Showing posts with label Fried Fish. Show all posts

[FOOD] 20150114 T&K Seafood @ Chinatown, Bangkok


T&K Seafood is well known in Chinatown area for serving fresh and cheap seafood for years. It is located at the centre of Chinatown, or also known as Yaowarat in Thai. It operates in an 3-storey intermediate old shop lot near a junction with a direct competitor (Lek & Rut) located right opposite them. Don't get confused among the two as T&K will be in green while Lek & Rut in red.

If you are here during peak season or peak hours, be prepared to queue for your table as this place will be packed with locals and tourists. Their business is so good even the outdoor seating extended until the main road are usually packed. Air conditioned tables are available in the restaurant but could be very pack.

The BBQ grill is located right in front of the restaurants where you will be able to see how your dinner is prepared especially if you ordered their grill menu like their famous grilled big head river prawn or squid. Other dishes will be served from their kitchen at the back of the restaurant.

Famous dishes like the grilled big head prawn, oyster omelette, tom yam gung, fish cakes etc are among the dishes you might want to try. Although I said cheap in the earlier paragraph but I felt that I will be able to get cheaper price somewhere else. Having said that, the pricing is still reasonable for a popular tourist spot.

T&K Seafood
49-51 Soi Phadung Dao, Yaowarat Road Chinatown, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Nearest MRT Stations: Hua Lamphong Station
Telephone: +66 2 223 4519
Opening Hours: 04:30pm until 02:00am (Daily)

TO GO


T&K seafood is located at the centre of the Chinatown. Unfortunately there is no direct access via BTS or MRT and most likely you will need to take a cab to reach here. But be mindful on the peak hours as some taxi drivers may not want to travel here due to the jam, hence, plan your journey ahead to avoid disappointment. 

The nearest MRT station will be the Hua Lamphong Station, which you will need to walk for another 15 minutes to reach Chinatown. Walk along the main street of Chinatown and you won't miss the smell and the scene of busy workers grilling fresh seafood on the grill. Look for the green stall for T&K.



SPECIALITY


I arrived at Chinatown after my visit from Wat Arun and Wat Pho due to the proximity of the areas. I negotiate for a tuk tuk to avoid the jam, although it costs more than a cab but still worth for the ride and arrived at Chinatown swiftly.


Walk along the main street of Chinatown and you will eventually arrived at a junction filled with people, and most of all, filled with aroma of grill seafood. T&K seafood is the one with the green paintjob, with their competitor (Lek & Rut) right opposite them, head to head.


The outdoor kitchen, serving part of the menu. The outdoor seating are at the side of this kitchen, towards the main road and differentiated by the green colour stools.


The BBQ counter right outside the restaurants, preparing trays of grilled big head fresh water prawns, supplied by the Chao Phraya River.


The cute menu with drawing of two young lads, which I believed to be T and K respectively. Unfortunately no further information available on the two guys. The menu is categorized according to type of seafood with pictures of their signature dishes and price stated clearly. Although the price looks cheap by going with Malaysian or Singaporean standards, it is on the high side for Thailand standards but still reasonable and affordable.




Their famous grilled big head fresh water prawns, which comes in small or large portion. The small portion is as above with 4 pieces of fresh prawn, two male two female each. I resisted to order this during my dinner in the day before at Honggi BBQ Seafood because I have already have T&K Seafood in my itinerary. Overall the prawns are fresh but the size is smaller than my expectation (body length about 4 inches) as I have seen bigger ones by the street vendors. Average. each prawn will cost about 50 Baht (RM5.50), which I think is on the high side for the size.


I also ordered egg fried rice to try out and cost about 55 Baht (RM6). Not too bad with good flavour but lack of aroma from the eggs and wok hei that Chinese fried rice usually have.


Stir fried morning glory for some fibre diet, nothing spectacular. Still think our own Kangkung belacan is much better any time.


Grilled scallop but nothing special with the size of your thumb. Couldn't remember the price for this dish but it is around 200 Baht.


Tried their curry crab, which come in small, medium or large size. For comparison sake, Thailand's definition of crab size is much smaller than Malaysia. Their large size, as the picture above, is probably the same as our small size in normal restaurants. Taste wise, the crab is fresh no doubt but the curry is heavy in coconut milk, very good for rice but overpowered the crab. Regret ordering this crab dish which has inflated our bill for another 560 Baht, which I think is overpriced. Maybe Thailand don't have large crabs.

SUMMARY


Overall, dining in T&K is still enjoyable despite the cramp space and doubtful hygiene. Seafood are fresh and taste is considered good but not outstanding. Have yet to try the oyster omelette and steam or fried fish, perhaps another time. Pricing is on the higher side for Thailand's standard but still reasonable and affordable.

Taste
☆☆☆☆
good taste with fresh seafood served, but not the best
Value
☆☆☆☆
Not as cheap as expected and high side for Thailand standard.
Service
☆☆☆
Slow service but still friendly due to the crowd
Cleanliness
☆☆☆
Dirty environment. Pray for not having diarrhoea the next day.
Opening Hours
04:30pm until 02:00am (Daily)
Wifi
Nil
Parking
Limited
Website
Nil

GPS: 13.740109, 100.510604
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[FOOD] 20150113 Som Tam Nua @ Siam Square, Bangkok


Som Tam, or also known as green papaya salad is a very well known Thai dish which is served in almost every Thai restaurant in the world. It's basically green papaya (unripe papaya), thinly sliced and served with other toppings like dried shrimps, nuts, long beans, chilli etc pounded and crunched to bring out the flavours and lastly with the sweet and sour sauce and a sprinkle of fish sauce.

Many reviews, blogs and even news portal have recommended this restaurant which specialize in Som Tam, known as the Som Tam Nua (or Somtam Paradise in Thai) which is located at Siam Square, Soi 5.

It's a restaurant, covering three shop lots and is nicely renovated. Besides som tam, they have other signature dishes like the fried chicken wings, BBQ pork shoulder, Thai style fried fish to just name a few.

While they do have a few outlets around if not mistaken, but it is recommended to try the original oulet at Siam Square, Soi 5.

392/14 Siam Square Soi 5
Nearest BTS Stations: Siam Station
Telephone: +6602 - 2514 880
Opening Hours: 10:45am until 9:30pm (Daily)

TO GO


Siam Square is located just opposite Siam Paragon, and next to the newly opened Siam Square One. Just take the BTS from any line or any public transportation to drop you at Siam Station, towards the Siam Square side, look for Soi 5 signboard and walk inwards until almost the end where you will find the signboard of Som Tam Nua.



SPECIALITY



Due to its high review, it is much recommended to come earlier before the lunch hour to beat the crowd. The restaurant is nicely renovated with a warm atmosphere and a counter in the middle where you will be able to see your som tam being prepared. Communication might be an issue as the waiter here speaks limited English. My orders are done by pointing the menu and numbering it. "This, one."


They have many variant of som tam, which is differentiated by the toppings added on top of the original som tam like the salted crab, dried shrimp, salted egg, pork or pork rind. Price range from 75 Baht (RM8.30) up to 90 Baht (RM10). Frankly, nothing to shout about the som tam. Maybe my expectation were too high, or maybe there are many better options out there, or even in Malaysia. At this price, it's a bit rip off. Nevertheless, it is fresh and is still a good dish.

Fried Chicken - 150 Baht (RM16.50)


The famous fried chicken, served in a basket which cost 150 Baht (RM16.50). Almost every table in this restaurant has this basket of friend chicken wings. The wings are well marinated and deep fried until crispy, maybe a bit overdone. Recommended.

Stir Fried Thai Rice-Flour Noodles - 110 Baht (RM12)

The stir fried Thai rice-flour noodles looks decent from the picture but it was a disastrous dish. I regret every single bit in ordering this dish. It's basically stir-fried soggy rice-flour noodles which coagulate into one big slimy chuck of noodle ball and taste nothing near to what it looks. Avoid at all cost unless you like soggy noddles, or maybe just my luck in getting a lousy dish.

 Crispy Fried Fish - 105 Baht (RM11)

The Crispy Fried Fish is also another signature dish here at Som Tam Nua which is actually deep fried talapia fish with their special spicy sauce that is full of herbs. The size of the fish is actually quite small and should be sufficient for 2 to 3 person.


The fragrant rice is served on a banana leaf and it is quite big in portion. However the price of 20 Baht is a bit steep for Thailand but understandable for a restaurant with this setup. Besides rice, they also have sticky rice which is served in tube basket that costs 25 Baht.


Overall didn't really enjoy the meal and was let down by all the highly rated reviews for this restaurant. I would consider this restaurant decent but overrated.

SUMMARY


Overall a decent meal but was disappointed due to high expectation. I might still come back next time to try some other dishes in the future. The fried chicken and fish are good but the soggy noddles is definitely a no no.

Taste
☆☆☆
Decent but nothing to shout about. Roadside stalls sell pretty much the same at a cheaper price. Credits given to the fried chicken.
Value
☆☆☆
Despite the nicely renovated interior, I still find the price a bit at the high side but still affordable.
Service
☆☆☆
Understaff and not attentive. Difficult in communication sometimes.
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆
Opening Hours
10:45am until 9:30pm (Daily)
Wifi
N/A
Parking
Yes
Website
N/A

GPS: 13.744523, 100.534257
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