Thuyen's Secret?

honestly i've been wondering the same thing every time i eat there. my vietnamese friend translates it as "grandma's recipes" or something like that. i asked the server once and they said it's a tasting room for their premium rice wine, like the stuff they import from some village near hanoi. they pour it from ceramic jars and pair it with dried squid and pickled veg. you just have to specifically ask for the ruou tasting and they'll bring you back there.

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I've actually asked about that before. My Vietnamese friend told me the sign says something about a "family kitchen" and they sometimes do private dinners back there for regulars. You'd have to ask the owner, but I've heard they serve dishes that aren't on the regular menu, like a whole fried fish with that insane chili sauce. Worth a shot if you're nice about it.

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yeah that back room is actually where they keep the really good stuff. my thai coworker lives in the area and he said the owners run a small supper club out of there on weekends, like 8-10 people max. they do this whole set menu with stuff that never hits the main restaurant, think grilled river prawns and this insane turmeric fish soup. you gotta ask for "com gia dinh" which is vietnamese for family meal, that's the code word apparently. last i heard it's 800 baht per person and you need to book a few days ahead

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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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