Stupid_American

Sadly, the ImportFood.com link site seems to have been down for some time. Fortunately, I saved the PDF map!

I'm also more into carts, stalls and small shops. Most of the "better" restaurants have sent me away very disappointed. Although the view from the Baiyoke's observation deck is the greatest, the buffet is a contender for the worst I have ever tried. Has it improved since the price tripled?

It's really tough to nail down a particular "best" area. Anywhere near the BTS (skytrain) provides quick, easy access to many areas. MBK Center's 6th floor food court is a good place to break the ice if you are not comfortable with stall/cart cuisine.

MSG?

Fashion Island? I hope it's a dog friendly restaurant!

Although I still hit a Boll Weevil when I get a chance, I will admit that my attraction is brought on a bit from a little nostalgia. And, they have gone down in the quailty of the burger. When Boll Weevil opened it was burgers (didn't even offer lettuce and tomato) and fries, and the entire menu fit on a tortoise shell, hung on the wall. In their pursuit of a larger customer base, they added a "lighter fair", and actually promoted the chain as "yuppie pool halls". When all they made was burgers, it was much easier to make great burgers. It also suffers from the "unsupervised generic kitchen help" syndrome. In the past, the cooks took a bit more pride in the product.

Between the lack of entrances, and all the construction, just getting in, around, and out of Tustin Legacy is an extreme exercise in patience.

Please tell me Point Loma didn't close!!!!! The original Midway Drive store closed a couple years back. The "Mother of Boll Weevil, the Cotton Patch, had made way for the nudie bar years ago. Apparently, the USPS (the land's leesor), prefers boobs over burgers. Been to ill fated Boll Weevils in Riverside, Hemet, Temecula, Encinitas (old & new) and Oceanside. Most of the newer closings are due to outrageous rent increases. The old Mission Gorge Road location made room for the stadium traffic. There are still stores open in Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Miramar and El Cajon. The El Cajon store, on Second Street, has been around since the late 60's/early 70's. It's probably the oldest remaining store.

On the tables of most restaurants around Little Saigon, Westminster CA, you'll see this stuff. It would be a good base for you to start with. Its smoother brother is also a standard. I love the stuff on most anything. It's even great on scrambled eggs!

I think there is a difference in seeking authenticity and being adventurous. Whether it be live, raw, bugs, or whatever, although a few creative dishes are okay, I prefer an ethnic restaurant to representitive of the cuisine.

Thanks, but I'll need to eat before Coalinga. Besides, I'm looking more for diners, than dining, a place where ranch hands might break for breakfast.

Heading north next week and thought I would plan on stopping somewhere north of Gorman for breakfast. I've only seen Denny's and McDonalds. Anything interesting?

It's good to see some more of my kind of dining spots. We usually fly through that area on the way to somewhere else, but will definitely hunt down some of your suggestions.

For a nice lunch, with casual patio seating, I like EAT-A-PITA.

Just a bump! Haven't heard any insights for a couple days.

I think that everyone lost during and after the last grocery contract fiasco. Maybe they just want it mediated from the start. Personally, I don't often shop big chains. I hit local Asian and Mexican stores. The union action didn't and won't affect my shopping habits.

I haven't sampled that much Thai around the country. I have yet to even make it to Las Vegas' Lotus of Siam, the real "Renu Nakorn LA has a huge Thai population and OC has Vietnamese. Although OC also has a good population of Thai, I believe that the Vietnamese tastes will support authentic Thai too. Every Southeast Asian I have asked for Thai recommendations has put Thai Nakorn at the top of their list. I could have every critic, from every paper, from every city pan or praise a joint, and I'll still go with the the locals every time! People that drop in to screen a place can't expect to "get it" in a single visit.

Great experience! Hope you follow up with more.

Thai Nakorn opened a store in Mission Viejo. In order to survive, even they started to tone it down and sugar it up. They have since sold the place and wish the new owners would change the name! I have found that with most restaurants, and most cuisines, it's a matter of finding what dish, or dishes, made them think they could cook. It is very rare for a Thai joint to be great across the entire menu. Even in Thailand, most eateries have a dish or two that keep bringing the locals back. This is especially true in smaller restaurants, where the kitchen is inhabited by a family. The culinary skills will be limited in scope. In Bangkok, we never go out for "Thai food". With the exception of seafood, we go out for a specific dish. Even with seafood we have favorite spots for some dishes. With cuisines such as Thai, I think it's best to recommend specific dishes when suggesting a restaurant. It can really make the difference for someone visiting for the first time.

Even with the huge Thai population in Southern California, we still find most of it a wasteland when looking for good Thai. We've read rave reviews of many of LA's Thai standards and usually come away quite disappointed. I really believe that most of these people like what they are told to like. ----- Thai Nakorn, on Garden Grove Blvd, has always been in contention for the best Thai in the States. The bad news is that it was gutted by fire about a month ago. The good news is that they plan to rebuild, ASAP. Keep your ears and eyes open! Just south of the 22 Freeway, on Grand, there is a hole-in-the-wall called Bangkok Taste. It is truly a hidden gem. I really looks like nothing from the outside, but is comfortable inside. They have an interesting menu. Although we haven't tried it yet, it is one of the few places I have seen khao soy, a curry noodle dish from Chiang Mai. The larb is great. Their coconut ice cream is fantastic! We have enjoyed everything we have tried so far, and found it to be quite authentic. It's definitely more than your typical "Chinese with peanuts and chilis" Thai place.

It's probably a Khmer/Cambodian font (close to the script).

I was getting worried until the end of part 4. Glad to see you sampled some Thai.

The betel leaves are the classic. They add a bitterness, offset by the sauce.

Here's mieng kum from a vendor ("25 baht, made fresh daily"): If you are in the LA area, I have seen it at Silom Supermarket and the little store opposite Wat Thai LA. I would imagine a few other LA Thai markets have it from time to time Here's a tomyam noodle soup, also 25 baht: It is of the best I've had. This cart is on Convent Road, across from, and just south of the Swiss Lodge. Convent Road, during the week, has some of Bangkok's best food carts. They cater to Silom's office staffs.

In Bangkok, even most "full menu" restaurants stay in business based on one or two items. The rest of the menu is filler! A nice place, we always bring visitors, is Yok Yor Marina and Restaurant. It's in Klongsan, behind the Taksin Hospital. It's a nice, outdoor, riverside setting and they feature a traditional dance show. Another nice dinner is Riverside Bangkok Hotel's dinner cruise. They feature great Thai dishes, cooked to order, onboard a huge boat, cruising the Chao Phraya. Boat leaves at 8; reservations are a must.