Issan Food

[hhfarang]

While I know Issan food is an acquired taste for many westerners, those of us who like it love it. Seb Nuer (Railroad street) and Tiks (Soi 112) used to be our favorites. Khorat Kitchen has recently topped the list especially since they also have western food so if the wife wants Issan and I am not in the mood it is a great place.

However, there is a new place that is number 1 on my Loei born missus list for Issan food. I haven't been there but have eaten three take out meals and I have to agree the food is really good and cheap. It's hard to describe where it is but if you go west from Phetkesim road on Soi 112 for about a kilometer and take a right turn into the Nong Khae village area, and proceed to the next 4 way intersection, it's a big open air place directly on the right at the intersection. It's called something like Khum Esan (sp?).

I can especially recommend the Lob (or Larb) Phet (ground spiced duck) and the Moo Daddio (fried pork snack). The missus loves their Tom Yum Gai (Issan style with chicken spicy soup including skin and bones so not my favorite even though it tastes really good) as well as the somtam. Give it a try if you like Issan food.

BTW, they have a big projection screen TV that I saw going one evening when I passed but I would assume they show mostly Thai shows (but you never know, may be a good place to watch football as well if they take requests).

Prices for meals are between 40 and 80 baht, and well worth it from what I've tried.

It is located right where the cursor arrow is pointed in in the center of this map.

[Takiap]

There's another Isaan food place on soi 6, just a bit past Wat Borfai, called Esan Hut. It's only a small set up and I don't think they have a very extensive menue, but whenever I've been the food has been spot on. I also often pick up a few pieces of spicy northern sausage on my way past since it goes down well as a snack with a few beers.

Nice and small garden setting, friendly owners, good tasting food, and very affordable prices. Their Ton Seb is usually very good and certainly worth a try.

[richard]

Without venturing to specific restaurants I use lunchtime vendors down Binta. Let's face it, the majority of workers down Binta are Isaan. Whether a lunch snack or a take away it is cooked to order and as you specify.

Very, very cheap too if you get a BG to order it for you. Yesterday I ventured out (first time for a week) for a lunchtime chat in my local bar (where were you Lomu) and devoured Isaan sausage, spicy pork with raw veg. Take away was a Som tam with portions of spicy chicken wings.

The former cost me all of 20 Bht and the takeaway a monstrous 70 Bht. The portions were large too

[richard]

Something to bear in mind with Isaan food is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22467484

It happens all over SE Asia

Dog and rat figure high in their meat input

[hhfarang]

Ok, now I can really recommend this place as I have sampled a good portion of their menu and both the missus and I agree it is the best Issan food we've had in Hua Hin. I know JW will like it. Khun Beer, the owner speaks English so ask for him or his wife if you go. I have tried the following and nearly every dish is the best I've had anywhere.

Larb Gai (minced spiced chicken)
Larb Pbet (minced spiced duck)
larb Pladuk (minced spiced catfish)
Moo Daddio (deep fried pork snack, almost like soft pork jerky)
Yam Pladuk Foo (fried catfish in thin strips with an onion and cucumber sauce)
Issan Sausage (self explanatory, home made on premises)

Every dish is of a good size and cheap price and better than any other Issan place I've been to. Sorry, no Western food but for true Issan food lovers this place can't be beat imho. And mods I recommended he take out an advertorial here, but I don't know if he will as 90 or more % of his customers are Thai. I did try to convince him that he could maybe get a lot of foreign customers if he advertised here though.

[Dannie Boy]

Ok, now I can really recommend this place as I have sampled a good portion of their menu and both the missus and I agree it is the best Issan food we've had in Hua Hin. I know JW will like it. Khun Beer, the owner speaks English so ask for him or his wife if you go. I have tried the following and nearly every dish is the best I've had anywhere.

Larb Gai (minced spiced chicken)
Larb Pbet (minced spiced duck)
larb Pladuk (minced spiced catfish)
Moo Daddio (deep fried pork snack, almost like soft pork jerky)
Yam Pladuk Foo (fried catfish in thin strips with an onion and cucumber sauce)
Issan Sausage (self explanatory, home made on premises)

Every dish is of a good size and cheap price and better than any other Issan place I've been to. Sorry, no Western food but for true Issan food lovers this place can't be beat imho. And mods I recommended he take out an advertorial here, but I don't know if he will as 90 or more % of his customers are Thai. I did try to convince him that he could maybe get a lot of foreign customers if he advertised here though.

I'm not really into Issan food, but for those that are, does this place have a name and location HHF?

[Big Boy]

I'm assuming it's the place mentioned in the OP

[Dannie Boy]

I'm assuming it's the place mentioned in the OP

Yes makes sense, I should read all of the post next time

[hhfarang]

does this place have a name and location HHF?

I had the name spelled correctly in my opening salvo. It's Khum Esan. Map provided in earlier post. It's in Nong Khae village between Sois 102 and 112.

[Big Boy]

Well, Mrs BB told me she wanted Issan food for breakfast. Brownie points for me, I know just where to go

The directions given above were spot on, ample parking and wooden chairs - the only problem is they don't open until 12

Another day perhaps.

[richard]

BB,

Park in the temple and stroll around Binta block. Plenty of good Isaan food around from the vendors from 9am

[Big Boy]

Thanks richard - fully aware. Daughter has her own Isaan Food place as well. I just thought I'd earn a few Brownie points by going somewhere different and recommended.

[Big Boy]

Well, Mrs BB liked the look of the placed and we all went back this evening (incidentally, the menu states they open at 10 each morning - Thai time). We went as a family of 6.

First thing, what I thought were wooden seats were mainly brown plastic, although there were 4 wooden seats .

My wife did the ordering for 5 people, which involved filling 2 tables with various dishes. I ordered an Isaan sausage and some egg fried rice - a lot for me these days. We only had soft drinks. The bill was a massive 810 Baht.

Mine was the tastiest Isaan sausage that I've had for many years. Everybody else agreed the food was very good. We will go back again.

A good find HHF

[hhfarang]

Glad it was worth the trip back after the first disappointment BB. That Issan sausage is home made on the premises as I ordered it one day and Khun Beer told me it was not quite ready and that I should come back later in the day, then he proceeded to take me into the kitchen and show me that it was being ground and stuffed by another Thai man at that very moment.

Did you meet Khun Beer and tell him where you heard of the place. I prodded him yesterday again about advertising on the forum so maybe after seeing some results from a couple of posts maybe he'll do it.

[Big Boy]

I didn't, but Mrs BB did.