Mak Mak

Mak Mak serves hearty thai food in Landmark and is a convenient lunch destination. I enjoyed my meal there but felt that the food was a bit too heavy (but could also be our own fault with our ordering!). I really enjoyed the salmon salad which I thought was a more unique dish that I don't find at other Thai restaurants.

Mak Mak 

2/F

The Landmark 

15 Queens Road Central

Central

Hong Kong 

Samsen

Ahhhh once again I've been rubbish at updating my blog. I have over 60 backlogged restaurants from both New York and Hong Kong. I will start with some Hong Kong restaurants and hopefully get the New York ones rolled out as well!

I don't think I have ever seen such a hype of Thai food before in Hong Kong before Samsen! I noticed an incredible onslaught of pictures of the wagyu beef boat noodles on Instagram and knew I had to go try it out. It has been open for a few months now but the lines are still as long as ever! Samsen is opened by former Chachawan Chef Adam Cliff and aims to serve casual Thai street food favorites such as boat noodles and pad see ew. The restaurant is tiny and has a cute and hip decor. The wait time is always more than an hour even on weekdays so I would recommend getting a drink at Stone Nullah Tavern next door after you put your name down.

Fried Marinated Pork Collar with Tomato and Chili Sauce 
The pork was marinated well but seems a bit too tenderized and salty. This would be good with a big bowl of rice but not my favorite dish as it was a bit too greasy.

Pad See Ew
YUM! I loveeee pad see ew and this was some of the best I've had! The noodles were sooo fat and chewy and the flavors were spot on. Must order! 

Wagyu Beef Boat Noodles 
This is the dish that most people have been raving about but I was not blown away. The soup was very robustly flavored but I felt that it was a bit too salty. I think a nice big kick of acidity would help balance out this dish. I haven't had a lot of boat noodles in my life so perhaps this is what it should taste like but I much rather shove my face with the pad see ew. 

Overall the food at Samsen packed a serious flavor punch but I don't think I would be willing to wait for over an hour frequently to eat here. I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to try other dishes though.

Samsen

68 Stone Nullah Lane 

Wanchai 

Hong Kong 

Republic

Republic has been around for ages and is always a safe bet for a yummy and inexpensive meal. It is also conveniently located right at Union Square.

Chicken Skewers 
The chicken was very flavorful and juicy. I loved the scallions and peanuts on top. 

Crispy Wontons 
The filling was yummy and the skin was fluffy and crunchy. I felt that these were a bit too deep fried for my liking but I liked the sweet and sour sauce that came with it. 

This was L's and I did not try it but she said it was good! 

Curry Chicken Noodle Soup
I loved this dish! The soup was very fragrant and flavorful. I loved how it was creamy with the sweetness of the coconut but also had a nice tangy touch. The chicken and noodles were cooked well and made for a hearty and delicious bowl of noodle soup. 

Grilled Pork with Cold Noodles and Picked Veggies
A Vietnamese classic. The pork was very well marinaded and I loved the tanginess of the picked veggies. 

Republic isn't a must visit for tourists but a great spot for a easy and delicious meal in a prime location!

Republic

37 Union Square

New York

NY 10003

Tom Yum Kung Restaurant

I have passed by Tom Yum Kung Restaurant a few times in my first week but did not make plans to eat there yet. My first dining experience here was actually quite unplanned and happened because J and I were looking for a specific type of noodle after our saturday excursion to Oudong Mountain. I found an article on Serious Eats and there was a specific type of noodle that we wanted to try in Cambodia. We kept asking our Tuktuk driver and he took us to a Chinese restaurant. Clearly this was not what we wanted so he then dropped us off here... at a Thai restaurant. We were unable to find the dish we wanted initially but I was glad that we stopped by here because the food was very good and cheap! The restaurant serves both Thai and Khmer cuisine.

Thai Sweet Basil, Chili, and Pork / Phat Kaprao
This dish was very tasty and I always enjoy an egg on top of anything. I do wish that the egg was a bit more runny though. The pork was flavored well and the sweet basil added a lovely flavor. I think there could have been more chili but that's because I love spicy things! I wouldn't say this is my favorite dish but it was enjoyable. 

Pad See Ew with Tofu 
Ahhhh this was so yummy! The noodles were very chewy and soft at the same time, I also loved how wide they were. The sauce was sweet and savory and a good amount of egg covered the noodles and the vegetables. I wish the tofu wasn't as hard though but I would definitely order this again. This was also only 2.5 USD! 

This restaurant is really close to my office for the summer so I would definitely be down to come back and try their other dishes. The pad see ew was super yummy and I will have to control myself to not order that every time! 

Tom Yum Kung Restaurant

#10 

Street 278

BKK1

Khan Chamkarmorn
Phnom Penh
Cambodia

Phuket Feasting

My friends and I decided to escape to Phuket for a tropical getaway during the winter months and to celebrate the multiple Dec/Jan birthdays. I've already been shoving my face like mad since being back in Hong Kong over break but this trip was just pigging out to the next level. I ate like there was no tomorrow everyday and the food was DAMN GOOD. We went to a few restaurants and also enjoyed the delicious food prepared by the staff at our villa. Thank god it was only for the weekend or else I would return to HK 5000 pounds heavier. It was such a fun trip and I can't wait to travel more! Enjoy the thai food porn!