A Terrible Restaurant

[chiang mai]

I'm happy to report on good restaurants that I find but equally I'm going to call the poorer ones the way I see them. Kun Aeng (sp) in Chalong falls into the latter category.

We went to do some sight seeing yesterday and wound up at Chalong pier. Found a lovely looking restaurant not far from the entrance to the pier, nice open style, plenty of outside seating and fairly modern design. But the food was some of the worst I've eaten anywhere in Thailand for some years - bland, tasteless and dry plus the pork and the shrimp were obviously days old. It's really a shame because its setting could make this a really great restaurant but it seems that for whatever reason they simply don't care about the food they serve. Oh well, plenty more places to sample.

[Wellington]

I'm happy to report on good restaurants that I find but equally I'm going to call the poorer ones the way I see them. Kun Aeng (sp) in Chalong falls into the latter category.

We went to do some sight seeing yesterday and wound up at Chalong pier. Found a lovely looking restaurant not far from the entrance to the pier, nice open style, plenty of outside seating and fairly modern design. But the food was some of the worst I've eaten anywhere in Thailand for some years - bland, tasteless and dry plus the pork and the shrimp were obviously days old. It's really a shame because its setting could make this a really great restaurant but it seems that for whatever reason they simply don't care about the food they serve. Oh well, plenty more places to sample.

Every restaurant has a bad day sometime, but we have eaten here six or so times and not yet been disappointed

[sbk]

Its one thing to say you've had a bad experience but entirely different to say a restaurant is terrible based solely on one visit.

And then, to hear from another poster who has been there multiple times that they have not experienced this. So, either the OP was there on a bad day or the cook has changed.

Perhaps its better to make things clearer when posting reviews.

[Wolfie]

I've eaten there a few times, i found the food 'Mediocre' at best.

[Sir Burr]

That is Kan Eang 1. The food many years ago was good. There was a split in the family and now there is a Kan Eang 2 which is further up the bay (to the north). Every one, including Thais go to Kan Eang 2.

Chalong Seafood is also a pretty good restaurant.

[Abrak]

I'm happy to report on good restaurants that I find but equally I'm going to call the poorer ones the way I see them. Kun Aeng (sp) in Chalong falls into the latter category.

We went to do some sight seeing yesterday and wound up at Chalong pier. Found a lovely looking restaurant not far from the entrance to the pier, nice open style, plenty of outside seating and fairly modern design. But the food was some of the worst I've eaten anywhere in Thailand for some years - bland, tasteless and dry plus the pork and the shrimp were obviously days old. It's really a shame because its setting could make this a really great restaurant but it seems that for whatever reason they simply don't care about the food they serve. Oh well, plenty more places to sample.

I am very surprised to see this report about this particular restaurant.

I am not a huge fan but have eaten there a few times. It does good business and I would be extremely surprised if the food is anything but fresh. For Phuket it also caters to quite a few locals so I am surprised that you say the food was bland too. I know that some restaurants 'westernise' the taste of thai cooking in phuket to suit the farang and they might do that there. But the restaurant is also popular with locals and they obviously expect cooking done the right way.

[LadyinRed]

Kan Eng 1 is a big disappointment - despite the beautiful decor. Been there twice after their renovation and was not impressed.

Prantalay seafood near Palai beach does good seafood eats - not a pretty place, small menu selection, always playing melancholic Thai tunes, but food is fresh and well made.

There is a small restaurant on the way to Khao Kard view point, they do pretty good seafoody things too. They keep their fishes in nets by the river, and get one up when you order. I think it's called Chai Yo Restaurant.

[chiang mai]

Its one thing to say you've had a bad experience but entirely different to say a restaurant is terrible based solely on one visit.

And then, to hear from another poster who has been there multiple times that they have not experienced this. So, either the OP was there on a bad day or the cook has changed.

Perhaps its better to make things clearer when posting reviews.

I find that a rather odd statement SBK and I'm not sure how you would like me to write my review. Two of us went to the restaurant, one Thai and one Farang and we ordered four dishes between us and spent 660 baht. We both thought that every dish ranged from poor to terrible. The steamed rice was old, the pork with garlic was very old and had no flavor, the pineapple fried rice was tasteless and the Som Tam with crab was apparently wretched although I didn't taste it. So yes we had a bad experience based on a single visit and because of that there will unfortunately for the restaurant not be a second visit. Restaurants I'm afraid get only a single shot at a review in my book and it looks from reading other comments posted that I am not alone in my assessment.

[LivinginKata]

Chang Mai, you went to the wrong Kan Eng. That's the tourist branch. We go to Kan Eng 2 (about 150m along Chofa East, away from roundabout, and turn right off the main road. Well sign posted) and we have had great food at a very reasonable cost. This place is full of Thais in the evening. Great setting & views.

[chiang mai]

Chang Mai, you went to the wrong Kan Eng. That's the tourist branch. We go to Kan Eng 2 (about 150m along Chofa East, away from roundabout, and turn right off the main road. Well sign posted) and we have had great food at a very reasonable cost. This place is full of Thais in the evening. Great setting & views.

OK that makes sense with the mixed reviews here. There's no doubt the one we went to was the tourist branch - happy to try the other branch since there seems to be some good reports about it here. Perhaps those that made positive reports in this thread will clarify whether their report related to I or II - Wellington?

[maipleur]

shhhhh

Chang Mai, you went to the wrong Kan Eng. That's the tourist branch. We go to Kan Eng 2 (about 150m along Chofa East, away from roundabout, and turn right off the main road. Well sign posted) and we have had great food at a very reasonable cost. This place is full of Thais in the evening. Great setting & views.

[chiang mai]

I'm happy to report on good restaurants that I find but equally I'm going to call the poorer ones the way I see them. Kun Aeng (sp) in Chalong falls into the latter category.

We went to do some sight seeing yesterday and wound up at Chalong pier. Found a lovely looking restaurant not far from the entrance to the pier, nice open style, plenty of outside seating and fairly modern design. But the food was some of the worst I've eaten anywhere in Thailand for some years - bland, tasteless and dry plus the pork and the shrimp were obviously days old. It's really a shame because its setting could make this a really great restaurant but it seems that for whatever reason they simply don't care about the food they serve. Oh well, plenty more places to sample.

Every restaurant has a bad day sometime, but we have eaten here six or so times and not yet been disappointed

Wellington, Kan Eng I or II please?

[Wellington]

I'm happy to report on good restaurants that I find but equally I'm going to call the poorer ones the way I see them. Kun Aeng (sp) in Chalong falls into the latter category.

We went to do some sight seeing yesterday and wound up at Chalong pier. Found a lovely looking restaurant not far from the entrance to the pier, nice open style, plenty of outside seating and fairly modern design. But the food was some of the worst I've eaten anywhere in Thailand for some years - bland, tasteless and dry plus the pork and the shrimp were obviously days old. It's really a shame because its setting could make this a really great restaurant but it seems that for whatever reason they simply don't care about the food they serve. Oh well, plenty more places to sample.

Every restaurant has a bad day sometime, but we have eaten here six or so times and not yet been disappointed

Wellington, Kan Eng I or II please?

Two for food, one for design, O.K.?

[chiang mai]

Its one thing to say you've had a bad experience but entirely different to say a restaurant is terrible based solely on one visit.

And then, to hear from another poster who has been there multiple times that they have not experienced this. So, either the OP was there on a bad day or the cook has changed.

Perhaps its better to make things clearer when posting reviews.

Right, so now we can make things more clear since everyone seems to agree that Kan Eng 1 has poor quality food and Kan Eng 2 from the sounds of it has very good food. My review was therefore written on the basis of our visit to Kan Eng 1.

[Somtamnication]

Kan Eng 1, by the pier, has gone downhill. They spent tons of money renovating and they forgot the kitchen staff!

7 years ago I ate there as a tourist and loved it. I went back many many times while living here and it was great. But as of a year ago, it has gone downhill.

As a last resort, I tried their breakfast, with wife and child. It was horrible. Bacon was cold, eggs partially cooked, stale bread.

Never again.

They are looking for a farang F&B. That might improve things.

[seonai]

Kan Eang 2 is brilliant - really good, have eaten there countless times