The Hit And Run Restaurant "review" Thread

[lapd]

On 9/7/2018 at 7:55 PM, balo said:

Coffee Club is doing pretty well in Bangkok , they have expanded there and when I walk by it's busy .  But not the cheapest place . 

 

I checked some prices the other day.  Just wow.  Over 100 baht for some of the cheaper coffee's at Starbucks.  Coffee Club is right up there as well.  Au Bon seems like a bargain at 80-90.  

 

Why would anyone pay those prices when you can get exactly the same thing for less than half the price elsewhere or just make your own for peanuts.  I understand tourists, who can't always make it themselves, but Starbucks in Harbor is not exactly getting a lot of the tourists dollars.  Place had maybe 3 people in there during prime time on a Saturday.  Au Bon had maybe 4.  Don't know how they manage to stay opened with numbers like that.  That whole mall actually. 

Edited September 9, 2018 by lapd

[fforest1]

1 hour ago, lapd said:

I checked some prices the other day.  Just wow.  Over 100 baht for some of the cheaper coffee's at Starbucks.  Coffee Club is right up there as well.  Au Bon seems like a bargain at 80-90.  

 

Why would anyone pay those prices when you can get exactly the same thing for less than half the price elsewhere or just make your own for peanuts.  I understand tourists, who can't always make it themselves, but Starbucks in Harbor is not exactly getting a lot of the tourists dollars.  Place had maybe 3 people in there during prime time on a Saturday.  Au Bon had maybe 4.  Don't know how they manage to stay opened with numbers like that.  That whole mall actually. 

Amazon coffee is priced between 50% and 60% lower that Starbucks...I did a lazy price comparison one day at Tukcom....

[DMC1]

Amazon coffee is priced between 50% and 60% lower that Starbucks...I did a lazy price comparison one day at Tukcom....

I think Amazon has just actually pushed up their prices 5B per coffee, but that’s after years of the same price. Amazon is OK for a cheap half decent iced coffee, but I think Black Canyon tastes better. Don’t really get the prices of Starbucks for Asia, but there you go.

[balo]

3 hours ago, fforest1 said:

Amazon coffee is priced between 50% and 60% lower that Starbucks...I did a lazy price comparison one day at Tukcom....

Amazon serve really poor hot coffee, I am a coffee lover and have tried them all.also very small cups there. 

 

Benjamit opposite Friendship, and next to the market is still the best coffee place in Pattaya, 65 baht for a fresh cappuccino. 

Also Mezzo in S-Pattaya is pretty good. If you want to go really cheap and just want black coffee, nothing beats Burger King at 29 baht. 

[lapd]

Keep in mind that coffee club does not include 7% vat on their menu prices.  So add that to whatever the menu says.  Their espresso drinks start around 95 not including 7% vat.

 

Amazon espresso coffee is shit.   Don't know if it's the beans they use or what but their espresso drinks have always been really bitter for some reason.  Also not cheap anymore.  I think I paid around 80 for an espresso drink.

 

Black Canyon serves a decent cup of espresso but has never been that cheap. Also, you are kind of expected to tip there because of the waitress service.  Yea, you get that little cup of tea and the tiny biscuits but I certainly don't go there for that.  

 

You can get espresso drinks for 40 baht various places.  My favorite is D Cafe 2nd floor Big C Extra on Klang.  Excellent espresso drinks although they raised their price to 50 baht now.  However, that includes the milk for putting in the coffee. A lot of places charge 10baht extra for that such as at least one of the cheap places on the 1st floor off to the side by the food court. 

 

There is also a place on 2nd or 3rd floor Central Mall that serves cheap espresso.  There are a bunch scattered around the malls and here and there on the soi's. Not always the best espresso but sometimes it is.

 

Paying 100 baht or more for an espresso drink in Thailand is a ripoff.

Edited September 9, 2018 by lapd

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, lapd said:

Paying 100 baht or more for an espresso drink in Thailand is a ripoff.

Even 50B is over the top. Look at Spain where a decent coffee generally costs one Euro (38B) or just over. The price should be lower here.

[DMC1]

Keep in mind that coffee club does not include 7% vat on their menu prices.  So add that to whatever the menu says.  Their espresso drinks start around 95 not including 7% vat.
 
Amazon espresso coffee is shit.   Don't know if it's the beans they use or what but their espresso drinks have always been really bitter for some reason.  Also not cheap anymore.  I think I paid around 80 for an espresso drink.
 
Black Canyon serves a decent cup of espresso but has never been that cheap. Also, you are kind of expected to tip there because of the waitress service.  Yea, you get that little cup of tea and the tiny biscuits but I certainly don't go there for that.  
 
You can get espresso drinks for 40 baht various places.  My favorite is D Cafe 2nd floor Big C Extra on Klang.  Excellent espresso drinks although they raised their price to 50 baht now.  However, that includes the milk for putting in the coffee. A lot of places charge 10baht extra for that such as at least one of the cheap places on the 1st floor off to the side by the food court. 
 
There is also a place on 2nd or 3rd floor Central Mall that serves cheap espresso.  There are a bunch scattered around the malls and here and there on the soi's. Not always the best espresso but sometimes it is.
 
Paying 100 baht or more for an espresso drink in Thailand is a ripoff.

Yep, D Cafe and Benjamit also gets my vote

[balo]

Also the the new UNO coff place next to the food court in Big C Xtra, offer a decent coffee for 35 baht. I believe new owners took over , because the coffee there used to be terrible. Tried a cappucino today and it was great.

 

 

[Jingthing]

The side by side restaurants on Soi Lengkee -- Smokin' Joes BBQ and Steak and Co. -- have discontinued their popular daily specials. 

[AlexCanada]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

The side by side restaurants on Soi Lengkee -- Smokin' Joes BBQ and Steak and Co. -- have discontinued their popular daily specials. 

Guess I won't be returning to either.  Mediocre food but good value at the special pricing only.  

 

Hopefully Lone Star next door still continues with their specials.  Their beef tenderloin is actually decent for the price.  I just hate the place because the staff their sucks really bad.  

[Jingthing]

35 minutes ago, AlexCanada said:

Guess I won't be returning to either.  Mediocre food but good value at the special pricing only.  

 

Hopefully Lone Star next door still continues with their specials.  Their beef tenderloin is actually decent for the price.  I just hate the place because the staff their sucks really bad.  

Well, I'm not really a fancy steakhouse guy but I do like the BBQ restaurant and think the food there is better than mediocre. But like you, they lost me with this change. 

[lapd]

You do not come to thailand for the beef, full stop. I'll never understand people who come to thailand then constantly complain about the beef but keep eating it.  Stop eating it and then you will not have anything to complain about, otherwise you are guaranteed to be disappointed more often then not.  Even at places that specialize in imported beef for top dollar sometimes.

Edited September 13, 2018 by lapd

[The manic]

The Steak company is superb with a wide range of imported beef ,immaculately cooked and with a very knowledgeable Maitre De. The one next door run by the same owner is not as good. As for the LS next foor...appalling service.

[AlexCanada]

15 hours ago, lapd said:

You do not come to thailand for the beef, full stop. I'll never understand people who come to thailand then constantly complain about the beef but keep eating it.  Stop eating it and then you will not have anything to complain about, otherwise you are guaranteed to be disappointed more often then not.  Even at places that specialize in imported beef for top dollar sometimes.

I live here and I do need my beef.  No doubt my expectations here are low.  Australian beef is tough imo if not cooked perfectly.  I was recently in Japan and enjoyed real Kobe beef a couple of times.  

[Jingthing]

Mirch Masala

Indian all vegetarian

Indian style Chinese dishes as well

 

2nd road, central Pattaya, east side of road, south of but fairly close to Pattaya Klang

First time in this place. Prices on the lower end of moderate for the local market.

Crowded with south Asian people which is a good sign. I noticed thalis in metal trays on a nearby table -- I'm assuming cheap but didn't look particularly appealing. 

Ordered paneer tikki 110 and regular portion of dal rice (described as "special" on the menu)160.

A feature of this place is that for many dishes they offer a smaller sized portion (but much higher than half price of regular).

Turned out they couldn't do the tikki but was offered paneer pakora. Instead I opted for vegetable samosa (2 for 69 baht).

The samosas were really quite good. Large sized, freshly cooked, good flavor, and not greasy at all. 

Full marks.

The dal rice on the other hand would have been quite good but it was over-salted under the line of being inedible but still annoying. 

Service was not warm. 

So I'm conflicted. Go again only for the samosas? Or take a chance with some over dishes and hope for the best?

 

https://lovepattayathailand.com/listing/new-mirch-masala/

 

Edited September 20, 2018 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

So Asean

Asean food (Thailand's neighbors) from Bangkok 

Will open at Terminal 21 Mall, North Pattaya

 

Very exciting news to people like me that have been complaining for years about the limited pickings for Asean food that isn't Thai in Pattaya!

 

And yes they will have Malaysian LASKA which newly opened Malaysia Café mentioned here before does not have. Also Burmese tea leaf salad, one of my favorites. About the Pho -- will the broth pass my taste test? 

 

https://bk.asia-city.com/restaurants/bangkok-restaurant-reviews/so-asean

 

Quote

As its name suggests, the 24-hour So ASEAN Cafe pulls its dishes from all over Southeast Asia. Not only can you find classics like Indonesian-style chicken satay (B165), Singaporean chicken rice (B155), Myanmar tea leaf salad (B135) and Vietnamese noodle soup with grilled pork (B135), but also rare-finds in Bangkok like Filipino adobo (chicken and pork stew, B185), Brunei's grilled, herb-infused fish cakes (B215) and Cambodian amok (steamed fish curry, B215).

 

https://www.facebook.com/SOasean

 

Serving dishes from TEN (count 'em) TEN Asean nations. 

Video in Thai but has subtitles. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2018 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Thai Marche

"A Culinary Destination"

https://www.facebook.com/thaimarche

Also opening "soon" in North Pattaya, next to Tiffany's show, easy walking distance to Terminal 21 mall is Thai Marche. It will be located in a dramatic, architecturally interesting new building. What is it exactly? Best guess is some kind of fun luxury food court / market concept.

 

Marche is French for market.

 

An example of a food hall Marche in Montreal --

https://montreal.eater.com/2017/11/14/16646438/marche-artisans-food-hall-downtown-montreal-fairmont

Edited September 20, 2018 by Jingthing

[pegman]

18 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Thai Marche

"A Culinary Destination"

https://www.facebook.com/thaimarche

Also opening "soon" in North Pattaya, next to Tiffany's show, easy walking distance to Terminal 21 mall is Thai Marche. It will be located in a dramatic, architecturally interesting new building. What is it exactly? Best guess is some kind of fun luxury food court / market concept.

 

Marche is French for market.

 

An example of a food hall Marche in Montreal --

https://montreal.eater.com/2017/11/14/16646438/marche-artisans-food-hall-downtown-montreal-fairmont

To make a go of it it will need much better pricing that anything available at the Queen E. There were a few years when I stayed there at least a week per month but would never eat there. Much better options down the elevator to the subway, Place Ville Marie Mall or the train station levels. The baht bus trip from Jomtien Beach will be a bargain at ฿10 though.

[pegman]

On September 13, 2018 at 7:25 PM, AlexCanada said:

I live here and I do need my beef.  No doubt my expectations here are low.  Australian beef is tough imo if not cooked perfectly.  I was recently in Japan and enjoyed real Kobe beef a couple of times.  

There was a butcher between Pattaya and Jomtien called Hickory. Their Australian beef was very tender. I would say more so than back in Western Canada. A nice thick ribeye would run you about ฿650 so expensive. Unfortunately they moved near Suk and went strictly commerical sales.

[Jingthing]

9 hours ago, pegman said:

To make a go of it it will need much better pricing that anything available at the Queen E. There were a few years when I stayed there at least a week per month but would never eat there. Much better options down the elevator to the subway, Place Ville Marie Mall or the train station levels. The baht bus trip from Jomtien Beach will be a bargain at ฿10 though.

Well at this point I have no idea about the details of what this place will be. Based on the new building, it's clear it's a very ambitious project. I noticed on their FB page that they're looking to hire a head Thai chef. Does that mean it will only be Thai food? That seems doubtful. 

[Jingthing]

On ‎8‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 1:16 PM, Jingthing said:

Local Chinese Restaurant Snippets

 

Chinese Shaxian Snacks

This is potentially big news. 

This restaurant is definitely going to open on 2nd road, across from Soi 6, North Pattaya. I can tell because there is already a fancy sign and I can see work is being done to build the restaurant which is now empty. 

Shaxian Snacks (also called Shaxian delicacies) is a quite unusual "chain" from China that reportedly has 40,000 to 60,000 locations there. They are expanding internationally including Thailand. The name just means typical Chinese dishes (noodles in peanut sauce, dumplings, etc.) in the distinctive style of Sha county in the province of Fujian, eastern China. For it to be a real outlet it must be owned by a person from that county! However, it is not a normal chain in that there isn't consistency across the brand about what's exactly on the menu and how it's going to taste. So we'll see but visiting there is certainly something I'm looking forward to. 

Major update on Shaxian Snacks.

It is now most definitely OPEN and they are open daily for lunch and dinner. 

Even quicker than I would have predicted.

It's a small restaurant, four tables inside and two outside.

I've been multiple times already and there have always been tables filled with Chinese tourists but so far always a table open. But I can imagine it gets full sometimes.

It's a very famous brand in China but considered a very inconsistent brand and many of the locations have closed. So Chinese might not think it's the greatest place, but as tourists it is a taste of home and relatively inexpensive compared to most other Chinese restaurants in town. 

I have now sampled the menu extensively and can say in my opinion some of the dishes are just OK and a few are rather wonderful. The emphasis is on noodle dishes, dumplings, and herbal soups. Thin on vegetable dishes as they don't even have stir fried greens. The wheat noodles, unfortunately, are NOT made in house. They are bought in but fresh noodles. They are good enough but not great. There are better fresh noodles at other places such as Grandma's Kitchen in South Pattaya. There are also some rice dishes such as fried rice and braised pork w/ rice that I haven't tried yet.

 

You want to spice things up? They've got you covered. There is an excellent chili paste in jars on all tables. Some of it is pictured in the stir fried wide rice noodles below.

 

The inside of the place does have aircon but it's not very strong and when the wok gets going it gets too hot in there. As far as smoking (popular with Chinese tourists) I didn't notice ashtrays but I did notice a man lighting up after finishing his meal but he was heading out. So I don't know yet whether the sweet non-English speaking young man owner would allow a group to smoke in there or not. That would ruin a meal for me in such a small space. 

 

Overall of course I'm already a big fan of this place for the peanut sauce wontons alone!

 

It's best to order multiple dishes. That's the idea … snacks … so you're talking about a check over 300 baht if you order three per person. 

 

So here goes to the pictures. The best dishes first.

 

Wontons in peanut sauce, 100 baht.

Super yummy. A "must order."

 

Dumplings. 80 baht. Many tables order this and with good reason. Inside it's not just pork. There is a red color. However, because they're so popular they might serve you a plate that has been sitting around as they always have them ready for the next table.  The good part of that is (in my experience) when you order them, they come instantly. 

 

Zha Jiang Mian

Noodles with bean sauce with minced pork, etc. 120 baht (?)

An excellent version of this classic dish and best price in town as well based on my experience

 

Fried fresh wide rice noodles w/ beef brisket.

On the menu as Fried Cow River Powder Noodles 120 baht

This dish had a very good "chi of the wok" flavor. Probably many will feel it's too similar to Thai rice noodle dishes (but not usually with beef) to get excited about. 

Noodle soup w/ beef brisket 120

Good enough especially for the price but not a stellar version

 

Noodle soup with pork intestines 120

I ordered this by accident. I don't like offal but here it is if you do. It was on the menu before as Saurkraut noodles and I incorrectly guessed it was going to minced pork and pickled mustard greens. Nope! No pickled vegetables either.

I asked them to change the menu to correct the English and they did!

 

"Old duck" herbal soup 100

Very small portion. Nice flavor. Some organ meat. Very little duck meat (and what was there was gristle). 

A similar dish I had also for 100 was the pork belly w/ lotus seed. Only a little shredded pork, no pork belly and just a few seeds. But good herbal flavor.

I actually liked both of these soups but the price seems out of whack compared to their other dishes.

I have noticed many of the tables of Chinese tourists do order these soups. Maybe the herbs are expensive. 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2018 by Jingthing

[opporna]

That's funny, I came here to post about Chinese Shaxian Snacks and there was your post Jingthing.

 

I had the suey gow (dumplings) and it was the best wonton-like dish I've had in Pattaya (other than my own). 120 baht for 13 large dumplings in soup, which with the hot sauce and vinegar were lovely. I had to sit inside as the tables outside were occupied, so it was a bit hot. I will go again.

[Jingthing]

They appear to be the same 80 baht dumplings that I mentioned and pictured but in soup broth. Yes they are wonderful dumplings. Do also try the wontons in peanut sauce. Clearly their dumplings are the star feature there.

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[kdrayong]

On 9/21/2018 at 1:44 PM, Jingthing said:

Shaxian Snacks

Visited it tonight.

The wontons in peanut sauce weren't available.

I even asked my Thai companionship to re-translated my weak Thai language 'peanuts' - 'tuaw', it was well understood, but mai mee - no have. The only dish with a peanut sauce were some noodles.

 

On 9/21/2018 at 1:44 PM, Jingthing said:

Wontons in peanut sauce, 100 baht.

Super yummy. A "must order."

 

So my companionship ordered these noodles. Quite okay IMO, not outstanding though. Maybe just because I was expecting wontons in peanut sauce before.

 

I ordered:

13 hours ago, opporna said:

I had the suey gow (dumplings) and it was the best wonton-like dish I've had in Pattaya

... which were really delicious.

 

I'll be back

Edited September 25, 2018 by kdrayong

[Jingthing]

Noodles with peanut sauce are not on the menu. Perhaps what you got was Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with a dark bean sauce, pork, and vegetables) pictured before. 

 

The problem there is the noodles aren't that good. Zha Jiang Mian is sort of a Chinese version of spaghetti Bolognese but given the history of noodles it would be more fair to say spaghetti Bolognese is sort of an Italians version of Zha Jiang Mian.

 

The wontons in peanut sauce is not listed on the menu with the words peanut sauce. It's a picture menu. Find the 100 baht dish that looks like wonton in a sauce and point to that. The English description on the menu is mixed wonton. Or show them the picture from this thread. The picture on the menu is not as colorful as the actual dish.

 

I also ate there today and didn't order the wonton in peanut sauce dish so maybe they indeed were out of it and you got noodles in the same peanut sauce that they would normally use for the wontons. (Again, not on the menu.)

 

Amusing when I walked in a some nice Chinese man leaving surprised to see a white face was trying to sell me on eating there even though I was already in the door and heading to a table with authority. He said really good Chinese food. Yeah dude and you don't need to be Chinese to know it!

 

Still I'm disappointed that they don't make their noodles and I was told they won't be doing do because the kitchen is too small.

 

 

 

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Edited September 25, 2018 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Some more detail on the menu.

They do have a noodle dish called Noodles with scallion oil and soy sauce. Perhaps that is actually the noodles with peanut sauce? Can't see the price, maybe 75.

The 120 baht Zha Jiang Mian is labelled Noodles with soy bean paste which is accurate enough as the sauce is supposed to contain soy bean paste. 

The dumplings that everyone seems to like (different dumplings than the won tons served in the mixed won ton dish 100 baht) steamed at 80 and 120 boiled are also sold FRIED for 100. At least I assume they are the same dumplings. 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2018 by Jingthing

[NewGuy]

Please guys, tell us again the name and location of that dumpling place. Thanks.

[Jingthing]

Please guys, tell us again the name and location of that dumpling place. Thanks.

Shaxian Snacks
2nd road, across from Soi 6, North Pattaya.

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[Jingthing]

Bonchon

Korean Fried Chicken

Central Pattaya Beach Mall

 

Bonchon is an international chain specializing in Korean style fried chicken but offers many other dishes as well. I consider it an excellent chain with excellent Korean fried chicken.

 

Just posting in case you haven't seen that they've added a new flavor for the chicken. Before it was only honey soy and spicy hot but now they've got crunchy garlic. I've preferred the spicy hot flavor before but I tried the crunchy garlic and I think I like it the best. For me the honey soy flavor is too sweet. 

 

So if you haven't been in a while you might want to give their new flavor a go. For a large chain that has kept to just two flavors before, adding a new one is kind of a big deal. 

[Jingthing]

La Taverna del Passatore

 

Long running, well regarded, casual authentic Italian restaurant in a soi off Soi Buakhao near the hospital is now in it's LAST WEEK. ????

But don't despair, it will be rebranded and also include some American food, coming to Soi Lengkee also off Soi Buakhao.

 

https://www.facebook.com/latavernadelpassatore