Ta Hai Brings Authentic Chinese Food to Jomtien (Chaiyapruek)

[Jingthing]

Big big happy news for seekers of authentic Chinese food in Jomtien.

Also a destination Chinese restaurant for people Pattaya wide.

About a month ago TA HAI CHINESE RESTAURANT opened and it really has a lot to offer in a casual friendly setting at quite affordable prices.

For example:

Hand pulled noodles, dim sum, dumplings, Sechuan dishes, stewed meats, fried meats, large choice of Westerner popular sweet and sour dishes, Chinese vegetables, Chinese soups, Chinese salads, some specialty dishes such as crispy fried eggplant sticks found nowhere else in Pattaya that you'd have to go to Bangkok to find. And even more!

This is real CHINESE food. It is NOT Thai Chinese food style.

The restaurant is located on Thanon Chaiyapruek not far down from Jomtien Beach road.

Walking from Jomtien Beach road, it is on the right hand side accross the street from The Two Chefs Bakery restaurant and a 7-11.

TA HAI is open 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM daily, but closed the 17th of each month.

I was informed there are two chefs. One specializes in the hand pulled noodles/dim sum items and the other the more general menu. Neither is from China but they were clearly trained in authentic Chinese cooking (I think in Bangkok).

Happily, an English speaking waitress is there to help you understand the menu.

For the spicy Sechuan dishes is you want more spicy, just ask, they will do it.

This restaurant is quite accessible to westerners. Everything on the menu is in English but some of the descriptions might not be clear. Its a good idea to ask for more information about dishes you aren't sure about.

I have included the menu and some additional comments about it hoping that might help introduce more people to this wonderful new restaurant.

Some of these same dishes you will find at Shanghai restaurant on Third Road. Some of these dishes you will find at the Sun and Moon restaurant in Bangkok. This place has a distinctive style though. I suggest you try it and explore their large, but not too large, menu and make some discoveries yourself.

I will add as in general in Thailand when you find Sechuan dishes (and there are many on the menu here) you will not find the authentic use of Sechuan peppers. Such peppers are not hot but actually numbing. So you can still get spicy HOT Sechuan food here but it will not have the numbing Sechuan pepper experience.

As far as prices if you just want a light lunch like one noodle dish you could spend under 100 baht. But I think for dinner to get a sample, more like 300 baht is more realistic. But for that you get a variety of dishes and tastes. Obviously if you order something special like a whole fish ... more.

_____________________________________

Here is the menu of TAI HAI restaurant:

NOODLE (these are hand pulled noodles)

Noodle with pork spare rib 75

Noodle with pork spare rib 75

(one of these is in a soup, one is dry, ask the waitress which is which)

Noodle with stewed beef 85

(served in soup)

Plain noodle with vegetable 45

(probably a dry dish, not in soup)

Noodle with soya bean 70

(probably a dry dish, not in soup)

Noodle say chuan style 70

(this is served in gravy like sauce, not dry, not a soup)

SOUP

Radish soup 80

Tofu soup 70

Cucumber soup 70

Mushroom soup 120

Say chuan soup 80

TIM-SUM

Spring rolls 65

Xioa Long Bao (4) 50

(these are the famous Shanghai soup filled small dumplings)

Steamed bun (3) 50

(these are stuffed with green vegetable)

Fried Pork dumplings (6) 75

(westerners call these pot stickers)

Steamed Pork dumplings (6) 70

Steamed bun (3) 50

(I think these are dough things without stuffing)

Dumpling (6) 70

(Not sure what's in these ones)

SALAD

Seaweed salad 70

Tofu and black egg 60

Cucumber salad with crab stick 60

Cucumber salad 60

(the two cucumber salads are spicy Sechuan salads with a chili, garlic, and sesame oil flavor)

Cool pork 140

(this is very fatty pork, probably not appealing to most westerners)

Beef chop 160

(perhaps similar to the cool pork, not sure about fat content)

Chicken whisky 140

(steamed chicken in Chinese whisky sauce, similar to famous Shanghai style chicken)

FRIED VEGETABLE

Fried spinach in soy sauce 100

Fried mushroom soy sauce 80

Fried morning glory in chili sauce 60

Fried string beans in soy sauce 100

(I think this is a popular dish)

Fried choy with pork in soy sauce 120

(The pork in this is pork belly, the dish tasted Sechuan like to me)

Fried lettuce in soya sauce 80

Fried potato in chili sauce 80

(A sechuan dish, ask for more spicy if you like)

Egg bean french fried 120

(Egg bean is an error. They mean eggplant. It is crispy fried eggplant sticks that are served candied. It is a house specialty. This dish is surprising very sweet.)

FRIED

Fried pork spare rib 160

(I think this is a stir fried dish with a little vegetable)

Fried pork in chili sauce 140

(There are two with this name, not sure about the difference)

Fried egg bean with pork in soya sauce 100

(Egg bean is a menu error. They mean eggpant).

Stuffed pork in hot pepper 100

(A wonderful dish! I am guessing only place in town for it. It is long hot peppers stuffed with a pork mixture in a clear red sauce.)

Fried pork in chili sauce 160

(There are two with this name, not sure about the difference)

Fried tomato with egg 60

Sweet and sour pork 160

(Sweet and sour dishes are Chinese style, not Thai Chinese style)

Sweet and sour pork spare rib 180

Sweet and sour with chicken

Sweet and sour with shrimp 200

__

Deep fried pork 160

Deep fried pork chop 180

Deep fried shrimp 180

Deep fried chicken 160

Fried chicken with chili and salt 160

(Classic dish)

Fried pork with chili and salt 160

(Classic dish)

STEWED

Hong Kong style stewed beef 180

Stewed pork spare rib 140

Chicken in red sace 140

Fried beef in Chinese sauce 180

(This dish is actually Chinese beef stew meat in a gravy like sauce)

Maybo tofu 100

(The famous Sechuan dish ... mapo tofu)

FISH

Steamed sea bass with Chinese sauce 380

Sweet and sour sea bass 380

Chicken say chuan 180

(This is a steamed chicken dish with a spicy topping)

Fried rice with chicken 60 160

(Fried rice dishes are Chinese style, not Thai style)

Fried rice with shrimp 70 170

Fried rice with pork 60 160

DESSERT!

Mango pudding 49

[Jingthing]

And now ... drum roll ... some actual pictures of actual food actually served from TAI HAI Chinese restaurant in Jomtien:

Xioa Long Bao (famous Shanghai style soup filled small dumplings)

Stuffed pork in hot pepper (hard to find dish, loved it!)

Chicken say chuan (A classic Sechuan style dish, steamed not stir fried, wish it had the Sechuan peppers)

Say chuan soup (Notice the large portion. I ordered it extra spicy. Yummy.)

Noodle with pork spare rib

Fried potato in chili sauce (Sechuan style dish, suggest getting it more spicy)

Fried choy with pork in soy sauce (A lovely subtle dish, the pork is pork belly)

Noodle with stewed beef (Nice)

Maybo tofu (The classic)

Egg bean french fried (eggplant) (Only place in town) (Warning: SWEET!)

Fried egg bean with pork in soya sauce (eggplant!) (Sechuan style dish)

Cucumber salad (Sechuan style dish)

Steamed bun (stuffed w/ green vegetable) (Loved it)

Fried pork in chili sauce

Steamed Pork dumplings (Good stuff)

Fried beef in Chinese sauce (actually a soupy gravy)

__________________________________________

These last two are pictures from their menu (not actually served)

Stewed pork spare rib (was recommended, haven't tried yet)

Cool pork salad (very fatty pork)

[thairastawoman]

Similar food as the small Chinese that was in the past at Jomtien and is now on the dark side ?

[Jingthing]

Similar food as the small Chinese that was in the past at Jomtien and is now on the dark side ?

When they were in Jomtien they weren't really a functioning restaurant. Communication was nonexistent. Most menu items not available. Things expected from the menu not served. So I wouldn't compare that place to this place. This place is a fully functioning professional restaurant. Largish complete and varied menu and they actually have the dishes. Communication is good. I have not tried the new location of that place which I have heard is better than the closed Jomtien place. I wouldn't even agree all that similar, but sure some overlap. It's much closer really in menu items to Shanghai restaurant on 3rd road but again very different places, both worth trying. Also Shanghai has a number of dishes not found at Ta Hai and Ta Hai has a number of dishes not found at Shanghai.

To be clear, I am not really traditionally "reviewing" here or suggesting either Shanghai or Ta Hai have the best Chinese food in the world.

I am saying it certainly is getting much easier to find nice, interesting, more authentic Chinese food in Pattaya ... and now JOMTIEN these days.

[texanaust]

Thanks for the photos jingthing. This place looks good and great for us living near chiapruk. Do you know if they serve alcohol and what are the prices like? Great review!

[Jingthing]

Thanks for the photos jingthing. This place looks good and great for us living near chiapruk. Do you know if they serve alcohol and what are the prices like? Great review!

You're welcome.

I love Chinese food.

They serve Leo 80, Singha 90, and Heineken beer (?).

Water is only 15.

The food prices are all posted in the OP.

They have a mango shake.

Mango pudding, a classic Chinese dessert for dim sum is served.

[Jingthing]

Some additional comments.

I am not into sweet and sour dishes but I know many westerners are.

As you can see they have a range of such dishes.

I am sure they are done Chinese style not Thai style.

I'd like to hear how people like these dishes ... whether they meet your hopes of Chinese sweet and sour dishes from a western perspective.

Also I do know westerners are often looking for fried noodles or chow mein.

Notice on the menu I posted there are no fried noodle dishes.

HOWEVER, on their old menu, they do offer this:

Fried Noodle Hong Style 85 baht

I think that means you can still order that dish

Note -- this is their old menu though

Also as many know with English translations of Chinese dishes, unless it is a famous dish like Mapo tofu sometimes it is kind of hard to know exactly what you'll be getting. So I hope I've helped with the pictures and of course it's a good idea to ask the waitress for confirmation.

I should also add. This is not a large restaurant. While I doubt this thread is going to encourage a flood of people to instantly show up there, any kind of unexpected increase in trade could cause issues at any restaurant, especially a small and new one. During my visits they have had almost everything I ordered ... one time they were out of Xialangbao.

Even though whole fish is on the menu, I don't think they sell much of it, so it would be interesting to see if they have it ready to go.

Interestingly I was told so far their customer base is about 60 percent westerners and the rest Chinese people with not many Thais or Russians.

As far as Thai partners liking the food, they do NOT have a Thai food menu.

In any case, I don't think very many people know about this place yet, it being so new.

[OLDAUSSIE]

Thank you JT for another great report.

[khunjamesjohnson]

I have been here twice.

Just about 50 meters or so from the beach so easy access for Baht Bus riders.

Watching the guy pull the noodles is worth the price of the dish. Very entertaining.

I ordered gyoza the other day and they made them on the spot. Not the frozen kind served at 99% of the other places. Good.

Also, I didn't detect heavy use of MSG like I do at Shanghai.

If only I was 21 I'd be trying to marry the waitress here. So nice.

[khunjamesjohnson]

Similar food as the small Chinese that was in the past at Jomtien and is now on the dark side ?

Not like that Soi Welcome restaurant. The place was a pigsty.

Ta Hai is a real restaurant.

[Crossy]

Troll post removed, if you don't like Chinese style, don't post.

[thailien8]

Great report JT; I'll be making the long baht bus trip down there soon. Like to try the stuffed pork in hot pepper, but am not that fond of extra spicy food. Would it be too spicy hot for a tender tongue?

[frodo77]

Thanks so much JT for the review with pics and menu. I miss real Chinese food so much, so will definitely be giving it a visit soon.

[Jingthing]

Great report JT; I'll be making the long baht bus trip down there soon. Like to try the stuffed pork in hot pepper, but am not that fond of extra spicy food. Would it be too spicy hot for a tender tongue?

The spicy part of that dish is the peppers themselves, not the stuffing or light clear red sauce. I had the dish once so far and the peppers were fairly hot but I think probably palatable for most. For the Sechuan style dishes they won't be served extra pepper hot UNLESS you ask for that.

Also note what they call Say Chuan Soup will probably be recognizable as Hot and Sour soup by westerners. However, I didn't really detect a vinegar flavor in the soup as I would hope for and expect. It is still a pleasant soup, their version, with some unusual additions like chunks of tomato.

I had thought their Cucumber Soup might actually be WInter Melon soup but I was told it really is made with regular cucumber. I haven't tried it yet. It sounds a bit boring but you can really never tell with English labels at Chinese restaurants.

Another great feature of this place is the price and portion structure.

Some Chinese restaurants price and portion based on "Family Style" but this place mostly is doing medium portions at reasonable prices so you don't have to spend a lot of money to sample multiple dishes.

As you can see with the fried rice they have two sizes so with that you can order a big family style portion if you want.

I was surprised at the portion size for the soup, larger than I expected.

[Awohalitsiktoli]

Thanks goes out to Jingting for an excellent review. For the record, I have lived in both northern and southern China, but I am a fan of American-Chinese food and real Chinese food that resembles American-Chinese food. Initially, I was reluctant to try the food at Ta Hai. Having said that, I have to say Ta Hai now has me "hooked" on whatever version of Chinese food it is serving. I have eaten at Ta Hai three times; each time was excellent. Thus far, I have eaten three dishes: Sechuan noodles (very good); fried potato (shredded potato) in chili sauce (excellent); and fried egg bean (eggplant) with pork in soya sauce (wonderful dish). I am looking forward to trying Maybo tofu (never had it before), Sechuan soup, and stuffed pork in hot peppers. I also want to try their sweet and sour shrimp (they also have sweet and sour chicken). For pictures of these dishes, see Jingting's earlier post (#2, I think).

[Jingthing]

I know there are many people looking for "western" style Chinese food and there are a few restaurants in town trying to fill that niche need. Tai Hai certainly wasn't created with that intention BUT I am certain there are probably SOME dishes there that would probably well please many people in that category. No, there is no lemon chicken, egg foo young, or BBQ spare ribs, etc. but there are:

-- a whole range of sweet and sour dishes (the meat items are coated and fried)

-- dim sum items included spring rolls (egg rolls/pancake rolls) and fried pork dumplings (pot stickers)

-- noodle soups with meat choices (close enough)

-- fried pork w/ choy in soy sauce / string beans in soy sauce (close enough)

-- fried rice!

Of course I wouldn't suggest limiting orders to the above, but up2u.

[gusG]

You are a legend JT, I think your Pattaya food threads are great.

I live in Samui, but still check out your posts regularly.

Happy Eating.

[Basil B]

Pity, if it was real authentic Chinese food we would soon see the end of the Soi Dog problem.

[Jingthing]

Thank you, gusG.

I want to focus on one particular dish.

On the menu it is called Egg bean french fried.

But it's eggplant actually.

It's eggplant deep fried til crispy.

Eggplant french fries.

But it is NOT greasy and the sticks are coated in a kind of thick sugary syrup.

I bet it's not what people expect at any kind of Chinese restaurant and I'm sure it's the only place in town that has it.

Honestly I avoid foods like this (deep fried and very sweet) BUT I did order the dish one time thinking it was a savory dish so of course I had to try it.

It was very very delicious and the crispy texture done with eggplant is really worth experiencing!

I would say a must order if you're bringing children and you don't mind feeding them something like CANDY.

[frodo77]

Went last night. Had Steamed Pork dumplings and Noodle with Pork Spare Rib. Both delicious and enough to fill me. Total cost with a bottle of water was only 165 baht - cannot beat that for value and taste.

[Jingthing]

If someone orders one of the sweet and sour dishes there can you please comment on how you liked it and better yet, show us a picture? Like I said I won't order that but I know many westerners are looking for good versions of Chinese style sweet and sour dishes (as opposed to the very different Thai versions).

[Jingthing]

Pity, if it was real authentic Chinese food we would soon see the end of the Soi Dog problem.

That kind of meat is not on their published menu.

Which brings up another issue to me.

I see they have some salt and pepper dishes (chicken and pork).

But that dish is really best with squid and shrimp in shell.

Too bad they aren't doing that.

Oh well!

[fredob43]

Pity, if it was real authentic Chinese food we would soon see the end of the Soi Dog problem.

That kind of meat is not on their published menu.

Which brings up another issue to me.

I see they have some salt and pepper dishes (chicken and pork).

But that dish is really best with squid and shrimp in shell.

Too bad they aren't doing that.

Oh well!

Like many other well done you.

Just one thing you might suggest that they add some things that are missing as you have said prawns squid and the main thing Duck maybe roasted with 5 spice??? duck noodle soup now there's a thing. I always have at least 1 duck dish whenever I eat Chinese. I don't live in Pattaya but do visit so I will give it a try next time. Those egg plant chips look interesting.

Once again many thanks.

[Jingthing]

I think their issue is that they are quite a small restaurant and their menu is already fairly ample in choices. Buying in fresh seafood is an expense they might not be able to justify with enough sales. As I mentioned before, I wonder if they are selling the whole fish on their menu as the price point is (understandably) much higher than their other items.

Yeah, who doesn't like duck?

Shanghai also (a bigger restaurant with clearly much more staff) doesn't do duck either.

In general, I would rather a place focus on their strengths rather than try to do too much.

The options in Pattaya for Chinese food (outside expensive hotel restaurants) are of course limited. In a normal big city with tons of choices of Chinese, there would no need to expect that any one small place do EVERYTHING. You'd go one place for duck, another place for something else.

[Jingthing]

I don't like duck.

Yes, of course.

It wasn't a literal question.

PLEASE, everyone who doesn't like duck, we REALLY do not need to hear from you!

[Beardog]

Nice write up JT. I will have to try on my next visit. I lived on Chinese & Mexican while I was in the states. Glad to hear they have some real Chinese here in town!

[Sena Dave]

Authentic Chinese food , the likes of which you'll buy in Wuhan, Changsha and everywhere else in China is shit to be fair

[Jingthing]

Authentic Chinese food , the likes of which you'll buy in Wuhan, Changsha and everywhere else in China is shit to be fair

You've got pictures?

It is true there are a lot of foodstuffs typical in authentic Chinese food that most westerners aren't particularly attracted to.

Like chicken feet, duck tongues, and the like.

You could say that about more hard core Thai food as well.

In Chinese food, TEXTURE is more important than western food.

For example, gristle.

Also "authentic" Chinese food is quite often VERY OILY.

At Tai Hai I think there are only a very few dishes that would be a problem for most westerners.

Perhaps the cool pork salad as I've mentioned because of the fat content.

[Mojomor]

Authentic Chinese food , the likes of which you'll buy in Wuhan, Changsha and everywhere else in China is shit to be fair

Yes, the Wuhan part is correct ---- the food is heavy beyond belief, and feels like a lead weight. Total rubbish.

[khunjamesjohnson]

Recently, I ordered the stir-fried string beans w/garlic and salt.

Nicely done. Very fresh and delicious.

I also watched the chef pull noodles again. Can't believe he goes thru that routine for every bowl of soup.