Greek Food

[Genghis]

For great Lebanese check out the small, dead-end soi one block west of Khao San. There are actually 2 Lebanese restaurants right next to each other. I always go to the second one. Its much cheaper than Beiruit or Cedar and much better in my opinion. They also give enormous portions-- I always have to take a doggie bag, and that's pretty impressive because I can eat a LOT. Very highly recommended.

Sounds interesting. Can you be a little more descriptive though in the location. I would like to try it this weekend.

Sure. If I can remember correctly it is exactly the next West soi to the Southern entrance to Khao Sahn. It is quite near the gas station. It is a tiny dead end, and has two Lebanese restaurants and pretty much nothing else. I go to the one furthest from the main road. It is a fairly small restaurant with a few tables outside. The owner, a young bald Lebanese guy, is usually sitting outside. His Thai wife is the only waitress. I always get the falafel set with humus, salad, and fries, plus a few pita to dip in my humus. I recommend you don't eat all day so that you can take down the huge portion of food!

Khao San runs pretty much east and west. but since the entrance on the Burger King side is slightly further south, I would assume that is the southern entrance? Further west, though, would be the soi that runs parallel all the way along the length of Khao San between Khao San and Ratcha Damnoen Klang Road. Maybe I will just try to find the gas station.

My mouth is watering now, though, so I hope I find it. I am going off to the gym and want to eat here after.

Woops sorry. I got confused. I thought Khao Sahn was North-South and Burger King is on the North Side. I'm talking about the non-BK side. The soi is between Rambuttri and Khao San, closer to Khao San. If you are standing on Khao San you want to be facing the temple grounds (with your back to Burger King) Turn right on the main road and then a quick right again.

[MiG16]

on the Greek food and Athena topic

I love Greek food and would go if you open a restaurant. Athena was quite expensive, but as JohnBKK pointed out, probably very necessary to be able to cover cost of expensive ingredients.

(athena was opened for more than a year, but for most of that time the place was always empty. I always wondered how they managed to survive. when I went in to eat there were maybe one other table apart from me and my friend. and it was always like that any time I walk past....day time or evening.

after about a year or so of that, they started to serve thai lunch meal deals...I suppose in the hope of covering some cost. that didnt last very long, and next thing I see, they had closed doors.

you might want to do a proper study of demand and taste testing on how thais (not just expats) are receptive to it

[bkkjames]

on the Greek food and Athena topic

I love Greek food and would go if you open a restaurant. Athena was quite expensive, but as JohnBKK pointed out, probably very necessary to be able to cover cost of expensive ingredients.

(athena was opened for more than a year, but for most of that time the place was always empty. I always wondered how they managed to survive. when I went in to eat there were maybe one other table apart from me and my friend. and it was always like that any time I walk past....day time or evening.

after about a year or so of that, they started to serve thai lunch meal deals...I suppose in the hope of covering some cost. that didnt last very long, and next thing I see, they had closed doors.

you might want to do a proper study of demand and taste testing on how thais (not just expats) are receptive to it

and I might add you might want to consider location a bit more carefully - the rents on Thong Lor / Ekamai are out of this world - best to check the eqo when putting together your business plans. while location is important (more so for retail FMCG's) a top quality restaurant will quickly be found by those in the know.

some of the best / successful restaurants in the country can be found in some of the most obscure locations where overhead is low and food quality is excellent.

[euroman007]

So where are the Greeks? I just got here myself are there any other Greeks living in Thailand? If so drop me a line I would love to meet someone who speaks greek.

-Nick

whats your opinion about a new greek restaurant with original greek taste of food in bangkok or in pattaya?

we want to make your belly to be verry happy about this portions of real greek food

There was a Greek restaurant in soi Ekamai called Athena and it didn't last long,

less than a year i think, don't have an idea why they closed doors for good,

Remember it. They used to have traditional dance and plates smashing on the floor... Maybe they ran out of china?!?

I will also love to have Greek food in Bangkok. Since Athena closed is there any Greek restaurants in Bangkok at the moment?

[Michaelaway]

My first wife was from Greece. I don't miss her in the least but her mother's cooking sure was good.....

classic

I would love a simple gyro sandwich with yogurt sauce or tomato-based sauce. I really miss eating a gyro with authentic Greek bread.

What I don't want to see is yet another place selling chicken/lamb in terrible pita breads..........yuk!

I am not sure where you will be able to get good gyro meat in Thailand.........but good luck!

My friend i know exactly how i can make the gyro like you ate proppably in greece all theese where they make gyro with lamb or chicken they dont know nothing about original greek souvlaki i am expert on this believe me but everybody they are copied on this wonderfull taste.something else now in greece about 5-7 years before we start to make souvlaki gyro with chicken but not with yogurt sauce but with something special.AND WE COOCED MOUSSAKA, PASTICCIO,LAMB BAKED IN THE OVEN,AND MANY MANY DIFFERENT GREEK SPECIALITES

YASOU!! and:

YES!! Bring it on!!

PLEASE DO open an authentic Greek restaurant in Pattaya. And, PLEASE Do offer the traditional dishes like: MOUSSAKA, PASTICCIO, and lots of LAMB (hopefully lamb gyros, too)!! Get a visible location and you will see!! You'll surely be a hit in Pattaya... especially if you keep it real... Good Luck!!

[Samuian]

Agreed, Gyros, Souvlaki, Moussaka, Tzaziki, Tarama Salata, Dolmades, Melitzana Salata,Keftedes , Kreatosalata, Psito... and many, many more - all mouth watering!

Ouzo, Retsina and Mavrodaphne would put the frame around the picture nicely!

[SantiSuk]

There is a Greek cafe (or maybe Cypriot) in Pattaya already. Soi LK Metro that connects soi Diana Inn and soi Bukaow. 40 metres from soi Bukaow on the right hand side with rental motorsai outside. Have never eaten there myself but it was always full of Greek sounding people eating tarama and olives etc when I rented there. Interestingly different ambience so now I'm wondering why I never stopped for a beer and a mezze.

[JR Texas]

Thanks for responding to something I wrote ages ago.

Please let me give you some advice (no, I don't know it all.......just some friendly advice).

1) I would set this up in Pattaya

2) I would make it a simple kiosk type of place (rental rates are outrageous for bigger spaces)

3) Make one or two things.......that is it. A gyro should be one of the items........the Greek shish kabob type of sandwich might be another.

4) Serve real food french fries with them

I think this would work if you locate it in the right place.

I really would think twice about opening a major restaurant.

There is one guy who lived in Saudi Arabia who has been making really good money with his small kiosk in Pattya serving what I think are bad chicken pita sandwiches........people line up for his place (it is across from the VC Hotel).

Here is a picture of what I want:

One more thing you know......make sure and serve real Greek bread (and warm)......not that hard as rock pita stuff.

Good luck!

[SantiSuk]

From a commercial viewpoint I suspect you are right JR.

Personally I hope that the OP is more interested in setting up something a little less one dimensional. I got the impression from his original post that he may have been more interested in promoting his passion for good Greek food than standing in a Pattaya street with (albeit good) junk food for sale.

I think your posting is an indicator that he may be better off in Bangkok. Oooh sorry that was a bit pointed for the season of 'good will to all men'. I should remember that I enjoy a kebab with the best of them after a night on the piss/prowl.

Does anyone know if anything ever came of this now nearly 2 year old idea?

[JR Texas]

From a commercial viewpoint I suspect you are right JR.

Personally I hope that the OP is more interested in setting up something a little less one dimensional. I got the impression from his original post that he may have been more interested in promoting his passion for good Greek food than standing in a Pattaya street with (albeit good) junk food for sale.

I think your posting is an indicator that he may be better off in Bangkok. Oooh sorry that was a bit pointed for the season of 'good will to all men'. I should remember that I enjoy a kebab with the best of them after a night on the piss/prowl.

Does anyone know if anything ever came of this now nearly 2 year old idea?

Happy New Year!

Let me amend what I said and state the obvious: It should be located in a high "farang" traffic area anywhere in Thailand.

Even better, and the OP probably does not want to hear this, consider setting it up outside of Thailand in Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines or Malaysia......all of which are seeing better economic growth rates than Thailand and are far more receptive to foreigners starting businesses.

Either way, good luck to the OP!

[sabaijai]

You should give a try at "Olive & Kebab", on the 1st floor (2nd if you're from U.S.A.) of All Seasons Place. Owned by two Greek ladies. Good value for a quick lunch if you are in the area.

Good place for Greek. The owner is a Greek woman. Not expensive. They also have a branch on Sukhumvit Road near Soi 33 and a third in the Food Loft in Central Chidlom.

[sabaijai]

Another Greek resto in Bangkok

Souvlaki

Silom Soi 4, Surawong, Bangrak

Bangkok

tel: 026329967

Mon - Sat:11:00 - 02:00

Sun:17:00 - 02:00

That makes a total of four Greek restaurants in Bangkok.

[NADTATIDA1]

There is a Greek cafe (or maybe Cypriot) in Pattaya already. Soi LK Metro that connects soi Diana Inn and soi Bukaow. 40 metres from soi Bukaow on the right hand side with rental motorsai outside. Have never eaten there myself but it was always full of Greek sounding people eating tarama and olives etc when I rented there. Interestingly different ambience so now I'm wondering why I never stopped for a beer and a mezze.

I know the place but i dont think it is Greek? i think Iranian or even Turkish....across from the metro apartments....always noisey if i remember! more of a bar than a eating place.

Maybe someone knows sure?

[maxjay]

Agreed, Gyros, Souvlaki, Moussaka, Tzaziki, Tarama Salata, Dolmades, Melitzana Salata,Keftedes , Kreatosalata, Psito... and many, many more - all mouth watering!

Ouzo, Retsina and Mavrodaphne would put the frame around the picture nicely!

"Beirut Restaurant" located in Ploenchit Center offers most of the items listed. Excellent food, IMO.

The items they don't have, possibly might be obtained by special order. The guys that run it are real nice people.

[BillR]

tried this, and its an easy recipe for gyros and it was really good. Being from Chicago, theres a gyros joint on every corner and I miss them:)

http://www.recipezaar.com/Gyros-an-Authent...-at-Home-285900

[bkkjames]

tried this, and its an easy recipe for gyros and it was really good. Being from Chicago, theres a gyros joint on every corner and I miss them:)

http://www.recipezaar.com/Gyros-an-Authent...-at-Home-285900

I miss being in Cyprus.

[MegaRanter]

I did Athena with an old gf way back, and sure we smashed lots of ceramic. I think the greek lady was married to the thai dude and they had a small one then.

I dont remember much about the food but I did nt complain just raised eyebrows at the bill.

The wine we had there had a unique sensation of all the wines I ever had, difficult to describe but it had this feeling of it coming out too as you exhale, and it was quite a strong and more as the night wore on as when your phone signal moves from low signal to full signal.

[wagoosh]

For Natural Fresh Greek Yogurt, you should try HomeMade-Cheese Co.

They do middle eastern cheese and dips as well as plain and GREEK YOGURT her in Bnagkok and do delivery too...

www.homemade-cheese.com