Chinese Food On Samui!....why So Expensive?

[meatgrowler]

I absolutely adore chinese food,yet it seems for some reason that it isnt possible to eat my favorite food unless i pay way over the top for it. I cannot get my head around the reason for this....at the end of the day the ingredients are all very similar to the thai ingredients that are all mega cheap at the markets and makro,i,e fresh vegetables,rice ,noodles,various meats etc...not much difference in the way its cooked either..so why the expense,is it because of the foreign novelty?...i can understand mexican,italian etc being overpriced ...but china isnt even far away{low import fees}.... Maybe there are some secret cheap chinese eateries on samui,if so please tell me where!....thanks in advance...MG

[NHJ]

I absolutely adore chinese food,yet it seems for some reason that it isnt possible to eat my favorite food unless i pay way over the top for it. I cannot get my head around the reason for this....at the end of the day the ingredients are all very similar to the thai ingredients that are all mega cheap at the markets and makro,i,e fresh vegetables,rice ,noodles,various meats etc...not much difference in the way its cooked either..so why the expense,is it because of the foreign novelty?...i can understand mexican,italian etc being overpriced ...but china isnt even far away{low import fees}.... Maybe there are some secret cheap chinese eateries on samui,if so please tell me where!....thanks in advance...MG

it's true that recently a lot of chinese/vietnamese restaurant opened, i went to the one in front of the makro, took the menu, almost felt on the floor while looking at the prices.

there's a new one also in bophut after the fisherman red light while going to maenam, it's in a small street on the left few hundred meters after the redlight.

it's true that those prices are hard to understand as a cashewnut chicken is common in thailand and in china and is priced 50-60 bath mostly in thai restaurants, it would be funny to compare the price of this dish in the chinese restaurants.

[meatgrowler]

I absolutely adore chinese food,yet it seems for some reason that it isnt possible to eat my favorite food unless i pay way over the top for it. I cannot get my head around the reason for this....at the end of the day the ingredients are all very similar to the thai ingredients that are all mega cheap at the markets and makro,i,e fresh vegetables,rice ,noodles,various meats etc...not much difference in the way its cooked either..so why the expense,is it because of the foreign novelty?...i can understand mexican,italian etc being overpriced ...but china isnt even far away{low import fees}.... Maybe there are some secret cheap chinese eateries on samui,if so please tell me where!....thanks in advance...MG

it's true that recently a lot of chinese/vietnamese restaurant opened, i went to the one in front of the makro, took the menu, almost felt on the floor while looking at the prices.

there's a new one also in bophut after the fisherman red light while going to maenam, it's in a small street on the left few hundred meters after the redlight.

it's true that those prices are hard to understand as a cashewnut chicken is common in thailand and in china and is priced 50-60 bath mostly in thai restaurants, it would be funny to compare the price of this dish in the chinese restaurants.

I will go and sample this new restaurant,as im always on the hunt for the perfect chinky,anyone know of more?

[PoorSucker]

When my wife wants to cook at MK, I always order their dim sum.

[meatgrowler]

When my wife wants to cook at MK, I always order their dim sum.

For sure,mks dim sum rocks...so does their duck and redpork.mmmmmm

[Rooo]

I think ( very rare mind you),that they are expensive because of Location=rent, decor to give that authentic feeling.

As was mentioned before , same ingredients a lot cheaper in mum dad type restaurant, but then you have to look at the tin roof & basic tables ect... nothing wrong with that, but Chinese , well another story, not too many road side stalls.

[meatgrowler]

I think ( very rare mind you),that they are expensive because of Location=rent, decor to give that authentic feeling.

As was mentioned before , same ingredients a lot cheaper in mum dad type restaurant, but then you have to look at the tin roof & basic tables ect... nothing wrong with that, but Chinese , well another story, not too many road side stalls.

Your right roo...location and decor boosts the price for sure....but personally i wouldnt care if the food was sold from a street stall similar to the yellow noodle stalls,,so long as i could eat for 100 /200 ish baht,reckon i might even prefer it because of the authenticity!......mmmmm gives me an idea...tick tock

[limbos]

I think ( very rare mind you),that they are expensive because of Location=rent, decor to give that authentic feeling.

As was mentioned before , same ingredients a lot cheaper in mum dad type restaurant, but then you have to look at the tin roof & basic tables ect... nothing wrong with that, but Chinese , well another story, not too many road side stalls.

Your right roo...location and decor boosts the price for sure....but personally i wouldnt care if the food was sold from a street stall similar to the yellow noodle stalls,,so long as i could eat for 100 /200 ish baht,reckon i might even prefer it because of the authenticity!......mmmmm gives me an idea...tick tock

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but it's a great Thai-Chinese place in Lamai, one of the few left on the island; Thai - Chinese restaurant in Lamai

Edited August 16, 2008 by limbos

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I think ( very rare mind you),that they are expensive because of Location=rent, decor to give that authentic feeling.

As was mentioned before , same ingredients a lot cheaper in mum dad type restaurant, but then you have to look at the tin roof & basic tables ect... nothing wrong with that, but Chinese , well another story, not too many road side stalls.

Correct. And it is a holiday location.