Thai Restaurants by Food Type

[PeteC]

I don't think we've done this before, classify Hua Hin Thai restaurants by the type of Thai food they serve. It would be a good thing to know as readers have different preferences, and like to get adventuresome from time to time and try new things. I thought of this because of the rave reviews Naab Thong has been getting.

I think the categories are:

1) Northern
2) Isaan
3) Central/Bangkok
4) Southern
5) Royal (I think best described as a fancy form of #3)

From your input we could find that none of them really specialize in one, but serve a mix. You never know though, there could be some that serve up only fiery dishes from the south, or specialize in fancy Royal food which would be a good place to take first time visitors to the Kingdom. Pete

[pharvey]

I don't think we've done this before, classify Hua Hin Thai restaurants by the type of Thai food they serve. It would be a good thing to know as readers have different preferences, and like to get adventuresome from time to time and try new things. I thought of this because of the rave reviews Naab Thong has been getting.

I think the categories are:

1) Northern
2) Isaan
3) Central/Bangkok
4) Southern
5) Royal (I think best described as a fancy form of #3)

From your input we could find that none of them really specialize in one, but serve a mix. You never know though, there could be some that serve up only fiery dishes from the south, or specialize in fancy Royal food which would be a good place to take first time visitors to the Kingdom. Pete

I think it's a spot on idea Pete, but it should be clarified as to what Northern, Isaan, Bangkok, Southern food actually is for those not experienced with Thai food but who want to experience it. What I mean is - for example Southern food is spicy, BUT which region is predominately vegetarian or meat or seafood etc.

My mother for example knows zero about the food of the regions of Thailand, but would enjoy non-spicy (spicy in the ''hot'' sense, not spicy flavour) chicken, fish or vegetable dishes.

I think people who travel or live or have lived in Asia for some time do take it for granted that other less experienced travelers know more than they actually do at times.. (does that make sense)?

An ''Idiot's Guide'' would be good!!

[PeteC]

This is the best I could find quickly. May look brief but if you click on the individual regional links within the main story, it expands everything.

http://www.cooking-thai-recipes.com/typ ... -food.html

This link is really about a restaurant in Bangkok but it seems to explain Royal Thai food pretty well. Pete

http://medblogcontest.com/blog/8/?p=435

[hhfarang]

This is a difficult thread (question) Pete, as many Thai restaurants serve dishes from more than one region. Some even advertise that fact.

The only one I can say with 80% certainty is Seb Neur open air Thai restaurant on the railroad tracks just south of the station serves mostly Issan style food. The missus says even they have some dishes from other regions but their specialty is Issan (and it's very good).

All the other Thai restaurants we go to seem to serve a mix of regional foods. Maybe that's because Hua Hin is somewhat of a "melting pot" of Thais from all over the country.