Fresh herbs and vegetables

For the past few years I’ve been dining at Rod Ded Isan restaurant (ร้านอีสานรสเด็ด), but it seems that every time I’ve gone, I somehow haven’t had my camera.

Finally, I went back a few days ago to Rangnam Road, camera in hand.

The Isan food at Rod Ded never fails to satisfy. Vegetables are fresh, the chilies taste like they are straight from Isan, and they tend to make dishes vibrant and sour (a real bonus in my books).

Green papaya salad (som tam Thai ส้มตำไทย)

The green papaya salad (som tam Thai ส้มตำไทย) at Rod Ded was a winner.

Fresh shreds of green papaya, lots of tomatoes, lots of fiery chilies, and plenty of roasted peanuts. The dressing was exactly the way I most enjoy it, lightly sweet and very sour.

Sour Isan soup with pork ribs (tom saap sekong moo ต้มแซ่บซี่โครงหมู)

For soup we ordered the sour Isan soup with pork ribs (tom saap sekong moo ต้มแซ่บซี่โครงหมู).

The broth included a superb meaty flavor with lots of herbs and chilies floating around. Just like everything else at our table, it was nicely sour.

mungbean noodle salad (yam woon sen ยำวุ้นเส้น)

The mungbean noodle salad (yam woon sen ยำวุ้นเส้น) was excellent.

A nice mixture, none of that super rubbery old seafood, but just a few prawns and tender pieces of squid, roasted peanuts, and a generous heaping of cilantro on top.

The dressing was soured with lime juice and not overly sweet. Honestly speaking, it was one of the best yam woon sen’s I’ve had in Bangkok – only one better for me is in Krabi.

catfish larb (larb pla duk ลาบปลาดุก)

The catfish larb (larb pla duk ลาบปลาดุก) included a flavorful mix of ingredients, but it was a little on the moist side, while I prefer the version that’s smoked and dry.

Fried rice with crab (khao pad boo ข้าวผัดปู)

I had no intention of ordering fried rice with crab (khao pad boo ข้าวผัดปู), but after seeing the waitress breeze past with a plate for another table, I had an impulse craving.

It was alright, but I’m a fan of fried rice when it’s cooked on super high heat so it’s dry and non-greasy. Not bad, but not the best.

To get a better version of khao pad boo, I’d actually go right down the street to Kuang Seafood on the corner of Rangnam and Ratchaprarop.

Isan Rod Ded Restaurant (ร้านอีสานรสเด็ด)

Isan Rod Ded Restaurant (ร้านอีสานรสเด็ด) sort of looks like a little green warehouse and tables and chairs are set up sprawling into the sidewalk.

It’s normally quite busy especially during peak meal times.

I parked my Hummer outside, ha yah right!

The Bottom Line

The quality of the food is approaching that of Som Tam Boo Maa, but they don’t have near the variety of dishes available. The Isan food is excellent, you won’t be disappointed.

The only downside I can think of is that they only serve grilled chicken, no pla pao (grilled fish) which I enjoy eating along with som tam.

Isan Rod Ded Restaurant (ร้านอีสานรสเด็ด)

Prices: Prices are normal local restaurant prices – about 50 – 100 THB per dish. For the dishes above, including a few helpings of sticky rice and 2 bottles of water cost us 390 THB.
Hours: 11 am – 10 pm daily
Address: 3/5-6 Thanon Rangnam

3/5-6 ซ.รางน้ำ ตรงข้าม คิงเพาเวอร์

How to Get There

It’s really easy to get to Rod Ded Restaurant. Just take the BTS to Victory Monument station, exit to Thanon Rangnam Road, walk down the street until you see the big King Power complex (fancy dome building) and the restaurant will be on your left hand side (opposite King Power).

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