It has been previously pointed out that Jomtien is
rapidly becoming the culinary hub of the Eastern Seaboard, and if you are
looking for authentic Thai food, then Chaiyapruek Road Jomtien seems to be
becoming the hub of hubs! Recently the Dining Out Team has been to Baan
Chaiyapruek (up-market Thai food in the music garden) and Thai Tam (a well
above average roadside restaurant).
However,
since then we had noticed a new restaurant popping up around 500 metres up
from the beach on the left hand side heading towards Sukhumvit (and 100
metres past NPC Village). Each day new buildings have appeared, plus an
excavated island, toilets and a rotunda. Noticing that it was already well
patronized we felt we should take a look.
The restaurant is a joint venture between ex-World
Champion jet ski rider Pichet Settura and his good lady, with Pichet’s Mum
as the cook. Was it a recipe for success, we wondered? An invitation was
arranged and we ventured along.
The restaurant is not any one building, but a series of
thatched roof structures in a garden setting. There is a sit-up bar closest
to the road, with concrete block pathways wending their ways through the
complex. You can dine on the causeway to the (man made) island, or sit up in
the rotunda, or choose one of the air-conditioned separate buildings. If I
said there is an electric mini-bike track at the rear would you believe me?
You’d better, there is!
We chose the rotunda, which is called Pier 69 after the
famous one in San Francisco (and there is another in Brisbane, Australia for
lovers of unassociated trivia).
The menu is a laminated two sided affair, with ‘some’
English, but if you want to be able to choose from the entire menu, a Thai
speaking friend would help. Since the restaurant had only been open for a
few weeks, this may have changed by the time you go. The friendly service
staff will help out in ‘emergencies’ too.
The items on offer begin with a range of salads all at B.
80 and include squid, spicy glass noodle, cockles, shrimp and seafood. There
is even a spicy oyster, spicy egg and crab or spicy fish salad as well.
Steamed cockles are on the menu too, at B. 100.
The northern larb dishes are only B. 60 and cover pork,
chicken and beef. Wok items include stir fried pork or chicken with chilli
sauce at B. 40, stir fried chicken and cashews B. 80, stir-fried squid with
salty egg B. 80 and garlic and pepper squid or prawn at B. 80.
Some different dishes are offered, including the
Chaiyapruek BBQ pork at B. 60, nam prik kapi with vegetables at B. 100,
deep-fried mushroom for B. 80 and a deep-fried fish with mango and fish
sauce - market value by weight.
Other items are spicy deep fried pork at B. 60, tom yum
ruamit at B. 80 and tom yum goong at B. 120
The drinks are over the page, and are also inexpensive,
and the owners had fun with the ‘69’ concept, with Heineken B. 69 and 96
(large), Kloster B. 69 and a bottle Mekong B. 369!
We had a number of items to taste and the fried fish with
the nam pla prik with onion and mango was very good. The coconut nam prik
kapi with vegetables was another very interesting dish. It was also hot to
my taste, but Madame (Thai) said that it was her favourite.
There was no escaping the fact that this restaurant was
serving authentic Thai (taste) food, and the items had not been
‘westernized’. The use of kapi and nam prik underline this. It is a
casual eating place and would be best along with a few casual guests. It is
inexpensive and good fun value for money. Look for the illuminated sign for
Oo-Kao-Oo-Nam in Thai, if you can read it, or the one saying Pier 69 in
English.
Oo-Kao-Oo-Nam (Pier 69), Chaiyapruek Road, 100 metres past NPC Village on
the left, telephone 09 748 0496. Parking outside. Open from 4 p.m. every
day.
