Bangkok Latest Food Trend 2016 – Claypot River Prawn Tom Yam Porridge

BANGKOK, THAILAND – “You like to eat porridge?” my dining companion asked, as we pulled over at a huge carpark opposite Paradise Park Bangkok. Honestly, porridge isn’t something I’d normally have, especially with the humid weather in Bangkok. “I am on a holiday, why are you bringing me to eat porridge?” I protested. Of course it was useless.

I should have given my dining partner a little more trust. Because this culinary trek is not with any ordinary guide. I was with Yeow Chong, the foodie from Singapore who has been living in Bangkok for the past 20 years. He took me on an eating tour of the city again and was sharing about how claypot river prawn porridge is the latest food trend in Bangkok.

Here we are, at “Joke Perd Mho Paradise (โจ๊กเปิดหม้อ สาขาพาราไดซ์ ศรีนครินทร์)” along Srinagarindra Road which only opened in January 2016. As we walked towards the new shop, it was an appetising sight of glove-clad cooks manning different claypot orders under hot charcoal fire.

Opened from 4pm till midnight, it is highly difficult to grab a seat the later you go. There are basically three types of porridge base: the tom yam porridge, the super chicken porridge, the original pork porridge. If you are not craving for rice, you can order their noodles. The claypot porridge here can be mixed and matched with different ingredients, including salted egg, peanut, minced pork, fish slices etc, to suit different needs. You probably have more than 30 ingredients for you to choose from. To make it simpler, order their set menu, then add on if you want.

On the date of publishing, no English menu is available. But they have a Chinese menu. Don’t worry about not being able to order. The owners are a pair of siblings and they can speak English very well.

The most famous porridge here is the signature River Prawn Porridge (from 139 baht, approx SGD5.50), which is served with a open pot of piping hot tom yam porridge and huge river prawns. Here, the porridge is not those silky-smooth, creamy type. It has visible rice grains which is neither too thick nor too watery. They were also very generous with the main ingredients. We tried their kway chap (from 69 baht, approx SGD2.70) which boasted ALOT of rice noodles, sio bak and offals.

What impressed me was their Super Porridge (from 69 baht, approx SGD2.70). There’s something about sipping on hot broth that’s so comforting. Their Super Soup is mixed with a concoction of bird’s eye chillies, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. Super spicy, super tangy but super good especially with the soft boiled egg and chicken. If you need to up your game for soup, order this. Trust me, the taste is an adventure.

Note that there is no air-conditioning here. And you will see a lot of locals (especially youngsters enjoying the porridge). Ok, maybe after this post, you will see more tourists. Look out for Miss Tam Chiak’s sign when you are there! 🙂

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