Carb Overload at SabX2 Wanton Noodles in Bangkok
SabX2 Wanton Noodles Store Front in Bangkok
Carbohydrates are my Achilles Heel and places like SabX2 Wanton Noodles in Bangkok do a good job of completely ruining my less-than-stellar attempts to lose weight.
SabX2 Wanton Noodles
During my recent trip to Bangkok, my foodie travel companions brought me to the famous SabX2 Wanton Noodles stall. We had to be early to beat the queue as it gets really crowded. At first glance, the small plate of wanton noodles didn't look like much to talk about. In spite of its plain appearance, it was flavourful due to the generous use of rendered pork lard. The firm strands of noodles had a lovely bite to it. It somehow reminded me of Man Fu Yuan's Egg Noodles with Lard dish that was served during their 'A Taste of Nostalgia' promotion. I'm not a huge fan of Char Siew but the char siew here was rather tasty and moist whilst the dumplings weren't something I'd write home about. The noodles are a Must-Try if you're not squeamish about how much lard was used in the dish.
Plain Noodles at SabX2
Like many Thai street food noodle joints, the portions are small so I had to order a second plate of noodles to fill me up. Eschewing the toppings, I was really pleased to discover that the plain noodles were served with a generous amount of fried pork lard. Woohoo! I loved how the crisp, golden brown bits of lard added more texture and flavour to the noodles. If you're still hungry after the first plate, order the Plain Noodles.
Stewed Pig's Trotters Station at SabX2
I thought the Plain Noodles went well with the Stewed Pigs Trotters. The stew is normally served with steamed rice as a one-dish meal but is also available as an a la carte dish.
Stewed Pig's Trotters
There are mixed reviews for the noodles but most of my friends love the Stewed Pig's Trotters here. The succulent chunks of meat were so tender, we didn't have to apply too much pressure with our chopsticks to break away bite-sized portions. The pork had absorbed the rich flavours of the sauce that it had been stewed in but wasn't excessively salty. Served with sides of Stewed Salted Vegetables and eggs, the Stewed Pig's Trotters are a Must-Try.
Many patrons order the Stewed Pig's Trotters with steamed rice but I think it's even tastier with some gravy drizzled over the plain noodles. Incidentally the name of this stall is translated loosely to mean 'Spicy Chili x 2'. I guess they were referring to the condiments that comprise raw garlic, a spicy chili sauce and whole piquant Thai Bird's Eye Chili. I loved dunking the pork into the chili sauce as the slightly tangy flavour helped to cut the greasiness of the dish.
My friends paid for the meal so I don't know how much it cost but I do remember thinking that it wasn't cheap. I guess that's the price to pay for a seat in an air-conditioned room instead of roughing it out on the streets. Located close to Platinum Mall, tourists outnumbered locals when I visited and the staff took our orders in Mandarin. Even the signs are mostly in Mandarin and English. I hope I'll eventually find a stall that's largely patronized by the locals instead but for now, SabX2 is on my list of things to do when I'm in Bangkok.
SabX2 Wanton Noodles 4/32-33 Soi Petchburi 19, Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand Phone: +66 02-653 9618 Operating Hours: 9 am to 4 pm (daily)