My Favorite Restaurants: Sara Jane's

Sara-Jane's started life as a small, "hole-in-the-wall" Esarn food restaurant located on a soi off of Langsuan. It was known in some guide books, but what convinced me to go there was a Thai language teacher at A.U.A. who came from Esarn and was hungry for the food of his birthplace: Khun Home, thank you very much for taking me to Sara-Jane's.

Esarn (variously spelled Isan, Esan, Isarn, etc.) refers to the northeast portion of Thailand, bounded by Laos on the north and east and Cambodia on the south. The people of Esarn are historically farmers who enjoy the solid meals typical of most farmers. Esarn food can be found throughout Thailand, which is a tribute to both the food itself and to the hard working Esarn people who have spread out throughout the country.

Sara-Jane's has now moved, split into two restaurants, and added Italian food to the menu, but the Esarn food is still great and more popular than ever. If you have never tried Esarn food, by all means try it here first so you will know how this taste treat should be prepared.

Menu Favorites

Esarn food has four main food groups, and every one should be consumed for a proper Esarn meal:

Barbecue chicken and pork (gai yahng and moo yahng). Fresh from the fire, these meats are a personal favorite. Of course, you could have guessed this from my other reviews [big sheepish grin].
Som tham or Thai papaya salad. Available with many added ingredients like crab. Watch out for the little green peppers, they are very spicy! You have been warned.
Sticky rice (khao nieow) is best eaten in the morning and afternoon. It is very filling and stays with you, so sticky rice at the evening meal may leave you still feeling full when you finally go to sleep.
Cold beer. Any beer will do, although some people claim that Singha is ideal with this kind of meal. For me, I'm ombeerivous and will drink almost anything as long as it is good and cold.

The combination of the four food groups is utterly fantastic. Various other dishes and Thai salads are often added to round out the meal, especially as more people join your party, but I always order at least the four mainstay dishes. In fact, when with my friends who also like Esarn food, we usually have to reorder extra barbecue pork and sticky rice, since once the taste buds are awakened (the spicy papaya salad is especially effective in this regard) they do not want to be denied.

Sara-Jane's exhibits one of the primary indicators of good Thai food: there are many Thai people eating there.

My Favorite Restaurants

"Sara-Jane's"
(Esarn & Italian Restaurant)
BANGKOK, THAILAND

1995 to Present

Summary

Menu Favorites

How to Get There

My Favorite Restaurants

"Sara-Jane's" (Esarn & Italian Restaurant) BANGKOK, THAILAND

1995 to Present

Summary

Menu Favorites

How to Get There

"Sara-Jane's"
(Esarn & Italian Restaurant)
BANGKOK, THAILAND