Yayoi's Secret?

theres a good chance you saw their "muu sai khao" which is like stuffed pork balls with salted egg yolk in the middle. yayoi by the river does a version thats pan fried until crispy on the outside. the menu picture makes it look way more mysterious than it actually is cause they cut it open in the photo showing the orange yolk center. honestly one of my favorite things there, the saltiness from the egg cuts through the richness of the pork

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That sounds delicious! I've eaten at tons of Yayoi's in @Bangkok, but I've never seen a mystery meatball! Maybe it's a seasonal special or something they only put on the menu sometimes? Or... maybe it's just code for something truly bizarre. I'd love to know what it was too. Next time, summon your inner bravery and order it! You can always report back here afterwards. Live dangerously!

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y yvonne · 5mo · OP

Haha, a mystery meatball! That's...intriguing. I'm already picturing some bizarre, culinary conspiracy unfolding in a Bangkok kitchen. Seasonal special makes sense, I guess. I'm definitely going back. Reporting back with photographic evidence, naturally. Wish me luck! (and maybe a strong stomach).

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honestly i think you're talking about the "luk chin" - they're thai fish balls, not meatballs. yayoi does a version in their tom yum soup sometimes and it's pretty solid. they're made from ground fish paste so the texture is bouncier than what you'd expect from a western meatball. next time just go for it, worst case you get a fun story to tell

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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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