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Ka Jok See is Phuket
Town's most popular restaurant. It's hidden away on a side street
called Takua Pa just a half block from busy Ratsada Road, the city's
main thoroughfare. There's no sign outside announcing that every
night, it's hard to find a seat. Just a wall of tropical plants
greets the customer.
Khun Lek opened Ka Jok See (meaning Stained Glass Window) thirteen
years ago and while his early years were relatively quiet, the last
five years have kept him the busiest restaurateur in town.
"My family sent me to America to study business when I was
a student but when I returned to Phuket,
I eventually decided to open a restaurant as I had spent many happy
years in the kitchen watching my grandmother cook," remembers
Lek.
Ka Jok See is a success due to the recipes that Khun Lek has developed
over the years as well as his soft lighting and nightly music and
entertainment sessions which sometimes last far into the night.
He has a collection of thousands of CDs and a great sound system.
He knows how to take his customers through an evening keeping them
excited while having great food.
The ambience of Ka Jok See seems European. He covers the tables
with newspapers. The lighting is soft and warm from fixtures that
seem as old as the historic Sino-Portuguese house where the restaurant
resides.
"Khun Lek always knows how to make a party, to keep his customers
happy by anticipating what they want," comments island jazz
singer, Bonnie Anderson. "I've had some of my favorite nights
eating, singing and enjoying myself at Ka Jok See."
Ka Jok See's menu features popular Thai dishes that suit the Western
taste but it is one of the few restaurants on Phuket that are popular
with all nationalities, including Thai.
"You never know who you will see at Ka Jok See," says
Luisella Raineri, Phuket's high priestess of style. "At night,
the limousines pull up outside and it could be a rock star staying
at the Amanpuri who has to have dinner at Khun Lek's to make his
visit to Phuket complete."
Ka Jok See has been featured in the international press including
the Japanese version of Elle and Conde Nast Traveller.
Khun Lek seems very unimpressed by all the attention.
"I love good Thai food, great music and giving my customers
good value for their time spent at Ka Jok See," he smiles.
Ka Jok See is open only for dinner except Mondays. Reservations
are requested at 217 903.
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