Ann Tha Din Deang

We've always wondered: if Jae Fai retires, which restaurant could possibly take her place?

Now we've found it, and we'll answer that question right here without any long-windedness: the restaurant that can replace Jae Fai's is "Ann Tha Din Deang."

Jae Ann might not be as senior as Jae Fai, and she doesn't stand in front of the fire with the same explosive flair. But those things aren't problems at all when, in the end, the food served on your table is the kind that fills you up, body and soul, and leaves you impressed for days to come. And it's not just our own valuable experience and memory; it's so delicious that we want to tell the people we love about it, saying, "You must come here!" The time and money spent here are not wasted in the slightest.

Ann Tha Din Deang is a Thai-Chinese seafood restaurant, not a fancy one. It's set in a small shophouse at the beginning of Tha Din Daeng road. But you have to admit, the cooking skill is truly extraordinary. Walking past, you might think it's just a regular stir-fry joint, but a look at the menu will show you the ingredients they use are all AAA-grade: large sea crabs, river prawns the size of your forearm, and high-quality fish like Pla Tao Tey that aren't easy to find.

Khun Ann, or Khun Supaladda Siridanond, at 55 years old, stands frying food in front of the restaurant herself. Ann is a Bangkok native who has lived in the Khlong San area for a long time. She previously sold food from a cart opposite the Bok Kia Tha Din Daeng (in Michelin Guide) for over 10 years and moved into this shophouse about 9 years ago. The interior is simple and not heavily decorated. The walls on both sides are plastered with pictures of famous customers who have visited to appreciate her cooking. The tables are simple stainless steel, and some chairs have backs, while others don't.

The menu handed to us by the staff was crumpled, as if it had passed through the hands of many diners. It's simply designed, without any pretense. However, the menu doesn't list everything Jae Ann sells. If she gets fantastic ingredients from the market or fishermen on any given day, she'll have special off-menu items. How do you get to eat them? Just ask the staff, "What are the specials today?"

Today, the three of us went to eat and ordered a total of 7 dishes. We didn't order the must-try signature dishes because one of our friends is allergic to crab and prawns. But we'll tell you at the end which dishes you absolutely shouldn't miss when you go to Ann Tha Din Deang. Let's go through the dishes we ordered first, as a starter list to give you an idea of how delicious each one was.

1. Hoy Lai Pad Prik Pao (Stir-fried Cockles with Chili Paste)

Medium to large cockles with plump, chewy meat, paired with a perfectly balanced sauce. The cockles were cooked just right—flawless. For those who don't eat spicy, you must specify "not spicy" (mai phet); otherwise, Jae Ann will definitely make it fully Thai-spicy for you. For us Thais, this dish is a 10/10, a 100/10. It's rich and hits the spot. Great with steamed rice or rice congee.

2. Neu Kracheeng Pad Prik Kee Noo Suan (Stir-fried Crab Meat Balls with Fresh Bird's Eye Chilies)

The star ingredient of this dish is undoubtedly the crab meat, and it truly is the star because it's large and satisfying in every bite. The long beans, the supporting actor, were chosen young, crisp, and cooked perfectly. The flavor is indescribable—it's just too awesome for words.

3. Pad Sator Goong (Stir-fried Prawns with Stinky Beans)

This is the dish that amazed me the most from the very first bite. I loved it, liked it, was so impressed. It was supremely delicious in a way I've never experienced at any other restaurant, even ones in Southern Thailand where this is a signature dish. Ann Tha Din Deang takes the crown. The perfect doneness of both the prawns and the satoo (bitter beans)—ingredients that require different heat levels and cooking times in the wok—results in this impeccable texture. Jae Ann's skill is incredibly precise.

4. Pla Tom Buay Khing (Fish Stewed with Plum and Ginger)

If you don't order this, you might not know what you're missing. But you'd be missing out without even realizing it. Now that you've seen this article, remember it, save it, screenshot it, or do whatever you need to remember that you must order the Pla Tom Buay Khing. Just the umami-rich broth, with its sour, salty, and sweet notes, is enough to make you happy for three days.

5. Larb Woon Sen Pla Muek (Spicy Squid Glass Noodle Salad)

You could change this to other squid dishes, like Stir-fried Squid with Salted Egg (Pla Muek Pad Kai Kem) or Stir-fried Squid with Shrimp Paste (Pla Muek Pad Kapi). But you simply cannot skip trying a squid dish at Ann's. It's a bouncy, springy experience you have to try.

6. Kuay Chai White Pad Moo Grob Tao Hoo (Stir-fried Chives with Crispy Pork Belly and Tofu)

If you're into tofu, you'll squeal over the texture of the tofu in this dish. It's tofu with a flexible, chewy texture, not crumbly or mushy like the regular tofu you might be used to. This dish is fun because of the crunch from the crispy pork, the satisfying chew of the tofu, and the perfect doneness of the white chives.

7. Pak Khana Pad Namman Hoi Moo Grob (Stir-fried Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce and Crispy Pork)

What we wanted to eat in this dish was the pak khana (Chinese broccoli), and nothing about it let us down. It was, once again, cooked perfectly. The fresh vegetable, quickly seared over high heat, made it even crunchier than the crispy pork. Extremely delicious.

If you read our review carefully, you'll realize that Jae Ann is a true master of timing and heat. 100% of the food served on our table was cooked to absolute perfection.

Beyond our admiration for her control of the fire, her cooking skill makes the food taste delicious yet light. This means that sometimes when you eat at a delicious restaurant, the chef often heavily seasons the food. It's tasty, but at the same time, it can be overwhelming; you can't eat for long before your tongue gets tired.

But Jae Ann's restaurant is not like that at all.

Restaurant Name: Ann Tha Din Deang

Phone: 0816950597

Facebook : Ann Tha Din Deang

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QapGdNSVtq5JNVJk7