My Favorite Restaurants: Bourbon Street

What I like best about Bourbon St. (nee Street) is that, if I were to ever have a restaurant, I would want it to be just like Bourbon St. For the foreigner in a strange land, an expat yearning for a break from Thai food, or a Thai looking to sample a spicy Western cuisine, this is the place to go. Comfortable surroundings, helpful and attentive staff, an outstanding stock of fine liquor (when did you last see quality tequila like Jose Cuervo in Thailand?), and really great food at surprisingly moderate prices.

Although the emphasis is on Cajun food, that spicy delight from Louisiana USA, everyone can find something to their taste at Bourbon St. My preferences run to the Cajun food, though, and that is what I'll talk about the most. I once recommended Bourbon St. to a group of Thai businessmen and was pleased but not surprised at how they marveled over the spicy Cajun food.

Menu Favorites

Ribs. B-B-Q pork ribs. Come and get 'em. I love ribs and Bourbon St. is where I fill my rib locker when it is empty. At 180 baht for the dinner, which includes French bread and two vegetables, this is what I will order more likely than not. These ribs are done right, too. After being parboiled and then barbecued, the tender meat wants to fall away from the bone and the spicy flavor of the homemade barbecue sauce complements the taste of the browned pork.

However much I love the ribs, man cannot live by ribs alone. At Bourbon St., there are many other good things to be had. My second favorite is the Blackened Red Fish (190 baht). Chef Paul Prudhomme made this famous in New Orleans and the Bourbon St. rendition is popular with my farang and Thai friends alike. Dusted with spices and seared in a hot cast-iron skillet, the taste and texture are a delight. A cold beer sure goes great with this dish.

For appetizers, try the Blackened Shrimp (210 baht). My Thai friends cannot get enough of this one; you have to be quick when the plate is served! I also like the Onion Soup (75 baht) and the Mixed Salad (60 baht) (I know, what is special about a mixed salad: I like them!). The steaks are good, especially the Blackened Rib Eye (I told you I like the Cajun foods!) at 410 baht, and the Pork Chops (160 baht) were excellent. In fact, I've never had anything I didn't like; I just prefer some things to others. Special note for Norte Americanos: Bourbon Street serves Mexican Food. There are only a few places in the Kingdom where you can find decent Mexican Food, and Bourbon Street is one of them. The Tuesday Night Mexican Buffet was excellent, although I needed to add some Tabasco Sauce to raise the chili to the requisite level of vulcanism. Mornings they serve breakfast and on Sunday there is a breakfast buffet from 10 am until 2 pm (?). I like to get there early while the food is the freshest. Ribs, bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, home fries: lots of food guaranteed to put the old cholesterol meter into the red, but oh so tasty. I'm going to stop now. I'm sitting in Chiangmai wishing I were in Bangkok at Bourbon Street right now. But after reading this far, that should come as no surprise to anyone.

How to Get There

Located off Sukhumvit Road Soi 22 (Soi Sai Nam Thip) behind the Washington Theatre. Go down Soi 22 about 150 meters and turn left at the first street. Bourbon Street is straight ahead about 100 meters.