bloody buffet! Now don't get me wrong they are alright on occasions but it seems as Udon is completely lacking any normal restaurants that serve local food! The only one I know of is the one on the main road next to the lake (not the seafood one way 20kms away!) and to be honest the food and service there isn't the best.

We spied a 'sin jum' restaurant on the same road as the AEK and since it was nearly opposite the Charoen where we usually stay we walked over, lo and behold a 'sin jum' buffet!

The food in all of them is pretty much identical however the surrounds obviously change - one cheeky bunch of <deleted> at the last place we went dared to attempt to charge us extra because we had finished everything!!! When he was told the reason we hadn't eaten the plate of mussels (that were the only thing remaining on our table) was that they tasted like crap and he'd like to eat them please help himself . . . the charge suddenly disappeared!

Also nearly all these buffets are accompanied by some bloody awful entertainment - normally a bloke with a guitar who someone at some point has told him he can sing - something which both me and the wife beg to differ!

When we go out we will eat Lao food pretty much without exception - so we don't care for Irish bars or Spaghetti place etc, in the day we happily eat at the stalls but in the evening we'd prefer something a little more relaxing.

So the question is are there any good local orientated restaurant/bars in Udon for an evening meal? Ones where you sit back relax have a few beers and a decent local meal in a restaurant surrounding with table service not sitting next to the bars friendly girls (as the fliers call them! ), being deafened by incredibly loud music or sitting by the road on plastic stools!

If any one can suggest places . . go for it! I don't mind them being a few Kms away from the center this ain't problem as we are in the car.

[Tilokarat]

We ate at a number of restaurants in Udon Thani that were not of the farang or buffet variety. The problem is that I did not take note of the names, only the general location. There are some around the Karin Hotel not far from the corners of Adulyadej and Watthananuwong Road. There are a number of Lao-Thai restaurants along Thammasaree (sp?) Road too. Anyway, all you have to do is look and you will find them. It is a bit like the 'Field of Dreams'. Just believe and the restaurants will appear.

Usually, whether it is in Udon, Kalasin, Chiang Mai or wherever, I have to ask at four or five restaurants if they have pad sii yuu, which is a dish I crave in much the same way some people from northeastern Thailand crave som tom every day.

[mackayae]

Try Chaibuppha restaurant at 58/8 Wattana road.

Thai Orchid restaurant at Nong Sim lake.

Rabian, Arena and Udon Beer Hall restaurants on Nong Prajak.

[technocracy]

Cheers for the hints . . . I'll have a looking around for them on the next visit as a bit of ground work as we'll be in town for a week or two when the baby is due and I don't want be eating buffet for two weeks!!!!

Isn't the Nong Sim lake one the one out on the main 'ring' road (same road as Home Pro etc) where you they have individual huts? If it is we've been there a few times and don't really rate the food - you asked them prepare something in a certain way i.e no garlic or sugar and they completely ignore the request . . . which isn't the best! It wasn't just a one off they did this, I think they have everything preprepared so you don't get a choice on how the food is cooked.