Great Mama’s Royal Thai Food: Poj Spa Kar, Bangkok

[EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST ARTICLE BY OUR NEWEST VAGABLOND CONTRIBUTOR: DONALD WOO, WHO SPLITS HIS TIME BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THAILAND.]

I found this amazing restaurant by accident. It was recommended that I try out ChoteChitr, which is said to be one of the best Thai restaurants in the country. Fortunately, it was closed on that day, so I found Poj Sap Kar.

Situated near the famous mango sticky rice store, and a few steps away from ChoteChitr, you may easily miss this restaurant as the frontage looks ‘old’ & ‘low- profile’. Its small shop front is covered by brown stained glass. But I think that’s what grabbed my attention.

A small restaurant with about 20 seatings, I didn’t expect anything special until I flipped the menu and discovered that it specialized in Thai Royal Food. We have ordered few ‘royal’ dishes such as fried fish with seaweed, three-color rice with pork sauce, crispy rice with sour dried pork, lemon grass egg, garlic pork with liver & and shrimp paste with vegetable.

I was amazed by the great tastes and the friendly service, and I know this will be the restaurant where I will dine very often. We had a quick chat with the chef after the meal. She told us the restaurant was opened by her grandfather after his retirement from the royal family kitchen of the King Rama V 82 years ago. The recipes has been passed to the thrid generation, and I believe it will continue as all the staff are family members.

The chef is very nice and warm, and treated us like her children (she called us son & daugther!). She said she will give us a discount for our next visit, I won’t let her do that as the price is already very reasonable. All I want is this great mama’s Thai food!

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A: Tanao Road 443 (near the democratic monument)
T: 02-2222-686
Hours: 10.00-21.00 daily