A New Twist on Tradition - Ngam

Ngam 

99 Third Avenue

New York NY 10003

212.777.8424

http://www.ngamnyc.com/

Ngam serves up a new touch on Thai goods with a slight infusion twist, labeling it as the "Modern Thai Comfort Food." Taking traditional Thai food to the next level, Ngam is a place that will have you on your feet as to what culinary twist to expect. The best sellers include the Old School Pad Thai, a more traditional style of Thai dishes, as well as the Dark Knight, a bed of black squid ink noodles topped with fried calamari to it's perfection. Every dish at Ngam is infused with an immense amount of flavor, giving the right balance for your palette. The one thing that did not work for me was the Thai Taco, a stir-fry bunch of meat and vegetables topped on a pan fried roti wrap; there definitely could have been more to this.

With the variety of Thai goods, expect nothing less than a packed madhouse when visiting Ngam. Be sure to make reservations well ahead of time to dodge the long lines. Although you may be waiting a while for your food, the customer service is at the top at Ngam, which may be hard to come across now-a-days. Staff is ready to tackle your every craving, minus the number of dishes that were ordered before you.

Cute Eats - Noodle Box

One of the famous Korean chain restaurants in Seoul is Noodle Box, a fast food joint that whips up Thai food. It is probably one of the cutest eats in the world because your meal is actually serve in a replica of a Noodle Box. The concept is fun and makes it that much more appealing to enjoy your food, minus the metal bar that always gets in the way. For anyone who actually follows tips from buzzfeed, you'll know the real way to eat out of a noodle box is not from the opening at the top. The concept of Noodle Box is that the box can be opened into a flat plate so you're not digging into an extremely hot base of food. 

On average, a dish at noodle box costs $7. The dishes range in spicy levels, but they do have a wider selection that is not offered in a lot of Thai restaurants. One of the popular choices of course is the traditional Pad Thai, but the Mongolian is also great for those who are able to tolerate a bit of spice. Because this is a Korean chain restaurant, you have to keep in mind that the taste will differ from location to location. Nonetheless, it is a great place to go to grab a quick bite in a cute box. It probably wouldn't be the best place to take a date, but there are a lot of couples who visit Noodle Box anyway!

Kongdae location:

Story of My Life - Phuket, Thailand Travels

Being in Korea for a little too long can be a drag on anyone, but being able to take a vacation to a nearby country, or not so nearby is always amazing. After living in Korea for over a year and realizing how important and wise it is to take advantage of the proximity of traveling all of Southeast Asia, my next travel was to Thailand! Being stressed from the amount of work that I’ve been doing in Korea, relaxation was the number one factor to this vacation.

With that in mind, the only place to visit was the Phuket area for the main purpose of island hopping. The one must visit island where I spent most of my time was Phi Phi Island. It is filled with tourists and one of the best places to stay. They offer a handful of guides to the neighboring islands that allows for you to do the most traveling to beaches and water activities possible. The one must visit is Maya Bay, where the movie the Beach was filmed. A word of advice is to go for the travel agencies that are deeper into the island, the price is definitely a big difference.

Another thing that was amazing about Phi Phi Island is the unlimited amount of great food which is not just limited to Thai. The seafood is fresh and the amazing compliments of foreign food are included as well. It is a bit of a splurge to purchase by weight, but they are unique and meaty that is actually worth it. On another note, nothing is more fresh than their tropical fruits. The island offers fresh smoothies practically everywhere you go and fruits that are cut up and ready to eat. I practically had more than the recommended daily serving everyday.

For those who are bold enough to, try to eat what the locals do. That’s the one thing that is always on my list so going to the cheapest areas and eating things that are found on the streets is my thing. There is a slight chance of food poisoning of course, but I always take my risk. Although I expected to try something as crazy as bugs in Thailand, this trip was pretty calm in regards to food, nothing that crazy.

As for accommodation, staying at the Andaman Legacy Resort is a bit far from the main bar area so it is a bit quieter and the best part is the hotel. It’s a bit on the higher end, but still only setting you back about $60 a night. For a clean place with quick service and amazing hospitality, it is my recommendation to make to anyone. There’s free wi-fi all around the resort and they have their own pool area next to the free breakfast. It is one place that I would probably go back to, especially with the cute towel designs daily!

Heading out of Phi Phi Island, the closest big city is Phuket and spending a day or two in Phuket is recommended. It is nothing like the islands of course, but you are able to see a glimpse of Thailand for the food, culture, and lots of lady boys. Walking around for shopping (lots of bargaining) and the street foods is amazing in Phuket. Because it is not as clean as the islands, it’s not the favorite place for many, but there’s nothing more than getting the full cultural experience than in the actual cities. The one thing that I do feel horrible about is elephant trekking because of the marks that I saw, but it is now over with. I still have a passion for them, but I hope you'll be treated better! Another wonderful trip checked off my bucket list, can’t wait for the next one!

Restaurant Review - My Thai

My Thai, one of my favorite foreign restaurants is a short walk from the Itaewon train station in Seoul. Itaewon is the place for foreigners to go and to have food from all over the world. For starters, My Thai is a restaurant that I suggest visiting in the warmer seasons, even up to fall. The reason for that is because My Thai is an outdoor restaurant for its lack of a whole entire wall. The interior consists of a wood layout and dim lighting which is great for a date and even a girls night to conversation over wine.

In regards to food, My Thai puts their own twist on the Thai traditions. The signature Pad Thai for example uses an egg to wrap the noodles and the chili powder is set aside for you to create your desired taste. Their curry is more on the traditional side of Thai curry, but it does skip out on the variety of vegetables that many restaurants include. Although peppers are the only vegetables, the amount if meat that is given has definitely surpassed any other restaurant I have been to for the size of its bowl. Plating and presentation deserves its appraisal because it matches the restaurant's look and feel.

My only chief complaint is that the traditional Thai Iced Tea which is a must have at every and any Thai restaurant was actually sold out. It might of been because of the winter season, but I do not find that to be an excuse for a restaurant to not have a popular drink of the culture. Another complaint is that rice is not included with the curry dish and it is an additional price that is a must pay for. In my opinion, it would just make more sense to add the additional price for the bowl of rice in the price of the dish, it does make a better look for the restaurant for the additional dollar rather than charging separate when your customer was not aware of the extra fee.

If you plan on eating at My Thai, just have a heads up for the extra 10% surcharge for each item that you order which is half of the tax and tip back at home. It is understandable because Itaewon is where are the foreigners live and hang, but it can be a shocker to those who have been accustomed to the no tipping rule in Asian countries.

Exit 2 from the Itaewon station on line 6 and take a left on the first side street next to Hamilton Hotel. My Thai will be on your right.

Restaurant Review - Song

Song

295 Fifth Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11215

(718)965-1108

Song has been one of my favorite Thai restaurants for their low and affordable prices and abundant amounts of food. Aside from what everyone scours for when going out to eat, the food at Song is delicious! The must order dish at Song is their fried calamari, only eight bucks for a large (right) which can be shared with a gang of four, or two if you’re a big calamari eater. 

It’s practically always a packed house at Song and even with that, they have not raised prices on their food with an average of $7 an entree. My favorite dish is the Beef Pad See Ew, which is an order always to be made along with the Thai Iced Tea. Service at Song may not be the best on a busy night, just be sure to not go when you’re absolutely starving (like I am most times). Atmosphere at Song is good enough for a date—I had my first date there—with candle lighting, outdoor seating.

Upon entering the restaurant, there’s a bar where you can hang and order drinks while you wait for seating. The open kitchen allows you to ensure that there will less likely be any problems with your food. Almost all entrees fall under ten dollars which is an extremely cheap eat for dinner so its definitely a great place to go out with friends. It may be a little hard to look for parking, so give yourself time to do so.