You haven’t had real crispy pork until you’ve tried Mr Joe’s crispy pork in Bangkok. Sliced into bite-size pieces, each piece is deliciously tender on the inside, with a gloriously crispy, but somehow also light and fluffy, coating on the outside.
At first glance, Mr Joe’s (Kuay Jab Mr. Joe, or ร้านก๋วยจั๊บ มิสเตอร์โจ) appears to be a small, unassuming street kitchen, with simple tables, stacks of plastic plates and the compulsory selection of various condiments to spice up your meal. But don’t be fooled by its humble appearance – Mr Joe’s crispy pork belly (moo krob หมูกรอบ) is so highly regarded that the restaurant was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award. A perfect example of “if you do one thing, make sure you do it well”.
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The best way to enjoy the cripsy pork is to order a whole plate, which comes with a deliciously sticky sweet dark soy dipping sauce. You’ll also find it served in the kuay jub, a traditional peppery soup made with all different parts of the pig (delicious, but perhaps not for those who are apprehensive about eating liver, intestines and the like!).
Apparently the pork is marinated overnight before being fried fresh each day – and it certainly tastes good! There are a number of other dishes you can order to round out your meal, from fluffy steamed white buns stuffed with roasted red pork to sticky dumplings filled with prawn or crab. Despite its meteoric success, prices are low, meaning you can indulge in quite the spread!
How to get there
You’ll find Mr. Joe on Thanon Chan in Sathon. The nearest BTS stations are Surasak and Saphan Taksin, which are both within walking distance. You can also get there by taxi, but I generally prefer the BTS trains as Bangkok traffic can be pretty slow moving!
Address: 313/7 Soi Chan 42-44, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120
Open hours: 8:30 am – 4 pm daily
Phone: 02-213-3007
Need to know
Like many smaller restaurants in Bangkok, Mr Joe’s accepts cash only.
Due to popularity, it’s best to visit in off-peak times (avoid the lunch time rush!).
Find out more in the Michelin Guide here.
Read my other posts about Thailand here.
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[…] Did you know that there’s a small crispy pork street kitchen vendor that’s so amazingly good that they’ve been awarded a Michelin Star?! This unassuming hole in the wall venue, complete with metal tables, stools and plastic plates, serves up the most deliciously tender crispy pork going. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it. Open 8:30am to 4pm daily. Read my more detailed post about Mr Joe’s here. […]