So's Place on Soi 15 Behind The Avenue

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

So's Place (Bar and Restaurant) is a small family-owned establishment on Soi 15 across the street from The Avenue shopping plaza. It serves standard Thai dishes at low prices, with only a couple of Western dishes on the menu.

The food is excellent and the service is very friendly. There's nothing fancy about So's Place, but it's cheap and cheerful, which is exactly what many tourists and long-term residents are looking for in a neighborhood eatery. It's open daily between noon and midnight, with last orders for food taken at 11.00 p.m.

So's has been in business for a few years and has built a loyal following. It recently expanded, taking over a beer bar next door and knocking down the wall between them. This is what it looked like before the expansion:

And now:

Most of the dishes at So's run between 80 and 120 baht. It's home-style Thai cooking by a lady who knows what she's doing.

The portions aren't huge, but they are certainly adequate. My favorite is the minced pork with holy basil.

It costs 80 baht, with an egg atop the rice an extra 15 baht.

The waitresses at So's ask each diner whether he or she wants the dish spicy. One nice is that diners get a cold towel before the meal.

EDIT IN: I'll add some text, but not much more is really needed. The dishes on the menu at So's will be familiar to anyone who enjoys Thai food.

Thai-style "omelette" filled with minced pork and vegetables:

Shrimp with black pepper and garlic:

Pork and vegetable stir-fry with oyster sauce:

Pad thai:

Pork noodle soup:

Crispy pork with kale:

Bottom line: If you want good Thai food at a low price, So's is an excellent choice. I should add that I eat frequently at So's, but not only on the basis of the food. It's a very convenient location for me.

Evil

Edited May 15, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[capdagde 1,954]

Nice to see So's Place has expanded. We ate there a few times last trip (2016) and found the price/quality excellent. We appreciated the small portions as we are not big eaters.

 

Andy Cap & Flo

[teelack 9,645]

Thanks for the review Evil. This is my sort of place where the cooking is personal and seems that the food looks authentic. I have been using places like this but the last two shut their doors and this looks like a good replacement. I also find that Thai girls are happy in unpretentious places like this and prefer the home made version to the restaurant sort.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Just a small update. I have pretty well eaten my way through the whole menu at So's, so I finally got around to trying the sweet and sour chicken, It and chicken with cashews are the last two dishes I order at a Thai restaurant. Nothing inherently wrong with either, but all too often they' are adapted to meet farang expectations based on Chinese restaurants in the West.

I'm happy to say that wasn't the case at So's. It wasn't overly sweet from sugar or a plateful of pineapple chunks.

The dish had plenty of vegetables and chicken, with only a couple of pieces of pineapple. The sauce was indeed well balanced between sweet and sour. It cost 80 baht.

I won't be hesitant to try the chicken with cashews at So's!

Evil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I did try the chicken with cashews and it was very good! However, So's is closed Friday and Saturday due to the Buddha days.

 

 

 

Evil

Edited July 30, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[JONPAT 222]

Thanks for the review. I will be stopping by, seems a great place for a bite to eat before or after a movie at the Major.

[Alphonse 109]

Thanks, Evil. Been wondering about So's since I pass by fairly often. Have you tried any of the food stalls on the ground floor of The Avenue? A walk through there is always greeted with very tempting smells coming from the eateries.

[jacko 8,822]

I did try the chicken with cashews and it was very good! However, So's os closed Friday and Saturday due to the Buddha days.

 

 

Evil

Looked to be closed yesterday (Sunday) too. Missed some good days for business.

[helloitsme 251]

Have you tried any of the food stalls on the ground floor of The Avenue? A walk through there is always greeted with very tempting smells coming from the eateries.

 

I ate regularly at several of those during my last stay a few months ago. Many seemed to offer the same, so it was a case (for me anyway ) of finding one I liked and sticking with them. 50b gave me a plate of something with rice (chicken in various forms, pork, and sauce) or a noodle soup. Almost miss my daily feed there most about my trip...

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Thanks, Evil. Been wondering about So's since I pass by fairly often. Have you tried any of the food stalls on the ground floor of The Avenue? A walk through there is always greeted with very tempting smells coming from the eateries.

 

 

The eateries and other stalls in the back covered section have been cleared out. It's empty now. The front open-air section beside the fountain still has food stalls and tables for sit-down dining. I haven't tried it yet.

 

Another good meal at So's. I was hungry last night, so I had a big bowl of pork noodle soup for 80 baht:

followed by garlic fried spare ribs at 145 baht. The ribs were meaty and tender, while the sliced garlic had been fried crispy without any burning. With rice and a bottle of water, the meal cost 280 baht in all.

Evil

[Alphonse 109]

I was shocked yesterday to see all the food stalls gone. After looking around I saw a small sign on the escalator noting that the stalls had been moved upstairs. That space is much more cramped, hot, and uncomfortable; there was often a very nice breeze passing through the ground floor location that made eating there more attractive. What this is all about I have no clue; remodel, space for new business, city regulations run amok?? If anyone has a clue would love to know. Pattaya seems to be engaged in a battle not only with beach road ladies but also food vendors---making Pattaya safe for the Chinese...

 

Tried So's twice---was good and will be making it a regular stop.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I was shocked yesterday to see all the food stalls gone. After looking around I saw a small sign on the escalator noting that the stalls had been moved upstairs.

 

Yes, the back section of the ground floor of The Avenue has been cleared. Tonight a six-member crew was washing it down.

 

 

 

The front bottom section still has food stalls, plus more tables and chairs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new eating section has opened on the second floor:

 

 

 

A Thai man was celebrating his birthday with his wife and a friend. He asked me to take pics. I will email him a copy of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Evil

Edited August 2, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[Fireman Sam 336]

Apologies for the -1 red, fat finger syndrome on my iPad trying to give you a green.

 

 

 

 

Regards

[helloitsme 251]

Apologies for the -1 red, fat finger syndrome on my iPad trying to give you a green.

Regards

Evened it up for ya!

 

The birthday boy is hubby of the lady who cooked my lunch most days last trip. Hardly any English between them, but I never went hungry, got credit from them various times when I only had a 1000 note, and was used as a guinea pig for a few new dishes they produced.

 

Really miss my 50b cow man gai!

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

So's is closed for a "major renovation," according to a sign on the front metal shutter.

 

Evil