Few months after we relocated to Phuket, it was our family driver Key’s birthday. I was looking for a place to celebrate his very first birthday with us. Key only liked noodles so it was a challenge for me to find a place that was not a hotel restaurant, which could make him uncomfortable, but birthday party worthy. Weeks of asking around and reading reviews on Google, I finally decided to try a newly open noodle bar called Paed Sen, which was located within Boat Avenue in Cherngtalay area. Ever since that birthday lunch, I have been going back with my husband, friends and most of the time, by myself, as I have become addicted to Paed Sen noodles! If you love healthy and flavorful Thai noodles, this place should be at the top of the list for must visit places in Thailand.
The noodle that got me hooked was its most popular Wagyu Beef boat noodles. Not surprisingly it was also the most expensive dish offered at Paed Sen, listed at 495 THB (at time of writing THB is trading at 34.64 to 1USD). The soup alone is an orgy of flavors, my guess was hours of labor of simmering meat with herbs and spices. With the excuse of writing the blog, I finally had to confirm with the very smiley and friendly Thai chef owner Khun Gor.
Khun Gor of Paed Sen Noodles.
I see K Gor every time I visit Paed Sen and she remembers me well. When I told her I would like to write about Paed Sen on my blog, K. Gor generously put her work aside, sat down with me and shared her time and story with me.
“I have been in the restaurant business like, forever. I started working as a waitress at Banyatree. My last position there was Operation Manager at the Twins Palm hotel restaurant on Surin Beach. I have a passion for noodles and when opportunity came, I joined a noodle eatery called Love Noodles. Unfortunately for the business, four months into operation, COVID hit. The owner struggled to keep the business afloat and had to cut down number of staff. Me and another staff were the last people standing. However, even with such short staff my working days dwindled down to merely two days a week. In order to make ends meet and make the best use of my down time, I rented a food truck and began to sell salad. It was a on-the-job-training for me to learn how to be a chef and run a business.” K. Gor looked back to how the story of Paed Sen began. “After a while, I had some money saved up. I wanted to return to my love of noodles, and I was looking for a place to set up a noodle eatery. One of my friends suggested me to look into Boat Avenue as there was little competition and it’s a popular place for tourists and foreigners.”
Khun Gor recalled she loved the idea but did not love the fact that Boat Avenue was an expensive neighbourhood and the rent was way out of her league. But as if luck had struck her, she ran into her clients back at the hotel, a very nice couple from Netherlands, with whom she shared her idea with. This couple loved her idea and after lawyers were involved, an agreement was signed, her food truck became history and Paed Sen was born. “Then the next challenge of course was how I could sell noodles alone to afford the rent in this area. That’s when the idea of having Wagyu beef noodle struck. I also wondered how I could make my noodles appeal more to fa-rang (foreigners in Thai), who were more health conscious and concerned about carbohydrates in noodles.” Hmm, that must be a thing or two Khun Gor must have heard a lot back in her days working at the hotel restaurant. “So what did you do?” I asked K. Gor. “I used my own money and bought all sorts of alternative, low carbs noodles and try it out, one by one. After many trials and errors, its what you can see now being offered on our menu.” Yes, that was one of the main reasons I frequent Paed Sen. There are over 10 noodles of choices among half of them are healthy and of low-carbs. It was my guilt free noodle pleasure that I need a dose of every now and then.
“Since I realised most of my clientele would be foreigners, we agreed that we would also set up a bar to serve wine and cocktails. Hence it will not be a quick come eat and go noodle place but where you can sit down and enjoy a drink and of course, a fancy, delicious bowl of Paed Sen! (Paed sen literally means spicy noodles in Thai.)” K. Gor walked me over her “bar” with so much pride.
Paed Sen noodles with Wagyu Beef
I read the book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance written by Angela Duckworth a couple of years ago. Khun God’s story is a very fine example of how Grit helped her to get through tough times and came out as a winner from the other end. Since our arrival in Thailand, we have heard so many people complaining about COVID took away their savings, their everything. Yes, K. Gor was very lucky to have met her angel investors, however, I doubt anyone would have invested in her if she had not shown her “grit” during tough times and her readiness to do what it took to make it happen
With the least expensive bowl of Thai Boat noodles listed at 295 Baht, I can guarantee you the price is not based on where it is, but what it is. Besides noodles, Paed Sen also offers a wide range of menu including rice dishes and very yummy coconut ice cream! For me, Paed Sen is one of the best restaurants in Phuket, one you simply must visit in Thailand.
