Glasseye Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 On 1/28/2019 at 12:11 PM, Evil Penevil said: Tigglebitties Tavern is an American restaurant that serves mainstream U.S. food; Tex-Mex and Mexico-inspired dishes; and Thai food. It's located on Soi 17 (aka Soi Regional Land) about five minutes' walk south of the intersection with 3rd Road and ten minutes' walk from Tukcom. The great thing about Tigglebitties is that the owners and kitchen staff understand what American food is about and how it should taste. It's also one of the few restaurants in Pattaya to offer freshly baked U.S.-style biscuits, including biscuits and gravy. It also features in-house-made U.S. desserts like apple and pumpkin pies and carrot cake. Prices are quite reasonable for the quality of food and large portions. It's an open-front bar and restaurant with a casual tavern atmosphere. The fans keep the interior reasonably cool. It can get noisy, though, as Soi Regional land is heavily trafficked. Tigglebitties is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every day Tigglebitties has two specials, usually one main dish and one appetizer or snack. They are true specials; they often aren't on the regular menu. The other day I tried the fish taco: In the U.S., these are called Baja fish tacos. Japanese commercial fishermen were frequent visitors to the coastal cities of Baja California in Mexico during the 1960s. A group of them asked a taco stand operator to batter the fish tempura-style rather than grilling it. The new version of the fish taco became popular among local Mexicans and North American tourists, except they favored a crispier crust. A U.S. college student was so impressed with the Baja fish taco he opened a restaurant serving them in San Diego in 1983. He now operates a chain of 200 fish taco restaurants. Here's what I got: That's a lot of food on the plate for 160 baht! Everything- the fish, veggies and tortillas- was fresh and tasted fine, although I could have done with less lettuce and more salsa. I had to use a knife and fork to eat the mound of green stuff, but a taco is a quintessential finger food. The original Baja fish tacos were served in corn tortillas and topped with purple cabbage, salsa and Mexican crema (similar to crème fraiche), but since moving across the border to the U.S., fish tacos have taken on many variations. Each of the fish fillets was good-sized and flaky with a crisp batter. I had no real complaint with the tacos, just some niggling about details. Were they the best fish tacos I ever had? No, but they were good and they aren't very common in Pattaya. A breakfast sandwich with a Jimmy-Dean-style sausage patty, fried egg and cheese on a in-house-made biscuit is another classic American dish and well worth 150 baht. It's the biscuit that makes the sandwich for me, but the sausage patty was also good. I topped off the sandwich with a piece of in-house carrot cake. It was delicious. Neither the cream cheese frosting nor the cake were too sweet and the frosting had the proper tang. The crushed walnut atop the frosting was a really good touch. The Monday specials at Tigglebitties center on BBQ ribs and chicken: It's a good way to satisfy a BBQ fix at a fair price. The pics Tigglebitties uses to illustrate its specials correspond closely to what you get on your plate. Bottom line: Tigglebitties is one of the best options in Pattaya for American food- and that includes Tex-Mex and Mexico-inspired dishes. The main dishes and sides, such as coleslaw and potato salad, taste like they would back in the USA. The staff is friendly and speak better English than is often the case in Pattaya restaurants. Prices are reasonable given the quality of the food and the large portions. Evil That place looks good, and reasonably priced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 10 hours ago, Glasseye said: That place looks good, and reasonably priced. Yes on both counts. But you have to enjoy U.S.-style cooking. Evil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) I hadn't eaten at Jameson's Irish Pub in years but tried it again the other night as I was staying in a hotel nearby. It wasn't a convenient location for me, but the main reason I didn't go back often was the funereal interior. When I visit an Irish pub, I want to be reminded of leprechauns and the Blarney Stone, not haunted castles, banshees and the Cóiste Bodhar. Typical American tourist attitude, I know, but I don't like gloomy bars and restaurants. The food as I remember it had been good, but friends said it had gone down in recent years. I did have a good meal there the other night. The interior, though, was as uninviting as I recalled, except it wasn't as cavernous as before. Jameson's has been cut in half to make way for a yet-to-open pizza place. I had the roast chicken dinner for 245 baht. On the plate I got half a chicken, roast and mashed potatoes, a boast of gravy and the usual medley of boiled veggies. The chicken had been roasted properly and was moist. The potatoes were fine. The veggies were a bit soft for me, but that's a matter of individual preference. The gravy seemed to a generic out-of-a-package and overly salty, so I didn't bother with it. In all, it was good meal. Not outstanding, but good. A bottle of water cost 30 baht, so the whole meal put me back 275 baht. Bottom line: Jameson's location and gloomy interior are negatives, but based on my chicken dinner, the food wouldn't deter me from another visit if I felt like pub fare. Here's the location for those unfamiliar with it. If you're riding the Second Road baht bus, get off just before Soi 6, cross the street and take Soi 4 to Jameson's. It has some decent prices on pints during its Happy Hours, but so do many other bars. Evil Edited February 11, 2019 by Evil Penevil 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Hanging Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 (edited) Edited February 13, 2019 by Just Hanging 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
how24111 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Thanks for the photos and info. I now have a few new places to try out. Thanks !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
how24111 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Good thread, good food, and good photos. Thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) Big Kahuna is an American restaurant on Thappraya Road in Jomtien, about 100 meters north of the intersection with Thepprasit Road. The name, decor and some of the dishes on the menu are Hawaii-inspired, but Big Kahuna mostly offers U.S.-style finger food like burgers, sandwiches and pizza. It also serves U.S.-style breakfasts, with pancakes a notable item. It occupies the former premises of the defunct Pastrami on Rye and the menu at Big Kahuna reminds of PoR's. There's a big kahuna painting on one wall, but the interior isn't dripping with kitschy tiki symbols. In fact. the main dining area is pretty much free of them. It's a relaxing atmosphere in which to have a meal. In the Hawaiian language, "kahuna" can refer to a traditional priest, sorcerer or healer, but also to an "expert" of any sort. The term "big kahuna" was applied to Hawaii's top surfer and was made popular by a character with that name (played by Cliff Robertson) in the 1959 movie Gidget with Sandra Dee in the title roll. Today it points to the leading expert or most influential person in any field. I made me think about who might be Pattaya's "big kahuna." Link The other day I had the Small Pancake Special at 98 baht. It featured a single buttermilk pancake with syrup and butter; an in-house-made sausage patty; fried or scrambled egg; and your choice or coffee, tea or orange or pineapple juice. Considering the pancake was one of the best I'd had in Pattaya, it was certainly value for money at the price. The pancake was light and fluffy, exactly how a North American pancake should be. The egg was fired nicely and the sausage patty was OK, if a bit bland. It was pancake and not real maple syrup, but you can't expect too much for 98 baht. It wasn't a healthy breakfast unless you're running a marathon directly after, but it sure tasted good. I wouldn't eat it every day or even every month due to the jolt the syrup gives your blood sugar levels and I just can't have pancakes without some sort of syrup. It was a fair-sized glass of pineapple juice, not the thimble full you get in some restaurants. Big Kahuna has some of the best American food in Pattaya, but it's a bit of a trek to go all the way to Jomtien for a burger or sandwich. Fortunately they have delivery as well for 50 baht extra. I ordered the Cuban sandwich for lunch yesterday. It was a bit of a hassle as I've moved out of my condo and am living temporarily in a hotel. First the girl taking orders thought I had said, "Reuben sandwich," instead of "Cuban sandwich," but I caught that due to the disparity in price she named for the order. It also took some time to make clear my new address. I had anticipated that might happen. so I gave her the phone number to the hotel so she could call and get the directions in Thai. Forty-five minutes later my order arrived, which was fairly quick given the distance involved. Big Kahuna didn't use a moto driver for delivery, but the same pretty young waitress who'd served me my pancake breakfast the day before brought me the sandwich. It consisted of ham, pulled pork. Swiss cheese and slices of dill pickle between the halves of a baguette that had been spread with butter and mustard, then toasted in a sandwich press. It came with a choice of one side dish and a soft drink and I had picked coleslaw and Coke Zero. It cost 285 baht plus 50 baht for delivery. Some foods don't photograph attractively and a Cuban sandwich is one of them. I did indeed taste better than it looked and nevertheless was a fair approximation of the Cuban sandwiches you get in Florida or a big city like New York. Cuban sandwiches should be made with Cuban bread, the recipe for which includes lard as a shortening. This helps give the final loaf an exceptionally crisp crust and and airy. light interior compared to its French and Italian counterparts. In NYC, I lived close to one of the best Cuban bakeries in the city, so getting Cuban sandwiches with the authentic bread wasn't a problem. It would almost be an impossibility to find Cuban bread in Thailand and the Big Kahuna's substitution of a French baguette is the only option short of baking Cuban bread itself. In the pic above, I've opened the sandwich and included the coleslaw, Coke and slice of dill pickle that came with the order. Both the ham and pulled pork held a high standard. You can't make a good cuban sandwich from a sow's ear. I would have liked more mustard on the bread, but that's just personal preference. on the sandwich overall. The coleslaw was very good, with freshly grated cabbage and carrots. It wasn't swimming in dressing and celery seeds had been added for flavor. Bottom line; I won't hesitate to return to Big Kahuna to satisfy my infrequent longing for certain types of U.S. food, but I'm more likely to use the delivery option. The restaurant has numerous specials on food and drink. I'll post some menu pages from Big Kahuna's Facebook page as well. Writing this review has made me think about a Reuben for lunch! Evil Edited February 17, 2019 by Evil Penevil 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clem Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Can’t comment if it’s good or not - but just came across this on Facebook. Does look good ☺️ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misteregg Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Eat regularly at Big Kahuna and have never had a bad meal there. Highly recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 I don't write often about fast-food chain restaurants in Pattaya, mostly because I don't eat in them except on very rare occasions. On an impulse, I tried Texas Chicken at Central Marina. I was pleasantly surprised; the chicken I got was better than I had expected and it qualified as good. Texas Chicken is the name Church's Chicken operates under outside North America. It's the fourth largest U.S. fried chicken chain in both number of outlets and revenue, but I can't recall ever having tried it in the U.S. as it doesn't have stores in the eastern states. I ordered the three-piece combination for take-away. It cost 159 baht and came with a small order of French fries. one biscuit and a "bottomless" cup of soft drink. I also got some mashed potatoes with gravy for 15 baht. I drank my ice tea in the restaurant; I didn't want to lug it to my hotel. Here's what I got in my take-away box: The three pieces of chicken were all white meat, not thighs and legs. They had been battered and deep-fried properly, crisp on the outside, the meat juicy and full of real chicken flavor. It was far superior to greasy KFC chicken with its soggy batter and tasteless meat. The sides were less impressive. The French fries were industrial-style and the mashed potatoes had started out as flakes from a package. The biscuit had been topped with a honey-like sweetener and had a strange texture. It wasn't bad, but reminded me more of a dough-nut hole than a traditional biscuit. Bottom line: I don't often get a hankering for U.S.-style fried chicken, but the next time I do, I wouldn't hesitate to make a return visit to Texas Chicken. The restaurant has plenty of special offers. In that sense, it lives up to its U.S. reputation as the "poor man's KFC." Evil 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starshine Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 That chicken looks damn good Robb. Will take a stroll up there next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 12 hours ago, Clem said: Can’t comment if it’s good or not - but just came across this on Facebook. Does look good I haven't eaten there either as it's a bit out of the way for me. It has gotten plenty of good reviews for its food. 2 hours ago, Starshine said: That chicken looks damn good Robb. Will take a stroll up there next month. It was the best fast-food fried chicken I've had in a long while, but I don't have it often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clem Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 16 hours ago, Evil Penevil said: I haven't eaten there either as it's a bit out of the way for me. It has gotten plenty of good reviews for its food. It was the best fast-food fried chicken I've had in a long while, but I don't have it often. Might check it out when I arrive next week - will report back if I do go 👌 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 Yesterday I had breakfast at the Chill Inn on Soi Buakhao. It's across the street from Jolly's and next door to the former premises of the Great American Sandwich Co. that are currently under conversion to a coyote bar. It wasn't a calculated move on my part. I was walking past about 11.00 a.m., felt hungry and saw a sign for a 89-baht breakfast special. I gave it a try. The breakfast consisted of two fried eggs, back bacon, a U.K.-style sausage, fried potatoes, toast, jam and coffee or tea. It was neither an American nor a British breakfast, but had elements of both. It was good for the price. The eggs were fresh and the bacon and the potatoes fried with onions- they weren't hash browns- were tasty. I don't like that sort of sausage so i didn't eat it. The bread was too lightly toasted for me, but that's down to personal preference. I'm well aware you can get three times the amount of food (and probably five times the calories) with the Retox baht-buster breakfast for 99 baht, but the Chill Inn's special was enough for me. I don't eat big fried breakfasts anymore. It also a pleasant place to sit; open-front, but the fans keep it cool. I didn't like that they allow smoking- and one customer was even puffing on a pipe- but the fans kept the fumes away. Bottom line: I doubt I'll have much occasion to eat breakfast again at the Chill Inn, but I was happy with my breakfast there. Evil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemondropkid Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 That's appalling a customer smoking a pipe in an indoor restaurant- you should have battered him with that sausage😀 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galenkia Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 3 hours ago, Lemondropkid said: That's appalling a customer smoking a pipe in an indoor restaurant- you should have battered him with that sausage😀 Maybe it was a crack pipe.😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_B Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Took a ride up to Welcome Inn as was their weds special curry day. 190bt as is. Delivered promptly, hot and tasty. Small plate of chips for the missus as she had already eaten was 60bt to be sociable. 40bt tea and 75bt big Chang. All in all very good.Sent from my ASUS_X013DA using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 Sad news for fans of American food: Richman Poorman in Jomtien is closing its doors. March 9th is its final day. I'll have to trundle out there in the next few days; maybe tonight, as the daily specials look inviting. especially the chicken parm at 195 baht: (from RMPM's Facebook page) Evil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_B Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 Meeting Point up Soi Khao Noi. Alternative breakfast special from this no frills restaurant bar. Very nice and great value at 149btSent from my SM-J610F using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasseye Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 On 2/18/2019 at 8:34 AM, misteregg said: Eat regularly at Big Kahuna and have never had a bad meal there. Highly recommend. Had some of their potato salad at one of Larry's birthday bashes. It was the best I've ever had. I'm not sure if it is the same they serve at the restaurant. I still haven't eaten there yet, I've heard mixed reviews but will give it a go next trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Cheap Charlie's is one of three low-price restaurants evenly spaced along a half-kilometer stretch of Soi Buakhao in the heart of the LK Metro area. The Chunky Monkey and Happy Hippo are the other two bastions of budget bites on Buakhao, although several restaurants in that area have daily specials that put them in or slightly above the same price level. Competition for bargain baht is fierce around LK Metro! CC's is located about 150 meters south of Soi Lengkee on the east side of the road. I visited on a Sunday at about 2.30 p.m. It had about 25 customers at that time, which was considerably more than I saw at the Chunky Monkey or Happy Hippo as I passed them on the way to CC's. "Cheap and cheerful" is an apt description for CC's. It's open-front, but powerful and well-placed fans keep it cool. There's nothing fancy about the decor, but it's a comfortable and pleasant place for a meal with friendly service staff. I tried the roast chicken dinner for 99 baht. At that price, it can't really be faulted. It tasted fine and the portion was large enough for me. You can certainly find better and bigger roast chicken dinners in Pattaya, but they'll cost three or four times as much. The chicken was a large piece of breast accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, roast and mashed potatoes, gravy and boiled vegetables, mostly cabbage and carrots. The Yorkshire was a bit dense and the gravy slightly too salty for me, but those are minor quibbles. It was indeed good for 99 baht. I had intended to try the roast lamb Sunday dinner, which I had read on a board went for 149 baht. However, when I arrived, a sign out front said the price was 195 baht, but a waitress hauled the sign in moments after I sat down. Sure enough, the waitress who took my order said it was already sold out, so I had the roast chicken instead. I haven't had much luck with roast beef or pork dinners in budget restaurants. CC's has an extensive menu centered on familiar British dishes, but also quite a few internationa (hamburgers, pasta)l, Indian, Chinese and Thai offerings. It's pretty much the standard fare for farang restaurants in Pattaya. Here's an excerpt from CC's menu: The roast dinners are available every day, not just Sundays. There are also daily specials at discounted prices. Drinks are also reasonably priced at CC's: Bottom line: Cheap Charlie's is definitely a competitive entry in the crowded field of restaurants vying for budget-conscious customers who want farang food at a low price. Adjust your expectations accordingly. Evil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasseye Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Nice review Evil. Great to see you back ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 Prime Burger has taken over the premises of the venerable but now defunct Butchers Arms across Soi Buakhao from the southern edge of Tree Town. As the name makes clear, Prime Burger is narrowly focused on premium burgers. In addition to hamburgers made from 100% imported Australian beef (70% chuck, 30% brisket) ground daily in the restaurant, the menu includes chicken, fish and vegetarian burgers as well as some traditional side dishes and salads. Prime Burger is a good option if you're in the mood for an upscale burger, but not if you want anything else. The interior features booth and table seating. There is a big screen TV on one wall and a pool table in the back section. For those who want to people watch or prefer dining al fresco, there are tables outside. The burgers are named for cities around the world and come in three sizes (single-, double- and triple-patty). Each patty weighs 90 grams. Eight different burgers are available. The New York Burger is a basic cheeseburger, but I chose the Paris Burger with cheese, U.S.-style smoked streaky bacon, tomato, lettuce, Dijon mustard and truffle mayo. On its Web site and printed menu, Prime Burger states "the quality of beef and ingredients" is the key to making the best burger. I certainly won't disagree but add that proper execution by the cook is also important in producing a great burger. Even the best ingredients can be mistreated in the kitchen and result in an unpalatable dish. But the kitchen staff at Prime Burger got it right regarding the basics. Quality ingredients were well prepared to yield one of the tastiest burgers I've had in a long time. Admittedly, I don't often eat hamburgers in Pattaya, so I don't have a large or up-to-date basis for comparison. The owner of Prime Burger is a Swede who opened a Prime Burger in Phuket earlier this year and its Stockholm Burger promptly won the annual Phuket's Best Burger. If the owner isn't doing the cooking himself, he's trained his staff well. A bacon cheeseburger is straight out of Peoria or Omaha; it's the Dijon mustard and truffle mayo that gives the Paris Burger it's French twist. I'm not sure truffle mayo really has a place on a bacon cheeseburger; a more neutral base like pasta, eggs or mild meat and fish is needed for the truffle flavor to shine. A generous blob of Dijon mustard would have been a brilliant addition, as it would have added a contrasting bite to the fatty richness of the cheeseburger. Alas, the cook had been rather stingy with the mustard and I couldn't notice any taste from the mustard or truffle mayo. Nevertheless, as a straight-up bacon cheeseburger, it was very good. The bun, the most overlooked component of burgers, was fresh and light, exactly how a hamburger bun should be. I ordered the halloumi salad at 90 baht as my side. Halloumi is cheese that originated in Cyprus and is traditionally made from sheep's milk. It has a low moisture content that makes it perfect for grilling and frying. Halloumi has a unique taste that's hard to describe; it's sort of like feta, but milder and creamier. I can't even recall seeing halloumi on a Pattaya menu before. In modern times, halloumi has been made from cow's milk and I think (but can't be sure) that was the variation I got. It had a good texture but very little flavor. The vegetables, pieces of vegetables (tomato, cucumber, green and red pepper) were freshly chopped. Black olives provided the accent rather than the cheese. Bottom line: Next time I have a yearning for a hamburger, Prime Burger will be one of my options. I wouldn't say it's the best burger in Pattaya, but it's very good and the location is convenient for me. I also want to try the Tokyo Burger (deep-fried fish). The total cost of my meal (burger, salad and soda water) was 375 baht. I'm not sure about Prime Burger's hours of business. I got there at 2.30 p.m. and the staff was still putting out the settings on the outdoor tables. A "Closed" sign hung on the door, but the waitress told me to go inside and "wait five minute." I believe it is supposed to be open between 3.00 p.m. and 11 p.m. Evil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Penevil Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 This is more an informative post than a review. Kilkenny Bar and Guesthouse revamped its restaurant menu about three weeks ago. Here's an excerpt from the new menu: Kilkenny also has great value-for-money daily specials. Today's three specials: and yesterday's two: I've tried and reviewed the beef stew, pork chop and Ozzie burger. All were very good. Most noteworthy is probably the Sunday roast lamb dinner for 199 baht. You won't do better than that for the price anywhere in town. What impresses me most about Kilkenny is its consistency. I've never had a bad meal there. In many farang-oriented places in Pattaya, the quality of the meals can swing dramatically depending who's in the kitchen at the time. Prices are reasonable at Kilkenny but it's 30-50 baht higher for popular menu items compared with the nearby Cheap Charlie's, Chunky Monkey and Hungry Hippo. However, in terms of quality and portion size, Kilkenny wins hands down. Kilkenny also has an extended Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to midnight every day, during which all house spirits and bottled beers go for 65 baht. Kilkenny's is located at the corner of the L on LK Metro, across from the Billabong Bar. It's an excellent spot for people watching on LK Metro. Things can get quite lively at the Billabong. Evil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Chunky Monkey special todayChicken in cashew nut butter gravy with rice and nan bread 128b. That's a large spoon the picture too. A nice sized portion and tasted great to me. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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