Ban Pak Chok Aree Restaurant @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - ร้านอาหารบ้านพักโชคอารีย์ @ ปราณบุรี ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Cuisine: Thai

Map: Ban Pak Chok Aree Restaurant @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - ร้านอาหารบ้านพักโชคอารีย์ @ ปราณบุรี ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Charged Price: THB200 per person without alcohol

Visited: 29 October 2015

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Value for money: 9/10

Services: 5/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

One last destination during my short vacation in Pran Buri was at Ban Pak Chok Aree. This is a new find for us. It is located at the very north end of Pak Nam Pran. I doubt any non-local would drive all the way here to find its existence unless they have been there before. This is another gem for us really. The atmosphere is still local like. The size of the restaurant is not big but should be able to accommodate up to 30 guests comfortably. The place does not just offer fresh seafood but it is an inn too. Hence, looking for cheap local stay with nice food, here is one for you.

Ban Pak Chok Aree Restaurant @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan

not big but not small

very local ambient

fresh seafood

Needless to say much about how delicious food here is. I would like to draw attention more on its quantity to begin with. Ok, pricing wise may look somewhat 20% to 30% lower than other places around. But when each dish turned up, I was just hooooo. They were big, I promise, especially Stir-fried Squid with Curry Powder - ปลาหมึกผัดผงกระหรี่ (6/10) which was delicious with nice taste of curry and soft squid. At the price of THB200 comparing to THB250 for fried squid with salty egg at Krua Jaew but almost double in size. This is one hell of bargain. We also had Stir-fried Pako Fern with Oyster Sauce - ผัดผักกรูดน้ำมันหอย (7/10). Pako Fern, sound odd, right? It was odd to me too. But it was a nice stir-fry vegetable dish. It also came with a lot of fried chopped garlic. Nice indeed.

Stir-fried Pako Fern with Oyster Sauce - ผัดผักกรูดน้ำมันหอย (THB100)

Stir-fried Squid with Curry Powder - ปลาหมึกผัดผงกระหรี่ (THB200)

Let's just skip Omelette with Oyster - ไข่เจียวหอยนางรม (5/10). Ordinary one. No need to mention about it. The highlight was instead Deep-fried Sea Bass with Lemongrass Sauce - ประกะพงทอดยำตะไคร้ (8/10). God......the fish was big and fresh. Very good frying skill too. Sea bass was crisp. The aroma of herbs and especially lemongrass was beautiful. Cashew nut did give another dimension to the structure too. I promise this was delicious. When we ordered, we did ask for no chili as one of us cannot take much spiciness. The friendly lady chef did come out to serve this dish herself and talked jokingly to us that no-chili in this dish was in fact an offensive, LOL.

Well, this is the new secret heaven for us which is now not so secret as you are reading. Nice people too. Will sure return for many more times. Just wish it won't get overly crowded in the future.

Deep-fried Sea Bass with Lemongrass Sauce - ประกะพงทอดยำตะไคร้ (THB300)

Omelette with Oyster - ไข่เจียวหอยนางรม (THB100)

Ban Pak Chok Aree Restaurant @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - ร้านอาหารบ้านพักโชคอารีย์ @ ปราณบุรี ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

181/77  Moo 2
Pak Nam Pran, Pran Buri
Prachuap Khiri Khan
77140

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 10:00am - 09:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 32 631 461
Web: http://www.banpakchokaree.com/

Krua Jaew @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - ครัวแจ๋ว @ ปราณบุรี ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Cuisine: Thai

Map: Krua Jaew @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - ครัวแจ๋ว @ ปราณบุรี ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Charged Price: THB360 per person without alcohol

Visited: 28 October 2015

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Value for money: 6/10

Services: 4/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Krua Jaew is the one that we often visit in Pran Buri. This seafood restaurant is rather large in size and comfy and is located conveniently along the beach front at Pak Nam Pran (though with division of small road). This place offers enjoyable food at decent price. One little thing to be aware about Krua Jaew is its popularity during public holiday. Make sure about reservation before visiting during public holiday. Otherwise, you should be fine.

Krua Jaew @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan

rather large venue at a convenient location

The first dish to arrive was Fried Squid with Salty Egg - ปลาหมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (6/10). Squid with salty egg seems to be my all time favourite dish at any seafood joint whether good, bad, or so-so. For the one Krua Jaew, I would say it was enjoyable, nothing much better than meeting standard expectation. The way sliced chili and spring onion combined well with creaminess and saltiness of salty egg was nice. Only if the blending between squid and salty egg had been more simultaneously, this would be a highlight. Moving on to more spicy dish: Fried Babylon with Chili and Basil - หอยหวานผัดฉ่า (6/10). Babylon is another popular seafood ingredient here. When combining with chili and basil, it turned to be a strong punchy dish. Need a lot of rice to go with this one. Make sure of asking for little chili if you cannot take much hot and spicy.

Fried Squid with Salty Egg - ปลาหมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (THB250)

Fried Babylon with Chili and Basil - หอยหวานผัดฉ่า (THB150)

Omelette with Oyster - ไข่เจียวหอยนางรม (5/10) is another classic dish that is always popular among both kids and adults. The one here was ok. I would prefer it to be fluffier and crispier. Having seafood, it is all about fish for me, not crab or prawn like others would do. Today I had Deep-fried Sea Bass with Sweet and Sour Sauce - ปลากะพงสามรส (6/10) and Boiled Sea Bass with Coconut Milk - เนื้อปลากะพงต้มกะทิ (6/10). The more interesting one was sea bass with coconut milk. It tasted similar to Tom Kha Gai but with fresh sea bass fillet instead of chicken. Weird combination but turned to be nice really. For sea bass with sweet and sour sauce, it was delicious enough to keep the meal going. Crisp texture with yummy sweet and sour sauce.

Omelette with Oyster - ไข่เจียวหอยนางรม (THB120)

Deep-fried Sea Bass with Sweet and Sour Sauce - ปลากะพงสามรส (THB400)

Boiled Sea Bass with Coconut Milk - เนื้อปลากะพงต้มกะทิ (THB150)

During the meal, we also had Chateau le Puy Rose-Marie 2014 to accompany. Its crispiness and fruity character seemed to go rather nice with seafood. In fact, any fruity white wine or off-dry white wine or sparkling wine would be tremendous. But never red wine for strong and spicy Thai food in my opinion. Anyway, Krua Jaew at Pak Nam Pran is a decent one. Not cheap but it at least presents rather good value to money for its location and quality. By the way, just ignore the service here. Staffs seemed like robot. No interaction apart from taking order at all. Bland is the word perhaps.

Chateau le Puy Rose-Marie 2014

another seafood meal

Krua Jaew @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - ครัวแจ๋ว @ ปราณบุรี ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

486/9  Moo 2
Pak Nam Pran, Pran Buri
Prachuap Khiri Khan
77220

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 08:00am - 10:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 32 631 302
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ครัวแจ๋ว-ปากน้ำปราณ-203205943047222/

Laem Thong Seafood @ Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - แหลมทองซีฟู๊ด ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Cuisine: Thai

Map: Laem Thong Seafood @ Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - แหลมทองซีฟู๊ด ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Charged Price: THB150 per person without alcohol

Visited: 28 October 2015

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 10/10

Services: 5/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Usually once a year, we would find our journey to Pran Buri for a short break from Bangkok city and Laem Thong Seafood at Kui Buri is the one destination that we must pay a visit each time. If you are unfamiliar with geography of Thailand, Pran Buri is somewhat two hours and a half South West from Bangkok and Kui Buri is a little further with approx. additional half an hour driving. Laem Thong Seafood is located within Khao Daeng area of Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park. Hence, things there are still fresh and very local.

To arrive at Laem Thong Seafood I would say it is difficult and even more complicated for foreigners. Driving is the only way I would say. Map is provided above and you better follow GPS. However, if you know Pak Nam Pran rather well, driving straight from Pak Nam Pran main road and you will find it on the left hand side which is opposite of Wat Khao Daeng.

Laem Thong Seafood @ Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan

pretty much local and rural atmosphere

fresh air surely

sneaky pussy!!!

Food here is typical local and geared towards Southern style. In case hot and spicy dishes are not friendly to you, just say it out. Otherwise you won't enjoy the meal. The beauty about this place is freshness of ingredients and value for money. One would usually be full within the budget of THB200 a head. Come on, THB200 a head for nice seafood, where else could you find it? I believe each morning the owner will go searching for ingredients with neighbourhood proximity. One of our favourite ingredients that is difficult to find elsewhere is Dumort. For instant, we had Fry Egg with Dumort - ไข่ชุบชะคราม as one of light dishes (7/10). Indeed it is just an ordinary omelette. But the unique flavour of dumort did bring out another dimension.

The other two dishes to begin our meal were Deep-fried Fish Cake - ทอดมันปลา (5/10) and Deep-fried Silver Whiting - ปลาทรายทอดกระเทียม (5/10). Both were not exciting ones but typical enjoyable dishes. The fish cake was not very spicy. The texture was soft but still with chewiness. Silver whiting was fried a little under to my liking. I like the one that the fish is very crisp such that the whole thing can be eaten without worrying much about those tiny bones.

Fry Egg with Dumort - ไข่ชุบชะคราม (THB60)

Deep-fried Fish Cake - ทอดมันปลา (THB70)

Deep-fried Silver Whiting - ปลาทรายทอดกระเทียม (THB100)

Moving on to heavier dishes. Our all time never-miss-to-order dish is Curry of Blue Crab and Dumort - แกงปูชะคราม (8/10). Very aromatic and rich in flavour. Strong abundant but mild to the touch of curry taste. The natural flavour of blue crab and dumort lifted up its sexiness. Godddddd, I barely touched other dishes when this holy thing had arrived. The last two dishes were something most of people will order when having seafood: Tom Yum Silver Perch - ต้มยำปลากะพง (6/10) and Fried Rice with Crab and Prawn - ข้าวผัดปูและกุ้ง (6/10). Nice and decent ones. Thanks to the fresh ingredients.

Well, I personally would say that this little place is an amazing one. I wish it would stay very local atmosphere for years to come. It is so difficult to find good stuff these days. Look at Hua Hin for example. You will find nothing but touristy joints nowadays unless there are secret little places of your own.

Curry of Blue Crab and Dumort - แกงปูชะคราม (THB120)

zooming onto blue crab

Tom Yum Silver Perch - ต้มยำปลากะพง (THB120)

Fried Rice with Crab and Prawn - ข้าวผัดปูและกุ้ง (THB100)

Laem Thong Seafood @ Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - แหลมทองซีฟู๊ด ประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Rural Road PorKor. 4020
Khao Daeng, Kui Buri
Prachuap Khiri Khan
77150

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 09:00am - 08:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 89 549 4992

OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Cuisine: Thai (seafood)

Map: OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Price: THB400 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 1 March 2014

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 5/10
Scale: [ 1=poor ----- 5=average/standard ----- 10=outstanding/exceptional ]

During the last few years, Pran Buri has been our destination for a short vacation to get away from the busy Bangkok. We love Pran Buri in the way that it is quiet, private and there is not so much tourist like Hua Hin. Though there are not so many restaurants like Hua Hin, OX Seafood is a one that should be looked over.

OX Seafood is right by the sea so the view from OX Seafood can be spectacular on a fine day with blue sky. The place is also very large. Perhaps more than 100 guests can be easily placed in the restaurant. OX Seafood also provide parking lots of its customers which is right opposite the restaurant.

large sign, easily spotted

OX Seafoods @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan

large opening space

The kind of food that is served here is of course those typical seafood. Ingredients are fresh. Though pricing might not be one of the cheapest but satisfaction wise is wonderful. We had grilled prawn - กุ้งเผา (6/10), stir-fried squid with salted egg - หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (6/10), and Tom Yum Seabass - ต้มยำปลากะพง (7/10). At the price of THB900 per kg for grilled prawn, we say it is quite dear but acceptable. Fresh, firm, and sweet, those prawns were. The dipping seafood sauce also brought out the flavour of the prawn well. Tom yum seabass, on the other hand, was as well splendid. Tell the staff how spicy you want it to be and just enjoy the fresh seabass in it. We say this is a chillax place when hiding away from a busy city. But be warned that the place might get crowded during long public holiday in which you may like to avoid.

grilled prawn - กุ้งเผา (THB450)

grilled prawn with seafood sauce

stir-fried squid with salted egg - หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (THB180)

Tom Yum Seabass - ต้มยำปลากะพง (THB150)

fresh seabass

OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์
277/2 Pak Nam Pran
Pran Buri
Prachuap Khiri Khan 77220

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 08:00am - 09:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 32 631 230, +66 (0) 32 631 246
FB: https://www.facebook.com/oxseafood

Afternoon breaks at Hua Hin / Pran Buri : Eighteen Below Ice-cream @ Hua Hin and La a Natu @ Pran Buri

Towards the end of February / beginning of March, we had a chance to take a short break to relax at Pran Buri. Having heard rumour about the famous Hay Lobby and Eatery @ La a Natu Bed and Bakery and Eighteen Below Ice-cream @ Naeb Kehardt Road, Hua Hin, we did not hesitate to find sometimes to visit them. In brief, we are not so impressed with both places, especially Hay Lobby and Eatery in term of taste but they are ok when not crowded and happen to be nearby.

Cuisine: cafe food / afternoon tea

Map: Hay Lobby and Eatery @ La a Natu Bed and Bakery, Pran Buri, Thailand - เฮย์ ล๊อบบี้แอนด์อีทเทอรี่ @ ลา เอ นาตู เบดแอนด์เบเกอรี่ ปราณบุรี

Price: THB210 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 1 March 2014

Food: 2/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 3/10
Scale: [ 1=poor ----- 5=average/standard ----- 10=outstanding/exceptional ]

La a Natu is set right on the quiet beach of Pran Buri. The place has been resembled to give the natural relaxing ambient by using haystack for most of its accommodation. Hay Lobby and Eatery of La a Natu is well-known for afternoon tea and even the place itself is proud of its reputation. The Hay Lobby is not really a big which can probably accommodate around 30 guests max. The very best part is the cool and relaxing atmosphere. The dining room provides a good sea view but bear in mind of hot weather and strong sunlight in the afternoon.

La a Natu @ Pran Buri

village style surrounding

Hay Lobby and Eatery

relax ambient for afternoon tea certainly

The pricing of menu is not so cheap nor so expensive, modest in fact for a hotel. However, we are not really so delight with the taste of it. The first impression goes for the tea. La a Natu is supposed to be famous for afternoon tea. But we were served with Twinings. Good god, I could not believe and it was tea bag instead of loose leaf. In addition, the staff tried to pour us a cup immediately after the tea had arrived out of the kitchen. For heaven sake, the tea was nowhere near being properly immersed and infused.

The next disappointment was the pastry set in the afternoon tea set (2/10). If I remember correctly, there were 7 kinds of dish that were served: cheese sandwich (I really mean the simply cheese only), scones with whipped cream and jam, panna cotta, cheesecake, brownie, carrot cake, and chocolate cake. The scones were the first one to make me laugh. It was sure not a scone with that spongy texture and served with whipped cream and somewhat sour strawberry jam which was supposed to be the classic homemade. The panna cotta was the worst. It melted after a while leaving us with creamy liquid with strawberry sauce (that tasted like the strawberry jam). Not so whether the weather was too hot or there was too little gelatin in the panna cotta. The rest of pastry were just ok to eat.

On the service side, it was nowhere near hotel standard. Notwithstanding the aforementioned tea pouring service, we encountered a long wait for bill checking. We waited for quite sometime for changes to be returned and when asking, the answer simply was they had run out of change and needed to go somewhere for exchange. I presumed that I should have been warned or else something could have been adjusted. Well, I guess I had enough experience of this place. They are not so professional in the service. We sure will never return to this.

pastry and tea menu

happen to be just Twinings

afternoon tea set (THB350)

again, really great ambient

Hay Lobby and Eatery @ La a Natu Bed and Bakery, Pran Buri, Thailand - เฮย์ ล๊อบบี้แอนด์อีทเทอรี่ @ ลา เอ นาตู เบดแอนด์เบเกอรี่ ปราณบุรี

234 Moo 2
Samroiyod, Pranburi
Prachuap Khiri Kha
77120
Thailand

Open Hours: all day but 02:00pm to 05:00pm for afternoon tea daily

Tel: +66 (0) 32 689 941-3, +66 (0) 81 731 8688
Web: http://www.laanatu.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/laanatubb

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