Crinkle cut chips?

Post by **Jockey** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:19 pm

Just got back from eating somewhere in town which is rated highly according to some folks on HHAD. Don't want to name the place 'cos I can't be bothered with the hassle it would create. My point is the gravy on the "Sunday dinner" was half a spoon of bisto granules and a lot of water. The meat was proclaimed to be imported but I suspect was home reared. Traditional fish n' chips - frozen crinkle cut? What happened to the good old fashioned potato and a peeler? The price was close to what you'd expect at a 5 star hotel yet it was ordinary very bland pub grub. Its very difficult to find good food in Hua Hin, no matter what price you pay, and the recommendations from posters on this site are (IMO) mostly way off the mark. Folks here are easily pleased.

Post by **Wanderlust** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:02 pm

Jockey,
Obviously everyone is different, but I don't think you can start a thread like this without at least giving examples of recommended restaurants along with your specific reasons for not agreeing with those recommendations. I'm not saying you are wrong, just that this thread is a bit pointless if you don't say where or who you are referring to. As a Cha Am resident would you say the choice or standard is better there, or do you have to travel further afield to satisfy your taste buds?

Post by **Jockey** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:38 pm

WL - Cha Am is terrible for food. Hua Hin is a gastro delight in comparison. My point in the OP is I find the recommendations found on this site to be frequently disappointing. There was a thread about best steaks in Hua Hin. At least 3 people recommended a particular restaurant with quotes such as "Not only is their steak good.....every dish I have had there has been top quality." So off I went to the said establishment only to find the steak to be not just a little bad but actually unedible, one of the worst I've ever had. I can understand people have different opinions, "viva la difference!" but when you go to a place based on recommendations and it turns out to be not even borderline OK it gets annoying.

The only places I could recommend in Cha Am right now are:

The new Alila Hotel. Gourmet food. Pricy but excellent and an interesting environment!
Bella Pizza - The pepperoni is good.

On the way to Hua Hin near ISUZU garage - Baan Issan - Very cheap and good though some dishes very hot!

Places I like at Hua Hin:

Subway make a good Spicy Italian sandwich,
American Rib upstairs are good for ribs if your hungry, (although the chicken is dry),
Paris Du Brasserie good Steaks
Moonshine near the temple good Thai cheap food
Victorias for all-day breakfast
Rua Rim Tarn (Kho Takiab) for yellow Curry Crab (meat)
Maharaji for Indian (Lamb is very good).
Corner Pizzas (nice pizzas, cold beer, people watching),
Beach Bar Kho Takiab (Ton's near Jamjuree) - Masaman Curry on Friday nights

Most other places for me don't stand out, but I think I need to broaden my horizons 'cos theres many places I've not tried. Crazy88 reckons the Sofitel is worth going to so we'll give it a try and the new Italian Roccas might be worth a visit.

Hope that helps WL

Post by **Wanderlust** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:17 am

OK thanks for the response; I think that food is such a personal thing that it is very often difficult to get a balanced view of the eating establishments from others' opinions, and it is also often a very hit and miss affair as to who is working in any particular establishment on any particular day. I will normally give places a bit more slack than I would at home for a couple of reasons: firstly, Thai staff appear to be very inconsistent in both their work ethic (compared to Europe) and ability - service is normally more friendly than you would demand/expect but not necessarily as attentive or efficient; secondly, the food available to the restaurants is extremely variable in both quality and availability, and particularly where Western dishes are concerned. Both of these things are normally more than offset by the fact that it is so cheap to eat out here, which is why some complaints made on here are really beyond the pale and rightly get shot down as petty in my opinion. Western owned establishments who charge close to Western prices however deserve any flack they get, but these are generally top class establishments who will ensure the service and offering is good, or will make damn sure any complaint is dealt with at the time.
I was a little surprised you didn't mention Crawfords in Cha Am as a good place for food, as whenever I have been there (although not for some time) it has been very good food. If you haven't tried it I would also recommend Platoo, which is half way between Cha Am and Hua Hin on the beach - normally very busy, which is usually a good sign!

Post by **richard** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:24 am

Best gravy it town is Buff Bills , thick or thin

Best thick cut REAL chips in town are Bernie's chip butties or Lord Nelsons. Pie mushies and chips recommended with load of good gravy

You have to specify what you want though

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:21 am

Wanderlust wrote: Both of these things are normally more than offset by the fact that it is so cheap to eat out here, which is why some complaints made on here are really beyond the pale and rightly get shot down as petty in my opinion.

Cheap? Compared to where? London, Paris, New York or Udon Thani?

Tsk, and I thought you lived here!

Post by **bradders** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:30 pm

richard wrote: Best thick cut REAL chips in town are Bernie's chip butties or Lord Nelsons. Pie mushies and chips recommended with load of good gravy

Richard,

Not sure if one of the places you mention above could be the same place (?) but I came across some very good thick cut REAL chips in a small 'fish n chip' shop in the soi which leads up to the StoneHead viewing area and beach.

I had take-away chips a couple of times - you can eat there if you wish - thought they were great and good value at Bhat 50 for a very generous portion.

They also offer a viarity of fish and pies which I'll try next time!

bradders

Post by **richard** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:36 pm

Yes Bradders

Been ther a few times and the fish and chips are excellent

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:40 pm

Jockey wrote:

On the way to Hua Hin near ISUZU garage - Baan Issan - Very cheap and good though some dishes very hot!

Jockey, I’ve been using this place for quite a while and it’s good. They do a sizzling mixed sea-food dish on an Iron platter that smokes the place out but tastes excellent. They also have a fine selection of local Issan dishes to keep my partner happy; not many other restaurants in the area do ant egg soup!
We always eat in this type of local restaurant because like you, I’ve always been disappointed eating in the supposedly better class of establishment around the area.

Post by **Jockey** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:34 pm

STEVE G wrote:Jockey wrote:
I’ve always been disappointed eating in the supposedly better class of establishment around the area.

Have you tried the sliced pork with the soya flavoured sauce? The minced duck infused with basil herbs chili and onion? The barbequed fish cooked to perfection with huge chunks of tasty white flakes easily taken from the bone with your fingers. The most amazing part is the bill at the end! Always very cheap but the quality is always high.

Unfortunately I need to have western food too - thats where I think the choices and quality in Hua Hin is very poor, way over priced and over rated. I just wish chefs would pay more attention to making quality sauces instead of relying on bisto granules and hot water. How many actually marinade the meat before cooking? How many use fresh herbs and spices? I'll keep looking.

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:02 pm

The thing I like about places Ban Issan is that as we normally go with a small group of people, you can fill the table with food and all try different tastes from all of them. We always have at least one fish and a plate of duck, various som-tam as well as assorted sea-food. You can have a veritable banquet for a very reasonable price.

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:50 pm

Good nam tok ? Can't find anywhere else here .

Crazy 88

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:50 pm

Certainly my partner eats a lot of that type of dish there; I tend to stick to sea-food so I couldn’t tell you how good it is, but I would give it a try if I was you.

Post by **chelsea** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:18 am

Jockey is the Beach Bar Kho Takiab (Ton's near Jamjuree) the one with the blue/white tables at the bottom of the stairs up to the Buddaha, if so I will back you up on that one. Also been to the Rua Rim Tarn (Kho Takiab) and found food good and prices good.
Always had good food at Bam Bams is Poolsuck Rd

Post by **Jockey** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:05 am

chelsea wrote:Jockey is the Beach Bar Kho Takiab (Ton's near Jamjuree) the one with the blue/white tables at the bottom of the stairs up to the Buddaha, if so I will back you up on that one.

No Chelsea. The Beach Bar I'm talking about is down the lane on the way to the beach, past Jamjuree condos on your left. Carry right on down to the beach. Theres a car park on the left and the Beach Bar is on the right (Ton's) - Its actually up for sale right now should anyone be interested. The food there is very good, they even do excellent English breakfasts. You can also go there just for a drink, it is a bar after all. (The lady can cook).

Another place I forgot to mention that serves excellent western food is a new place called "The Valley". The location is a bit weird, at the 1st factory outlet past Cha Am on the way to Phetchaburi. I don't think its a good business decision for the owner because of the location, but its well worth visiting. (Try the salmon & mash potatoes with asparagus and a dill sauce). If that place were in Cha Am or Hua Hin I would be a regular.