What does Lee Lie Lote Kwai mean?

That's a pretty good-natured ribbing from your wife and the kids. "Lee lie lote kwai" is basically "very, very like a buffalo," but "kwai" in Thai slang is more like calling someone goofy or a bit of an airhead, not a full-on insult. Around here, calling someone a buffalo is more about being a gentle giant or a bit slow on the uptake, so they're probably just teasing you for not catching on to something. If you want to play along, next time they say it, you can just nod and say "kwai jing jing" which means "truly a buffalo," and you'll probably get a laugh.

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yeah the other replies got it right, "kwai" is buffalo in Thai but in slang it's more like calling someone a lovable dummy. your wife definitely set you up for this one, it's classic Thai family teasing. if you want to mess with them back, next time one of the kids calls you that just say "mai chai kwai, chai khon suay" which means "not a buffalo, i'm a handsome person" - they'll probably crack up

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It sounds like they're saying "lii lii lote kwai," which is Thai for "very very like a buffalo." "Kwai" means buffalo, and it's used here like calling someone slow or stubborn, not necessarily mean though. In Thai playground teasing, it's pretty common for kids to say that to someone who's being silly or not getting a joke. Your wife probably told them to call you that as a playful joke since you didn't know what it meant.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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