Hong Seng Pak Kret

Welcome to the Hong Seng restaurant.

It was coincidence, not divine intervention, that led me to enjoy a piscatorial Friday last week.

In return for an editing favour, my good buddy Awi treated me to lunch at another of his Nonthaburi hangouts.

On the banks of the Chao Phraya river is Hong Seng restaurant in Pak Kret, an old style, open air family-run eatery where little has changed since it first opened - if ain't broke etc....

As well as Hong Seng's awesome river views and relaxed, rustic atmosphere, the other main attraction is goong maenam pao - "shrimp on the barbie thai style."

Koh Kret is just up the river and round the bend.

Quickly cooked over a charcoal grill, these sweet, juicy, meaty, fresh water river prawns are served with a dipping sauce packing as much spice as the current Leveson enquiry. They are more mini-lobsters than shrimps (up to 500gm) and thanks to the mild smoky charcoal flavour, they are highly recommended (and I'm not even a prawn fan).

River prawns - no need to drive to Ayutthaya to enjoy these.

If you're not on cholesterol watch, the yellow prawn roe goes real well with steamed rice. In addition, we ordered steamed and deep fried fish dishes and both were excellent.

Keeping it rustic and relaxed - can you feel the river breeze?

The restaurant's menu is extensive and Hong Seng is a good spot to eat at before, or after, a boat trip to Koh Kret island - the restaurant is right by the dock so you can't miss it.

Pla Luak - blanched fish slices and dipping sauce. 

Other attractions in the area include a busy, bustling food market. You can also enjoy a Pak Kret style picnic in the late afternoon when boat vendors selling a host of culinary treats congregate near the dock to set up a small floating market.

It's plenty popular with locals and visitors who buy loads of food (especially noodles) from the vendors and then find a spot on the riverside steps to picnic with friends and family.

How to go to Hong Seng? Here's another blog article with address details for the restaurant.

Later that night we nipped out for a Friday night family treat to Snapper, a recently opened New Zealand (NZ) themed fish and chip restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 11.

Friday night at the Fish Supper Club. 

Being a bit of a fish and chip connoisseur, I think Snapper is good, very, very good, producing the best f&c that I've ever eaten in Bangkok. The fish batter is thin and crispy, while the chips are on the large side and very filling. Their homemade tomato sauce was another winning touch.

Full selection of condiments. They even serve mushy peas.  

The only gripe was reserved for the breadcrumbed scallops order. The scallops were so small we had to send a search party to find them. Shouldn't grumble too much as we were offered two complimentary glasses of bubbly - Snapper's NZ wine list was mighty impressive as well - another night, another night.