One of our old favorite restaurants in Mukdahan is Bau Boon Jin. It got it's name from an old Thai Soap Opera character that was a Chinese Judge and each episode would have him dish out justice in his own peculiar way. Well at the restaurant Bau Boon Jin they dish out food in a great way. The menu is extensive and good. I can frankly say I have never had a bad meal there. It is a kao tom place so it opens in the evening about 6 pm and closes after the bars and clubs close after 2 am. They have a few Chinese dishes but most of them are standard Thai fare. The service is quick and pleasant and they even have a picture menu for foreigners who can't read Thai. It is located just across the main road from the Ploy Palace Hotel in Mukdahan. 

The portions are large and the prices are cheap. The other night my wife and I ate there and had pla tod pad pongaree (fried fish in yellow curry and egg), pak boong fie daeng (stir fried morning glory), and gang jut moo sap (a clear soup with minced pork, veggies, tofu, and seaweed). Every thing including rice, bottled water, and ice came to 240 baht. It was a great dinner at a familiar old place. If you are a fan of European Soccer they televise most of the matches on their huge projection TV. So come in late and enjoy. 

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About a year and a half ago we moved to a new house and it is on the southern edge of Mukdahan. There aren't too many places to eat near our house so we would have to drive all the way into town for an evening meal or for take out food. Luckily there is one restaurant near by just across fromt he Mukdahan tower. It is called Chonburi Seafood. They specialize in seafood as the name woudl imply they also do an excellent kao tom pla (rice soup with fish) being a kao tom restaurant means it will be open late at night, until at least 2 am. Of course they serve the kao tom pla but you can also get with shrimp, crab, squid or a mixture. They also serve a full menu of dishes including fried or steamed Mekong fish, hoy li krueng, pla pacha and many many more. 

We went there the other night, it was late and we had a guest coming from Somdet and every one was hungry. Our guest did not know the way to our house so we met at the Tower and went right across the street to have dinner at Chonburi. That night we had tom yom (a spicy fish soup), pla pad khun chai (fish stir fried with chinese celery, hoy li (mussels in a spicy brown sauce) and kaijeow poo (crab stuffed omelet). With rice and water the bill was around 450 baht. The food was as always delicious. If you stop by during the day try the seafood noodles (gwiteow talay). Caution: the food is addiciting and they are closed on Sundays. - Khun Rut

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The owner of this restaurant is indeed a teacher and while I don't think she does any of the cooking sometimes you can see her there. This place has been here forever. On the night that I first came to Mukdahan to stay, this was the place that my wife and her friends took me out to dinner to. I bet she doesn't even remember. Anyway it is right on the banks of the river a couple kilometers north of town. Enjoy the small winding road up the river til you get there and can enjoy the wonderful river view. 

This restaurant has many of the normal Thai dishes but also specialize in some Chinese dishes. Almost everything you can think of is on the menu and if it isn't I bet you they can make it. The night we went there for this meal there were quite a few customers in the downstairs part by the river bank. We opted for the second floor right above the kitchen where they have an outside covered area and some enclosed VIP rooms with Air Con. We sat outside and ordered 4 really great dishes. First was Jaow Hon Pla (an Isaan style fish stew with veggies). Then we ordered Yum Gai Takrai (Fried chicken pieces and thin sliced lemongrass in a spicey dressing). Next on the menu was Pla Pa Cha (fried fish pieces with green peppers, onion, and ginger). We rounded out our meal with Goong Pad Pongaree (sauteed prawns, tomato, onion, and chinese celery with egg and mild Indian style yellow curry) All the food was great as per normal we ate chatted and looked at the river. The service is good even on a busy night like this the food came pretty quickly. They gave us a couple of plates of fresh papaya for desert, gratis. With 2 large bottles of Leo beer, rice and water the bill came to 920 baht. A little on the pricey side but we got good size portions and good quality. Check out the pictures and the map on how to get there.

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I was out and about the other day scoping out a new fishing pond and ran into this new restaurant within just a stone's throw from my house. It is situated off a back road near the temple at Pu Manorom, down a small but paved road. I went in there at lunch time and parked the bike and walked into the place. The walk in is a treat in itself. You walk on a boardwalk through a lovely jungle like garden taking a few turns before you are confronted with some stairs to climb to the varied level seating area. When you arrive you are amid or just above the garden and are treated with a wonderful view. I got a menu and the prices were quite reasonable. They even have the Kob Kao menu where you can order small dishes for one for 20 baht each and some rice for 10 baht and have a wonderful lunch for 30-50 baht. I raved about this to my wife and friends and we tried to go back that very night. Alas when we got there around 745 pm they were locking up the gates. 

So today I asked my wife if she could come there for lunch. She said ok she had a class at 1230 and would have time. We got there and she was immediately impressed with the layout. She checked out the menu and we ordered 3 dishes See Krang Moo Og, Gang Riang, and  Pad Ped Moo Pa. It was all very good with large portions and including rice the bill came to 200 baht even. When I came on my own I got one of the Kob Kao meals with Pad Kraprao Moo Krob for 30 baht. Check out the pictures in the gallery.

I am sure we will be back many times and will promote this to our friends so they will have enough business to stay open. The owner Mr, Kot told me that he just opened it up 3 months ago. The hours are from morning time to 700 pm. I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did. PS My wife ended up being late back to school because she had such a good time and didn't want to leave! - Khun Rut

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Last night my wife and I and another couple went to eat at an old favorite restaurant in Mukdahan. It is call Suwan Ahan Puwong Phed (Puwong Phed Food Garden). This is a long standing restaurant of more than 25 years situated just south of Mukdahan on the edge of the Mekong River. It specializes in Isaan food indigenous to this region. While eating here you can have a beautiful view of the river while eating some of the best Isaan food ever accompanied by a gentleman singing and playing guitar.

Their specialty is Larb Phed (minced duck with garlic, lime, chiles and some other special ingredients). Most people would say that it is probably the best to be found in Mukdahan. So  of course  we had that. This is served with assorted leafy vegetables, cucumber and baby eggplants. We also had a tureen of Gang Aom Wai, which is a dark thick soup with wai (kind of like bamboo but more bitter), sweet basil, lemongrass, gai ban (village style free range chicken), mushrooms and bla ra (fermented fish juice). Rounding out the meal was a plate of deep fried Mekong River fish. Some jao (a musky dipping sauce) rice and drinks rounded out the feast for the evening. 

The total tab for the evening came to right at 500 baht including two large Leo Beers. Another comfortable night out with friends, good food and a great atmosphere. That's what you expect at Puwong Phed.

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 When it comes to delicious food Tee Porchana is one of the best restaurants in Mukdahan. The building is really funky and unless you know about it you probably wouldn't go in there. The original restaurant used to be right by the River City hotel but it closed up a few years ago. Then about 2 years ago it reopened in its present location on the Don Tan - Mukdahan road very near where the road goes to 4 lanes. They are open from around 5 or 6 in the evening and serve dinner until 2 am or later. They serve all the regular Thai dishes but have some things that are pretty unique to them. The tomyum is top notch and they serve it either clear style or with red broth. There are also a lot of Chinese dishes on the menu. When we had dinner there the other night we had grata ron talay (seafood sizzling plate), pad sezchuan, tomyum with the clear broth, and pad gung saton. With rice and drinks the bill was under 400 baht for 4 people. The food was, as always great. Special thanks to Felix Ruether (Nong Jeng) for the images. - Khun Rut

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Friday my wife had the day off for Mother's day and we were out doing some errands and were getting hungry! We were near her school (Mukdahan School) so we decided that right across the street would be fine. We have eaten at the Wichianbori Barbeque before and knew it was good. After parking the car on the street Dtom went to order while I snapped a few photos. This stall is one of many Gai Yang franchises in Thailand. They get the special recipe for marinating the chicken (and perhaps a good price on the chicken too, but I am not sure.) As you can tell they do a brisk business, openining at 7 am, and are usually sold out of chicken by around 2 pm every day. I asked the owner how many they sell in a day and she told me 100. I can believe it because they sold 10 just in the short time we spent their eating. Of course the meal is not complete without somtam and sticky rice. Dtom ordered tamtua which is like somtam but made with long beans. The entire bill for the meal came to under 150 baht. Delicious. - Khun Rut

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While I was out today I was felt the desire for a cup of coffee. My normal place was closed and there was another nearby that I wanted to check out but it was not open yet. I went a little further in my travel and remembered this little shop that recently opened and decided to give it a try. It is called Cafe Lanla. When we closed our coffee shop over a year ago. We sold our plates, cups, espresso machine, and some of our furniture to someone thinking of opening her own shop. This never happened and she sold the lot to the owner of this shop. I know because I stopped by to show her how to use the espresso machine and give her a few tips. I pulled in today and decided to give it a try. I was greeted by Neung, the owner who remembered me and greeted me with a big smile. I ordered an espresso and a pork celebao (a steamed roll filled with meat and boiled egg). They also make other kinds of various colors. I soon got the espresso. It was great and so was the celebao. I think I will go back to try the rainbow of celebao. Cost of coffee and celebao... 40 baht. - Khun Rut

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Pa Pad Thai is the most popular Pad Thai restaurant in Mukdahan. It's specialty is pad Thai, som tam, and chicken foot appetizers. They also serve pad siu, rad na, and many other Thai dishes made to order, but far and away the pad Thai is the most popular dish. The som tam is great too made in the classic Isaan style or the milder Central Thai style. They have a small but efficient staff to take care of the many customers in the good sized dining room. Pa, the owner and cook opens almost every night of the week with the occasional day off. The hours are from 6 pm to 2 am. Be prepared to wait at least a half hour on busy nights as you can tell from the pictures there are lots of customers and lots of take out orders as well. But I can tell you it is well worth the wait.- Khun Rut

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I have been going to this restaurant since I have been in Mukdahan, over seven years. I have never had a bad meal here. The owners Eed (the cook) and his wife, Rin, run this small restaurant in the Da Nang Market right in front of the Ploy Palace Hotel and nope it doesn't have a name. It has about 10 tables and is open from around 8 am to about 2 or 3 pm. Eed used to be the head cook at the Ploy Palace Hotel and was the cook at the old Riverview restaurant, years ago. Now he serves normal Thai food like pad kapao or kao pad, kao ka moo, and pad mama kee mao. I used to live just around the corner from his shop and for about 2 years I had the same thing for lunch. Kanah moo krob (Kale fried with crispy pork over rice). Today I went around to get some pictures and make their shop the first place I posted to Mook Sanook Food and Fun since I have eaten there more than any other restaurant in Mukdahan.

I showed up there today with my dog Singhto in tow and got a great greeting. I ordered, you guessed it.... Kanah Moo Krob. While I was waiting I met my friend Ajarn Roi and we sat and chatted as I waited for my food. The conversation got decidedly one sided as my meal came (she had eaten already.) It was just as good as always. A great lunch and a good conversation with an old friend with the dog at my side. I doesn't get much better than that. The bill came to 30 baht. Most dishes are that price Enjoy the pictures and if you get a chance to go to the by the best restaurant in Mukdahan with no name you won't be disappointed.

 

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