May Kaidee Restaurants in Bangkok - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Address
sub-soi off Soi Damnoen Klang Neua, Banglamphu
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Phone
0 2281 7699
Website
www.maykadee.com

Transport

ferry: Tha Phra Athit
bus: air-con bus 506, ordinary bus 56

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Lonely Planet review

May Kaidee started doing non-meat around the same time that fisherman pants became the backpacker uniform. She knows her audience: easy on the chillies, heavy on the coconut milk. And she doesn't even wince when new arrivals ask for chopsticks for their curries.

To find this restaurant from Th Khao San, cross Th Tanao and follow the little soi near Sirinthip Guesthouse; take the first left for 50m. There is a second branch just over the bridge on Th Samsen that also offers cooking lessons.

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Regain your inner voice and sanity at May Kaidee. Stumble over the stalls of western t-shirts and young thai " women" advertising cheap drinks and follow Khao San road til you hit Burger King. It's official Starbucks, McDonalds, and Burger King have descended and become stake holders in the gritty real estate that young soul searchers call Khao San Rd. Follow "vegetarian ally" behind The King, pass the young thai smokers at the pool hall, and you will find May Kaidee serving up thai favorites as if Bangkok had not aged a day from the 25 years earlier that she first opened the joint. Coconuts, Green Curry, Pad Thai, Oh My!! Every dish is delicate, packs a powerful spicy punch, and is all veggie. All the lovely older Thai women speak english well and don't bat an eye upon a request for chopsticks. Locals pedal by, sawa-dee- ka, chit chat, and go on their way. Best of all, May teaches very a informative cooking class in the morning with the first stop of the day at the local market to pick out spices, such as chillies, lemongrass, and galanga. All in all, you learn about 10 dishes in a half day course, if you don't pass out from food coma beforehand from the gastro-feast. On special nights once a month, May will hold a thai buffet where you can sample all the delights and finish off the night mesmerized by the grace and beauty of traditional thai dancers.

Getting the very friendly souls of Bangkok to understand that not eating meat means no chicken or lamb or pork can be a challenge so stumbling on this little eatery was a great find. Hidden just around the corner from Khao San Rd, it's far enough away for the ongoing street party sounds of Khao San to be muffled but close enough for a quiet cocktail or three on the famous street after dinner. The food is generally very good and the staff have excellent English so you can be confident you're getting what you asked for. Everything is very reasonably priced. The veggies taste fresh and the curries are particularly good. You get a good view of the street from just about everywhere in the restaurant so it's a great spot for watching the world go by.