At first, the eatery gives the impression of being a glorified food hall, but then, as people start flooding in past eight o’clock, it starts to come alive of itself. No wonder the web site exhorts readers to “come early” as it gets chock-a-block full later on.

WHERE IS IT?

On Phrabarami Rd. Due to Patong’s newly installed one-way system, if you come from the south (i.e. from Kata, Karon, Nai Harn beaches), you will have to drive the entire length of the Beach Road, then take a right turn towards Phuket at the three-way junction just north of Patong. Follow the road east (towards Patong hill), pass the Esso station on the right and 300 meters later on the left you’ll see Kaab Gluay’s green-and-yellow sign. Coming from Phuket, take the right turn at the bottom of Patong hill and look out for the aforementioned sign on the right after 500 meters. Special mention should be made of parking. If you come from the south, it’s best to park a few doors further up, as motorcyclists park any-which-way around your vehicle, making exit impossible without serious negotiation with fellow diners.
View Kaab Kluay location map.

DÉCOR

Something between a Thai street stall and a food hall but with a more professional touch. Still, without effecting serious changes, Kaab Gluay will not win any interior décor awards but it does deliver a good meal. Sure, it’s got two Cable TV’s at either end (both muted) but at best it’s a food lover’s venue: uncluttered, sparse, with a buffed-concrete-floor.

In short, it’s a no-nonsense “I love sea food” experience. There is al fresco dining available but it is a bit noisy and poorly lit outside by the street.

ATMOSPHERE

This depends on what time you choose to eat: early diners are subject to heavy traffic noise; mid-evening diners are subjected to other-diners’ noise and so on. It’s a delicious but pretty boisterous experience. Still, there are more Thai clients than foreign and this can only be a good thing in a tourist town.

WINE

Not a lot. Three labels; Jacob’s Creek 2005, and two French Vin de Pays D’Oc, red and white. However, cocktails are very reasonably priced (100 baht) and there are two choices of beer, Singha (45 baht and 80 baht) with Heineken (50 baht and 90 baht).

FOOD

In a town where most menus feature such dubious delights as “deep-frei skid” and “Flench flies”, Kaab Gluay stands out as the spelling on the picture menu is almost word perfect, which probably shows that they mean business. And the cuisine is indeed impressive: Predominantly seafood, the restaurant’s four chefs work hard at preparing colourful and tasty dishes, such as whole sweet-and-sour fish, steamed prawns, deep-fried crab meat stuffed in its shell with pork and egg, tom yam seafood and grilled chicken with sesame seeds. Kaab Gluay is very much a Thai culinary experience and should be appreciated as such with multiple and shared orders. Each dish is as fresh as can be and is served in generous portions. It’s more of a group experience than a couple’s or single’s scene – if only because of the size of the portions although I did notice people coming in for takeaways. Prices are reasonable which means you can splurge a little.

SERVICE

Cheerful and attractive. Things get a bit hectic around eight o’clock but the (mostly female) green-uniformed staff handle it all with grace. Unless specifically asked to, they will pretty much leave everything on your table until you’ve finished the whole meal but perhaps this is their way of keeping up with your tab.

Kaab Gluay 58/3 Phrabarami Rd. Patong. Tel: 076-340562