The
single shop-house restaurant attracted us with the brightly lit “kitchen
cart” at the front, and many people milling around. We were welcomed
profusely and ushered inside, where there was another revelation. The place
was all brightness, mirrors, colour and unbelievable decor. This is a
restaurant like no other.
For starters, both walls are mirrors, with brightly
coloured ceramic fish ornaments. The tables are built on a stainless steel
frame with glass tops, with a bowl of dazzlingly coloured artificial flowers
under each tabletop. Above each table surface, on a small shelf attached to
the mirror wall, are some bottles of beer, the obligatory four dispensers
with chilli powder, fish sauce, sugar and vinegar, napkins and toothpicks,
plus a model of a hawker’s cart. The tables are arranged alcove
‘diner’ style along both walls with padded booth seating.
The
owner, Suttinan Pukahuta, appeared and excitedly gave us the ideology behind
the new restaurant. It is a family business, with numerous of her eight
brothers and sisters involved (and the family likeness is obvious in a few
of the staff) and is more of a hobby project than anything else - she has a
manufacturing business in Samut Prakan (which incidentally made the tables)
which keeps the family going.
She explained the diversification into the restaurant
business as follows, “I eat food in Pattaya, not so good taste. So I want
to make the food, good taste, clean and beautiful.” To assist her in this
quest, a Chinese chef who was related to the family by marriage was brought
in, the Samut Prakan factory geared up, and the family members pitched in.
The menu is simple, stuck on the mirror beside each
booth. 10 items only starting with two noodle dishes with red pork or
roasted duck, followed by wonton red pork or roasted duck. Next are a
combination of noodles and wontons and the duck or pork, followed by rice
and red pork or rice and roasted duck. All of these items are 35 baht. The
final two items are a red pork (on its own) for B. 70 and roasted duck ditto
for B. 100.
Beverages are crayoned on the mirror, beers generally B.
45-75 depending on brand and size and coffee, tea or Ovaltine are also
available. A couple of items that Suttinan gave us were a Chinese vegetable
juice, which was actually slightly sweet and a Longan juice, which is very
sweet. These they make themselves and cost B. 10.
We ordered a wonton with red pork and a roasted duck.
They both came with a bowl of consomm้ (as you get with khao mun gai),
and with the duck presented on a beautiful rectangular green ‘leaf
pattern’ plate.
First the wonton dish - the wontons are a 50/50 pork and
shrimp mixture and are very pleasant, in fact some of the nicest wontons in
town. The red pork was also very flavoursome. Now the duck. Obviously this
is their specialty, and Suttinan is very proud of the results from her chef.
I am assured that the roasted duck takes six hours to prepare, and ours was
certainly tender and succulent. I liked the dark soy and chilli sauce too.
We had a wonderful time at R.J. Kitchen. The food was
good, and the whole place is sparkling clean (and the toilet is immaculate,
check it out). It is an opportunity to try ‘ethnic’ food in excellent
surroundings. I am assured that all food is fresh, and Madame, who is a cook
herself agreed that the ingredients were indeed very fresh. The final words
from Suttinan: “Save the plane fare to Hong Kong - come and see me!”
Indeed, it is well worth your while coming to see R.J. Kitchen. Take along a
few friends and enjoy yourselves. We did! Highly recommended.
R.J. Kitchen, 406/328 Thappraya Road, telephone and fax 038 233 608.
Street parking outside.