Under 300 Baht ... And Good! (updated July 4, 2022)

[Barhop 197]

10 hours ago, jacko said:

Jameson's  has some memories for me as in my early days I often stayed at the adjacent Nova Park. Very similar to the Residence Garden, suite type, 2 rooms and the place a bit out of the way! I had some good meals delivered to my room from there, I recall the ribs well. The pub interior was indeed gloomy but the weekend roast carvery often got me in there. Too far off the beaten track to be a contender, walking back down a dark soi SaiSong 4 very late was a little concerning but mostly I was on a M/C taxi being followed by another. 

A pizza shop next door is a fair fit for the hotel, but I wonder how Jameson's survived. 

Have stayed at Nova Gold myself so Jameson's was convenient at times.  Forget the props name but he was Irish (with Thai ancestory ?) and a good bloke.  He gave me history as to how he aquired the place, etc.  But recall one afternoon he opened his arms indicating the whole place in a questioning manner.  This was a few years ago, but I was honest and said that Irish bars were dying out in the West and farangs don't travel all that way to see another one.  Ok, pizza bar now also, hmmm....maybe....but limited farang walkbys...generally only from close hotels...the place IS in the bloody sticks...Good luck to him though, as he was a good and sincere host...if not on the golf course ?

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

 

Big Kahuna is an American restaurant on Thappraya Road in Jomtien, about 100 meters north of the intersection with Thepprasit Road.  The name, decor and some of the dishes on the menu are Hawaii-inspired, but Big Kahuna mostly offers U.S.-style finger food like burgers, sandwiches and pizza.  It also serves U.S.-style breakfasts, with pancakes a notable item. It occupies the former premises of the defunct Pastrami on Rye and the menu at Big Kahuna reminds of PoR's.

There's a big kahuna painting on one wall, but the interior isn't dripping with kitschy tiki symbols. 

In fact. the main dining area is pretty much free of them.  It's a relaxing atmosphere in which to have a meal.

In the Hawaiian language, "kahuna" can refer to a traditional priest, sorcerer or healer, but also to an "expert" of any sort.  The term "big kahuna" was applied to Hawaii's top surfer and was made popular by a character with that name (played by Cliff Robertson) in the 1959 movie Gidget with Sandra Dee in the title roll.  Today it points to the leading expert or most influential person in any field.  I made me think about who might be Pattaya's "big kahuna."   

Link

The other day I had the Small Pancake Special at 98 baht.  It featured a single buttermilk pancake with syrup and butter; an in-house-made sausage patty; fried or scrambled egg; and your choice or coffee, tea or orange or pineapple juice. Considering the pancake was one of the best I'd had in Pattaya, it was certainly value for money at the price.

The pancake was light and fluffy, exactly how a North American pancake should be.  The egg was fired nicely and the sausage patty was OK, if a bit bland.  It was pancake and not real maple syrup, but you can't expect too much for 98 baht.  

It wasn't a healthy breakfast unless you're running a marathon directly after, but it sure tasted good.  I wouldn't eat it every day or even every month due to the jolt the syrup  gives your blood sugar levels and I just can't have pancakes without some sort of syrup.

It was a fair-sized glass of pineapple juice, not the thimble full you get in some restaurants.

Big Kahuna has some of the best American food in Pattaya, but it's a bit of a trek to go all the way to Jomtien for a burger or sandwich.  Fortunately they have delivery as well for 50 baht extra.  I ordered the Cuban sandwich for lunch yesterday.  It was a bit of a hassle as I've moved out of my condo and am living temporarily in a hotel.  First the girl taking orders  thought I had said, "Reuben sandwich," instead of "Cuban sandwich,"  but I caught that due to the disparity in price she named for the order.  It also took some time to make clear my new address.  I had anticipated that might happen. so I gave her the phone number to the hotel so she could call and get the directions in Thai.  

Forty-five minutes later my order arrived, which was fairly quick given the distance involved.  Big Kahuna didn't use a moto driver for delivery, but the same pretty young waitress who'd served me my pancake breakfast the day before brought me the sandwich.  It consisted of ham, pulled pork. Swiss cheese and slices of dill pickle between the halves of a baguette that had been spread with butter and mustard, then toasted in a sandwich press.  It came with a choice of one side dish and a soft drink and I had picked coleslaw and Coke Zero.  It cost 285 baht plus 50 baht for delivery.

Some foods don't photograph attractively and a Cuban sandwich is one of them.  I did indeed taste better than it looked and nevertheless was a fair approximation of the Cuban sandwiches you get in Florida or a big city like New York.  

Cuban sandwiches should be made with Cuban bread, the recipe for which  includes lard as a shortening. This helps give the final loaf an exceptionally crisp crust and and airy. light interior compared to its French and Italian counterparts.  In NYC, I lived close to one of the best Cuban bakeries in the city, so getting Cuban sandwiches with the authentic bread wasn't a problem.  It would almost be an impossibility to find Cuban bread in Thailand and the Big Kahuna's substitution of a French baguette is the only option short of baking Cuban bread itself.

In the pic above, I've  opened the  sandwich and included the coleslaw, Coke and slice of dill pickle that came with the order.  Both the ham and pulled pork held a high standard.  You can't make a good cuban sandwich from a sow's ear.  I would have liked more mustard on the bread, but that's just personal preference.    on the sandwich overall.   The coleslaw was very good, with freshly grated cabbage and carrots.  It wasn't swimming in dressing and celery seeds had been added for flavor.   

Bottom line;  I won't hesitate to return to Big Kahuna to satisfy my infrequent longing for certain types of U.S. food, but I'm more likely to use the delivery option.

The restaurant has numerous specials on food and drink.

I'll post some menu pages from Big Kahuna's Facebook page as well.  Writing this review has made me think about a Reuben for lunch!

Evil

 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2019 by Evil Penevil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

I don't write often about fast-food chain restaurants in Pattaya, mostly because I don't eat in them except on very rare occasions. On an impulse, I tried Texas Chicken at Central Marina.  I was pleasantly surprised; the chicken I got was better than I had expected and it qualified as good.  

Texas Chicken is the name Church's Chicken operates under outside North America.  It's the fourth largest U.S. fried chicken chain in both number of outlets and revenue, but I can't recall ever having tried it in the U.S. as it doesn't have stores in the eastern states.

I ordered the three-piece combination for take-away.  It cost 159 baht and came with a small order of French fries.  one biscuit and a "bottomless" cup of soft drink. I also got some mashed potatoes with gravy for 15 baht.  I drank my ice tea in the restaurant; I didn't want to lug it to my hotel.

Here's what I got in my take-away box:

The three pieces of chicken were all white meat, not thighs and legs.  They had been battered and deep-fried properly, crisp on the outside, the meat juicy and full of real chicken flavor.  It was far superior to  greasy KFC chicken with its soggy batter and tasteless meat.

The sides were less impressive.  The French fries were industrial-style and the mashed potatoes had started out as flakes from a package. The biscuit had been topped with a honey-like sweetener and had a strange texture. It wasn't bad, but reminded me more of a dough-nut hole than a traditional biscuit.

Bottom line:  I don't often get a hankering for U.S.-style fried chicken, but the next time I do, I wouldn't hesitate to make a return visit to Texas Chicken.  The restaurant has plenty of special offers. In that sense, it lives up to its U.S. reputation as the "poor man's KFC."

Evil

 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

The 100-baht Sunday chicken dinner at the Marquee Bar on Soi Buakhao has declined a bit in quality compared with past meals, but I still rank it as good, just not as good as it once was.  Here's what I had Sunday at about 2.00 p.m.

The chicken breast fillet was tender and moist with a natural chicken taste but no seasoning.  The skin showed no sign of browning or crispness-

so i'm guessing it had been poached in water rather than oven-cooked or pan-fried.  The roast potatoes were good, but I only got three small pieces.  The Yorkshire was a touch too heavy and eggy for my taste, but not bad.

The vegetables hadn't had the flavor boiled out of them and I appreciated the sliver of sweet corn.  The gravy was generic.  The meal was pretty bland but nevertheless tasted good,  especially considering the price.  You can't expect a sensational Sunday dinner for 100 baht. However, if it slips even further, then it will belong in the mediocre category and that would be a shame.

By way of comparison, this is the Sunday dinner I got at Marquee a few months ago:

There had been more effort to season the chicken in the past.

The Marquee Bar is a pleasant enough place for a meal, so I hope its Sunday special doesn't lose more ground. 

To make things clear:  there are numerous restaurants in Pattaya that have bigger and better Sunday roast dinners, but the Marquee is up near the top when it comes to value for money.  I also like the relatively small portion.  It's enough for me and I don't overeat. 

I'm not much impressed by the beef and pork dinners at the Marquee.  I'd rather spend a bit more and get more elsewhere.  But for chicken, the Marquee has offered a decent meal for  100 baht.  It also has a 100-baht special on fish and chips on Fridays.

 

Has anyone tried it?

Evil

Edited January 5, 2020 by Evil Penevil

[Kev 178]

Hey thanks Evil for 100 bahts sounds like a great deal, have seen the bar before but never stopped there, but next holiday will try it out as I might stay in View Talay 6 this time around.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

Yesterday I had breakfast at the Chill Inn on Soi Buakhao.  It's across the street from Jolly's and next door to the former premises of the Great American Sandwich Co. that are currently under conversion to a coyote bar.

It wasn't a calculated move on my part.  I was walking past about 11.00 a.m., felt hungry and saw a sign for a 89-baht breakfast special.  I gave it a try.  The breakfast consisted of two fried eggs, back bacon, a U.K.-style sausage, fried potatoes, toast, jam and coffee or tea.  It was neither an American nor a British breakfast, but had elements of both.

It was good for the price.  The eggs were fresh and the bacon and the potatoes fried with onions- they weren't hash browns- were tasty. I  don't like that sort of sausage so i didn't eat it.  The bread was too lightly toasted for me, but that's down to personal preference.

I'm well aware you can get three times the amount of food (and probably five times the calories) with the Retox baht-buster breakfast for 99 baht, but the Chill Inn's special was enough for me.  I don't eat big fried breakfasts anymore.

It also a pleasant place to sit; open-front, but the fans keep it cool.  

I didn't like that they allow smoking- and one customer was even puffing on a pipe-  but the fans kept the fumes away.

Bottom line:  I doubt I'll have much occasion to eat breakfast again at the Chill Inn, but I was happy with my breakfast there.

Evil

[capdagde 1,954]

On 2/26/2019 at 3:39 AM, Evil Penevil said:

The 100-baht Sunday chicken dinner at the Marquee Bar on Soi Buakhao has declined a bit in quality compared with past meals, but I still rank it as good, just not as good as it once was.  Here's what I had Sunday at about 2.00 p.m.

The chicken breast fillet was tender and moist with a natural chicken taste but no seasoning.  The skin showed no sign of browning or crispness-

so i'm guessing it had been poached in water rather than oven-cooked or pan-fried.  The roast potatoes were good, but I only got three small pieces.  The Yorkshire was a touch too heavy and eggy for my taste, but not bad.

The vegetables hadn't had the flavor boiled out of them and I appreciated the sliver of sweet corn.  The gravy was generic.  The meal was pretty bland but nevertheless tasted good,  especially considering the price.  You can't expect a sensational Sunday dinner for 100 baht. However, if it slips even further, then it will belong in the mediocre category and that would be a shame.

By way of comparison, this is the Sunday dinner I got at Marquee a few months ago:

There had been more effort to season the chicken in the past.

The Marquee Bar is a pleasant enough place for a meal, so I hope its Sunday special doesn't lose more ground. 

To make things clear:  there are numerous restaurants in Pattaya that have bigger and better Sunday roast dinners, but the Marquee is up near the top when it comes to value for money.  I also like the relatively small portion.  It's enough for me and I don't overeat. 

I'm not much impressed by the beef and pork dinners at the Marquee.  I'd rather spend a bit more and get more elsewhere.  But for chicken, the Marquee has offered a decent meal for  100 baht.  It also has a 100-baht special on fish and chips on Fridays.

 

Has anyone tried it?

Evil

I haven't tried it but we will..... this thread will be our go-to guide for new food destinations on our hols!

Presentation and the cooking method of the chicken and Yorkshire seem to be the problem above.  We can't eat massive portions in the heat of Thailand so lower prices and smaller servings suit us just fine.  And all-you-can-eat is definitely off the list.

Thanks for the above Evil!

Andy & Flo

Edited February 27, 2019 by capdagde

[4wheels 119]

 Adding a cup of black beans and a cup of white rice to that Cuban sandwich would take me back home to Miami.Adda dash of Texas Pete or Tabasco to the sandwich and I know I'd be home!. Great review and it would be worth the time to get there for it. Thanks for sharing.

 

Edited February 27, 2019 by 4wheels

[capdagde 1,954]

31 minutes ago, Evil Penevil said:

 

Yesterday I had breakfast at the Chill Inn on Soi Buakhao.  It's across the street from Jolly's and next door to the former premises of the Great American Sandwich Co. that are currently under conversion to a coyote bar.

It wasn't a calculated move on my part.  I was walking past about 11.00 a.m., felt hungry and saw a sign for a 89-baht breakfast special.  I gave it a try.  The breakfast consisted of two fried eggs, back bacon, a U.K.-style sausage, fried potatoes, toast, jam and coffee or tea.  It was neither an American nor a British breakfast, but had elements of both.

It was good for the price.  The eggs were fresh and the bacon and the potatoes fried with onions- they weren't hash browns- were tasty. I  don't like that sort of sausage so i didn't eat it.  The bread was too lightly toasted for me, but that's down to personal preference.

I'm well aware you can get three times the amount of food (and probably five times the calories) with the Retox baht-buster breakfast for 99 baht, but the Chill Inn's special was enough for me.  I don't eat big fried breakfasts anymore.

It also a pleasant place to sit; open-front, but the fans keep it cool.  

I didn't like that they allow smoking- and one customer was even puffing on a pipe-  but the fans kept the fumes away.

Bottom line:  I doubt I'll have much occasion to eat breakfast again at the Chill Inn, but I was happy with my breakfast there.

Evil

Sometimes it's nice to just be walking by a place and make an impulse buy....... there seem to be so many new eateries!!! 

Looking forward to sampling!

Thanks again Evil.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

3 hours ago, capdagde said:

Sometimes it's nice to just be walking by a place and make an impulse buy....... there seem to be so many new eateries!!! 

Looking forward to sampling!

Thanks again Evil.

One reason I took a chance on the Chill Inn was the number of customers in the small cafe.  It was more than half full at 11.00 a.m.

Evil

[teelack 9,636]

Evil! Thannks for the review of Chilli. I gave up on the place last year as I had a very indifferent visit thhat saw me leave unfed. Your review got me back again for the 89 baht lunch rather than the breakfast. Normally I dont eat stuff like hamburgers in Pattaya but the Pork or Chicken buurger, chips and salad was just the stodge that I fancied. Remember, 89 baht all up and a great view of the Bedlam that is Soi Buakhao. Compare that with Burger King or Mc Donalds! It was a thick and well cooked burger and while I am no foodie I thought it tasted great. The fries and salad topped my stoach off and the final accolade was the happy and courteous wait lady. 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Sad news for fans of American food:  Richman Poorman in Jomtien is closing its doors.  March 9th is its final day.

I'll have to trundle out there in the next few days; maybe tonight, as the daily specials look inviting. especially the chicken parm at 195 baht: 

(from RMPM's Facebook page)

Evil

[Odense 490]

Where can the food truck be found?

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I had the Sunday roast lamb dinner last night at Kilkenny.  Everything was really good- the lamb, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, veggies and gravy.  No complaints at all.  You get an extra boat of gravy that's not in the picture.  Best deal in town for 199 baht.

Portion was more than enough for me, but if you have a really big appetite, you are better off going to one of the "all-you-can-eat" carveries.  Same-same if you want beef, pork or chicken as your meats or want dessert included.

Evil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

On 3/6/2019 at 4:00 AM, Odense said:

Where can the food truck be found?

Sorry for the delay in answering.  From what I gather from reading posts elsewhere and what a friend said, the food truck was located on the Darkside, but I couldn't pin down a specific location.   Maybe someone else knows the details.

Anyway, I had a final meal on Friday at Richman Poorman. 

I had intended to have a Reuben sandwich, but it was finished.  The only dish left was the quesadilla at 180 baht. 

It was good, but I wouldn't have gone all the way to Soi 9 off Jomtien Beach Road just for it. 

The RMPM  Facebook page said sandwiches and other dishes were still available Friday, but that wasn't the case.  A bit of a sad ending for my experience with RMPM.  It will be interesting to see what opens in its place.  Will the new owners continue on the U.S.-theme or try something different?

Evil

 

 

[cbrib 354]

On 3/5/2019 at 1:00 PM, Odense said:

Where can the food truck be found?

He usually parks it way up on soi Siam Counry Club. I don't know the name if the soi that is the 4 way intersection but there is a 7/11 on the corner as well. It is the last 4 way  intersection before  Lake Maprachan. Location is near the old Black Pearl if that helps.

[js007 795]

On 2/17/2019 at 12:25 AM, Evil Penevil said:

 

 

Big Kahuna is an American restaurant on Thappraya Road in Jomtien, about 100 meters north of the intersection with Thepprasit Road.  The name, decor and some of the dishes on the menu are Hawaii-inspired, but Big Kahuna mostly offers U.S.-style finger food like burgers, sandwiches and pizza.  It also serves U.S.-style breakfasts, with pancakes a notable item. It occupies the former premises of the defunct Pastrami on Rye and the menu at Big Kahuna reminds of PoR's.

There's a big kahuna painting on one wall, but the interior isn't dripping with kitschy tiki symbols. 

In fact. the main dining area is pretty much free of them.  It's a relaxing atmosphere in which to have a meal.

In the Hawaiian language, "kahuna" can refer to a traditional priest, sorcerer or healer, but also to an "expert" of any sort.  The term "big kahuna" was applied to Hawaii's top surfer and was made popular by a character with that name (played by Cliff Robertson) in the 1959 movie Gidget with Sandra Dee in the title roll.  Today it points to the leading expert or most influential person in any field.  I made me think about who might be Pattaya's "big kahuna."   

Link

The other day I had the Small Pancake Special at 98 baht.  It featured a single buttermilk pancake with syrup and butter; an in-house-made sausage patty; fried or scrambled egg; and your choice or coffee, tea or orange or pineapple juice. Considering the pancake was one of the best I'd had in Pattaya, it was certainly value for money at the price.

The pancake was light and fluffy, exactly how a North American pancake should be.  The egg was fired nicely and the sausage patty was OK, if a bit bland.  It was pancake and not real maple syrup, but you can't expect too much for 98 baht.  

It wasn't a healthy breakfast unless you're running a marathon directly after, but it sure tasted good.  I wouldn't eat it every day or even every month due to the jolt the syrup  gives your blood sugar levels and I just can't have pancakes without some sort of syrup.

It was a fair-sized glass of pineapple juice, not the thimble full you get in some restaurants.

Big Kahuna has some of the best American food in Pattaya, but it's a bit of a trek to go all the way to Jomtien for a burger or sandwich.  Fortunately they have delivery as well for 50 baht extra.  I ordered the Cuban sandwich for lunch yesterday.  It was a bit of a hassle as I've moved out of my condo and am living temporarily in a hotel.  First the girl taking orders  thought I had said, "Reuben sandwich," instead of "Cuban sandwich,"  but I caught that due to the disparity in price she named for the order.  It also took some time to make clear my new address.  I had anticipated that might happen. so I gave her the phone number to the hotel so she could call and get the directions in Thai.  

Forty-five minutes later my order arrived, which was fairly quick given the distance involved.  Big Kahuna didn't use a moto driver for delivery, but the same pretty young waitress who'd served me my pancake breakfast the day before brought me the sandwich.  It consisted of ham, pulled pork. Swiss cheese and slices of dill pickle between the halves of a baguette that had been spread with butter and mustard, then toasted in a sandwich press.  It came with a choice of one side dish and a soft drink and I had picked coleslaw and Coke Zero.  It cost 285 baht plus 50 baht for delivery.

Some foods don't photograph attractively and a Cuban sandwich is one of them.  I did indeed taste better than it looked and nevertheless was a fair approximation of the Cuban sandwiches you get in Florida or a big city like New York.  

Cuban sandwiches should be made with Cuban bread, the recipe for which  includes lard as a shortening. This helps give the final loaf an exceptionally crisp crust and and airy. light interior compared to its French and Italian counterparts.  In NYC, I lived close to one of the best Cuban bakeries in the city, so getting Cuban sandwiches with the authentic bread wasn't a problem.  It would almost be an impossibility to find Cuban bread in Thailand and the Big Kahuna's substitution of a French baguette is the only option short of baking Cuban bread itself.

In the pic above, I've  opened the  sandwich and included the coleslaw, Coke and slice of dill pickle that came with the order.  Both the ham and pulled pork held a high standard.  You can't make a good cuban sandwich from a sow's ear.  I would have liked more mustard on the bread, but that's just personal preference.    on the sandwich overall.   The coleslaw was very good, with freshly grated cabbage and carrots.  It wasn't swimming in dressing and celery seeds had been added for flavor.   

Bottom line;  I won't hesitate to return to Big Kahuna to satisfy my infrequent longing for certain types of U.S. food, but I'm more likely to use the delivery option.

The restaurant has numerous specials on food and drink.

I'll post some menu pages from Big Kahuna's Facebook page as well.  Writing this review has made me think about a Reuben for lunch!

Evil

 

 

 

Cuba sandwich for the better part of $10 US?  I'm Sorry, but it just doesn't look like that's a good deal.  I'm in the USA and I can buy a Cuban sandwich cheaper than that.  Anyway, it looks like about 60 baht.  

[Odense 490]

3 hours ago, cbrib said:

He usually parks it way up on soi Siam Counry Club. I don't know the name if the soi that is the 4 way intersection but there is a 7/11 on the corner as well. It is the last 4 way  intersection before  Lake Maprachan. Location is near the old Black Pearl if that helps.

Maybe they are considering parking it in Pattaya or Jomtien sometimes now that the guesthouse is sold off.

[nkped 1,208]

The food truck had been across the street from the darkside Tops.  Ed has a FB page for it Up 2 You, hasn't been updated in a few weeks.

[4wheels 119]

On 1/14/2019 at 12:07 AM, Evil Penevil said:

says I.  I just read the following on Facebook: 

 

I'll try to find out if it's finito or he is just moving to a new location.

Evil

Even Google Maps says,"This place has been reported closed". That makes 2 places you recommend that are off my list now,after Pho Mr. Nam. 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Cheap Charlie's is one of three low-price restaurants evenly spaced along a half-kilometer stretch of Soi Buakhao in the heart of the LK Metro area.  The Chunky Monkey and Hungry Hippo are the other two bastions of budget bites on Buakhao, although several restaurants in that area have daily specials that put them in or slightly above the same price level. Competition for bargain baht is fierce around LK Metro!

CC's is located about 150 meters south of Soi Lengkee on the east side of the road.  I visited on a Sunday at about 2.30 p.m. It had about 25 customers at that time, which was considerably more than I saw at the Chunky Monkey or Hungry Hippo as I passed them on the way to CC's.

 "Cheap and cheerful" is an apt description for CC's.  It's open-front, but powerful and well-placed fans keep it cool. There's nothing fancy about the decor, but it's a comfortable and pleasant place for a meal with friendly service staff.  

I tried the roast chicken dinner for 99 baht.  At that price, it can't really be faulted.  It tasted fine and the portion was large enough for me.

You can certainly find better and bigger roast chicken dinners in Pattaya, but they'll cost three or four times as much.  The chicken was a large piece of breast  accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, roast and mashed potatoes, gravy and boiled vegetables, mostly cabbage and carrots.

The Yorkshire was a bit dense and the gravy slightly too salty for me, but those are minor quibbles. It was indeed good for 99 baht.

I had intended to try the roast lamb Sunday dinner, which I had read on a board went for 149 baht.  However, when I arrived, a sign out front said the price was 195 baht,  but a waitress hauled the sign in moments after I sat down.  Sure enough, the waitress who took my order said it was already sold out, so I had the roast chicken instead. I haven't had much luck with roast beef or pork dinners in budget restaurants.

CC's has an extensive menu centered on familiar British dishes, but also quite a few internationa (hamburgers, pasta)l, Indian, Chinese and Thai offerings. It's pretty much the standard fare for farang restaurants in Pattaya.  Here's an excerpt from CC's menu:

The roast dinners are available every day, not just Sundays. There are also daily specials at discounted prices.  Drinks are also reasonably priced at CC's:

Bottom line:  Cheap Charlie's is definitely a competitive entry in the crowded field of restaurants vying for budget-conscious customers who want farang food at  a low price. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Evil

Edited September 13, 2019 by Evil Penevil

[chippendalesam 37]

Very good to see you back EP. I enjoy your postings and opinions.

[Bullfrog 2,224]

9 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

Cheap Charlie's is one of three low-price restaurants evenly spaced along a half-kilometer stretch of Soi Buakhao in the heart of the LK Metro area.  The Chunky Monkey and Happy Hippo are the other two bastions of budget bites on Buakhao, although several restaurants in that area have daily specials that put them in or slightly above the same price level. Competition for bargain baht is fierce around LK Metro!

CC's is located about 150 meters south of Soi Lengkee on the east side of the road.  I visited on a Sunday at about 2.30 p.m. It had about 25 customers at that time, which was considerably more than I saw at the Chunky Monkey or Happy Hippo as I passed them on the way to CC's.

 "Cheap and cheerful" is an apt description for CC's.  It's open-front, but powerful and well-placed fans keep it cool. There's nothing fancy about the decor, but it's a comfortable and pleasant place for a meal with friendly service staff.  

I tried the roast chicken dinner for 99 baht.  At that price, it can't really be faulted.  It tasted fine and the portion was large enough for me.

You can certainly find better and bigger roast chicken dinners in Pattaya, but they'll cost three or four times as much.  The chicken was a large piece of breast  accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, roast and mashed potatoes, gravy and boiled vegetables, mostly cabbage and carrots.

The Yorkshire was a bit dense and the gravy slightly too salty for me, but those are minor quibbles. It was indeed good for 99 baht.

I had intended to try the roast lamb Sunday dinner, which I had read on a board went for 149 baht.  However, when I arrived, a sign out front said the price was 195 baht,  but a waitress hauled the sign in moments after I sat down.  Sure enough, the waitress who took my order said it was already sold out, so I had the roast chicken instead. I haven't had much luck with roast beef or pork dinners in budget restaurants.

CC's has an extensive menu centered on familiar British dishes, but also quite a few internationa (hamburgers, pasta)l, Indian, Chinese and Thai offerings. It's pretty much the standard fare for farang restaurants in Pattaya.  Here's an excerpt from CC's menu:

The roast dinners are available every day, not just Sundays. There are also daily specials at discounted prices.  Drinks are also reasonably priced at CC's:

Bottom line:  Cheap Charlie's is definitely a competitive entry in the crowded field of restaurants vying for budget-conscious customers who want farang food at  a low price. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Evil

Things may have changed there but I went in 3 times, on different days of the week, each time before 12 Noon. to grab a takeaway and was told "Chef too busy. Only breakfast"  ...Oddly 2 weeks ago I was having the "Scottish breakfast" in there and somebody was having the kebab special at 09:30 but I suspect he was a regular because it was brought to him without him ordering....Strange...

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Prime Burger has taken over the premises of the venerable but now defunct Butchers Arms across Soi Buakhao from the southern edge of Tree Town.

As the name makes clear,  Prime Burger is narrowly focused on premium burgers. In addition to hamburgers made from 100% imported Australian beef (70% chuck, 30% brisket) ground daily in the restaurant, the menu includes chicken, fish and vegetarian burgers as well as some traditional side dishes and salads. Prime Burger is a good option if you're in the mood for an upscale burger, but not if you want anything else. 

The interior features booth and table seating. There is a big screen TV on one wall and a pool table in the back section. For those who want to people watch or prefer dining al fresco, there are tables outside.

The burgers are named for cities around the world and come in three sizes (single-, double- and triple-patty). Each patty weighs 90 grams.  Eight different burgers are available. The New York Burger is a basic cheeseburger, but I chose the Paris Burger with cheese, U.S.-style smoked streaky bacon, tomato, lettuce, Dijon mustard and truffle mayo. 

On its Web site and printed menu, Prime Burger states "the quality of beef and ingredients" is the  key to making the best burger.  I  certainly won't disagree but add that proper execution by the cook is also important in producing a great burger.  Even the best ingredients can be mistreated in the kitchen and result in an unpalatable dish.

But the kitchen staff at Prime Burger got it right regarding the basics.   Quality ingredients were  well prepared to yield one of the tastiest burgers I've had in a long time.  Admittedly, I don't often eat hamburgers in Pattaya, so I don't have a large or up-to-date basis for comparison.

The owner of Prime Burger is a Swede who opened a Prime Burger in Phuket earlier this year and its Stockholm Burger promptly won the annual Phuket's Best Burger.  If the owner isn't doing the cooking himself, he's trained his staff well.

A bacon cheeseburger is straight out of Peoria or Omaha; it's the Dijon mustard and truffle mayo that gives the Paris Burger it's French twist.  I'm not sure truffle mayo  really has a place on a bacon cheeseburger; a more neutral base like pasta, eggs or mild meat and fish is needed for the truffle flavor to shine. 

A generous blob of Dijon mustard would have been a brilliant addition, as it would have added a contrasting bite to the fatty richness of the cheeseburger.  Alas, the cook had been rather stingy with the mustard and I couldn't notice any taste from the mustard or truffle mayo.  Nevertheless, as a straight-up bacon cheeseburger, it was very good.  The bun, the most overlooked component of burgers, was fresh and light, exactly how a hamburger bun should be.

I ordered the halloumi salad at 90 baht as my side.  Halloumi is cheese that originated in Cyprus and is traditionally made from sheep's milk. It has a low moisture content that makes it perfect for grilling and frying.  Halloumi has a unique taste that's hard to describe; it's sort of like feta, but milder and creamier.  I can't even recall seeing halloumi on a Pattaya menu before.

In modern times, halloumi has been made from cow's milk and I think (but can't be sure) that was the variation I got.  It had a good texture but very little flavor.  The vegetables,  pieces of vegetables (tomato, cucumber, green and red pepper) were freshly chopped.  Black olives provided the accent rather than the cheese.

Bottom line:  Next time I have a yearning for a hamburger, Prime Burger will be one of my options. I wouldn't say it's the best burger in Pattaya, but it's very good and the location is convenient for me.  I also want to try the Tokyo Burger (deep-fried fish).  The total cost of my meal (burger, salad and soda water) was 375 baht.

I'm not sure about Prime Burger's hours of business.  I got there at 2.30 p.m. and the staff was still putting out the settings on the outdoor tables. A "Closed" sign hung on the door, but the waitress told me to go inside and "wait five minute."  I believe it is supposed to be open between 3.00 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Evil

[sailingbill 1,025]

 Evil, As you know from our PM's ,my brother is in town and not on a budget. I appreciate your  sugggestions   Really likes nice restaurants but we dont want to stray from LKM  /Diana   As an aside am an getting no takers  for my usual 1k. , I give up. Ill do 2k   My brother is doing great  at Pandoras.,  i am not    Im no Gabor  .Ot  we onlly have one meal a day. Thinking Robins Nest.?.