ok....so to food
 

I would love suggestions for really wonderful food experiences - BKK, Hanoi, Siem Reap, Phuket. I usually find great suggestions for meals by using a website I'd like to share with you called chowhound.com. Their message boards cover the US and international, but there's not a lot about SEA, mostly Bangkok, and very little of that. I have found wonderful places on their message boards (went through Paris that way). We love good food - no matter where it is. I can have fancy many places, but really good food and fancy do not always go hand in hand. So, please help. Bob, thank you....I will e-mail you today for your list. Also, how do you say "I want it very hot"? Not me, but my husband will always go into a Thai restaurant here and assure them that he wants to sweat. Only then, does he get what he wants. Except for one incredible Thai restaurant, off the beaten track in Queens called Sripraphai, where the food is amazing and hot means HOT. Just thought I would share for anyone who comes to NYC.

There's been A LOT written, regularly on food in this forum. Scroll down and check out some old threads. I wrote about food,in Bangkok, on my very recent 3-week trip there. It's in my trip report. Type in "Siam Ocean World" in the search section and it'll pop up. You can also go on chicasia.com. Happy Travels!

By far…my favorite subject…

You can find all sort of restaurant in Bangkok…some fancy, expensive and good, and some simple, cheap and even better…

Here are some places I like to eat from time to time (the order I write doesn’t mean a thing…I just write what I remember…all are good…)

1. Somboon Seafood restaurant – very good food, fast and cheap (around 400THB per person for a full dinner). The décor isn’t sophisticate; the dishes are simple, but good. All sorts of Seafood, fish dishes.
2 main branches in Bangkok are on Suriwong road (junction with naratiwat rd) and National stadium (turn left at the “Tesco” Rama 1 junction…the second soi to the left…)

2. Papa Alfredo – very nice Italian restaurant on Rama 4 Road (inside the HSBC Building, close to the junction with Satorn rd). Big dishes, good Italian atmosphere. Perfect for romantic dinner…

3. FogoVivo – Brazilian restaurant at the basement of the InterContinental hotel on Ploenchit rd. eat until you die…great meat (Chicken, Beef, lambs, fish, seafood), all grilled and served direct on your table. (In Koh-Samui I usually go to “Zicco’s” for the same concept – opp Central resort on Chaweng Beach)

4. Raioja – Spanish restaurant on Ploenchit road (100 meter from “Central Chitlom”) – if you fancy Spanish dishes you should check this place…

5. Moodi’s place – Arab/Mediterranean food (Sukumvit Soi 5) – good first dishes, Salads and grilled beef (kebab etc)

That’s it for now…it made me a bit hungry…

China House in the Oriental Hotel for the best peking duck I've ever had. Lovely ambience and service. All the food is outstanding. This is my favorite restaurant in Bangkok by far.

Thanks, guys. Guenmai, I'll check out your message, and Glorialf, I have read the threads about China House, and am very excited about going there. Peking Duck is a favorite...in fact, it was in hot pursuit of Peking Duck in New York that I came across the chowhound message boards. Since we only have 3 days in Bangkok, I think we want to stick with local cuisine - can't imagine that we'll be "asianed out" by then. But thanks for the other suggestions. I'm sure there are others who will be interested.

There was a good thread on this about a month ago called "Restaurants in Bangkok". Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to post a link to the thread, sorry.
You can do a search or click on my name and find the thread there. I've posted a couple of Thai restaurant recs there.
And you're right, the chowhound board is woefully wanting on Asia recs; it's mostly Paris.

China House for Peking Duck is unforgettable!

I, too, really stick to Asian cuisines in Bangkok. Other places I really like include Face (both the Thai and Indian were good, but I preferred teh Thai), Lemongrass for a lunch, Gallery (close to the Royal Orchid) is a great lunch place, and Mahanaga for dinner.

I made a long post a couple of years ago about restaurants in Hanoi - it should come up in a search. My faves were Brothers Cafe and Club L'Opera.

I also like Lemongrass. Had a good meal at Pen (not in the Peninsula Hotel). You can do a search on this forum for the address and information on it. It's not at all fancy but is also not cheap. Food is excellent. Mahanaga was very good in Chiang Mai so I assume it would also be a good choice in bangkok. I was one of the few who had a bad experience at Face.

For Lemongrass, take the skytrain to the Phrom Phong skytrian stop which is the one that Emporium Shopping Mall is attached to. When you stand facing Emporium...from the skytrain station...right after exiting the train... look to your LEFT...of Emporium, you'll see a side street running along side Emporium Mall...which will be called,"soi 24". You can see Lemongrass restaurant from the station. It's about a 3 minute walk from Emporium. Happy Travels!

We met a French couple last night who ae at Blue Elephant in BKK and loved it! Best Thai food they had eaten since being there. Haven't tried it, but I assume others have!

I ate there several years ago and liked it. Must not have loved it, however, since I have not returned.

for SR, may i suggest la noria which is right across the river from the grand hotel and also red piano downtown---not fancy but decent food....SR is not a food town really

Was going to suggest Red Piano in Siem Reap - then read Bobs post again and realized he had done so. So two votes for Red Piano.

So much food....so little time! I can't wait! I'd seen the Red Piano suggested on this board before, so that will be a definite. Any suggestions for Hanoi? For Bangkok, it's going to be deciding which of the many to try with only three days there. Not to mention street food. I'm thinking that, with breakfast and the hot weather, lunch is small and simple, or does one build an appetite from touring?

I usually stop for a light lunch but more to just sit down and cool off than for the food.

be very careful with the street food....we eat NONE!!!!!

So, are the food courts in the malls not considered street food? Forgive my ignorance, but I was thinking these were just a conglomeration of street food vendors in a more comfortable environment. So, there's a health difference, huh?

The food courts have nicities such as hand washing facilities and refrigeration.

Sharon, if your husband orders he can say something like " Pom lark ped ped dee krup " ( I like it very hot). You need to say " My ped sumluk pom Kah " ( Not hot for me thanks). If you both have a go at saying anything in Thai, your husband should finish any sentence with "krup" and you with "Kah" ( these words mean a multitude of things but basically a polite way of saying anything..different word used depending on gender of speaker). Enjoy your eating experience!

Thank you! We will have to practice.

I am waiting on someone on this board to successfully find and try the Polo Chicken in BKK that is mentioned on the chowhound board. I think it has been mentioned here before, but I don't think anyone here has actually tried it.

There is just something about chicken smothered in deep-fried garlic. If we have the opportunity, I will try to find the place when we are there in June.

hey Peteralan, should the phrase for the woman be "Mai ped sumluk dechun Kah"... since pom is the me/I term for men, but dechun is the me/I term for women? Ken

Seafood Market in Bangkok. It is a huge florescent place where you first "shop" for the fresh seafood & then it is cooked to your liking. We thought it would be too gimmicky but after hearing several recommendations from friends tried it this trip and it was the freshest, most delicious place for seafood we have ever been too anywhere. We liked it so much that we went back the next night! The waiters who take your fresh ingredients and discuss preparation are so attentive & helpful and the food preparation is absolutely delicious. Depending on what you select (e.g. lobster) it can be expensive for BKK, but worth it!

Oops khtodd, you may be right. I thought both were ok but maybe not. I will check with my Thai mate and get back. Sorry Sharon!

So where is the Red Piano in Siem Reap? What kind of food?? Only a few more weeks til we leave for our trip!!!!

tracy---it is right in the middle of the downtown area very close to the marketplace....easy to find....local and western foods....we had western both times we ate there....nothing fancy but nicely prepared....it is sort of an upscale bar/sports bar type place...friendly and comfortable

Sharon and Ken I confess I gave the wrong info re Thai word for "me"! Pom is right for males but deechun for females. So thanks Ken and apologies to you Sharon . I would hate them to think you have had a gender reassignment! ( not that that would phase the Thais! LOL!)Have a great time!

Peteralan, thank you for the tip and if I can remember how to say it, we're in business. More than likely, we'll end up smiling and playing charades ;-). I don't have a lot of confidence in my ability to pick up Thai. I took six years of Spanish, and still can only use the present tense, if at all. CFW, the Seafood Market sounds like a little bit of heaven. I am getting so excited about this trip!

Sharon, If you like crab, I had the best yellow crab curry I have ever had at Seafood Market. And the grilled giant prawns were to die for!

CFW, where is the Seafood Market? Is it near any of the sites, so that we could go for lunch while touring, or is it a trip in itself? My mouth is watering already.

Seafood Market is on Soi 24 off of Sukhumvit Rd. The Phrom Phong sky train station & the Emporium mall are right on the corner of Sukhumvit & Soi 24, and the Seafood market is more than halfway down the soi toward the Davis hotel. I think it would be a better place for dinner than lunch as the seafood selection will be much bigger then & it will be more lively and fun. It is on the same skytrain line as all of the big shopping malls, so you could go there after an afternoon of shopping, or just make it an evening destination of its own. I re-read your initial post & we're also chowhound.com fans & like really good food. Have been wanting to try Sripraphai in Queens.

Just returned for almost a month in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. I ate lots of street food in BKK. It was fabulous and I never got sick. Maybe I just have an iron stomach. It was cheap and excellent. A friend who lives in Thailand said to look to see if there are lots of suds in their dishwashing tubs. Not a good sign because they don't rinse them well and people tend to get sick.
I loved Cambodian food. We ate at Abacus in Siem Reap (French really, but I ordered a Cambodian eggplant dish that was wonderful). It's not quite hot enough for me, but I just add chilis or chile sauce to everything.
Also, the Bopha Angkor Hotel and Restaurant in Siem Reap has a nice courtyard restaurant and the five course meal for $14/person was excellent. The amount the give you for one is adequate for two with maybe an extra appetizer. They didn't care if we shared.
Red Piano is hard to miss - it's filled with tourists. Didn't eat there, just had an iced coffee waiting for our guide.
Enjoy your trip.
Sharon

This is great! I'm really happy to have personal suggestions, especially from a fellow chowhound, not to mention all the rest of you. And Namaste970, I will certainly check out the tips about Siem Reap restaurants. Didn't have a lot from there. CFW, I don't think you'll be disappointed with Sripraphai - except you have to be prepared to wait. Zagat gives it a 27 for food and a 7 for decor.