Every so often a friend will give you the name of a restaurant to try. Unfortunately, very often it turns out to be a disappointment, but then there are the other times when the tip reveals a little gem. Kunpong Restaurant/Pizza House is one of those gems.
Firstly, how to find it, as it is not in the CBD of Pattaya, but in the ‘dark side’ region of Jomtien. To get there, I suggest you take the new Railway Road, heading from Pattaya, through Jomtien and when it reaches Huay Yai Road at the end then turn left heading towards Huay Yai itself. Around 1 km from the intersection, you will see a large illuminated sign with “Pizza House” on the right hand side. You have arrived. There is a parking space for about 20 cars beside the restaurant.
Of course, you can also approach it from Sukhumvit Road, taking the Huay Yai Road and past the end of the Railway Roads and then on for one kilometer.
The venue is quite large and open-sided and some parts are roofed in to afford shelter in the rainy season. Fairly rustic tables and benches, but clean. There are a couple of buildings in the enclosed areas and tidy toilets. At the front (roadside) is a bar and pizzeria with an Italianesque green, white and red canopy. The restaurant/bar has been there for four years, but the Pizzeria only for two months. In the garden section there is a TV projector and large screen, but showing Thai soaps in the main, though small children enjoy making shadow plays, which are definitely more interesting than the soap operas.
This restaurant is definitely one of the budget venues for Pattaya/Jomtien area. With local beers running between B. 40-55, you know from the outset that it will not be an expensive night. The different pizzas are also all at the same price – wait for it – B. 129, and the toppings are plentiful. These include salami, ham and mushroom, seafood, pepperoni, beef and mozzarella.
While still in the Italian/pasta department you can have fettuccini or lasagna for B. 89 and further on in the menu there are various pasta dishes for between B. 150-160.
The restaurant does advertise the fact that it caters for European tastes and again these are inexpensive. A choice of soups at B. 60 will not break the family budget. Even a prawn cocktail is only B. 150. Other starters include chicken wings (B. 120) and vegetarian spring rolls (B. 100).
For mains, there are various presentations of chicken, pork, beef and fish dishes with all around B. 150-380 (generally around B. 120), with fillet steak with vegetables and chips at the top of the list. Chicken pasta is B. 220 and the seafood medley B. 280.
There are a couple of pages of Thai items generally B. 100-150.
We have been to this restaurant a few times now and can vouch for the fact that the pizzas are excellent. A chicken steak was correctly cooked and the portion size more than adequate. The Thai food items were again excellent and cooked to Thai taste, so there is no problem for a Farang/Thai couple dining out. Last night we went with five people, had numerous pizzas, some Thai food dishes and several beers and soft drinks and the bill was around B. 800 at the end. An inexpensive night out. And good fun. Children are made very welcome too, making this restaurant somewhere you can take young children, without worrying what they might knock over!
We were taken by this venue with its cleanliness and the very friendly staff. Nothing was too much trouble. We have eaten there quite a few times now, and receive the same warm welcome. The pizzas are excellent value, the beers are cold and cheap, and you can take small children without a worry. Just as our friend recommended we try the Kunpong Restaurant/Pizza House, you will enjoy it. Good food, inexpensive and fun.
Kunpong Restaurant/Pizza House, Huay Yai Road (about 1 km from the Railway Road/Huay Yai Road intersection) on the right hand side heading towards Huay Yai, open seven days 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., off-street parking beside the restaurant. Telephone 089 244 1369.
