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| Khao Soi Islam |
| Written by Panida Suvapiromchote | ||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, 20 December 2005 | ||||||||||||||
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Page 1 of 2 Sawasdee Jao, a sweet northern greeting from "Sing", the cook and shop owner, is heard whenever a new customer steps into her small but busy food world.
Both Thai and foreign customers at Khao Soi Islam come to enjoy the large varieties of Islamic dishes. Khao Soi (egg noodle in curried gravy) is one of the most popular dishes in Chiang Mai. There is a saying that "Your trip to Chiang Mai is not complete without trying Khao Soi". At Khao Soi Islam, this main dish is prepared in the traditional Islamic style, offering a variety of meats, such as beef, fish, chicken, meatballs and vegetarian. It is served with side dishes of pickled mustard greens, peeled shallots, and slices of lime to offset the rich taste of curry. The most important ingredient is the egg noodle. Miss Wanida Lertpoonwilaikul or Sing, 51, said that "Our egg noodle is freshly made here every morning to ensure the quality and no left over noodle is used the next day as the remaining would be fried as crispy noodle to be used as garnish on top of the Khao Soi". The shop also serves a unique and sumptuous noodle dish called "Pa Pa Sae" in curried gravy or soup. This thick noodle, made from brown rice grain grown on the mountains in Fang District, is tender but splendidly chunky. A British friend of mine, who really appreciates the food here whenever he visits Chiang Mai, usually places double orders. The shop gets its supplies from Pa Pa noodle maker in Chiang Mai which apparently keeps its recipes a secret matter. Miss Sing only knows that brown rice is steamed and kneaded into dough then rolled and cut into noodle shape.
And when you say "Check Please", you will be surprised to find that the prices are so budget minded ranging from 25 baht mostly to 50 baht (for goat curry in yellow saffron rice). The drinks available at 10 to 15 baht are tropical fruit juices such as sugarcane, roselle, guava, and palm sugar including other soft drinks. Hot and iced teas and coffees are also offered. Apart from Islamic food, salted beef "Gung Pa" or in Thai called "Nuea Nam Khang", Goon Chiang (Chinese style sausages) and Nuea Yong are also on sale. One famous Thai politician, who has been a regular customer for more than 20 years, told Sing that "I come here to eat yummy food, not to appreciate the atmosphere" when Sing mentioned to him that her food shop was not so fancy. Khao Soi Islam is a typical Thai style food shop, set with simple tables and seats with modest hand written menus hanging on the walls. The food shop is certified with Halal Food standards by the Chiang Mai Authorities. Khao Soi Islam is situated on Charoen Prathet Road, Soi 1 near Ban Hor Mosque. It is open daily from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. or call tel. 053-271-484 for direction. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 07 July 2008 ) | ||||||||||||||
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