Mouthwatering seafood, rapid service but an oh-so-tacky ambience—this is clearly the Somboon Pochana of Srinakarin Road. The top Thai karaoke staples or the Carpenters blaring out from this massive, Thai-style wooden home are a clear warning that this isn’t fine dining. Downstairs you’ll find a number of private karaoke rooms and limited open-air seating. For a quieter dinner, stay on the first floor or head up to where the live music will have you shouting to be heard. Noise apart, the atmosphere is airy and breezy. The minute you find your seats, you’ll be greeted by a floor manager and a beer girl. The manager is quick to point out the specials, which always seem to include the flavorful and juicy mussels in a clay pot. Koh Yor cooks them in a mix of Thai herbs including lemon grass, galanga, chilies, onions and kaffir lime leaves which, along with the accompanying seafood sauce, is nothing less than a party in your mouth. Salad fans are also well served with an impressive list of somtam and yaam dishes. Try the somtam poo maa; it’s expensive but the size of the portion and freshness of the crab make it worthwhile. Complement the sour and spicy, with an order of the poo ob woon sen (steamed vermicelli with crab, priced per weight). Or, try the fried red tilapia with black pepper. The fish is neatly cut into fish-finger size pieces and smothered in black pepper (possibly a bit too much). Get your carbs with a simple plate of scrumptious crab khao phad. The service is spot on and super fast, leaving you no room to breathe between dishes, which tend to be huge. So take our advice and grab a group of friends before you head here for a taste of Cha Am in Bang Na. Corkage free or B100 if you’re in a private room.
