What Is Your Favorite Restaurant Western Food Nationality In Thailand?

[Jingthing]

Here is the poll where your choose your FAVORITE nationality of western cuisine that is available at restaurants in Thailand.

Some technical comments about the poll --

-- I made many editorial choices in the poll, you may or may not agree with them all. It is what it is.

For example,

I could have grouped English and Irish, but I didn't.

I could have separated the Scandanavian countries, but I didn't.

I could have omitted Greek because of its Turkish origins, but I didn't.

I could have omitted Turkish because it is both a European and Asian country, but I didn't.

I could have separated Greek and Turkish, but I didn't (I realize Turks and Greeks have killed for less, ha ha)

I could have included American with American fast food, but I didn't

I could have included Italian with pizza, but I didn't

I could have included an OTHER option, but I didn't (if your choice isn't there, don't vote)

I could have included Mexican food but I didn't (as it is more properly categorized as international, not western)

I could have separated German and Austrian, but I didn't

I have included some choices with very limited availability. There may be none in your city.

I did not include some national choices with limited availability in Thailand (and I don't know about all of them).

If I did miss some popular western choices available in Thailand, that was an error, my regrets.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Jingthing

[Slaps]

Was gona vote but I didn't

[Jingthing]

Was gona vote but I didn't

Now, that's funny. I probably deserved it. But you know, I am tired of poll threads being all about people's nits about the design of the poll rather than the actual TOPIC, so I thought it best to get it all out there from the outset.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Jingthing

[bonobo]

Italian, no question about it.  I can get rather good Italian food in Bangkok, but as a whole, when eating other western cuisines, I am lucky to get adequate.

[Jingthing]

A sister poll now available for your favorite INTERNATIONAL restaurant nationality option available in Thailand. Don't y'all vote at once!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3258150

[Jingthing]

I think it is common knowledge that Italian food is super popular globally. Where in the world can you not find PASTA? So the result so far, well, ... predictable.

I have a funny confession to make. I considered voting English (but didn't). I do love my fish & chips!

Bonobo, I totally agree with you that being ABLE to get a good version of the food where we live in Thailand is highly influential in our favorite here in Thailand. Cost is also a factor. I may like Argentinian steaks but I am not really willing to pay the price here, so they can' t really be my favorite here in Thailand.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Jingthing

[Gippy]

I couldn't pick a favourite because as bonobo says I am lucky to get adequate western food anywhere and always feel I have been ripped off by the generally inflated prices charged. My favourite western food in Thailand is without a doubt the French food I cook at home with the help of my Julia Child cookbooks, beats anything I have had in a restaurant in Thailand!

[antony77]

Obviously everyone's favorite would be at the best restaurant. If I want French food I go to the Normandie at the Oriental. If I want a "Buffet" I go to the Riverside at the Oriental. There are marvelous Italian restaurants in Thailand too. Even though I'm British I have never eaten English food here. It is always dreadful and its even worse than in England Likewise food from the places they colonized like Australia.

[bonobo]

Bonobo, I totally agree with you that being ABLE to get a good version of the food where we live in Thailand is highly influential in our favorite here in Thailand. Cost is also a factor. I may like Argentinian steaks but I am not really willing to pay the price here, so they can' t really be my favorite here in Thailand.

I am a huge fan of churasscaras, but as I have yet to have a decent one here, I could not consider voting for it. In the US, and of course in Brazil, that might top my list.

[Jingthing]

Obviously everyone's favorite would be at the best restaurant. If I want French food I go to the Normandie at the Oriental. If I want a "Buffet" I go to the Riverside at the Oriental. There are marvelous Italian restaurants in Thailand too. Even though I'm British I have never eaten English food here. It is always dreadful and its even worse than in England Likewise food from the places they colonized like Australia.

I don't think it is all that obvious! Most of us can't afford to go to a 5 star restaurant very often. So our favorite national cuisine here may well be where we go in Thailand that satisfies our cravings AND we can go to often enough. If you live in an area where there is only Italian and Thai, your favorite in Thailand wouldn't logically be French either. There is also a big difference between your favorite SPECIFIC restaurant in Thailand (not the poll question) and your favorite western NATIONALITY of restaurant (a much more generic question). So a person's favorite specific restaurant may be an American steakhouse they go to a few times a year, but their favorite western nationality of restaurant may well be their twice weekly PIZZA (OK, pizza isn't a nationality but you get the idea).

Edited January 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Bonobo, I totally agree with you that being ABLE to get a good version of the food where we live in Thailand is highly influential in our favorite here in Thailand. Cost is also a factor. I may like Argentinian steaks but I am not really willing to pay the price here, so they can' t really be my favorite here in Thailand.

I am a huge fan of churasscaras, but as I have yet to have a decent one here, I could not consider voting for it. In the US, and of course in Brazil, that might top my list.

Yes of course. What we can get here where we live in Thailand is a big factor.

I am surprised at the burst of votes for IRISH.

[SpoliaOpima]

I could have included Mexican food but I didn't (as it is more properly categorized as international, not western)

Wrong.

[Jingthing]

I could have included Mexican food but I didn't (as it is more properly categorized as international, not western)

Wrong.

Its a matter of opinion. In this opinion poll, the majority disagreed with you.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3230499

Whether the mods respect the opinion of the clear majority (that Mexican is best categorized as INTERNATIONAL, not WESTERN) is their call. However, how I choose to design a poll is MY call.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[NADTATIDA1]

I could have included Mexican food but I didn't (as it is more properly categorized as international, not western)

Wrong.

Its a matter of opinion. In this opinion poll, the majority disagreed with you.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3230499

Whether the mods respect the opinion of the clear majority (that Mexican is best categorized as INTERNATIONAL, not WESTERN) is their call. However, how I choose to design a poll is MY call.

Fact; Mexicans are westerners

There are a hel_l of a lot of Irish bars in Thailand but i would not think of going in one to eat irish food.

Does anyone know of a Irish restaurant that is not a bar?

Edited January 11, 2010 by NADTATIDA1

[dantilley]

I chose Pizza because I've been eating a lot of pretty good delivery and restaurant pizzas recently from the likes of Scoozi and Big Pizza. Plus, I find that Italian restaurants and pizzarias are generally of a pretty good standard in Bangkok (except for Pizza Company, Pizza Hut, etc. obviously).

I'm a bit surprised to see Brazillian in the list though - I thought the only Brazillian restaurant in Bangkok was the place which used to be in the Intercontinental Hotel which is now closed? But are there enough other Brazillian restaurants elsewhere in Thailand to warrant it being listed?

Also why is Australian in the list? I didn't think Australia had its own cuisine...

[Jingthing]

I could have included Mexican food but I didn't (as it is more properly categorized as international, not western)

Wrong.

Its a matter of opinion. In this opinion poll, the majority disagreed with you.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3230499

Whether the mods respect the opinion of the clear majority (that Mexican is best categorized as INTERNATIONAL, not WESTERN) is their call. However, how I choose to design a poll is MY call.

Fact; Mexicans are westerners

There are a hel_l of a lot of Irish bars in Thailand but i would not think of going in one to eat irish food.

Does anyone know of a Irish restaurant that is not a bar?

Please take any Mexican category discussions over to the thread completely dedicated to the pro and con arguments on that topic. I would be glad to talk to you about the topic over there. Muchos gracias

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3230499

Edited January 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

I chose Pizza because I've been eating a lot of pretty good delivery and restaurant pizzas recently from the likes of Scoozi and Big Pizza. Plus, I find that Italian restaurants and pizzarias are generally of a pretty good standard in Bangkok (except for Pizza Company, Pizza Hut, etc. obviously).

I'm a bit surprised to see Brazillian in the list though - I thought the only Brazillian restaurant in Bangkok was the place which used to be in the Intercontinental Hotel which is now closed? But are there enough other Brazillian restaurants elsewhere in Thailand to warrant it being listed?

Also why is Australian in the list? I didn't think Australia had its own cuisine...

Please read the OP again, nothing's perfect and everyone would have done a poll like this a little differently.

I also voted Pizza, ha ha.

Brazilian, there is one in Pattaya, there at least used to be one or two in Chiang Mai, there is also I believe the same Pattaya one in Samui. I feel the meat thing they do is a western style meal but a lot of the traditional Brazilian foods are more international (such as Feijoada and the Bahian African style stews). However, in Thailand it is mostly the meat thing, so I stuck it under western.

Australian? I have seen Australian bars serving Aussie food, we have lots of Aussie expats, so why not?

Edited January 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Would more people vote in this poll if I gave you a cookie? A western cookie?

[bkkjames]

Would more people vote in this poll if I gave you a cookie? A western cookie?

Why, the results are pretty clear JT. Irish and Italian are most popular and people don't like to eat they native food.

[Jingthing]

Would more people vote in this poll if I gave you a cookie? A western cookie?

Why, the results are pretty clear JT. Irish and Italian are most popular and people don't like to eat they native food.

Well Italian was always going to win. But I would like to see a bigger sample of votes, that's all.

Edited January 12, 2010 by Jingthing

[bkkjames]

Would more people vote in this poll if I gave you a cookie? A western cookie?

Why, the results are pretty clear JT. Irish and Italian are most popular and people don't like to eat they native food.

Well Italian was always going to win. But I would like to see a bigger sample of votes, that's all.

JT you have been watching too many BUSH CHENEY elections mate. The people have voted. Chads or no chads. Italian and Irish win by a vast majority. No need to recount Buriram Province or Jomtien Beach.

The biggest conclusion you can draw from both this one and your international poll is overwhelmingly the people who voted did not choose a cuisine from their homeland.

Now taking it a step further, if you were some budding entrepreneur thinking of opening a restaurant, you should find out the who are in the majority as far as expats and visitors go (British, American, Australian, Japanese???) and avoid that kind of restaurant - but I suspect if more Japanese voted they would have voted for their own Cuisine.

Good thing the Thais didn't have a vote as well, it would have really screwed up the results.

Edited January 12, 2010 by bkkjames

[Jingthing]

Huh? There are Thai members here. They can vote. What are you on about, snookums?

As far as conclusions for entrepreneurs, I don't feel this is a big enough sample to base a business decision on.

Edited January 12, 2010 by Jingthing

[koheesti]

I would vote hands down for Mexican if it were here, but it isn't so I didn't.

I used to love Italian but now I'm too weight conscious.

I didn't know half on the list even had a cuisine.

So in the end I envisioned restaurants and which one I would go into if I were hungry (which I am now btw). I could go for a kebab so I voted Greek/Turkish.

[Jingthing]

I would vote hands down for Mexican if it were here, but it isn't so I didn't.

I used to love Italian but now I'm too weight conscious.

I didn't know half on the list even had a cuisine.

So in the end I envisioned restaurants and which one I would go into if I were hungry (which I am now btw). I could go for a kebab so I voted Greek/Turkish.

Mexican is more properly categorized under INTERNATIONAL cuisine, based on the overwhelming opinions of the members here. Why would I put it as a choice where most members think it does not belong?

So you CAN vote for Mexican -- here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3258150

Here is the VERY CONCLUSIVE poll about where to best categorize MEXICAN food. The conclusion was INTERNATIONAL, and NOT western. Feel free to vote and comment there about that --

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3230499

Edited January 12, 2010 by Jingthing

[bkkjames]

I would vote hands down for Mexican if it were here, but it isn't so I didn't.

I used to love Italian but now I'm too weight conscious.

I didn't know half on the list even had a cuisine.

So in the end I envisioned restaurants and which one I would go into if I were hungry (which I am now btw). I could go for a kebab so I voted Greek/Turkish.

Mexican is more properly categorized under INTERNATIONAL cuisine, based on the overwhelming opinions of the members here. Why would I put it as a choice where most members think it does not belong?

So you CAN vote for Mexican -- here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3258150

Well JT, as far as I can tell Thai would fit in your international poll but didn't see it listed. My point about Japanese and Thais voting and changing the results, well I don't think I need to explain to you how xenophobic they are about their own cuisines.

[Jingthing]

Well JT, as far as I can tell Thai would fit in your international poll but didn't see it listed. My point about Japanese and Thais voting and changing the results, well I don't think I need to explain to you how xenophobic they are about their own cuisines.

We have a Thai food forum here. This is a Thai site. For expats in Thailand. In Thailand, Thai food is not INTERNATIONAL food. IT IS FOOD.

To add Thai food in the context of the related poll on the international food forum would have completely defeated the purpose of the poll. Thai food is the DEFAULT food in Thailand.

The country you are in, that food is NEVER international. It is the NATIONAL food of the country you are in.

Another example if you need more help. Maybe you do. In Mexico itself, look at the drinks menu. You can buy the NATIONAL brands of beer or spirits or you can buy the INTERNATIONAL/IMPORTED brands.

Edited January 12, 2010 by Jingthing

[NanaFoods]

Hmm.. not quite sure how to vote...

...the one I buy most often (American fast food) or the one I would like eat the most (Brazilian), but cant due to proximity.

Also, is "Australian" actually a cuisine?

(no intention to insult my Oz friends)

What defines it?

BTW, where is the "Mexican" option?

Edited January 13, 2010 by ChefHeat

[Phil Conners]

Everybody loves Italian food!

[Jingthing]

Hmm.. not quite sure how to vote...

...the one I buy most often (American fast food) or the one I would like eat the most (Brazilian), but cant due to proximity.

Also, is "Australian" actually a cuisine?

(no intention to insult my Oz friends)

What defines it?

BTW, where is the "Mexican" option?

Hi there, Chef Heat.

The intention of the poll was that people vote for their favorite restaurant nationality of food that is available to them in Thailand. So if you live in an area in Thailand with Greek food and you love to go there, you vote Greek. If Greek is your favorite food, but is not available in your Thai city, you vote for the nationality that you like the most that IS available to you in Thailand. Sorry if this wasn't clear enough. That's another reason that many national cuisines you would find in New York City are not on the poll, Thailand doesn't have everything.

Aussie food? Ask an Aussie. There are some places in Thailand that serve it. Pies/pavlova of course, but so much more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_cuisine

Mexican food? HERE WE GO AGAIN! Based on the members here, the overwhelming opinion is that Mexican is best categorized as International, not Western.

You CAN vote for Mexican -- here in the international nationality restaurant poll:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3258150

Here is the VERY CONCLUSIVE poll about where to best categorize MEXICAN food. The conclusion was INTERNATIONAL, and NOT western. Feel free to vote and comment there about that --

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3230499

Edited January 13, 2010 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Everybody loves Italian food!

That is so true.