Fra Pattaya on Beach Road near 2nd Road

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Fra Pattaya offers Thai and Thai-style Chinese food at very reasonable prices. It's near the intersection of Beach Road and 2nd Road and a stone's throw from the Beach Road entrance to Walking Street.

OK, I'll say it first to steal the thunder from the trolls: Tourist trap! Tourist trap! Because of its location, Fra Pattaya sometimes called a tourist trap, but that's unfair. The food that has been served up by Fra Pattaya to hungry tourists and locals for decades is tasty and inexpensive, even though it may cost more than at comparable restaurants away from Walking Street.

Every time I've eaten there, the majority of guests have been Thais and Asian tourists. Fra Pattaya also does a lot of take-away business, with a steady stream of vehicles stopping to pick up orders.

For the visitor heading to Walking Street for the evening or returning home after a night out, Fra Pattaya is a good option for a meal. I'm well aware that better and cheaper Thai food may be available elsewhere, but that's not relevant if you feel hungry at 3.00 a.m. after visiting WS.

The menu is extensive and covers the whole range of Thai and Thai-style Chinese dishes. Roast duck, pork and seafood are emphasized. Service is fast and attentive, but can seem a bit abrupt. That's often the case in Thai no-frills restaurants that churn out plate after plate throughout the day.

As said, Fra Pattaya has been around since the 1980s and some of the photos on its walls commemorate Pattaya in bygone days.

Duck is the house specialty and comes in several forms and portion sizes.

The deep-fried chicken wings are a personal favorite of mine, here with a serving of crab fried rice.

Chicken leg and thigh with mushrooms and veggies is another dish that hits the spot after a night's drinking.

Two kinds of shrimp, stir-fried and deep-fried.

All these dishes cost between 90 baht and 160 baht. No culinary heights, but decent for the money,

[izzyg 37]

I eat here at least once every trip. The service staff is a bit grumpy, but food is good and quick.

[Idefix 2,275]

Fra Pattaya sometimes called a tourist trap, but that's unfair.

IMHO there are some good reasons if this place is considered "a tourist trap", and the main one is that it has often been a tourist trap !

 

I don't remember when they made their last major renovation... maybe 2-3 years ago. At this occasion all their prices made a big jump upwards . During several months I never saw many people inside, and prices may have been the reason. Then someone may have understand that, and one day surprise: a full new set of prices with a big prices drop. I remember one precise plate going down from 140 to 90 baht! The difference between excessive and acceptable.

 

For the rest, even if I walked past it countless of times, I will not comment on the food as the last time I eat there was more that 10 years ago...

[jacko 8,815]

I think it was over ten years since I last went in, it looks the same!

First taken in by a TG, heaven knows how long back that was, I bet over 20 years.

Once off it was a place for very good fast Thai dishes, I often went for their duck curry.

One day in the past I took a look inside and it had lost that 'Thainess' atmosphere.

 

Next door but 2 or 3 was The Berlin Cafe where I often had lunch, their soups (particularly Hungarian Goulash) with fresh baguette hit the spot. They seemed to have an excellent selection of cakes, no fairy cakes though, they did the serving.

 

Thanks for the memories.

[Butch 3,456]

Evil, sorry for sounding like a pedantic cunt but is it kind of opposite Bamboo, or at least on the same stretch of road?.

 

Looks great and for a last minute grab'n'go choice out of WS it takes some beating. I must have walked past it and fancied taking one of those chickens...(2:49 onwards)

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWmGrR9a818

Edited August 19, 2016 by Butch

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Evil, sorry for sounding like a pedantic cunt but is it kind of opposite Bamboo, or at least on the same stretch of road?.

 

Looks great and for a last minute grab'n'go choice out of WS it takes some beating. I must have walked past it and fancied taking one of those chickens...(2:49 onwards)

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWmGrR9a818

It's in the same dog-leg stretch of Beach Road as Bamboo, but at a diagonal across the street. Fra Pattaya is closer to the intersection with 2nd Road.

 

Evil

[jacko 8,815]

It's in the same dog-leg stretch of Beach Road as Bamboo, but at a diagonal across the street. Fra Pattaya is closer to the intersection with 2nd Road.

 

Evil

Yes I would say it is just closer to Second Rd, next door to the Indian (Raj). Google Maps

[jacko 8,815]

Yes I would say it is just closer to Second Rd, next door to the Indian (Raj). Google Maps

That said, I was there yesterday and was looking back across the street from Fra Pattaya, and thinking my ancient memory of the place was of it being closer to Beach Rd. Did it ever move a few shop-houses East?

[MM 6,562]

That said, I was there yesterday and was looking back across the street from Fra Pattaya, and thinking my ancient memory of the place was of it being closer to Beach Rd. Did it ever move a few shop-houses East?

Yes, it did...I was also confused by that when I went looking for it closer to Beach Road and it had gone. It used to be across from the Bamboo club, but now that is a REMAX and a WAWEE COFFEE from Google Street view.

 

Here is the current location of Fra Pattaya.

 

Back in 2008, when the pattayaphotoguide.com site was taking pictures, it shows the old location of Fra Pattaya.

 

Nice to know you aren't going crazy, eh?

[jacko 8,815]

Yes, it did...I was also confused by that when I went looking for it closer to Beach Road and it had gone. It used to be across from the Bamboo club, but now that is a REMAX and a WAWEE COFFEE from Google Street view.

 

Here is the current location of Fra Pattaya.

 

Back in 2008, when the pattayaphotoguide.com site was taking pictures, it shows the old location of Fra Pattaya.

 

Nice to know you aren't going crazy, eh?

Yes it sure is!

And Butch had a point too.

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

Like duck, so this is always a venue I go to. I usually like my food hotter but this is a decent place. Thanks Evil for reminding me.

[Harvey 249]

Have been working in and out of South America the last 1.5 years (nightlife stuff with hot and cold running women is just outstanding.) But am getting transferred to Asia nextt week.

 

I'm taking a week of vacation before I start and thinking about swinging by ptt. @Evil -- how does the duck here compare to Leng Kee? I'm craving some really good roast duck.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

More pics from Fra Pattaya:

 

 

Really good noodle soup with wontons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another favorite of mine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I really like the squid in the sizzling pan!

And another good noodle dish for the nights you've had too much to drink.

Grilled pork:

Evil

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

I feed the ducks in the park with their little ones. I feel guilty that I love duck as a meal. One reason I go to see a therapist on a regular basis.

[SimplySam 517]

Hi,

 

I feed the ducks in the park with their little ones. I feel guilty that I love duck as a meal. One reason I go to see a therapist on a regular basis.

 

I thought it was for the long years awaiting the BBBUUUSSST prediction to transpire.

[SimplySam 517]

Have been working in and out of South America the last 1.5 years (nightlife stuff with hot and cold running women is just outstanding.) But am getting transferred to Asia nextt week.

 

I'm taking a week of vacation before I start and thinking about swinging by ptt. @Evil -- how does the duck here compare to Leng Kee? I'm craving some really good roast duck.

 

My view is Leng Kee roast duck is the best in any Pattaya reasonably priced place but FP is good too. Which to go to for me depends on where I am at the moment, so WS area then FP, Central Pattaya then Leng Kee.

 

Don't discount MK if you are dining with a pooying; MK has to be in the Top 10 of all Thai restaurants for pooying, and their roast duck is about as good as anywhere.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

My view is Leng Kee roast duck is the best in any Pattaya reasonably priced place but FP is good too. Which to go to for me depends on where I am at the moment, so WS area then FP, Central Pattaya then Leng Kee.

 

Don't discount MK if you are dining with a pooying; MK has to be in the Top 10 of all Thai restaurants for pooying, and their roast duck is about as good as anywhere.

 

 

I agree with the above. Leng Kee is probably better for a full meal but Fra Pattaya is good if you are in the WS area. And the duck at MK is excellent, plus the girls love the hot-point style cooking.

 

Ecil

[wacmedia 277]

 

I thought it was for the long years awaiting the BBBUUUSSST prediction to transpire.

 

HI,

 

Well we've arrived at the faithful day at last.

[SimplySam 517]

 

HI,

 

Well we've arrived at the faithful day at last.

 

The rest of us must have missed it.

[nkped 1,208]

HI,

 

Well we've arrived at the faithful day at last.

The rest of us must have missed it.

Perhaps some obscure C of E feast day.

[Patna 3,802]

 

My view is Leng Kee roast duck is the best in any Pattaya reasonably priced place but FP is good too. Which to go to for me depends on where I am at the moment, so WS area then FP, Central Pattaya then Leng Kee.

 

Don't discount MK if you are dining with a pooying; MK has to be in the Top 10 of all Thai restaurants for pooying, and their roast duck is about as good as anywhere.

 

I also prefer Leng Kee over FP. Never had a disappointing meal there, on the other hand my last two in FP were just that, disappointing, to be polite.

[wacmedia 277]

 

I also prefer Leng Kee over FP. Never had a disappointing meal there, on the other hand my last two in FP were just that, disappointing, to be polite.

 

Hi,

 

Checked out the site. Seems a more upmarket venue. That is not always a guarentee of better food however.

[MM 6,562]

 

Hi,

 

Checked out the site. Seems a more upmarket venue. That is not always a guarentee of better food however.

Lengkee Restaurant "upmarket"? Now that's my laugh for the day. Thanks.

[jacko 8,815]

Lengkee Restaurant "upmarket"? Now that's my laugh for the day. Thanks.

It's opposite a market isn't it?

 

I went to a special celebration dinner there and we used the room at the back, we had waiters!

Edited September 28, 2016 by jacko