Kamphaeng Phet

Kamphaeng Phet

Kamphaeng Phet isn't overflowing with top places to eat, but as long as you're not expecting Royal Thai cuisine, you'll get by.

There are various small markets dotted around Kamphaeng Phet, but none should be confused with the daily Night Market which sets up daily from 4pm in a semi covered area, opposite the Chinese temple ruins on the island. It's surrounded by some small bars and various fruit sellers, but it's when you get into the thick of it that real treats can be found; Chicken satay with peanut sauce, noodle soups, shrmp tempura, donuts, curries, and mango with sticky rice are just some of the dishes on offer - what's more, it's a budget bonanza, with most dishes just 25-30B. The market runs until midnight but its best to arrive around 8 to 9pm to see the full selection. Not to be confused with the small market near the Chakugrao Riverside which is much less appealing.

All around town you will notice an abundance of local kitchens, most having a few aluminium trays on display showing the days specials. Usual finds are fish, spicy curries and noodle dishes, but if you know what you want, the cook should be able to knock it up for you. The locals eat their food pretty spicy so be sure to ask for your dish mai pet if you don’t like the chilli.

Opposite the Phet Hotel on Bumrungrat Road you'll find 'Hot Pot' Shabu &Suki -- a chain restaurant which serves various items but its main trade is the Sukiyaki, a steaming hot pot of clear soup into which you put your vegetables, fish and/or meat. Once they are cooked scoop them out and eat with the special spicy sauce -- of course as the evening goes bye the soup in the pot gains flavour. It's a fun way to pass an inexpensive evening, and perfect to share.

Another popular den is Suki 69 on Ratchadamnoen 1. If you're unfamiliar with a Korean BBQ or Steamboat, or Mu Ka Taa as Thais call it, then here could be the place to try it. For only 69B per person you can help yourself to the buffet of fresh meats and vegetable and cook them on the tiny dome shaped BBQ. The BBQ dome is surrounded with a moat-like catchment dish and here you can cook your veggies and make a broth/soup. It's quite fiddly and not the place to go if you're in a rush, but if you've time to kill it's great fun and super value.

For your western fix, Mikes Pizza, around the corner from the Eagle Pub is a small eatery, popular with the local affluent crowd and serves various pizzas at reasonable prices. It's a good spot to watch passers-by if you can get one of the outside tables, and if you're looking for some information on the area be sure to quiz Mike. Small pizza starts at 130B. More pizza can be found at Pizza!, on the corner of Ratchadamnoen and Vijit1, Soi 2. This place is a rehash of Pizza Hut and KFC, literally. The menu's are identical, to the point where if you look carefully you can see the blurred-out KFC logo on the menu cards! All the usual chicken pieces, burgers etc as well as steaks, pasta and of course Pizza, which goes for 99/199/299B depending on size. For a true Thai experience the Silkworm is loaded with actual (deep fried) silkworms -- there's also a grasshopper pizza if you've had your fill of silkworms.

About Coffee on Ratchadamnoen 1, next door to Suki 69 is a small cube-shaped glass house serving hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as a few snacks and light meals. It's a pleasant place to stop on the way to or back from the ruins and have a caffeine injection. Directly opposite is the OK Bar which serves soft drinks and beers, and a basic selection of Thai food. Both are popular hang outs for locals, particularly in the early evening.

Teacher Coffee is a great find, with easily the best mocca in town. Located on the ring road, a short walk from Three J. As you walk out of the guest house, break left and go 50 metres to the ring road. Then break left again and go 200 metres to Teacher Coffee. \ It is on the left and signed in English.

Bars
It seems that every block in Kamphaeng Phet has its own local bar or two, with big bottles of Chang in the 50 to 60 baht range -- thanks to the Chang brewery nearby -- that's seriously cheap. Eagle Pub on Chakungrao is one of the busiest spots in town with live music nightly starting at 21.30, and some nights it is absolutely rammed full, so turn up early if you want a seat. Nerby sits Ska with extra friendly owners, cheap prices, and big jugs of Lao Pun for 99 baht. Opposite the Eagle pub is Timber Bar, which you are encouraged to boycott as they have a very uncool policy of charging foreigners higher prices than the locals. A disco of sorts can be located below the Phet Hotel and although nothing inspiring it provides some entertainment when most of the town has closed down. Our pick of the nightspots however goes to the excellent Riverfront Bar, which can be found about 200m south of the nightmarket and the Navarat Hotel, down the small soi which runs parallel with the river. (the lane is directly beside the Navarat, lined with pine trees and about 60m back from the main river road). In the evenings they have an excellent two man band playing local folk and soft rock numbers. It's a cosy middle class bar, well decorated with an abundance of fairy lights, with fair prices. Open till midnight.