Navigating Bangkok's Khao Gaeng Counters

[@FunkyChild718]

Just binge watched most of your videos. You're going to blow up for sure. Love the story telling angle of your videos and that they're not just a random taste test of dishes like most channels. Keep the content coming in please.

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks very much, it means a lot! I'm excited for you to see what we've got coming out.

[@mich5677]

I found many Thai food channels . Your channel is giving a lot of info about Thai food history. One subject that hangs in my mind all these years is no one ever does anything about Thai food pairing. If you ask some Thais, you might understand deeper about our food pairing. The way we eat & cook for each meal. Thank you for this episode 🙏

[@OTRontheroad]

Will look into it!

[@kaizerkoala]

Dude, the production quality of this video is top notch. It should be on the television instead. Btw, I hope you cover our Tam-sang (made to order) food too. Khao gaeng and Tam-sang are the true driving force for us Bangkokian.

[@OTRontheroad]

Thank you! Shoot over any ideas or restaurant recommendations. And yeah, we definitely have more videos coming that'll hopefully fill in more of the picture of the food culture in Bangkok.

[@903lew]

As someone of Thai heritage you make me miss, well, my little village and the trip home. I love your respectful style and interesting perspective on what for most of us is “just” great food. Thank you.

[@toddpanichkul4418]

Tamarind Chili Relish is one my favorite Nam Prick eating with rice when I was growing up. But haven't eaten it perhaps in 20 years as the ingredients maybe hard to find in the West. Really enjoy your food journey in Thailand. It's really different from other channels and you're on the right track as investigative journalism.

[@OTRontheroad]

Thank you!

[@christinecox6667]

Absolutely love your channel. You’ve got me now cooking my own Thai food. Made my first tom yum yesterday. Thank you! The food sitting out doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it being served in plastic bags.

[@waltermymala9654]

The story of Sanguan Sri is so sweet, I had to tear up I am glad her legacy got to continue.

[@spencervanderstarren1221]

Fantastic video, amazing production quality. Really appreciate you adding the restaurant names in the description!

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks a lot! We don’t have the places listed in the description for most of our videos but they’re always in the closing credits, and if there’s anything you’d like to know, feel free to ask and we’ll send a map link or whatever we can do.

[@nattaponglertwanarin4901]

I have been trying to catch up all of your video for 3 days. You're are the best.

[@kimbalykim]

Thanks so much! Khao Gaeng truly represents what we really eat in Thailand! Most people will assume we eat Pad Thai everyday but that famous dish is not every thing!

[@sg7229]

Love your Thai food journey, with a very nice and interesting stories of Thai cuisine and the people 🤩

[@budmartin3344]

Great video. BTW, I love that dog @4:18, looks like he never missed a meal and he knows where to get free meal, LOL.

[@satishapnabazar1418]

They are all hard working people who work for a living day by day, but it is they who have the kindness in their heart for other living beings. That keeps the stray animals well fed with whatever they can.

[@laisee]

Better and better.. OMG... another superb video.

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks Terry, as always.

[@scpstonline6712]

ฉันได้ชมคลิปตอนซอสศรีราชา คุณหาข้อมูลได้ดีมากๆ แล้วฉันได้ดูคลิปอื่นๆในช่อง คุณทำคลิปอธิบายเรื่องราวต่างๆ ได้ดีมากๆเลย

[@OTRontheroad]

Thank you!

[@martyhandley4456]

This was so good, everything.....on top...I love Asia and I really miss the food markets and stalls.

[@OTRontheroad]

come tape one with us anytime

[@nattapongp]

I am Thai. I would like to Thank you for Quality Video iin you channel.

[@garethpotter]

Love your stories about my favourite cuisine. Thanks 🙏

[@OTRontheroad]

Thank you Gareth, very much appreciated.

[@Toripine]

I love your documentary; thank you for doing this.

[@Matt-Mills]

Fantastic, please keep this sort of quality content coming! Thanks!

[@allancristophe6810]

perhaps one of the most informative contents i have subscribed excellent! i was wondering if any thai paste based dishes similar to the rendang?

[@utube4619]

I would have a voracious appetite each time the history of your food is on such palatable tasting.....it sure gives mouth-watering to such delectable degustation!

[@happyfreeky]

So glad KZbin recommended three of your so well done food docs (so to speak). After this mini binge, I realized two things. 1. The curry gaeng dishes visually remind me of the curries from my Indian birth state of Orissa (now Odisha), a coastal region. 2. Your voice only sounds like your friend Chris of the Demystified channel if listen at 1.25 speed

[@OTRontheroad]

Hahah- if you speed him up, or speed me up? Also- don't quote me on this but there's a chance we'll do a filming trip to India late this year. It's at least in talks. Would be absolutely fascinating to see that side of some of the stuff that found its way to SE Asia. Also regarding the curries- that's probably exactly the region that would have the most similarity to a lot of Thai curries, just because it's pretty much right in between three areas known for trade routes to Thailand- Chennai, Kerala, and Bengal. Working on an idea for the next few weeks where we compare the recipe of Burmese curries (known there as Chettinad curries) with the actual Chennai recipes

[@OTRontheroad]

Admittedly, Kerala is a bit of a geographic stretch...hah.

[@AirWindStorm]

I love Khao Kaeng and can have it every day!

[@artasky6093]

You video is very VERY high quality for small channel. I am very surprised how good it is nice job!

[@emptyemptiness8372]

34 yrs ago these were everywhere, I dont remember any western fast food, the coffee shops were boran with round marble table tops and hard cold teak furniture...yeah no Starbucks or McDonald's, just thai food. If you see these things eat and drink, this is a connection with history, it may dissappear one day like boran coffee shops and you want to be one who can say " yeah I remember them, they were amazing ".

[@TheNutto26]

Perfect documentary. Great job. Cheers mate ♥️👍

[@Always-Hangry]

Enjoyed the show

[@reddskii]

I love พะแนง แกงเขียวหวาน และ มัสมั่น ❤

[@jonnywas2665]

As previously stated, you are just really VERY good.

[@OTRontheroad]

Very kind of you. Much appreciated. Sincerely hope you enjoy catching up on some of our stuff.

[@Tommen1957]

Once again great video. Coming to Bangkok in three days. Do you do private guided tours?

[@thainitoo]

That egg with crab look like Thai version of Scottish Eggs! XD I need to try it!

[@andrewdunbar828]

Not just Bangkok, pretty much anywhere in Thailand or Laos. I only found out a couple of months ago that it's called Kaho gaeng after wondering for ages.

[@muayboran6111]

Across southeast asia, westerners would walk right pass local stores and street food carts into a poke bowl restautant or a burger joint. In the evening, they would go to some fancy, westernised thai restaurant in a posh area. Like guys, wtf are you doing? Thai food is out here! I went to vietnam and it's the same. I don't speak the language so I don't know what I'm ordering half of the time, the old granny running the store doesn't speak a word of Thai or English but that's the authentic experience of being in a foreign country. Better yet, if you struggle, you just ask a local for help... they are always eager to help, now you just made a local friend

[@OTRontheroad]

I think it's definitely not fair to say that about "westerners". I think a huge percentage of western tourists (especially since the days of Bourdain) are enthusiastic to try anything and don't seek out "Poke Bowls or Burgers"- having owned several burger joints in China and Hong Kong I can confirm that 99% of our customers were local, and foreigners (like myself) preferred the Chinese food next door. In my experience Westerners are no less adventurous when abroad than Thai, Chinese, or any other ethnicity.

[@Kwippy]

Or Tor Kor is the place to go if you are looking for best quality fruits, both local and imported. Buying fruits that are new to you on the street or in other markets can be a bit hit and miss especially out of season. At or tor kor, you can be more certain than anywhere else that you are getting the best. Of course expect premium price for premium quality.

[@anuthinewt]

Would love to see you guys dig deeper into Khao Gang RAMA ข้าวแกงรามา which could have been the Thailand’s first fast food chain.

[@chanthamala8]

To me, Khao Geang is what I think when people ask what is "Thai food". Like OTR says Thai food is paste based. Followed by yum/salads/laab then noodles soups. Most families at home, just make a protein, vegetables (whatever they can find in their gardens) on the side and a various nam prik + jasmine/sticky rice. Some days there is a soup on the side and a side dish or pickled dish.

[@Kwippy]

Although you can now find high end Thai restaurants dotted around Bangkok, it is a relatively new thing. Thai people used to only eat Thai food at home or bought ready made from markets. Restaurants are for going out to eat foreign food, most often Chinese.

[@mldply]

หิวววว!

[@DavidKearns4]

Seems like nasi ekonomi, nasi campur, nasi padang, or nasi khandar but the Thai version. And that's a ton of people not getting sick eating food that is freshly prepared and sits out for a few hours until it all sells out.

[@janeprescott2260]

You guys should try Khai Paloh (five-spice egg) at O.V. Kitchen. One of the best khao gaeng places in Bangkok. :)

[@Jumpoable]

Kaeng/ gaeng is translated as "curry" on most menus but it really just means soup/ sauce/ a soupy sauce. LOL.

[@eswillie]

Adam, that's how I ate back in '69 when I spent a few months in Bangkok and Samut Phrakarn.

[@OTRontheroad]

Wow. That’s the second time you’ve referenced being in Bangkok around that time- please whenever you’ve got time, share some stories of what the city was like and what were your experiences back then? What a time to be in Thailand (and SE Asia in general obviously)...were you there with military/diplomatic corps?

[@eswillie]

@@OTRontheroad I'd be glad to (but I do tend to procrastinate, so it might be a few days or weeks). I was a Peace Corps volunteer in training but I was asked to leave due to my disagreeing with the head staff over where I was to be assigned. Those several months have stayed with me for a lifetime and inspired my interest in food and its relation to people and culture around the globe.

[@OTRontheroad]

@@eswillie I think- and don't quote me on this- my grandmother was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand around that same time or a couple years later. Let me run it up the family flag pole.

[@eswillie]

@@OTRontheroad Please do. I still have my program/project booklets from back then with names and photos (I was in Thai 29 when I trained, and then was called back to Hawaii by the Peace Corps and the University of Hawaii to be the admin assistant for Thai 33 the following year 1970). I also have some of the personal photos and negs from my days in Thailand in Phrapadaeng at the restaurant on the Chao Phraya, and on the boats we took across to Thonburi and the fast boats with the river "cowboys" and their Ford V8s and Chrysler Hemi V8s on the way down the river to another market town. If your grandmom is still with us, ask her if she remember George Papagiannis or Papa George as he was known, the Greek American from Chicago who had been a volunteer and later a training project leader, and who was a legend and an inspiration to many. There was also Jack Kornfield who was one of our trainers who has since become an eminent spokesman for Buddhism in the Thai style here in the US and who introduced me to Ajan Chah and the concept of walking meditation. I also did meet Ajan Chah back in '69, but had no idea who he was, nor any concept of Buddhism.

[@juliandco]

@@eswillie Fascinating stuff. Adam's grandmother (my mother) went to Thailand a little later--around 1979-ish, I think. She wasn't yet in the Peace Corps, but she was so inspired on that trip that she joined the Peace Corps, and asked to go to Thailand. She was, however, assigned to Morocco. As an Insight Meditation practitioner, I'm excited you met Jack Kornfield and Ajan Chah!

[@PKP1]

Food of the gods

[@thasneebkk9271]

It is our lifestyle and our stomach get used to these spices and herbs that Naturally preserve food for a longer time.

[@danmcho]

I am trying to find Mae On's Khao Gaeng..please some assistance.

[@OTRontheroad]

Here you go: The Originals Mae On's Curry Over Rice at Saphan Han [phone] goo.gl/maps/2GG14PsLhaRvsD5A7

[@teeyakdon8835]

One more thing that may amaze foreigners is how they tie plastic bag with rubber band to pack the food ... LOL It's been decades this technic was used and still be used until now a day.

[@OTRontheroad]

Yep and I still have to ask Daria to help me take the rubber band off half the time.

[@PlebiasFate1609]

all yhese stands selling individual dishes to go with white rice is very very similar to chap fan/mixed rice/chye png ( singapore ) especially the stir fried atinky beans with minced pork and chilis is one of my fav dishes and the pork curry too sheeesh im drooling thinking about that, but lucky for me i can find those here in malaysia

[@OTRontheroad]

Eating in hawker centers in Singapore is one of the great food experiences anywhere.

[@PlebiasFate1609]

@@OTRontheroad i disagree to that statement as a malaysian person myself im sorry but..... malaysian food is better

[@OTRontheroad]

@@PlebiasFate1609 Both of those statements are true in my opinion. I love eating at Singaporean hawker centers. And....Malaysian food is better.

[@PlebiasFate1609]

@@OTRontheroad HAHA good times my man truly cultured 🤭, i reccomend making some malaysian historic food videos sometime in the future too, would love to see that and probably a lot of malaysians would recognise you after that

[@TheXavixavieri]

The un-refrigerated thing is a very American viewpoint on food safety

[@ratathai]

Actually the Khao Gang category name can be misleading, It tend to highlight the word Gang which now mean curry, but as we all know now (thanks to OTR) it’s not only about curry! I don’t have any proof but I think originally ‘Gang’ mean some “liquid” dish that you eat on the side with rice … some gang ain’t got no curry or spiciness at all, like Gang Jeud or the “blend curry” which is a clear soup 😅 Spice mix come from India and chilli comes from the Americas , so even before Thai people get to know ‘curry’ ; they were already ennjoying their owns Gang 😂 hence one of the oldest traceable dish in Thailand is Gang Liang and there’s no “curry” in there. that’s why its other common name is Khao Rad Gang or Side dish (gang) top on rice

[@Tsareak]

Reab Phirk

[@sleekslack]

Don't worry about it's fresh or not, I'm a Thai, if it's my mouth and taste funny, I'd rather spit them on the floor for stray dogs or cats. Beside, to let the owner know, what's wrong with their food.

[@timrhind]

Love your videos and research, but sorry to say your wrong about the coffee culture. Many many coffee shops for the last ten years at least. Even more so in the North.

[@OTRontheroad]

I don't remember what I said about coffee culture- what was it? Artisanal coffee culture is super new in Bangkok. Like- extremely new (though there's a ton of history- 100+ years- for instant coffee, sweet coffee, and my favorite Ou Liang. However I'd never say anything like that about North Thailand. I used to send staff to train on coffee in Chiang Mai- it was a top-3 place in Asia for coffee culture since I've been over here. Amazing coffee culture up there.

[@timrhind]

@@OTRontheroad Maybe I misunderstood. Both my wife and I thought you were saying there was no coffee culture in Thailand until the last few years. It's been present in Bangkok for quite a while also. Maybe a matter of perspective and exposure. BTW your research is amazing and we thoroughly enjoy your content.

[@timrhind]

Looking forward to Southern Thailand content such as the Songkhla area.

[@OTRontheroad]

@@timrhind It's very possible it's my fault, I'll rewatch when I've got time and see if I phrased it badly unintentionally. And re: your other message, thanks- I can't wait to film down there. I adore that part of the country for food. Working on one now (probably out in two or three weeks) about Khao Yam and how it's become symbolic to different groups in Songkhla. Crazy story.

[@labibrahman]

the actual food safety problem in eating from khao gaeng stalls is all the microplastics leaching in from the bags and bowls we eat out of

[@labibrahman]

I joke but the khao gaeng spot near my place in Bangkok didn't have a workable sit down situation and the whole cutting open bags and putting them in a bowl workflow was really annoying.

[@OTRontheroad]

@@labibrahman working on a video (long term project for somewhere far down the road) about Thailand's ridiculous overuse of plastics. I'm literally right now holding a bag of takeout food with like eight other mini-bags inside- and it's only three dishes

[@labibrahman]

hope that also includes a look at the actual plastic inputs and whether they're even food grade. I'm guessing the little khao gaeng bags are definitely not. The irony of this being the case when the country produces astronomical quantities of actual food safe plastic for exports is sad and frustrating.

[@Kwippy]

Food has in put in plastic in Thailand and other countries for many decades. Find some scientific studies that shows how microplastics are harming people, don't just talk out your arse.

[@capAMERICANA]

​@@labibrahmanมันเป็นถุงร้อนทนความร้อนอาหารได้ไม่ใช่ถุงทั่วไปมันคนละแบบที่คุณรู้จัก เราคนไทยรักในความสะอาดและความปลอดภัยเป็นหลักกินได้ไม่มีปัญหาแน่นอนเรากินมานานแล้ว

[@ibec69]

Can’t this series be colour graded in a more vivid way to make the food more appetising instead of this sickly yellow? Please?

[@punyaweeco4370]

Best of this genre.

[@foodhistory1387]

Really loving your content.