Happy tummies at the Papaya

Sitting on the small Soi Saladaeng 2 behind the Silom Complex is a bistro called the Papaya which features original and modified Thai dishes.

The bistro with a friendly atmosphere has been operating for nine years. It is well known among regular Thai and expatriate patrons in the Silom neighbourhood that the bistro owner and head chef, Chainan Nuampromphan or Chef Kai, is quite hospitable.

Expatriate families who are long-time patrons like the way Chef Kai comes out of the kitchen and greets them, asking how they like his dishes. Moreover, Chef Kai has a good memory about which patrons like their food sweeter, spicier or sourer and will try his best to please them. And each patron can specify how he or she wants each dish to be.

As the bistro’s name indicates, it features several styles of somtam (papaya salad), including the original Isaan style. An outstanding example is somtam thod (Bt120), made with fried papaya.

Another well-known modification is lab moo thod (Bt150), fried spicy minced pork salad. The pork is formed into small balls and then fried to crispness.

Another delicious modified dish is kiew hor lab (Bt80) – wonton with minced pork inside that’s much spicier than in the traditional Chinese version.

Several of the dishes are served with rice and can be enjoyed with beer. And now the bistro has added a wine selection. The white and red house wine, which sells for Bt139 per glass, tastes really good. The white wine is very refreshing and not sour, while the red wine is full-flavoured with a good aroma.

Word of the bistro owner’s hospitality and good cooking skills spread to the TV show “Tee Uan Chuan Hiew”, which recently aired an episode about him. Tee Uan, the programme host, recommended kaitun thalay morfai (Bt185) (steamed egg with seafood in a hotpot) and fried pork belly with salty fish sauce (Bt120). He also recommended fried sea bass with green curry topping (Bt400) and fried shrimps with tamarind sauce (Bt250). The dishes really tasted delicious during my visit.

The bistro is divided into three zones. The front terrace is for enjoying food in the open air, while the ground floor has air conditioning and is a friendly atmosphere. The second floor is a new zone, just opened late last month, for enjoying wine and holding group parties.

 

SPICE IT UP

The Papaya is on Saladaeng Soi 2 off Silom Road (BTS: Saladaeng station). It’s open Monday to Saturday from 10am to midnight. Call (02) 235 8657.