If you need a break from the street food scene in Bangkok, you better take it here. Thip Samai is known for having the best Pad Thai in the city, who knows if that’s true, but they could fool me.
The restaurant opens up at 5PM daily and a line starts to cue 15 minutes before hand which stretches down the block, entirely made of tourists. Try and get there early if you can. Despite its size, the line moves fast because the staff is trained very well. Orders are taken almost instantaneously and food comes out just as quick. A complimentary plate of bitter herb, bean sprouts, and lime juice made for a nice salad.
For the main, do yourself a favor and order the picture perfect pad thai wrapped in egg.
It is as tasty as it is beautiful. Lavish it with the peanuts set on the table. Noodles are velvety rich, and the vegetables melt in your mouth. Shrimp are absolutely succulent. You have to pair the meal with that vibrant orange juice everyone else is drinking. I’m not the biggest OJ fan and I’ve never had it with dinner before, but the bright color called to me. The juice is less tart and more sugary than normal orange juice, so refreshing after a hot day of exploring the city. This turned out to be Jeff’s favorite meal of the entire trip, it was that good.
Bonus: down the block is a nice little sitting park to digest your meal and watch for monitor lizards.
There were a bunch of them swimming up and down the canals and climbing up its walls to sun.
Quick Tips:
+Address: 313-315 Maha Chai Rd, Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
+Hours: 5:00PM-2:00AM, closed Sundays. Get there early!
+There is air conditioning
+Not far from the Golden Mount