Unlike us westerners that adhere to a daily breakfast, lunch and dinner eating schedule, Thais tend to graze. They are often completely overtaken by the desire to eat, right at that moment. It’s as if a spell gets cast, briefly turning them into a food eating zombie.

One time, a couple of the boys went into the kitchen to make some noodles. I told them we would be going out to eat soon so they might not want to ruin their apatite. The two smiled, put everything back, and returned to watching TV. Within 5 minutes both were back in the kitchen making noodles.

The same two boys and I were walking to the BTS one night when we passed a food stand selling grilled pork balls. The boys just had to have them, so everything came to a halt while we stopped to buy pork balls. We were headed for Balcony Pub, and the boys knew they could order something there, but it didn’t make any difference. The boys wanted pork balls, they wanted them now, and nothing else would do.

A group of us (Thai boys and farang) are walking to a restaurant one evening. Next thing we know the boys have disappeared from view. Turns out they spotted some delicious grilled squid two blocks back and stopped to buy some. Once reunited, I asked them why they would stop to eat on the way to dinner. It was explained to me the restaurant we were going to did not serve grilled squid and they wanted to eat some…silly me.

Both farang thought it was a bit rude of the boys to stop and eat when we were about to buy them dinner. The boys insisted it was acceptable practice in Thai culture, and no one would have taken offense. It was further explained that Thais eat what they want, when they want, regardless of the circumstance. Later I was able to confirm, with several other boys, this is true. It was further evidenced while I was at lunch today and observed a Thai woman, two sticks of grilled pork in hand, walk in and join a table of friends getting ready to order.

With another Thai cultural lesson under my belt, I thought it appropriate to return the favor. So, it was explained to the boys that it’s probably a good idea to avoid offending their farang host by suggesting the food he is about to buy them is no good. I didn’t notice either boy taking notes during their farang cultural lesson, but something tells me these two will never again stop to by something yummy while we’re in route to a dinning establishment. Not that I mind at this point, but it will be interesting to see if the Thai grazing gene is more powerful than the desire to achieve cross cultural harmony.

I was also a bit disturbed both boys stopped for food and didn’t tell the rest of the group. I ran this by some other farang that have Thai boyfriends. They said this happens to them all the time. As frustrating as it is, any efforts to change this in a boy are, for the most part, an exercise in futility.

When something tasty catches their eye it becomes the number one priority. The boys briefly loose contact with space and time, as they dedicate all of their mental and physical energy toward satisfying the craving for whatever has caught their food grazing eye. Once the boys have their food in hand, they snap back to reality and everything can move forward as planned.

I’ve just added a new page about the famous durian fruit, believed to be lethal if consumed with alcoholic beverages. I thought about contacting the TV show Myth Busters and suggesting they give it a look, but realized it would not involve blowing something up, so they probably wouldn’t be interested.

I finally got a chance to check out the new Maxis Bar & Restaurant in Soi Twilight. You don’t even have to go inside to see someone spent a ton of cash on the place, and speculation among some of the expats is the new venue will give Dick’s Café a run for their money. Well, I’m not so sure about that.

My party of four (2 farang and 2 Thai boys) hit the place rather late in the evening, after 12 as I recall. And this could have been a contributing factor in the less than satisfactory dining experience we all had. I’m also aware it is extremely difficult to get a Thai kitchen staff that can consistently turn out good western food, but the Thai dishes should not be a challenge.

Three in my party selected a total of 4 Thai dishes, and all but one of them got a thumbs down. I decided to go for a western meal, and selected their egg burger. This is just my opinion, but I believe any restaurant serving up western food should at least be able to get a hamburger right. I mean…it’s not rocket science we’re talking about here.

First of all, the egg was not fully cooked, so when I pressed down on the bun egg yolk came spurting out onto the plate. I have no doubt this additional liquid inside the sandwich greatly contributed to the bun disintegrating early in the dining experience. To make things worse, there was some sort of pungent spice in the meat that made the taste of beef impossible to detect. When all was said and done, Maxis earned my worst hamburger in Thailand award, previously held by McDonald’s. GAWD it was awful!

Now I’m quite certain Dick’s manages to serve up a stinker every once in awhile, but I’ve dined at both establishments several times and, as yet, haven’t been the victim of an off night.

Maxis is an absolutely beautiful looking establishment, perhaps even a little too upscale in appearance for its location. But after sampling the food I’ll have to say its beauty may only be skin deep.

PLEASE…someone tell me I just happened in on an off night, and Maxis deserves another try.

I have to believe garbage disposals exist in some of the more upscale homes of Thailand, but for most this luxury, we take for granted in America, is not available. So, what to do with the unwanted leftovers? Well, the solid items can just be scraped into the trash bin, but the more liquid items can cause problems.

Most people recycle their plastic shopping bags as trash can liners, something many do in America. It should be no surprise that a lot of these recycled bags have holes in them, so poring liquid items into the trash often gets messy.

I decided the simplest solution was to flush these items down the toilet…no muss no fuss. Well, let me tell you, this goes over like a fart in church with the Thai boys. I can not say with absolute certainty why the boys take issue with it, but my guess is it’s considered disrespectful to the food. Food, particularly rice, and eating are a bit of a sacred cow in Thailand, so it stands to reason putting food in the shitter might be frowned upon. I just thank God it wasn’t rice I tried to flush in the company of Thai boys. That would have really put me in the dog house.

Photo Courtesy of Private Boy Movie

In any case, what the smarter boys do is poor the liquid items into a smaller bag, tie it off and place that in the trash. I’ll have to admit, I still pored food down the toilet when the boys weren’t around to catch me at it.

I’ve talked a lot about eating in Thailand, and just when I think I’ve got the subject completely covered I remember something else.

More than once I’ve mentioned Thais like to share several dishes, even in restaurants. What I forgot to mention is it’s rude to serve yourself large portions. Only one, maybe two, spoons full should be taken to your plate at a time, mixed with the rice and eaten. To do otherwise is considered piggish or hording. Moreover, Thais usually only serve themselves one item at a time. On the occasions two items are brought to the plate it is usually to blend them together as one. I’m talking in very general terms, but if you watch the boys eat, you’ll get the picture.

Photo Courtesy of Asia Boy

Another interesting thing is Thais do not like to eat alone. Even if a boy knows you are not hungry, he will most likely ask you to sit and eat with him. Because Thais eat when they are hungry, this situation will occur frequently. It is best to join him and maybe take a bite or two while chatting together.

As I mentioned in my information page “Eating The Thai Way”, Thais like to eat family style when dining in restaurants. I highly recommend it when out eating with a small group of friends.

Rice is almost always ordered separately. Each person will get a plate or bowel of rice, intended to mix with the shared food served on other dishes. So what you end up with is a plate of rice that is the foundation for the meal you will make from the other dishes that were ordered.

Source: Thai Food Blogs

In most cases serving utensils are not provided for each of the dishes ordered for the table. Instead, you are expected to serve yourself with your own eating utensils – a large spoon and dinner fork.

You need to take great care to ensure no rice is on your utensils while serving yourself from the shared dishes. While no one seems to be concerned with the fact those utensils have been in your mouth, heaven help you if any of your rice gets mixed in to the shared dishes. To do this is considered very bad manners.

If you are in Thailand for the long-term there are, no doubt, many places that serve up a good old American hamburger. Granted, some will be pricey, but they do exist.

Those on a short stay, that find themselves craving a good burger, will definitely be satisfied with Burger King. There are several scattered around Bangkok, including at the corner of Silom Soi 2 (Sala Daeng BTS Station exit 3), in the basement of Paragon, and across the street from the Pantip Plaza computer mall. The one in the photo is at Chi Lom BTS exit 2. The Silom Burger King gets a lot of gay customers, particularly during the late night hours.

Others I found worth mentioning are at the Telephone and Balcony Pubs on Silom Soi 4, and Dick’s Cafe in Soi Twilight serves a killer egg burger…that’s a hamburger with a fried egg added.

A new place opened after I left that’s getting good reviews. Mike’s Original Burger originated in Chiang Mai, and now has a store in Silom right next to the Sala Daeng BTS Station exit 2. I’ve been told they even have a Philly Steak Sandwich, real Mexican Chili and Chili Dogs!

The Greyhound Cafe Restaurant has a good gourmet hamburger they call the Elvis Burger. You do have to ask for mayo on the side. I call it a gourmet hamburger, because it has some extra seasonings mixed in and does not taste like a traditional burger, but it is very good. I think there are more locations, but I know of one in the Emporium Shopping Center (second Floor) Phrom Phong BTS exit 2, and in the new shopping center next to BTS Ari exit 4 (first level).

Comments are open for this post. If anyone knows of some other good places, including other places in Thailand, please chime in.

I’ve added the following new pages…

Eating The Thai Way

Thai Dates

Concerned with poor sanitation, I’ve avoided the street food vendors. The food looks great, and you can’t beat the price, but I’m scared to death I’ll get sick.

I was talking about this with a couple of guys that have lived in Thailand a long time. In context of eating foods that are grilled, boiled, or deep fat fried (pot of boiling oil), they both agreed it is safe when cooked with propane gas. They explained its all about the temperature foods are cooked at. If the vendor is using charcoal, the fire is not hot enough, and should be avoided.

Others have told me to only eat street food that has just been cooked. A bit of a no brainer, actually.

I haven’t gotten up enough nerve to try it yet, but thought I’d pass on the advice others have given me.

See this page at Thailand Life for more information about street food.

McDonalds is the most dominant fast food chain in America, and the same appears to be true in Thailand. I did read someplace that KFC owns the top spot in Thailand, but I see more McDonalds here in Bangkok. If KFC has the lead, it’s not by much. In my opinion, the only American franchise more dominant than McDonalds, in Bangkok, is 7 Eleven. McDonalds restaurants are everywhere. Some Bangkok shopping malls, such as MBK, have three or four McDonalds stores scattered around the sprawling multi level properties.

On my first visit to a McDonalds in Thailand I ordered a Big Mac, fries and a drink. This dining experience was a huge disappointment. It would not be fair of me to say their hamburgers taste bad. How good something tastes is a matter of individual opinion. However, a Big Mac in Thailand is not, in any way shape or form, comparable to its American counterpart. They are two entirely different meals.

Eating a Big Mac in Thailand reminds me of the old Wendy’s commercial with the elderly woman asking, “where’s the beef.” There’s not much meet between the buns in a McDonalds hamburger. Chicken, pork, and fish are the preferred meats in Thailand. This may have something to do with the pathetic burger McDonalds serves up.

They have the fries down pat, but all restaurants in Thailand serve up good French fries. At least that’s been my experience so far.

McDonalds does serve customers traditional tomato catsup, but I’ve not seen any mustard.

Other familiar items are the McChicken Sandwich, Filet-O-Fish, and Chicken McNuggets. Like a lot of American fast food joints in Thailand, McDonalds has menu items that are not offered in the states - Pork Burger, Samurai Pork Burger, Chicken McCrispy (two pieces of fried chicken), Chicken McRice Burger, and Pork McRice Burger (meat between two rice cakes). See the Thai McDonalds web site for a complete menu.

Today I tried the McChicken Sandwich and Filet-O-Fish. Both were pretty much the same as I’ve experienced in America, the fish sandwich being the better of the two. In America I was never a big fan of either. I just wanted to see if McDonalds served up anything comparable to what we can get in the states.

While I was waiting for my sandwiches, I noticed they have a sink for customers to wash their hands. At least I think it is for the customers. There is a sign above the sink saying “Use Toilet In Shopping Center”, so maybe it’s just for employees. If it were just for employees, I would imagine they’d put in the back someplace. Maybe its out front so customers can see that the employees are washing their hands…I don’t know.