I have had to visit Ubon a lot in the last few weeks. This is not a hardship because Ubon is only a 45-minute drive from Phana now that the road from Muang Samsip is all dual-carriageway. But going to Ubon has never been a hardship because it is my favourite city in Thailand. I have some favourite places to eat there, depending on how long I am going to be there, what sort of business I am on, and so on. But even favourite places can begin to seem jaded (really it is me who is jaded, of course) if you eat there too often, so I have been trying a few new places.
The first new place I tried was Spago , and I have been back several times now. Next up was Peppers Bakery, where I ate too much cake but came away with some great bread which I hadn't realised I had been missing. Then, on another occasion, after meeting my daughter and her family at the airport, we headed off for breakfast at Dao Cafe. A week later and I was having lunch at a place called Baan Glang Soi where I really ejoyed the meal (and Pensri enjoyed hers) and I also had my camera with me.
The restaurant is halfway down the soi, as its name tells you, the soi being Soi Sukha- Upatham 15. The soi is quite wide so parking wasn't too much of a problem, though I'm not sure all the residents would agree.
I knew I was going to like the place as soon as I walked in. I love garden restaurants, and this one was quite small and looked cool even in the sunshine.
Most of the seating seemed to be outside in a kind of open wooden sala. There was also an air-con room with karaoke. Sometimes these are not very well sound-proofed, but this one was not too bad. A large group came in while we were eating and wasted no time in starting to sing, but we could hardly hear them. I liked the musc that was playing in th garden, too. It was the soothing, rather old-fashioned kind, new songs (and Ubon singers) but they reminded me strongly of the sort of music I heard when I first came to Thailand.
Our table was close to this feature. I must say I admire their taste in statuary. The restaurant was the sort that you used to find in Bangkok in small sois off Sukhumvit Road, but they are all gone now, replaced by hotels and condos mostly. Ubon hasn't come to that, which is a major reason for liking it. There are still plenty of shady lanes (though in fact this one wasn't, except for the little oasis of a restaurant).
Of course we didn't just go to the restaurant to listen to music and reminisce over old times. Pensri ordered Prawn tempura with rice, and I ordered pork steak with a mustard sauce. I thought I asked the waitress if it would be served with french fries, and she said yes. She thought I was making a side order of french fries. When they came, after a salad and a bun with butter, the fries were delicious and I still had some left when my steak arrived. This was just as well, because as is often the case, the steak was served with some nicely crisp vegetables, but only six french fries.
Hi Lawrence,
I am glad you and Pii Pensri enjoyed Baan Glang Soi. I am spoiled having it and Spago so close to my house.
Before Baan Glang Soi was built, there used to be a lovely close-clipped lawn there of Zoysia grass. Kept so well that one could putt on it. Then it was dug up and the restaurant was built.
Next time you go try the steamed fish in lemon, larb straw mushrooms, yum long beans and the grilled pork with small black pepper grains.
Some of my Thai male friends don't like this restaurant. Too polite and no beer girls.
I don't know all restaurants in Ubon but I have yet to find one better than Baan Glang Soi.
MIchael
Posted by: Michael Hare | 28 January 2010 at 07:54 PM
Michael, I'll never remember what to order. You'll have to come with us.
Posted by: Lawrence | 29 January 2010 at 04:36 PM