COCONUTS HOT SPOT – Good and cheap –that’s a formula on which the American diner is predicated and which Foodland’s in-house restaurant delivers with exactitude. Took Lae Dee, as it’s aptly named, serves up a selection of Western comfort food and Thai staples. Everything about this 24-hour joint is average, which is (ironically) what makes it so special. “Average” can be disappointing when you’re expecting too much, but when average food, average service and an average setting are delivered consistently, it can help set a joint apart.
For THB69, the American Breakfast will provide you with two eggs done any style, orange juice or pineapple juice, coffee or tea, bacon or ham, toast and jam and a glass of water. The eggs are greasy and the bacon substantial, which makes them an excellent hangover remedy. Order it on a lazy Sunday or get it in as a late night snack to stave off a massive headache. For the more adventurous breakfast seeker there’s a special dish being served right now called a “Breakfast Pizza Omelet,” which is comprised of a bed of scrambled eggs festooned with sausages atop a crust.
The Western menu boasts meaty mains like the pan-fried rib eye steak with herb butter (THB260), and the stuffed pork escalope cordon bleu (THB142). These are simple dishes with very little room for error, which render presentation virtually non-existent. You get your meat, on a plate, with a few vegetables. The meats used are Foodland’s own Thai-German products, which contain slightly more fat than Thailand’s chewy, fibrous steaks.
Even though the restaurant is modeled after an American style diner, Took Lae Dee’s Thai fare is certainly not to be missed wither. The gang keaw wan (THB82), or Thai green curry, is especially popular. It comes with lots of coconuts milk and a hefty serving of chicken slivers. Another favorite is the fried shrimp with chili and basil leaves, which comes in at THB73.
The consistent, no frills dining experience has turned Took Lae Dee into a staple for office workers, so try to come during off-peak hours to get a comfortable seat at the counter. Happy hour runs from 5-to-9:30am and features an American Breakfast discounted to THB56. Took Lae Dee is also packed at odd hours of the night as post-party throngs of drunken youngsters roll in to grab a late night snack.
Since this restaurant resides within a perfectly adequate supermarket, you can also pick up your groceries pre- or post-dining.
FIND IT:
Took Lae Dee in Foodland Supermarkets
Multiple locations throughout Bangkok
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