Thai Wong Back in Action! (Nakhon Pathom Special @ Ipoh Garden East)
October 15, 2010 | 8,072 viewsUPDATED 25th October 2010 – From 27th Oct 2010 onwards, Ah Wong will once again relocate back to Restoran Soon Hoong; the restaurant where he and his wife used to serve their Thai cuisine back then. Full address and map to come when they finally move at the end of this post. Here’s the previous post on the restaurant back in 2008 – http://www.j2kfm.com/ah-wong-thai-food/
Who in the world is this “Thai Wong” you ask? Oh, he’s nobody special …. not a superstar, reality TV opportunist, or even someone advocating for human rights and spewing poisons sweet talks on air (ala Budget 2011, but the RM500 bonus once again …. sounds a little too hilarious to be effective in elevating the morale of the civil servants).
My personal favourite Tom Yum in Ipoh. Good balance of spicy, piquant, tangy, savoury and so so so moreish. Don’t go for a small serving of white rice. Go all out and leave your low-carbo diet plan behind for once!
Just a loving couple made up of a pompous Chinese man and reserved yet affable Thai lady whom had left their customers/fans in a lurch with the two years on hiatus. Read my post on Ah Wong Thai Food way back in 2008 for an idea on how much I was addicted to their tom yum and fried chicken.
But they’re BACK! A timely return to the scene, when the dearth of good Thai eateries had me seeking left and right, up and down, in and out for a potential substitute. To no avail, I might add. Continue reading to discover this fiery, hidden gem tucked in the midst of a residential area in Ipoh Garden East …..
Both my aunts were avid fans of the Thai cuisine served here. And when they ordered the Tom Yum from Ah Wong’s stall (the stall is named after Nakhon Pathom, a city in central Thailand), there was always this “ADD SPICINESS PLEASE” chants going round the table. For I have relatives (the young and the old alike) who are damn fabulous chili addicts, successfully transforming me into one since my childhood days.
I bet they can even bite into a habanero, naga jolokia or Sichuan pepper without flinching. 
Nakhon Pathom Special dishes up a very tasty Thai-style fried chicken, complete with the chili sauce.
Anyway, he picked a mighty memorable date to restart that engine. 10.10.10. And business has been picking up since day one of their re-opening, given the already sizeable fanbase (and says who that Ipohans cannot take their chillies?!) from back then.
After a few days in operation, we could not hold back any longer. A dinner was inevitable, as me and my brother were already craving for that same old taste of their spicy Tom Yum with seafood, delicious Thai style fried chicken, and many more.
Oyster Omelette with plentiful of sweet oysters packed within the crisp and fluffy omelette.
And good thing was; the quality of her cooking never faltered. This, albeit months in hibernation due to a variety of reasons. The devilish red appearance of the Tom Yum looked intimidating, and you might even sneeze and get all teared up before sipping up the last spoonful. But since Mum requested for a reduction in the hot & spicy factor (yes, she is the only exception in her family), the soup was palatable, but still we ended up all flushed, sweaty and oh yeah; DAMN satisfied.
I mean, you can imagine the freshest prawns and squids with oyster mushrooms and tangy tomatoes cooked in a pleasantly even-flavoured broth; the right balance of spicy, sour, sweet and savoury. Just imagine the best Tom Yum you have ever tasted, and this should be somewhere up there.
Stir-fried Kailan with salted fish
Thai style Steamed Sting Ray
Aside from their Tom Yum, the fried chicken is another dish you can’t miss. You can also have the chicken cooked in curries (not sure whether they have the green version of the curry), or minced and stir-fried with basil leaves. But the flavoursome chicken marinated before deep-frying to a crispy finish was complemented well with the chili sauce; a garlic chili sauce resembling Kampung Koh’s famous production.
If you love Thai-style of steamed fishes, you can’t go wrong with the stingray flavoured with lots of minced garlic, red chillies, and steamed in a delectable tangy sauce. Very fleshy, sweet and the stingray eases the de-boning process for the children and elderly.
Beautifully RED with an orange hue. Seafood Tom Yum before the massive demolition works by hungry gluttons.
Other dishes to look out for? The Thai-style Braised pork trotter, Kerabu mango salad, and stir-fried minced chicken with basil. Pity they do not serve batter-coated deep fried kangkung (water convolvulus or morning glory) for I’m dead sure the children will love their greens for once!
Hehehe …. a magnificent equation? (Ah Wong + Thai wife = Cute daughter)
But be warned that the food here does not come cheap. At least, when compared to similar Thai eateries in non air-conditioned premises. A meal for five with the above dishes came to RM88/USD28, inclusive of rice.
Nakhon Pathom Special is NO LONGER operating from this restaurant. Please be informed. The new location is listed at the end of this post.
If you happen to drop by for a most authentic Thai feast (seems that they go back to Thailand every now and then to restock on the supplies of spices and sauces) at Nakhon Pathom’s, just say hi to Ah Wong and said you read this review from that nosy fella who snapped around without permission that evening.
For sure, the family of three would be tickled pink, and look bemused.
**From 27th October 2010 onwards, they will be moving to Restoran Soon Hoong between Ipoh Garden East and Bercham. Full address below: **
NAKHON PATHOM SPECIAL (Thai Wong)
Restoran Soon Hoong (NEW!!)
60, Lebuh Bercham Selatan,
Desa Bercham,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 017-507 3009 (Thai Wong)
Business hours : 6pm – 10.30pm.
GPS Coordinates : E101 7′ 26.1″ N4 37′ 25.7″
Updated Google Map to Nakhon Pathom Special
Restoran Sun Hui Seng
26, Laluan Perajurit 1,
Taman Ipoh Timur,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Closed on alternate Thursdays, and two days at the end of each month
GPS Coordinates : E101 7′ 31.0″ N4 37′ 1.1″
Google Map to Nakhon Pathom Special (Thai Wong)
** For the other Thai restaurants around the area :
– Thai Xiang Restaurant
– Sukhotai @ Sumto Restaurant
– Thai Food Stall opposite of Bercham primary school
Just had tom yum from my catering lady. Awesome.
RM88 is affordable since you have seafood and fish.
The little girl is so cute.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Yeah, but for Ipoh’s standard, this may come across as slightly pricier. Especially when compared to the restaurants around Bercham area. So before I get shot, I’d better come clean.
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ooo..i love tom yum. the first pic had me drooling…the colour of the soup is so tempting.
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OMG! HE IS BACK! Really miss it! I’m coming back IPOH now!
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Haha yeah ….. you’re outstation now ah? Can’t help but crave right?
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Hahaha 😀 I love the way you describe the family. 😀
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Great, I agree Thai food is not that easy to get esp those authentic ‘tai chow and roadsided’ versions. Have enjoying some Isaan food myself in Bangkok yesterday.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Isaan food! Share with me where to find those authentic ones. Kind of hard in Bangkok when we could not read the signboards and menu, especially those street side stalls and small eateries.
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Wow, thanks for the info. I’m a great fan of Thai food. Will try this soon
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 11:59 am
You’re welcomed. QC; try to ask for recommendations. Sometimes they have fresh la la (clams), different types of fish, and they can even whip up some very authentic Thai dishes.
But we tend to stick to the same old dishes as we found the fried chicken, tom yum with seafood, kailan salted fish and omelette (either with prawns or oyster) have always been pleasant.
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Gee! Thanks.
Missed him these 2 years.
Her kai lan with salt fish is heavenly !!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Yeah loh…. me too. Though some people prefer the Bercham outlets (3 in Bercham alone, as far as I know), still nothing beats the Tom Yum and fried chicken from Nakhon Pathom’s.
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Avid fans of Tom Yam, I will drink to the last drop of the soup if I ever order Tom Yam
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Yeah, us too. Erm, at least ME too. Though our serving was reduced spiciness (grandma and parents not fans of extremely fiery food), the heat was definitely enough to send SOS to your nostrils.
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I am sooooo happy to read your write-up. My family enjoyed her cooking cos’ it’s authentic Thai cooking, plus value for your money too. When they moved from KK to Bercham, we sort of “stumble” upon the shop one day when we were passing by cos her cute daughter was playing outside. We were glad we found them! But when they stopped operations due to Wong’s wife health, whenever we passed by the shop we would peer into the shop hoping to see them cos’ the shop owner could not furnish any info on their wherabouts!
Now that we found them again, thanks Motormouth, we love your blog! We are heading there for dinner tonight! 😀
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 16th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Okay okay. Just say hi for me, though I doubt Ah Wong remembers me.
Share what you have ordered okay? I crave for a taste of the Kerabu Mango too.
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april Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Our dinner menu was lke the above, minus fried chicken (for 2 persons) =RM26. He wasn’t aware of your blog posting. Coincidently another customer made his way here, also because of this blog. Wong was curious, he asked for ur URL. We told him to google ‘motormouth ipoh.’
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Hehe, I never told him that I am a blogger.
Since he knows my family well, he was curious as to why I was taking pictures now after so many times having eaten there in the past.
So I just said I wanted to share with some friends.
Best news of the month!…So its back at the same spot rite?….
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Yeah, the same old KK. You know where right? That corner shop before you reach Tai Sing, then Poh San, then the flats.
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Err.. the omelette seems a bit too greasy. Laluan Perajurit… I know where!
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Ahem ahem. I also know where ….. very near YOUR house only.
Slightly greasy, but the moisture came from the juicy oysters actually. Maybe did not dry them enough.
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Wow… the oyster omelette looks so juicy.. what really attract me would be the seafood tom yam, u must had a very wonderful meal there^^
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Thanks for the post, my GF would surely appreciate your effort! She is a avid tom yum fans! khob-kun-Ka!
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Please be informed that Thai Wong will be relocating to Restaurant Song Hong in Bercham on 27 October 2010.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 19th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Really? Thanks Spicy Lee. So fast? Any idea on what’s the reason behind the move?
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Spicy Lee Reply:
October 20th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Well…apparently the coffee shop operator had allowed another chinese chu zhar to operate during the nite session…thus sort of overlapping each other..which will inadvertently affect the business of Thai Wong….
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 20th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Yup, heard that from the owner of the coffee shop too. Conflict of interests it seems.
Restoran Soon Hoong was also the place where Thai Wong operated AFTER moving from KK back then.
A corner shop opposite of the previous Hoy Tin Lau restaurant in between Ipoh Garden East and Bercham.
Thks for yr effort to share. I’m an Avid Customer of Nakhon Pathom. I hv tried most of Ah Wong’s authentic Thai dishes, especially the stewed pig trotters served with special homemade chilli sauce, juicy oyster omelette, seafood tomyam, kerabu mango, salted fish kailan, fried tomyam tung fang & more, more, more…. 2 years back, I hv tried Thai otak otak, grilled mackerel, also very shiok lah, can’t help craving for those dishes ^^ Heard from Ah Wong, more new dishes & homemade sauces coming soon. Wah! Looking forward my next trip to Ipoh which takes 6 hours from my hometown, KLUANG, JOHOR!
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[…] Thai Wong Back in Action! (Nakhon Pathom Special @ Ipoh Garden East) […]
Yeah! Glad to hear that Thai Wong back in action, I love most of the dishes. Have called Thai Wong and understand from him that they will closed on alternate Monday & Tuesday.
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OMG, he reappeared and disappeared in a flash! Went back there ystrday evening, my heart missed a beat upon finding out he stopped operations!! The shop owner there wasn’t helpful, didn’t furnish ANY info. Driving around the vicinity, decided to go for claypot at d shop where Thai Wong used to operate BINGO! Saw his banner there but was closed, so had dnnr at d shop opposite. D food there was nothing to shout about. This morn’ want to share with u d news, but u hv given updates to ur fans since 25th October. I grant u Food Blogger King 😀
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 27th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Thanks april. Cannot accept such a grand title lah. Not worthy.
But yeah, he will start serving his brand of Thai cuisine this evening onwards. So be sure to check the place out, and say hi to Ah Wong for me.
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Thai Food Shop…
[…] nd my brother were already craving for that same old taste of their spicy Tom Yu […]…
Yup…good thai food indeed. Been there 3 times since reopening and lets hope he doesn’t go into another 1 of his escapades again. Price…..won’t say its pricey but then a kopi-o-ice in Ipoh cost RM1.40 compare to other big towns…so go figure. My kids love the pork trott with salted veg but he has ommotted the eggs n tauhu. Least he is back with a fashion statement (ear rings) and reminds me of the Spore actor who always plays the Ah Long or Gangster…..hehe.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 28th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
He has since moved, to Restoran Soon Hoong. Started operations already. If you know where he was back then, after his KK stint, then you should know Soon Hoong. (Opposite of the previous Hoy Tin Lau)
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Brother, can u give us the exact location of Thai Wong new shop.
Tks.
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 1st, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Hi TS, you can refer to the latest post on Ah Wong Thai Food.
http://www.j2kfm.com/ipoh-best-thai-food-nakhon-pathom-special-soon-hoong-restaurant/
There’s a map to the place, with GPS coordinates and directions.
If still no idea, can send me a mail, I will explain from there.
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[…] that recent Return of Thai Wong – Nakhon Pathom Special post? Yup, surprise, surprise. After merely weeks, he and his Thai wife had to relocate to Restoran Soon […]
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Hi.. I would like to try this thai food. Looks yummy.May I know where is this nakhon pathom special (thai wong) is currently located? March 2015
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