Eating out on a budget..

Post by **uncle tom** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:26 pm

When I was in HH earler this year, the dire exchange rate got me paying more attention to menu prices.

Even if Baht, the prices seemed to have gone up quite a lot over the last year, and many restaurants were no cheaper than similar places in the UK.

I ended up eating at Kim's Kitchen most days, where it is possible to get a very good plateful of grub (especially from the Thai menu) for under 100 Baht.

Maybe I should have looked around a bit more though - who is your champion for good value eating out?

Tom

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:00 am

Kims kitchen has always been reasonably priced and in my opinion is well worth the money. Another one Mrs Cornhole and I used regulary was 'Lek Lek' which as it happens is not far for Kims.

In my humble opinion there are 3 types of food in most tourist resorts.

1. The tourist special. Get those holiday tourists. They will pay anything for a good feed. Usually eat steaks or fish and chips with the occasional pad thai.

2. Your savvy tourist. Knows where to go off the beaten track for good food but likes a bit of quality. (ie Kims and Lek Leks)

3. Your long term money saver that doesn't mind eating native. ie street food. There is nothing wrong with this I have eaten 'street' many times and its very tasty. You just dont have the atmosphere. No problem for me...

Post by **migrant** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:20 am

We always like the night markets for food. Plenty of good, inexpensive take away foods!

Post by **moja** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:32 am

Most of the restaurants along the railway line are good value for money.

I would also recommend Khun Oy on Soi 94 and the Japanese Restaurant opposite Khun Oy; both have lots of choices for under 100 baht.

If you want to eat at reasonable prices then the best advice is to stay away from the main tourist areas

Post by **crazy88** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:49 am

There are loads of good,cheap places in and around HH .Here are a few .Naab Thong very top of soi 88 just past mango grove on the right .Great for everything and can do a lot of dishes not on the menu if you speak a little Thai .Turning left at the railway station there is a good Muslim place and further down a very famous chicken restaurant .Both sell out early and at weekends and holidays you have to wait for a table at the chicken place .If you find ypurself in MV both sizzler and fuji do good lunch deals.If you are in any of the bar sois just wait for the "issan train" .A nice lady driving a 3 wheel scooter type vehicle with a selection of food on the back .She always seems to be doing a roaring trade .Now can anyone tell me where to get a good nam tok without loads of fat ?

Crazy 88

Post by **johnnyk** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:31 pm

Phetchkasem Rd heading north on the left side near soi 54 is a collection of about a dozen or more carts. Chock full of Thai folks getting the real thing at Thai prices.
Isaan BBQ place in front of TMB bank just south of the special night market near soi 88. Twice the amount and half the price of Kim's Kitchen which IMO is a mediocre and overpriced falang hangout.
Just my opinion.

Post by **Aussie Mark** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:38 pm

Everything is cheap in Hua Hin At a food market in Perth (WA) today Pad Thai was $12 AUD so about 360 baht When I eat it in Hua Hin its around 50 baht One of my favorites is opposite the old bus stop so we call it the bus stop cafe everything around 40 baht .Cant wait only 10 days to go for cheap pad thai

Post by **STEVE G** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:15 pm

For good quality street food, every night there is large stall opposite the palace that is consistently good.
It's so good that I've got a suspicion that the chef is moonlighting from somewhere else!

Post by **uncle tom** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:28 pm

Your long term money saver that doesn't mind eating native. ie street food. There is nothing wrong with this I have eaten 'street' many times and its very tasty. You just dont have the atmosphere.

Some of the street food looks risky for a farang; although I have to admit that the times I've needed the Immodium is after western or indian food, not Thai.

The kebab barbecue stalls that tour the centre of town make a very nice evening snack at 5 or 10B a skewer. The chillis are a bit variable on heat, but usually OK for me (I don't have an asbestos throat..)

Tom

Post by **STEVE G** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:39 pm

I've never had a problem eating street food, they tend to have a high turnover and you've got more chance of getting fresh food than you have in some of the flashier restaurants around town.

Post by **steve w** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:08 pm

yes i love eating something on a stick that comes round while you are sitting outside a bar.favourites are chicken satay,pork and chicken hearts all cooked on the bbq on wheels.have had all over thailand so presume you can get similar in HH.

Post by **johnnyk** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:23 pm

high turnover is key with street food. watch things before you buy, if you don't like the way its being done just move on.
as anthony bourdain said, "they don't stay in business by poisoning their customers."

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:01 am

Yes Street Food can be excellent. I like the little parcels with quail eggs on sticks, and the chilli/pineapple/moo kebabs. Pad Thai for about 30 baht (It does vary, but that's tradition as every cook has his own secrets.) Noodle soup etc.
Just don't give up if the first stall you try isn't quite to your taste, and don't forget to try the sweet stuff like banana pancakes.
If anything I think some street food can be OVER cooked, especially eggs in some dishes, but never suffered Delhi Belly from any of it.

Post by **valrhona** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:48 am

I have never had a bad case of the runs in Thailand and I've been coming here for well over 20 years. I've cycled through many places from north to South and East to West most of the time eating in small stalls and night market with Pad thais at 10 baht, khao pad at 30 baht and satays at less than 10 baht per stick. Easily living on less than 500Baht per day for months on end and never had a problem, not even once... Now that I have more money, I splurge and budget 1000 per day when I ride my bike...

Of course that's not the case when I come golfing in Hua Hin...

Post by **usual suspect** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:55 pm

Uncle Tom....you only have a problem with those chillies when you're drunk enuf to 4get they are there...I've seen the face you pull when they kick-in...ha,haa!
I still can't understand if HH is brimming with Thai-Chinese,then why no Chinese r/rant (please do not include that place on top of the Hilton...its a joke). Give me duck + plum sauce,lots of sizzlin' treats,etc...I need sweet sticky fingers afterwards!mm-mmm.