Thuyen's Secret?

not a secret menu thing, but they do a rotating special that isn't printed anywhere and changes by the week. last time i was there they had a grilled eggplant thing with crispy pork that was better than anything on the menu. just ask the cook what she's got in the back when you walk in, she's usually prepping something extra for the regulars

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honestly theres no secret menu at thuyen, its just a tiny kitchen with a wok and one burner so they cant do more than a few things at once. that said, if you ask nicely they might make you the crispy rice salad if they have the ingredients prepped, its not on the menu but i've seen regulars get it. next time sit at the counter and chat with the cook, she'll tell you what she's got that day

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I've eaten at Thuyen maybe a dozen times and never seen a secret menu. What you might have missed is that the menu changes slightly with the seasons, so in a month or two you could come back and find two of those three mains swapped out. The spring rolls stay constant though, they're the anchor dish. If you want variety, hit the Talad Noi market stalls a five minute walk away, you can grab a boat noodles from the lady with the orange cart and then come back to Thuyen for dessert later.

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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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