Ban Khun Mae in Bangkok, Thailand
Kokaew first brought me to Ban Khun Mae in February 2006 when I started my research fellowships in Thailand. It was nostalgic getting to eat there again after 3 years when I first set-foot since that period was one of the loneliest and I really didn’t understand how I survived it. Looking back, I remember fond memories: and much of the fondness stems from having to eat a lot--my de facto defense mechanism. I spent Sunday lunches at Ban Khun Mae a lot, mostly on my own, other times with transient friends from all over. I lived in Thailand for six months, and this has been my favorite place for a number of reasons. Its beside Chulalongkorn University where I was based, everyone I’ve taken there has liked it a lot, and the food is really great. Located in the busy and traffic-laden Siam Square, Ban Khun Mae is a calm reprieve from the inanities of Bangkok. Its dark wood interior lends a calm atmosphere to the restaurant and the antiques and low-key lighting that fills the place give it a warm homey feel—a contrast to the commotion and noise that can be seen outside.
The real star of Ban Khun Mae is its traditional Thai food. While it can be argued that you can get this kind of meal anywhere in the streets, it is difficult to find the same consistent quality across a great number of dishes elsewhere. While most street food and other restaurants will have a specialty or a pool of dishes that make its reputation, Ban Khun Mae has great cooking all around, and it wouldn’t take a gourmand to know the difference in how refined the taste is compared to other traditional Thai restaurants in the city.
Some of my favorites that I ordered on this particular visit:
Crispy Noodles
Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)
Tom Yum Talay (Seafood in Galangal, Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime Leaves Soup)
Roast Duck in Red Curry Sauce. Hands down my favorite.
Steamed Snapper with Lime
Chicken Panang
Glutinous (Sticky) Rice and Mango
Other things to try: Chicken Satay, Steamed Prawn with Milk, Chicken Pandan, Baked Prawn With Glass Noodles, Green Curry, Deep Fried Grouper Topped with Sweet, Sour and Hot Sauce, Pad Thai and their Baked Rice in Pineapple. Their drinks are worth trying too: Lemongrass juice, Thai Milk Tea, Roselle Juice. Ban Khun Mae is located at 458/7-9 Siam Square Soi 8, Rama 1 Rd, Prathumwan, Bangkok. You can call (66-2) 658-4112 for reservations, or visit their website here.
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10 comments:
Lovely! If pictures paint a thousand words, these paint a million!!! Now if only I can get myself on a plane to Bangkok :)
Great posted, Great photos and very informative. All that yummy..;)
Ban Khun May!!! I'm surprised it isn't getting all the attention it deserves from both locals and expats in BKK. I thought the food here was impeccable and superb. I ate here thrice on a 4-day trip. And it's a good value for the money paid. Thanks for posting this.
Remember me, Joseph? Caylie here, we met through Han (from China) in Chulalongkorn. Anyway, I would just like to say you never took me here while I was there :p
Any chance of you coming back for another fellowship at Thailand? I'm thinking next year, and I was wondering if anyone from the 5th floor is still there.
Hi Caylie, of course I remember you. I really don't have any plans of coming back in the next few years or so. I went walking around Chula and passed by our old dorm hoping to see familiar faces. I was trying to see who occupied my room, yours and two other Filipinos who stayed on the fifth floor. Didn't Han stay on the 4th?
Hi, what camera do you use? The photos of the food are so mouth-watering and in photography, it's actually not that easy to make the food appear as delicious. Great blog!
thanks, anonymous. i used a canon eos350 (rebel xt) for this one.
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sticky rice w/ mango is my fave thai dessert!! :)
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