Prachuap Khiri Khan Restaurants

Normally when I give the name of a restaurant as unnamed it means simply that I cannot translate the sogn, but his place really did not have a name. It is a roadside shack. The chances are you will never come here as it is a fair way from PKK, but if you visit the falls and nearby national park (see seperate tip) you will pass it, and I thoroughly recommend you drop in.

On the way to the way from the main Phetkasem Highway to the Huai Yang National Park and waterfalls my Thai friend decided it was time to stop and eat and we pulled into the shack pictured. It is a few km. from the Highway on the left as you go towards the park. It is fairly much in the middle of nowhere and like many other rural places in the region serves only one dish, the ever popular noodle soup, although you can decide between chicken or pork (gai or moo) or just the plain vegetables. I opted for the moo. It was here that I learned the art of eating Thai noodle soup, Thai style. First the chilli flakes go into the soup, then the chilli sauce from the bottle, then the chilli infused vinegar. Are you starting to see a pattern here? A small amount of sigar is then added, presumably to take the edge off the chilli. I found this last idea a little odd, sugar in soup, but it seemed to work. Obviously, if your palate does not run to the volcanic in terms of chilli, you can leave them out but I do like hot food.

I had a beer, my friend had a soft drink and I got a small bottle of drinking water for the journey and the whle thing came to a ludicrous price, somewhat less than £2 (less than $3US). I appreciate this was locals price as my friend ordered but I doubt they get many tourists here and it probably would not be much more if you visited. It was the kind of thing I travel for, good local food eaten with local people in a place where you are seen as an oddity. Perfect.

On the road from the main Phetkasem Highway to the Huai Yang National Park about five km on the left hand side.

Favorite Dish: The noodle soup - it's the only thing they have!

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This place features in the ubiqitous Lonely Planet guide and as such gets a fair amount of the limited tourist trade. Personally, I prefer the nearby Demer restaurant (see seperate tip) although this place is perfectly adequate, specialising naturally in the excellent and inexpensive local seafood although when I visited, being somewhat overloaded with seafood, I opted for a sweet and sour pork dish which was served up promptly and very nice it was too. The starter of deep fried chicken pieces was similarly pleasing. Service is excellent by local standards (despite the Lonely Planet comment to the contrary) and, although I feel the place lacks atmosphere a little, it is a safe bet for a decent meal.

Favorite Dish: The sweet and sour pork with steamed rice as above.