SAMSEN – A Taste of Thai Street Food

Address:  68 Stone Nullah Ln, Wan Chai

Website: Samsen Facebook

Related: Sawali Club

SAMSEN brings Thai street food to Stone Nullah lane through the hands of former Chachawan  Chef Adam Lee Cliff . A rustic, retro style space reminiscent of a Thai Tea shop, with a no-booking policy, that surely meets Hong Kong’s thirst of novelty!

Noodles are the main event, with popular Chachawan dishes (like the ‘warm coconut dumplings’) to quench tastes of loyal customers, and a few classic Thai Street dishes. The Cocktail menu was non-existent, with Beer being the sole alcoholic beverage on offer.

When you think of Thai Street food, skewers, grilled seafood or meat and fried parcels often come to mind. SAMSEN, though calls themself a noodle house lack these Street food staples on their menu. Sides and salads, though tasty, did not reflect their mission to bring us ‘Thai Street Food’. Seating was also somewhat crammed, though that maybe part of their “street” vibe concept.

Overall, food was tasty, but surely does not compare to Chachawan in terms of its authenticity for Thai Street Food.

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Lychee & Lemongrass Soda

• Fresh and slightly sweet.
• Strong lychee flavors with a hint of Lemongrass.

 

 

 

 

 

Green Mango Salad with Tiger Prawns, Crispy Shallots, chill & coriander

• Crunchy and spicy salad with a tangy dressing.
• Great ratio of prawn, mango and nuts.
• refreshing and tasty summer dish.

Thai Omelette of Crabmeat & Spring onions with Sriracha Sauce

• Mediocre.
• Crab Meat was generous but the omelette was soggy. Seemed a bit over-fried with too much oil.

Stir-fried Wagyu Beef with Wild Ginger, garlic, chill & Cumin Leaf

• Cumin leaf gave a bitter and weird taste to the dish.
• Beef slices were cooked well, tender, but the abundance of cumin and lime leaf overpowered the dish.
• Mediocre.

Wagyu Beef Boat Noodle with thin rice noodles, pork rinds & Thai watercress

• Fresh rice noodles with a rich salty and earthy Beef broth.
• Noodles were cooked well, but the “Chu Hau” flavored broth overpowered the Beef and was very heavy.

 

Coconut Dumplings in warm salted coconut cream

• Chewy and delicate dumplings swimming in a salty coconut cream broth.
• YUM!
• Filling of palm sugar and nuts was also a great surprise!

Thai mango & Sticky Rice

• Classic thai dessert of sticky rice, sweet mango and salty coconut cream
• Not bad, but using black sticky rice would have elevated the dish.