Exploring Local Cuisine of Phetchaburi, Thailand

The last part of Chill Out Thailand Trip in three provinces in the North of golf of Thailand, South. The end of August 2015 by department of IT and Marketing of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), I have written reviews about the route in three provinces, Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon (first part Chumphon> http://bit.ly/1OxrW9m second part Prachuap Khiri Khan > http://bit.ly/1hn59OX ) These were other interesting traveling, which I hope many of you would like it, it was exploring every food available and eat until you drop....

Here allow me to remind you for the last review, After we started the journey in Chumphon, South part of Thailand to snorkeling and enjoy beautiful coral reef in Chumphon Islands National Park, then we have visited tourist attractions in Mueang district and Pranburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Then travel north to Cha Am district, Phetchaburi, until then we closed up our trip at Mueang district of Phetchaburi. We have done something very difference from other travelers because we are not looking for the place to go but food to eat..

We overnight in one of the hotels on Cha Am beach, well as we are here how can we miss the seafood paradise...this is the haven for seafood lovers..Especially for steamed horse crab's lovers because here is the location of fresh caught crab market with its confusingly name "Saphan-Phoo-Chak" (Bridge-Crab-Shaking)

It makes your head itchy and confuse when you hear the name, what is the Phoo-Chak, how does it looks like. I was also very curious until my first visit three years ago, that helped me not to get an itchy head any more and I knew the answer since then...

The word Chak (shaking) isn't the crab's action or movement but is referred to other meaning of Thai word "Chak" (well you know Thai language can have many difference meanings in one word) which means an action that a person pulls up a string attached with net-bag full of fresh caught crabs from the sea under the bridge to sale right on the bridge. This is how they keep the crabs fresh and alive, just put them in a net-bag and tight the bag with a string then hang them in the water. The buyers can search around and make a deal right here. The sellers have also steam service, two in one place, ready to eat steamed crabs, the crab lovers get mouth watering.....!! I know .. I know..

Not only the crabs at this market but also other seafood such as shrimps, shall fish and fish, including various forms of seafood preservation for seafood shoppers. For the price is dependent on how good is your negotiable ability. The market is located in convenient access from Soi Klong Tien 10, it spreads out around the Stone bridge beginning of Cha Am Klong (river canal)

From Cha Am, we are heading to Phetchaburi down town by Ratchadamnoen road (not the same Ratchadamnoen in Bangkok). Not far from Phra Ram Ratchaniwet, Ban Pun Palace is a lovely modern coffee shop called "Hungry Hippo" what very impressive is all the old cameras on the shelf ...

Other than good coffee they also offer other small list of menus like breakfast, egg in pan, ham cheese croissant, apple with fresh shrimps salad or more heavy as steamed rice and fried pork with holly basil sauce. But we are not looking for such a full meal so we just get some coffee instead...

The coffee menus are full choices here, but I can not judge the taste because I usually drink iced espresso other than that is not my cup of tea. What I can say is if you are looking for a place for ice-coffee with lovely atmosphere here is your choice "Hungry Hippo" with value able price 40-50 Bath, beside that there are some cool bakery menus, which will make the ladies fall in love easily...

Let's continue our exploring, the next is said if visit Phetchaburi must try "Nutch Thod Mun"(fried fish paste), with the Thod Mun is very famous by spreading word from person to person because its secret recipe, which is on the same value for half century and transferred from generation to generation. This place is a half wooden and cement house located opposite Wat Khoiy, Kiri Ratthaya road about 300-400 meters far from City Pillar Shrine and the road up to Khao Wang..

Imagine by yourself how famous is this place, if you want to come here you need a phone call for a reservation, if you would just walk-in you might have to wait for a long time until you get a table. The Thod Man here doesn't like else where, it is very small pieces and very crispy, holly basil is added in the texture to make it even more tasty and aromatic...

Very important is the way to eat, Thod Mun with kind of Thai rice vermicelli (Kanhomcheen), just eat Thod Mun with vermicelli with the sauce, much or less depends on your preference. Surprisingly delicious for me, I finished it within a second but many persons in our group didn't like it, they said the Thod Mun is to thin in texture and too much holly basil, well we all have difference taste...From my observation is more people who love it then people who don't...That's why it is famous...

Keep continuing to other shop "Khao-Chae-Mae-Nid" (soaking rice), it is a shed roof on walking pad along the Phetchaburi river, which is locally known as Black bridge, which means rail way bridge. Don't you ask for Mae Nid, who owned soaking rice recipe because she passed away age ago. Her son is now her inheritor, who keep her recipe alive. Hahaha, I am sorry if I laugh too loud, I am just gossiping around don't worries it's just funny...

Iced soaking rice with full set of accompaniments, fried pickled radish, sweetened fish, fried coconut ball and candy trichopsis. Take a spoon of soaking rice then take accompaniment in turn, cool and aromatic bite just very refreshing very good for this hot day, even good for the weather today, which is so hot and humid and looks like it could be rain at any time.... The most interesting thing is that it's very inexpensive, only 25 Bath a set.....

For one who does not like soaking rice or not familiar with this kind of food, you have other choices at the next door with selection of Thai rice vermicelli and your preference sauces, light and healthy is soaking vermicelli, soft spicy with green curry or original sweet and spicy sauce. These various kinds of sauces always come and go, people who are addicted would not get boring from the same thing to eat....

Not only what we have explored !! it's more to come, not allow our digestion to work yet we are here for the biggest meal of the day "Pad Thai Tha Yang 2". Guessing from it's name the first branch must surely be in district of Tha Yang! But we are here at the second branch, which is on Phothong road, Soi 4 Phothong, about 2 kilometers far from Khao Wang.

For one, who love enjoying Pad Thai I must say here is your place to come, it's really the best, the noodle is just perfect soft and tender with a hint of tamarind, flavored with fresh palm sugar, added some good source of protein such as shrimps, squid and liver. I was just curios about how good it is, so I check on Wongnai review website, apparently all 18 reviews not even a single review rates under 4 stars, which is why I can confidently confirm "here is the best Pad Thai" (hahaha...)

Many of menus are here, Pad Thai with fresh shrimps or mix seafood, Pad Thai with glass noodle all are very qualified, including roasted chicken with noodle soup, Tom Yum soup with noodle (add noodle into seafood Tom Yum soup, holy basil dishes and garlic pork is also on the list. Varieties of food therefore many varieties of customers tourists and locals... Here we enjoy good food and very fill up....

I swear all places we have been eating we have done within a day!!! But no not end yet!!! We stop on the way back to Bangkok at "Jiraporn Cake" for souvenir to take home, it is in Tha Rod Tour Market or Rail road (Tanon Rod Fai), which has been here for a few decades...

As I get in to the shop is tons of good stuffs, cake, dessert, bakery, I think there are more than hundred choices, and always pack with customers, the guarantee is the locals are also clients here, which means it's real good. So pick what you want but for me I have to say after the long eating day I have no more mood to see more food......!!!

Last but not least, people have difference tongue, difference taste just like we all listen to difference songs and watch difference movies, so what I have tried and I said it's delicious maybe it's not your taste and often I don't like what people have said delicious...

So then let yourself experience and tell your taste by what you have found out.. Don't believe all from what you have read in the reviews. And for myself I didn't enjoy when I try good food but my happiness is when I travel to observe and experience it directly.... Who else think the same????

Saphan Phoo Chak Market : Open Everyday 6.00-17.00
Hungry Hippo Coffee : everyday except Tuesday 10.00-21.00 Tel. 08-9177-5025
Nutch Thod Mun : Everyday except Wednesday and Thursday 10.00-15.00 Tel. 08-1948-3562, 08-6623-5748
Mae Nid Soaking rice : Everyday except Wednesday 9.00-15.00 Tel. 08-3159-5540
Pad Thai Tha Yang 2 : Everyday except Friday 9.00-16.00 Tel. 0-3242-8199
Jiraporn Cake : Everyday 7.0 0-18.00 Tel. 0-3242-7749

If you are interesting my other reviews, asking for traveling information (if I could help), chatting or request for a traveling partner.....you all are welcome :)

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