When Sutiya checked into Chulalonghorn Hospital to give birth, we stayed for 4 nights in the Red Cross Building linked to the hospital.
During those hazy evenings, I would venture out and buy up some street food from the dozens of stalls located around the busy sois to take back to eat .... in doing so I discovered some of the best food I've ever tasted.
(fresh meat, packed on top of ice) The food really made those evenings more memorable; fried sweet bananas, sticky rice, hot spicy noodle dishes, crispy chicken, fresh fish, juices and fruits......
My parents flew out as soon as they learned that baby was due, and stayed at a rather nice hotel opposite the hospital on Rama 4 (pan pacific hotel). Great hotel, with excellent facilities.
What made me chuckle was the price of the (very nice looking) cuisine offered in the pan pacific's rather plush restaurant; ranging from 2 to 3 thousand baht per person; whereas, a freshly cooked pad kapow gai, complete with polystyrene container, cost a whopping 30 baht a throw...
Is the 'high-end' cuisine of the pan pacific a hundred times better than the Rama 4 street food?
Not a chance....
If you find yourself staying at the pan pacific on Rama 4 near Chula Hospital, I'm sure the hotel food is great, but try taking a stroll just outside for some truly excellent, real Thai dining ....
I think in terms of value for money, it's nearly impossible to beat the really good street-food stalls :-)
Posted by: Bangkok | March 07, 2010 at 02:08 PM
Ben I wouldn't pay the equivalent of 2 to 3 thousand baht (£40 - £60) for a meal here in the UK let alone Thailand. The street food would do for me and you've got the added bonus of seeing it cooked.
Posted by: Martyn | March 15, 2010 at 08:38 AM
You can sit in air-con comfort, use white linen and shiny silverware, ooh and awh over presentation, preen and flatten the wrinkles in your Ralph Lauren slacks and look bored after the hotel meal. Or you can watch your food being grilled and eye the beautiful Thai girls walking by and smile. Cost of food? 35 baht. Thrills? Free! And it never gets old.
Posted by: Siam.Rick | March 16, 2010 at 04:58 AM
I came to understand the value for money, it's ver critical toovercome the really good street-food stalls
Posted by: shanmugam | March 20, 2010 at 07:43 PM
and of course the hotel restaurant doesn't give u any free flies with your meal.
Posted by: Pattaya Girls | April 07, 2010 at 04:41 PM