Comment my itinerary please.
May 20th, 2014, 03:40 AM
#21
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Mariana - here is a link to a site which has lots of recommendations for "local" restaurants, street food as well as some more expensive places ( also a few recipes) . We have tried out a number of the recommended places and found them to be excellent
http://www.eatingthaifood.com/blog/
We have stayed in a number of homestays and enjoyed the food imesely especially the Issan type food Larb, Son Tum etc. In my experience though it is not that different from the food you will get in local restaurants frequentd by Thais as opposed to tourists.
I am sure you will have a fantastic time eating at both Nahm and Gaggan. Do report back on how things go.
http://www.eatingthaifood.com/blog/
We have stayed in a number of homestays and enjoyed the food imesely especially the Issan type food Larb, Son Tum etc. In my experience though it is not that different from the food you will get in local restaurants frequentd by Thais as opposed to tourists.
I am sure you will have a fantastic time eating at both Nahm and Gaggan. Do report back on how things go.
May 21st, 2014, 05:54 AM
#23
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We love traveling in SE Asia and one of our passions is experiencing the local food. With the obvious interest you and your boyfriend have in food, I thought you might appreciate some notes on restaurants we’ve enjoyed. This posting is going to be a bit long but it includes suggestions on most of your destinations.
Early on in your visit to Siem Reap, you should have dinner at Touich Restaurant, because if your experience there is as good as ours you’ll probably want to eat there again before you leave the city. It’s a bit off the beaten track but the food is surprisingly sophisticated and the service was also terrific. See a more detailed review at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/cambodi...p-restaurants/ . You’ll need a reservation so you might want to contact your hotel before your arrival to set up that first visit there.
We’ve only been to Phonm Phen once and it was so long ago that I’m really not confident on any suggestions there.
Now Bangkok is a different story. We’ve made numerous trips there and definitely have some recommendations. There are a couple places that we dream about and go back to on every trip. Krua Apsorn is mainly a lunch place but is our absolute favorite restaurant in Bangkok. The owner and head chef is a very nice lady who was formally employed by members of the royal family. The restaurant is not fancy and the service can be a bit spotty but the food is excellent.
While there are other good places in Bangkok to get pad Thai, Thip Samai has the reputation of being one of the best in the city. The food is so good and so inexpensive; we sometimes order 3 dishes for the 2 of us. Out in front and beside the restaurant are other food vendors including one really nice guy who sells a wonderful mango with sticky rice. It is located in an area known locally as Ghost Gate in the same general part of the city as The Democracy Monument.
Here is a page where we reviewed both BKK restaurants in more detail: http://www.se-asiatravel.com/thailan.../bangkok-2012/ . There is also a link towards the bottom for a short video we shot at Thip Samai. If you decide to go to Krua Apsorn, take some notes of the dishes mentioned in our review to help you order as then menu can be a bit confusing.
if you are looking for a guide in BKK, we’ve got a real sweetheart there who is a great source for local restaurants and street market eats. See her Nook Tourguide page on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nook.tourguide?fref=ts . Her email is [email protected] and she is usually very responsive.
If you’re interested in street food, one trip outside of the city that I think you’ll enjoy with Nook is a visit to the Mae Klong Market (Train Market) http://www.se-asiatravel.com/thailan...-train-market/. After a drive outside of the city, she will walk you through the morning (prepared) food market where she’ll describe and you can sample all sorts of treats. We LOVED that day as we got the chance to eat really great stuff we might not have tried on our own. Then your walk will lead you to the train tracks just at the right moment to see a local train drive right through the middle of make shift food stalls that are literally on the tracks. The vendors pull everything back as the train approaches and put it back on the tracks seconds after it passes by. It might also be possible to incorporate a visit to the Amphawa floating market on the same day as well. Nook can also arrange a home stay in Amphawa at a place where we took a cooking class with her last year. This tour could get a bit more expensive as you’ll likely have to hire a car and driver, which Nook can arrange if you wish. On the above linked page is a video of the market walk and train passing through.
For your one day in Vientiane, you should definitely plan to eat at Makphet. I know it sounds silly but (not the only but for sure) one of the reasons we wanted to return to Vientiane on our 2113 trip was the chance to dine again at Makphet. It is a training restaurant for orphans and other disadvantaged kids and is run by Friends-International in partnership with the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. It was partly that noble cause that first drew our interest but the quality of the food is what keeps bringing us back. We have a couple reviews of this and other Vientiane restaurants at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/lao-pdr...e-restaurants/
Luang Prabang has a distinct local cuisine and in general is a very good food city. We’ve now been there 3 times and our most extensive set of reviews is at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/lao-pdr...taurants-2013/. I would say highlights would be Tamarind, Khem Khan Sin Dad, a great place to try Laos BBQ Soup and Tangor serving a very short French/Lao fusion menu.
Chances are you aren’t going to Sapa for the food but we liked the Nature Bar & Grill. One note: depending on the temperature, the room can get pretty smoky from the indoor open pit fire. We also enjoyed a decent meal and good glass of wine at Viet Emotion.
Your boyfriend will probably get some good local Hanoi advice from others working in his restaurant but you might enjoy a visit to the original location of Cha Ca La Vong; an institution in the Old Quarter. It’s been in the same location for over 150 years and only serves one dish (fish that you stir fry in ghee at the table with turmeric, dill and other herbs and spices). You’ll see it on those lists of 1000 places to visit before you die. To be honest, we thought the food and service was better at a more modern location of the same restaurant but it’s a cool experience to eat at the original. New Day is our first choice for a Vietnamese place in the Old Quarter. See http://www.se-asiatravel.com/vietnam...i-restaurants/ for more details.
Hope this list proves helpful.
Early on in your visit to Siem Reap, you should have dinner at Touich Restaurant, because if your experience there is as good as ours you’ll probably want to eat there again before you leave the city. It’s a bit off the beaten track but the food is surprisingly sophisticated and the service was also terrific. See a more detailed review at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/cambodi...p-restaurants/ . You’ll need a reservation so you might want to contact your hotel before your arrival to set up that first visit there.
We’ve only been to Phonm Phen once and it was so long ago that I’m really not confident on any suggestions there.
Now Bangkok is a different story. We’ve made numerous trips there and definitely have some recommendations. There are a couple places that we dream about and go back to on every trip. Krua Apsorn is mainly a lunch place but is our absolute favorite restaurant in Bangkok. The owner and head chef is a very nice lady who was formally employed by members of the royal family. The restaurant is not fancy and the service can be a bit spotty but the food is excellent.
While there are other good places in Bangkok to get pad Thai, Thip Samai has the reputation of being one of the best in the city. The food is so good and so inexpensive; we sometimes order 3 dishes for the 2 of us. Out in front and beside the restaurant are other food vendors including one really nice guy who sells a wonderful mango with sticky rice. It is located in an area known locally as Ghost Gate in the same general part of the city as The Democracy Monument.
Here is a page where we reviewed both BKK restaurants in more detail: http://www.se-asiatravel.com/thailan.../bangkok-2012/ . There is also a link towards the bottom for a short video we shot at Thip Samai. If you decide to go to Krua Apsorn, take some notes of the dishes mentioned in our review to help you order as then menu can be a bit confusing.
if you are looking for a guide in BKK, we’ve got a real sweetheart there who is a great source for local restaurants and street market eats. See her Nook Tourguide page on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nook.tourguide?fref=ts . Her email is [email protected] and she is usually very responsive.
If you’re interested in street food, one trip outside of the city that I think you’ll enjoy with Nook is a visit to the Mae Klong Market (Train Market) http://www.se-asiatravel.com/thailan...-train-market/. After a drive outside of the city, she will walk you through the morning (prepared) food market where she’ll describe and you can sample all sorts of treats. We LOVED that day as we got the chance to eat really great stuff we might not have tried on our own. Then your walk will lead you to the train tracks just at the right moment to see a local train drive right through the middle of make shift food stalls that are literally on the tracks. The vendors pull everything back as the train approaches and put it back on the tracks seconds after it passes by. It might also be possible to incorporate a visit to the Amphawa floating market on the same day as well. Nook can also arrange a home stay in Amphawa at a place where we took a cooking class with her last year. This tour could get a bit more expensive as you’ll likely have to hire a car and driver, which Nook can arrange if you wish. On the above linked page is a video of the market walk and train passing through.
For your one day in Vientiane, you should definitely plan to eat at Makphet. I know it sounds silly but (not the only but for sure) one of the reasons we wanted to return to Vientiane on our 2113 trip was the chance to dine again at Makphet. It is a training restaurant for orphans and other disadvantaged kids and is run by Friends-International in partnership with the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. It was partly that noble cause that first drew our interest but the quality of the food is what keeps bringing us back. We have a couple reviews of this and other Vientiane restaurants at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/lao-pdr...e-restaurants/
Luang Prabang has a distinct local cuisine and in general is a very good food city. We’ve now been there 3 times and our most extensive set of reviews is at http://www.se-asiatravel.com/lao-pdr...taurants-2013/. I would say highlights would be Tamarind, Khem Khan Sin Dad, a great place to try Laos BBQ Soup and Tangor serving a very short French/Lao fusion menu.
Chances are you aren’t going to Sapa for the food but we liked the Nature Bar & Grill. One note: depending on the temperature, the room can get pretty smoky from the indoor open pit fire. We also enjoyed a decent meal and good glass of wine at Viet Emotion.
Your boyfriend will probably get some good local Hanoi advice from others working in his restaurant but you might enjoy a visit to the original location of Cha Ca La Vong; an institution in the Old Quarter. It’s been in the same location for over 150 years and only serves one dish (fish that you stir fry in ghee at the table with turmeric, dill and other herbs and spices). You’ll see it on those lists of 1000 places to visit before you die. To be honest, we thought the food and service was better at a more modern location of the same restaurant but it’s a cool experience to eat at the original. New Day is our first choice for a Vietnamese place in the Old Quarter. See http://www.se-asiatravel.com/vietnam...i-restaurants/ for more details.
Hope this list proves helpful.
May 21st, 2014, 06:42 AM
#24
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http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restau...g-Bangkok.html
Try this one. Huge menu and fair prices.
You will probably find it's better than Nahm.
Try this one. Huge menu and fair prices.
You will probably find it's better than Nahm.
May 21st, 2014, 06:44 AM
#25
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May 21st, 2014, 09:31 AM
#26
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I agree with all that Prachuap has posted, and can't think why his focused comments are tedious!
I wouldn't try Vientiane to LP in one day. Vang Vieng is worth a night or two for the scenery alone.
Anyone who says that the Kanchanaburi area isn't worth 3 nights clearly doesn't know the area. All that's required is a bit of homework, and allowing sufficient time to see all the sights and loiter at leisure.
I wouldn't try Vientiane to LP in one day. Vang Vieng is worth a night or two for the scenery alone.
Anyone who says that the Kanchanaburi area isn't worth 3 nights clearly doesn't know the area. All that's required is a bit of homework, and allowing sufficient time to see all the sights and loiter at leisure.
May 21st, 2014, 01:35 PM
#27
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"Anyone who says that the Kanchanaburi area isn't worth 3 nights clearly doesn't know the area. "
Or - more likely, they aren't interested in what the Kanchanaburi area has to offer. We are all different, you know, have different interests and preferences. Just because someone doesn't do it your way doesn't make them clueless.
Or - more likely, they aren't interested in what the Kanchanaburi area has to offer. We are all different, you know, have different interests and preferences. Just because someone doesn't do it your way doesn't make them clueless.
May 21st, 2014, 02:59 PM
#28
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Kanchanaburi area has plenty to offer but I wouldnt stay in town. I would hire a car and stay down river.
If people arent interested in Kanchanaburi it means they dont like caves, elephants, rafting, waterfalls, hotsprings and museums.
If you dont like those things I would wonder what you are doing in Thailand apart from beaches.
If people arent interested in Kanchanaburi it means they dont like caves, elephants, rafting, waterfalls, hotsprings and museums.
If you dont like those things I would wonder what you are doing in Thailand apart from beaches.
May 21st, 2014, 03:09 PM
#29
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I found Khao Sok NP was disappointing but you have to go July to Jan. I went at the wrong time of year and the waterfalls were hardly moving. Best chance of seeing wild elephants is Dec to Jan in the cooler months.
