Mason C.
Google
The Old Siam is conveniently located on the corner of Ellis and Mason streets in downtown area (two walking blocks away from Powell Street Subway Station) that is surrounded by hotels imhv should be regarded one of the few best authentic affordable Thai restaurants left in The City.
According to legendary “Chef Pam” from Bangkok authentic Thai food is indeed a marriage of Thai Chinese which is consisted of “five elements: salt, acid, spices, texture and the Maillard reaction, the chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that occur when heated.” However, there is a saying "green comes from blue, but intends to be better than blue." Signature Thai cuisine is unique which has many flavors:{ 1. sweet, 2. salty, 3. sour, 4. spicy, and 5.bitter} not overpowering one another yet robust with aromatic lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, coconut milk, palm sugar, and red chilies 😮 😳.
My favorites at the Old Siam are ❶Lunch Specials: Combination of Catfish Prik Khing @Goong Hom Par {Fried Shrimp Rolls(2)} ❷Chef Specials: Combination Seafood or Siam Seafood ❸ Thai Noodle Soup: Thai Traditional Noodle Soup or Seafood Noodle Soup. “Gin hâi à-ròi ná!”😉Kop Jai!🙏 Nick!🫡
PS: "Siam" is the former name of Thailand, derived from foreign terms (possibly Sanskrit for "dark/brown" also in ancient Chinese referred to based on its pronunciation as Xian [暹] or, more commonly, Xianluo [暹羅]. Thai Chinese are the largest minority group in the country and possibly the largest overseas Chinese community in the world, estimated at 10 million people accounting for 11-14% of the total population of Thailand. The Chinese traders started migrating to neighboring Siam in mid 1300s and primarily are Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, and Hakka. Under King Rama in early 20th century law required the adoption of Thai surnames by migrants, a move which was ostensibly aimed at the Thai Chinese community. Common Chinese Surnames according to AI are in two categories:
1. "Sae": Saelee/Saeli (李), Saetang/Saetung (陳), Sae-ung (黃), Sae-ngow (吳), Sae-lim (林), Sae-wong (王).
2. Long Surnames (Teochew/Thai mix):
Limcharoen / Tancharoen (Lim/Tan - 林).
Wongsuwan / Wongsawad (Wong - 黃/王).
Jiarawanon (Chia/Ha/Xia - 謝). Tongthaworn (Tong 唐 or 湯).{Is that right, Hannah 😂}