Crinkle cut chips?

Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1639

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.

Wanderlust · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject:

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? Wink

Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1639

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 thumbs up

Wanderlust · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:17 am Post subject:

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!

richard · Ace Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 1488 Location: Hua Hin

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
_________________
Syd--------Shine on you crazy diamond
Freddie--- Love kills
If you've a problem don't moan. Find a solution!!

Khun Richard of Yorkshire (Halifax) and Hua Hin

dtaai-maai · Guru Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 536 Location: Thailand

bradders · Specialist Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Dubai

richard · Ace Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 1488 Location: Hua Hin

Yes Bradders

Been ther a few times and the fish and chips are excellent
_________________
Syd--------Shine on you crazy diamond
Freddie--- Love kills
If you've a problem don't moan. Find a solution!!

Khun Richard of Yorkshire (Halifax) and Hua Hin

STEVE G · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject:

Jockey wrote:

Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1639

[quote="STEVE G"]Jockey wrote:

STEVE G · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

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.

crazy88 · Professional Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 387

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

Crazy 88

STEVE G · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

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.

chelsea · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:18 am Post subject:

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
Cheers

_________________
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"

Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1639