After two nights of uninspired meals in Chiang Mai (the street vendors were outstanding and yet we paid a premium to sit in a restaurant???) we got it right.
Huen Phen was certainly off the beaten path. Across bridges, through the old city gates and down a bumpy, winding road. So off the path we were told that until recently there was no sign, let alone English-lettered, or even a street address! You just had to be in the know.
We reached our dining destination via a harrowing tuk-tuk ride and then meandered through the gardens to the front door.
It was surprising that this was a restaurant...
It looked like you had just walked into the foyer of the home of a very eccentric pack-rat. Grand chandeliers, huge wooden tables, high-backed chairs, paintings and stuff on every available surface. And amongst all the doilies, platters, vases, bookshelves and assorted tchotchkies were smaller dining tables squeezed into corners.
The menu was extensive and written in Thai. The small amount of English on there was of little help: "chicken with green sauce". Does that mean curry? A pepper sauce? A dipping sauce? Luckily we were armed with a few choice Thai phrases for the foods that we wanted and we ordered that way...
"Nam prik num" and nam prik ong": some of the most amazing dipping sauces I've ever had and very traditional for Northern Thailand.
"sia oua": the sausage of my dreams; meaty and spicy (don't be disgusting).
"khao neow": sticky rice
"hang leng curry": the specialty of the house and province
After a delightful meal where we ate until bursting yet our drink tab still cost more, we risked another tuk-tuk back to the hotel. To rest up for the next adventure...
""sia oua": the sausage of my dreams; meaty and spicy (don't be disgusting)."
Too late...
Posted by: Ted | December 14, 2009 at 08:05 PM
I knew it. But it had to be said.
Posted by: smcandc | December 16, 2009 at 03:27 PM