Issue05 : 9 June 2014

Traditional hospitality and a warm welcome make for success in this popular Bangkok eatery.

Some restaurant executives go out and spend a lot of money on advertising, consulting and use all sorts of business plans to get a leg up on the competition. Chonlada Boonvanich, the owner of Feuang Nara Restaurant, winner of a prestigious Thai SELECT award, is not one of them. Sitting down with Boonvanich and her daughter Pair recently in their homey eatery, she revealed a few of her secrets.

Feuang Nara is set in a 70-year-old Thai house, beautifully renovated and painted all white, with polished hardwood floors and a warm decor. The house belonged to Pair’s grandfather, but as the area around Chong Nonsi developed, the skytrain and urban high rises dwarfed the building, making it a less attractive place to use as a residence. Boonvanich decided to get out of her jewellery business and do something new and so she opened a restaurant focusing on simple and authentic Thai cooking.

Word of mouth led patrons to the door, with local office employees coming in for lunch and then tourists staying in the area arriving for dinner. While Feuang Nara is only four years old, opening at a time of tremendous competition in the restaurant industry didn’t faze Boonvanich one bit. “I can only take care of my own business and what I am good at,” she says. “It is better to learn from your own clients what is important as opposed to following trends or copying others.”

It didn’t hurt that some of Feuang Nara’s initial customers returned home and posted great things on Trip Advisor about the warmth and generous hospitality of the owners to go along with some great food. Boonvanich was surprised when foreign visitors started turning up, saying they had read about her on the internet, but she did what she was best at, giving a warm welcome and letting the food do the talking.

The menu at Feuang Nara is quite extensive, but is heavy on traditional Thai favourites such as kaeng khiaow waan green curry or the creamy tom yum soup that comes with juicy fresh prawns – the restaurant never uses frozen ingredients. Other standouts include moo tawt klet khao, deep fried pork in toasted sticky rice powder, and yam thua phu wing bean salad with prawn that comes with a homemade vinaigrette of lime, shallots, chilies, fragrant onion and creamy fresh coconut milk.

While the restaurant does not feature signature cocktails there are the basic mojitos or gin and tonics on the menu for those in need, and better yet, Feuang Nara prides itself on freshly made smoothies, in which every bit of the drink comes from fresh fruit and not any type of concentrate.

With its homey environment, great service, and tasty food to boot, it’s no wonder that success comes naturally at Feuang Nara.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/FeuangNara

Story and Photos by Dave Stamboulis

Realising the importance of maintaining high standards, the Thai Government has responded with this seal of approval. Thai Select certifies not only the quality of the food, but also the restaurant's ambience and service. Chefs must be fully trained in the preparation of authentic Thai cuisine. Becoming accredited with the Thai Select seal is not easy, the bar is set high and the guidelines are strict.
Through training and inspections, the high standard of Thai restaurants worldwide is ensured. So wherever you are on your travels, look for the Thai Select seal of approval. It assures that great Thai food is being served in a pleasant atmosphere with the world-famous Thai smile. It's not just a meal it's a journey into Thai culture.

Thai Select or Thai Select Premium certification identifies Thai restaurants that offer at least 60 percent authentic Thai food on their menus. It also implies that these restaurants employ the same or similar cooking methods as used in Thailand and may import ingredients from Thailand. However, the certification neither rates the food nor endorses the quality of the restaurant. It merely indicates the authenticity of the Thai foods prepared.