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

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

An update on My Way's beef tenderloin file (180 grams, or (EDIT IN to correct error) 6.3 ounces for Americans) at 295 baht.

 

 

It comes with a small side salad and choice of potatoes, which in my case was fried.

 

 

 

The beef was tender and full of flavor. My Way has held a high standard through the years regarding its beef. I would have preferred the gravy on the side, but I forgot to tell the waitress and got it European style.

 

 

It was cooked as I ordered it, medium rare.

 

 

 

Bottom line: My Way (in the arcade on 2nd Road that runs beside Kiss Food and Beefeater) remains a good option for those who want decent beef but aren't prepared to spend a lot.

 

Evil

Edited October 26, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[MM 6,562]

 

Posted Today, 12:23 PM

 

 

An update on My Way's beef tenderloin file (180 grams, or 11.25 ounces for Americans) at 295 baht.

 

 

 

 

180g is not 11 oz...it's about 6oz.

 

For comparison, here's what an 11 oz steak looks like

 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

180g is not 11 oz...it's about 6oz.

Oops! Thanks. Corrected that now. I should have just left it at 180 grams.

 

Evil

Edited October 26, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[parry 58]

The steak at My Way looks good and seems to be a fair old size. I bet it looks even better when its cooked

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

The steak at My Way looks good and seems to be a fair old size. I bet it looks even better when its cooked

 

That's exactly how I like my steak. As my grandfather would say, the only way to cook beef a long time is in a stew.

 

Evil

[GulfportBob 1]

It's been a long time since I've eaten at Rich Man, Poor Man. Thank you for giving me a reminder. I took a gander at RMPM's Facebook page and saw that they had plenty of options under 300 baht.

 

Untitled-7.jpg

 

Huevos rancheros is a North Mexican and Tex Mex dish consisting of a tortilla, sauce, eggs and sometimes other ingredients like refried beans. At RMPM, it is served Tex-Mex style with a flour tortilla topped with chili con carne; two eggs any style; as well as onion, cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream. Cost is 225 baht.

 

Untitled-8.jpg

 

The BBQ pork ribs cost 245 baht and the 12" pizza is 225 baht.

 

 

Yet another restaurant I haven't been to for a good while. I particularly liked the chiliburger: good Tex-Mex chili con carne on a thick hamburger patty.

 

 

 

Evil

I have eaten there and it is good.

[GulfportBob 1]

I cannot remember ever receiving a bad meal in Thailand.

I am not a foodie, but I do enjoy having good tasting food. I get that even in the food courts in BC and in the old food court in Tuccom.

I have enjoyed every bowl of soup that I have had on the street. Food does not have to be expensive to be good. It is all in the preparation.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Since reviewing restaurants has become a hazardous undertaking in Pattaya, I've ordered some new outfits to wear while out and around:

 

 

The first will be for street wear, the second for sleeping as well in case one morning I wake up with a problem.

 

Seriously, I still have NO IDEA which of my reviews could have caused anyone so much distress that they would want to get back at me in real life. If any of my reports or reviews contain errors of fact, I'm happy to correct them. If you have a different opinion to mine- and board members often do- you are free to post a direct response or start your own thread on any of the boards. But I can't fix anything if I don't know what is wrong. I want to stress that in all the years I've been doing food reviews on the punter boards, no restaurant or bar owner has ever reacted negatively to them, not through a post, a PM or any other type of communication.

 

So if any reader feels I've written a review that's been unfair, please let me know what's wrong.

 

Anyway, I decided to go out last night and have a meal minus protective gear. I went to Retox Game On (2nd Road and Soi Honey) to try the daily special, the Insanity Burger at 285 baht, including a bottle of SML. From Retox Game On's Facebook page.

 

 

The meal in the pic was very close to what came down in front of me, which isn't always the case.

 

 

The Insanity Burger consisted of a thick beef patty topped with cheese, two slices of streaky bacon, onion rings, lettuce and a couple of slices of tomato. The bun was fresh. The burger came with a generous helping of thick-cut U.K.-style chips, what might be called pan fries or potato wedges in the U.S. There was also a small portion of cole slaw.

 

 

The onion rings were great, the rest of the meal was OK. I'm not a fan of thick-cut chips but that is purely a personal preference. A friend who had the same order thought the chips were fine.

 

 

There was a lot of food on the plate, so it was value for money at 285 baht, considering the price included a beer. It's not the best burger I've had - the beef patty needed a bit of seasoning- but it was definitely OK. I like onion rings and I'll be back to enjoy a full order of them.

 

Evil

Edited November 8, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

A bargain tip for sandwich lovers. The Food Hall (supermarket) at Central Festival has a 2-for-1 special for 129 baht most days after 9.00 p.m. If I have my way past CF at that hour, I'll often pick a couple of sandwiches. The sandwiches are decent sized and it would be hard for me to polish off both in one sitting, so it's usually a post-go go snack and lunch the next day.

 

One sandwich was salami, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce on a bun; the other was ham, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce on light rye. No complaints about either.

 

 

They don't rank among the best sandwiches I've had, but are good value for money by Pattaya standards.

 

 

The Food Hall at CF has been rearranged. The bakery section has been moved and is smaller than before. The salad bar is bigger and there's more prepared hot food for take away. The booze section has been expanded and a lot of other changes have been made as well. Very few items are in the same place as before.

 

Evil

 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

On Sunday, I had the daily special at Retox Game On- the Sunday roast. It's offered in both small (199 baht) and large portions (299 baht), with a choice of beef, lamb, pork or chicken as the meat. I got there around 9.00 p.m.- late for a Sunday roast dinner - and beef was was the only option left, but that's what I would have ordered anyway. It came with Yorkshire pudding; veggies; roast and mashed potatoes; stuffing; a mini U.K. pig in a blanket (sausage wrapped with bacon); and gravy.

 

I chose the small portion and it was plenty enough for me. The meal was good, but I've had better in Pattaya, albeit at a high price. And here I have to be both fair and realistic. I'm sure the meal would have been better if I'd gotten to Retox closer to the start of service at noon. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding is best when fresh from the oven. A small restaurant in Pattaya isn't set up to serve food on the same basis as a Las Vegas casino buffet casino restaurant that does hundreds of covers in an evening. It's my own fault I didn't get there earlier. I plan on trying the Sunday roast at Retox again but will go in the early afternoon.

I got a generous slice of beef and two smaller slices. The meat had a lot of flavor but it was slightly- just slightly- chewy and perhaps a bit overcooked. I blame that on the latest of the hour. The vegetables were cooked al dente, just as I prefer them.

The Yorkshire pudding was fine, light and crisp on the outside, like my grandmother. It had definitely been in a very hot oven with the right amount of fat.

Unfortunately the roast potatoes hadn't been in the oven long enough. No color and uncooked on the inside. The stuffing and mashed potatoes were good. I skipped the bacon-wrapped sausage as it's not something I normally like.

Bottom line: The Sunday roast at Retox is definitely worth a try and value for money, but get there early.

One other note: At 9.00 p.m., the inside section of Retox was full almost to the last seat with football fans watching a match. The body heat of the patrons and the many smokers made it a bit stuffy inside, so I took a seat on the veranda. The outside fan worked well and there was a good breeze coming off the sea, so it was cooler outside than in.

(Edit in to add information about smoking in Retox Game On). Half the enclosed area is no smoking. In the part of the bar closest to the entrance from Soi Honey, smoking is allowed but forbidden in the other half. Unknowingly, I sat in the smoking section on my previous visits. I will make sure I sit in the non-smoking section during my next meal at Retox.

Evil

Edited November 22, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[MM 6,562]

Careful, EP! Have you seen Simon?

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Careful, EP! Have you seen Simon?

 

Nope, never. Is he Australian?

 

Evil

[MM 6,562]

 

Nope, never. Is he Australian?

 

Evil

No, he's English and the owner of Retox

 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I want to wish everyone a ...

 

whether you'll be eating turkey with all the trimmings or not!

 

 

It's actually been fun doing this thread. The comments have been reasonable even when there's disagreement. And for that I am thankful!

 

Evil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

And some information> I haven't tried this restaurant, so I can't recommend it. Just passing on the info of a special promotion through Nov. 30.

It's located on Soi 14 near the intersection with Soi 15. If you enter Soi 14 from Pattaya Tai and walk towards WS, White Pines is on your left.

I plan on trying it soon, hopefully before the promotion expires.

Evil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Monday night I tried the burger at the newly opened White Pines restaurant near WS and close by the intersection of Sois 14 and 15. At the promotional price of 89 baht, it was a good deal. The four basic food groups (burgers, pizza, pasta and fried meat) are well represented and I'll be sampling as many as I can through Nov. 30, the last day of the 89-baht promotion. However, prices will remain low, with many fixed at 89 baht and the most expensive 129 baht.

Overall, I have a positive impression of White Pines. I can (and will) quibble a bit about the food, but it is as good as many and a lot better than some other restaurants that serve farang food in Pattaya. White Pines is cheap and cheerful with a friendly staff, apparently members of the same family. It's a good option for anyone heading to or from WS between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 a.m.

When I've eaten there, I've been the only customer and I've never seen anyone eating there on the occasions I've walked past. I hope they're able to develop a customer base as a low-price restaurant offering farang food is a welcome addition to the WS scene. However, it's a tough market to crack and I wish the owners of White Pines the best of luck. They'll need it.

Was it the best hamburger I've had in Pattaya? Definitely not, but it passed the taste test with a B score. It was one of the best burgers I had under 100 baht. Not every meal will be a culinary peak but can nevertheless be good, especially as a snack.

I got a nice beef patty, cooked medium rare as I asked, topped with cheese, caramelized onions and sweet peppers on a trendy charcoal black bun. The taste isn't affected. A lot of veggies (raw onion, sweet pepper, tomato and lettuce) had been piled under patty.

For me, the burger didn't really fit together, literally or figuratively. As soon as the stick holding the components in place was removed, the burger fell a part on the wooden serving plate. I disassembled it and ate the cheese-covered patty with knife and fork, alternating with with bites of the bun and some of the veggies. It was not a "hands-on" burger.

The onions and peppers hadn't been fried long enough to become truly caramelized and the raw veggies didn't really add anything to the burger experience. The components in any "assembled" dish should complement each other and they don't in this case.

But that's no big thing and if I have the White Pines' burger again, I'll just ask them to skip the raw veggies. Considering the price, I have no serious complaints, just a few hassles with eating it. The French fries which came with the burger were good, freshly fried and crispy. I would have liked for them to have remained in the fryer a bit longer, but that's purely a personal preference.

I also ordered a Greek salad at 89 baht. Authentic it wasn't, but still pretty good. Lettuce isn't part of a traditional Greek salad and the Whites Pines' version lacked herbs (oregano or mint). However, it did have more feta cheese and black olives than some so-called Greek salads I've had. One has to be realistic. There are very few restaurants in Pattaya that serve anything close to a village-style Greek salad and they charge more than 89 baht. I regarded the Whites Pines' salad as "Greek-inspired" rather than Greek and it went down well enough.

Last night I had the pork chop. It was a good chop, cooked properly and with plenty of flavor. There were again a few minor misses, but nothing serious. The menu says you have a choice of fries or mashed potatoes, but the mash was finished (I was eating at 11.30 p.m.), so I got fries.

To ease any disappointment, the lady in the kitchen gave me a free appetizer. It was basic bruschetta, diced tomatoes and basil dressed with oil and balsamic vinegar on grilled bread. No surprises in taste and a nice gesture on her part.

I was a bit puzzled when my chop appeared on the table. There had been a choice of about six sauces and I picked peppercorn. However, the chop arrived with a little bit of BBQ sauce already on it. I don't know if that was intentional or a mistake, but the BBQ sauce was damn good and I wish I'd chosen it instead of the peppercorn.

No problem to finish the pork chop; I just wish it had come with mash potatoes.

The interior of Whites Pines is clean and well-lit, which is always a positive factor for me. The enclosed section doesn't have air conditioning (at least none I could see), but the fans kept the temperature at a comfortable level.

The staff is very welcoming and friendly. I certainly didn't lack for attention, but I was the only customer.

Bottom line: As long as White Pines holds its current quality, I, like Gen. MacArthur to the Philippines, shall return.

Evil

[MM 6,562]

I'll give them a try...thanks.

[Dungheap 243]

Very well balanced review Evil.

 

Raw onions have no place on a burger, IMHO, only good for making one feel bloated ... and follow up gas!

 

Caramelised all the way.

Edited November 30, 2016 by Dungheap

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Here's another quick suggestion for under-300-baht dining on WS: P72 Restaurant.

 

 

 

The open-front bar and restaurant only not provides one of the classic spots for people watching, the food isn't bad. It doesn't reach any culinary heights, but it doesn't scrape any bottoms. either. The other night I had what the menu called "spaghetti with meat sauce" for 150 baht. If they had called it "spaghetti bolognese," I would have been more critical because spag bol should at a minimum have an Italian-inspired flavor. The "spaghetti with meat sauce" at P72 had no spices or herbs of any kind, at least none I could taste. The tomato sauce was thick and full of ground beef and chopped onion, with some bits of green pepper. However, it hadn't been seasoned in the slightest.

 

 

It came with two pieces of bread that had been warmed, but were no where near toast. "Bland" is the word that comes to mind It wasn't bad, just bland. Maybe I'm more tolerant of such food because I grew up eating similar. My dad didn't like spices or herbs of any kind and my mom made the same sort of spaghetti with meat sauce.

 

 

But I learned a lesson all those years ago that holds to this very day: you can always add seasoning to a dish, you just can't take it away. With a bit of vinegar, chili powder and a splash of Worcestershire, it was fine. Not Italian spaghetti by any description, but all meat sauce over spaghetti doesn't have to be Italian.

 

 

Portion size was good.

 

 

P72 isn't exactly the type of restaurant to which you'd take your best girl for her birthday, but it's OK option for a quick bite when on WS, although the NY Diner is better.

 

Evil

Edited December 1, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[nkped 1,208]

EP, the spaghetti does look familiar from my childhood.

[Kev 178]

Sorry the spaghetti looks like shite from my childhood :-)

[Dungheap 243]

Thanks again Evil for these reviews.

 

But what "herbs and spices" go into an authentic bolognese sauce?

 

While regional variations of an authentic "ragu" vary even in Italy, I believe most classic recipes don't have herbs and spices.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Thanks again Evil for these reviews. But what "herbs and spices" go into an authentic bolognese sauce? While regional variations of an authentic "ragu" vary even in Italy, I believe most classic recipes don't have herbs and spices.

 

These discussions can get complicated. I wasn't thinking about an authentic ragù alla bolognese, but the dish that is generally called spaghetti bolognese outside Italy. In Bologna, the classic version of ragù is usually served mixed with tagliatelle or other "broad" pasta, not spaghetti. Tomatoes play a much lesser role in the flavor profile and it's not a runny sauce. Here' s what real ragù alla bolognese looks like:

 

 

But in the rest of the world, spaghetti bolognese has become the term used for spaghetti with a tomato sauce that includes ground beef (the bolognese connection). That type of sauce also includes oregano and bay leaves. An "Italian seasoning mix" that is mostly oregano and thyme, but could include marjoram, sage and rosemary, might be used instead.

 

Evil

[teelack 9,645]

On a couple of occasions each time in Pattaya I look forward to a roast dinner.

 

There are so many options in the Soi Buakhao area for eat all you can for about 300 baht. I really have no interest in these all you can eat meals and I have more than enough trouble getting through the place that I go to. The Coins Restaurant is in Soi Buakhao about 100 metres past Soi Diane heading South. It has indoor and outdoor seating, all the English newspapers and comfortable chairs.

 

The price for their Sunday Roast has just increased from 149 baht to 169 baht but IMHO is still great value. There are two meats on the plate, usually pork and chicken, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, some greens, Yorkshire pudding and a jug of gravy on the side. I stagger back after eating a meal of this size so you might like to give it a go.

[Bullfrog 2,224]

On a couple of occasions each time in Pattaya I look forward to a roast dinner.

 

There are so many options in the Soi Buakhao area for eat all you can for about 300 baht. I really have no interest in these all you can eat meals and I have more than enough trouble getting through the place that I go to. The Coins Restaurant is in Soi Buakhao about 100 metres past Soi Diane heading South. It has indoor and outdoor seating, all the English newspapers and comfortable chairs.

 

The price for their Sunday Roast has just increased from 149 baht to 169 baht but IMHO is still great value. There are two meats on the plate, usually pork and chicken, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, some greens, Yorkshire pudding and a jug of gravy on the side. I stagger back after eating a meal of this size so you might like to give it a go.

 

This might be an option for Xmas Day so I shall check it out too.

 

EP....Do you have any suggestions for Xmas Dinner....????

 

Bite Me is definately one option...The girls are sort of "family" to me in there too....

 

Jolly's is doing a buffet for 599 Baht by the way...

 

Casa Pascal is 1,395 for early sitting and 1,695 for late sitting (both prices are from memory and are ball park figures)

Edited December 1, 2016 by Bullfrog