Kok Thai - Thai Restaurant in Helsinki
Restaurant:
Kok Thai – Thai RestaurantAddress: Runeberginkatu 56
Telephone: 09 4548093
Internet:
Prices: Starting around 10 euros and climbing up to 20
Food: Tasty coconut milk dishes, spicy but sweet, great spring rolls, others average.
Service: Lousy, yet friendly
BACKGROUNDThis night out didn’t start too well. There was this Italian guy that we were supposed to meet. We are waiting him to call, no call. We call to his hotel and there they say that he is already checked in, his room doesn’t answer. We go to the hotel, but it is no use, nobody knows where he is. We then start to look for a restaurant, we kept on walking along Runeberginkatu. It took forever, but there just didn’t seem to be any worthy restaurant to go. Finally we are about to exit Töölö and move on towards Pasila, huh no thank you, enough walking already. We get in to closest restaurant – Kok Thai. Now remember, you don’t have to walk all the way here, just take the tram number 3T from center and you are there in no time.
INTERIORBelieve me, I had lot of time to ogle the interior design of this restaurant. It manages to distract your eye with all sort of cheapish glimmering things. I haven’t seen pictures of Royals in other restaurants of Helsinki, so this is either refreshing little quirk or then I need to get out more (yes, yes, yes those of you, who know me, are already sending me street maps so that won’t get lost as I get out from my little hole). Kok Thai has showed effort, I give them that. There are plants, those glimmering decoration items and music all in all ok package.
SERVICEI had to go and get menus myself, go to counter to get my order in and ask checks from the counter by myself, didn’t bother to go to kitchen to actually make my food, so we waited about 20 minutes just to get the spring rolls to the table for heavens sake. By the way there were only one couple in the restaurant that hadn’t gotten their order, so definitely no queue with the orders. We waited for the main course for another 15 minutes after finishing the spring rolls. What is this? Do Thai restaurants have some secret sign language to get service?
PHONE CALLRemember that Italian guy we were supposed to meet? It’s he, who is calling he has lost his luggage and had stayed at the airport for four extra hours to entangle the mess. Now he is only packing wallet, cell phone and the clothes he’s wearing – talking about travelling light. Beats me why the hotel personnel thought that he had already checked in. Italian guy decides to go and buy some personal items and then back to hotel to sleep. Welcome to Helsinki.
CROWDI hope that other nights, customers aren’t like what we experienced. Two drunken groups were shouting and messing about while trying to speak Thai to get waitresses’ attention. I came close to loosing it, but on our neighbouring table three Korean (yes, I can distinguish Asian languages) teenagers were constantly so hilariously happy that I also forgot my bad temper as my food finally arrived.
FOOD Food was so sweet and soft, yet spicy as hell. I considered ordering beer or something else to drink to help my palate, but none of my favourite beers were on the menu. The balance of beef and vegetables was bit off the mark, but coconut chicken soup was excellent. It made me tear at first, really surprised me as I had my guard down, but next mouthfuls were just pure enjoyment. We had ordered menu for two, because we wanted to eat quickly. If we had know the speed or slowness of this place, we would have taken our time to really order something special. Now we ended up having the worst stereotype sweet dessert - fried banana and ice cream. It turned out to be better than in most places I’ve had it.
Review arrangements
I have this guilty feeling of ranking all those restaurants with numbers or stars, seems to be way too quantitative and exact method for me. Instead I edited my entries a bit and used verbal summary. Furthermore I’ll use ranking placement on the right side of the screen. Every restaurant category has the best on the top, so instead of giving them numbers, I’ll compare restaurants to other restaurants on that niche, whether it be Chinese, Japanese or something else.
Getting around in Helsinki
INTRODUCTIONPeople are always so amazed, how easy it is to get around in Helsinki when I explain it to them. I guarantee that you will feel so too.
First, we get over the hump and throw in the hardest facts. Helsinki is not the promised city for metro and it is under utilized in Helsinki. You have to use buses, trams, taxis and your feet, if you want to get around conveniently.
Everybody knows how to use taxis and most of us enjoy a small walk, so no problems here, but trams and buses are a whole different matter and here comes the hump (finally).
HARD PARTYou need to have a route map for buses and trams if you want to find your way to correct destination (optionally you can choose your lucky bus/tram number and jump in) outside the city center. Best place to get your hands on these maps is the central railway station, HKL has its offices underground you get all the needed info over there.
So, here you can get the route maps (unfortunately I can’t be there to help you with reading, but I’m sure you manage) and tickets. You might want to consider buying a time-based ticket that enables you to take any public transport in Helsinki. Ask the HKL personnel about your choices, you just might find the perfect match. Single trip is quite expensive, so you will save money if you have to use public transportation even if that is for few times.
When you use buses, you have to present a ticket or pay the fee driver checks the situation as you get on the bus. Bit dishonest people can take trams quite carelessly, since ticket check-ups are very rare. Just hop in and drive around. If somebody asks you for a ticket, you can use some strange language and franticly wave with your hands. I have personally seen it work couple of times. Helsinki loves its tourists and usually let’s them go with a warning. Don’t tell them you heard this from me, please.
EASY PARTOk that was the hard part. Now comes the easy part. You don’t have to walk around Helsinki with a map in your hands and sore neck from that constant head turning. You can quite simply plan ahead and check your routes from Internet. Here is the address:
http://aikataulut.ytv.fi/reittiopas/en/
Look what a lifesaver! You just enter the “from” and “to” addresses, choose relevant time of the day and click a button – there you have your best choices. Now you can just choose the option that pleases you the best. Could it be any simpler? As it happens, yes! You also have a map that shows you the route on map and presents detailed stop lists if you want. You can always print these lists out if you need them on the location.
If you run in trouble in the middle of Helsinki city jungle, you can use mobile version of the system, here is the address for that:
http://aikataulut.ytv.fi/reittiopas-pda/en/
So you see, this service is all you need (+ bus money). Little tip. You can use this service to check how to get to one of those restaurants that I have reviewed here. I seldom leave house without consulting this service first – and I live in Helsinki!
Tax-free shopping in Helsinki
INTRODUCTIONThere are some questions, which always pop up in conversations with visiting foreign friends. Mostly they come from Asia and they are always keen to know, how to do tax free shopping. Here I explain tax free shopping very briefly so that you have a solid starting point for tax free shopping frenzy the very moment you arrive Finland.
IS TAX-FREE SHOPPING FOR YOU?First of all, tax-free shopping applies only for those items, which are sent outside EU or which you take outside EU by yourself. Ok, we got that straighten out, right? As you can see, traveling inside EU is dull task and can’t compare to the joys of outside traveling.
HOW DOES TAX-FREE SHOPPING WORK?There are three basic ways, in which to benefit from tax-free shopping:
- Do what we usually do, and shop around at airport tax-free shops. Convenient by time-pressed, plane won’t wait.
- Shop at distinguished retail store like Stockmann (can’t really think of any other) that has tax-free export service, which will deliver the goods to your desired address outside EU. You get the tax back at the point of purchase and avoid carrying around a troublesome load of gifts. Two final words – handling fees.
- Shop at tax-free store that uses Global Refund’s “Tax-free shopping” –sign. You carry the goods around while in EU area and don’t use them e.g. don’t drink that liquor. The moment you leave EU, customs official will stamp your Global Refund Cheque and whole fleet of different refund options opens up to you. Take the money and run, wait it to be transferred to your account or home etc.
MORE INFORMATIONTo get detailed information about the practicalities involved in tax-free shopping in Helsinki, you can look out stands in major specialty stores, airport, harbor and Stockmann. I would suggest a combination of airport and Stockmann because of the added convenience. Moreover, any handling and shipping fees that come from using export services are easy to deal with by shopping even more! Hah, just kidding, take care of you account balance.
To go or not to go
FIRST CHOICETo celebrate Eastern, my wife is taking me out for a dinner (word of warning for all you ladies out there this is what you get when you fight for emancipation and empowerment, ha, ha, just kidding). She has two restaurants in her mind the other is quite shady little place called New Bamboo Center. It is supposed to be Malaysian-Chinese restaurant, but if we end up there, I will just call it Chinese restaurant in my coming restaurant review.
SECOND CHOICEAnyhow, the other choice is – actually I am not sure what the place is called – a Japanese restaurant that is insanely (ok, ok, we don’t have such places in Helsinki, but I tell you it is expensive when compared to other Japanese restaurants in Helsinki) expensive. The thing is that this dining joint is supposed to have most amazing seafood soup for 20 euro per bowl. This bowl – people say – is enough for two, hence making one person’s share 10 euro. Not bad for an expensive restaurant that also delivers delicious food.
RESULT?She has been hovering between the choices, but she knows that if she asks from me – no seafood for me please! You get the picture, we would end up to that shady little Chinese place, and what kind of Eastern celebration that would be? Very tasty, I would say, but she would beg to disagree. I’ll keep you posted on this.
Hullu Kukko - Crazy Rooster
Restaurant:
Hullu Kukko – International RestaurantAddress: Simonkatu 8
Telephone: 09 6859660
Internet: www.hullukukko.fi
Prices: Pasta and noodles ca 14 euros, beef and stakes ca 20 euros.
Food: Great food with a garlic twist
Service: Professional and friendly
LOCATIONAlmost in the Helsinki city center stands this great restaurant that offers many garlic-flavoured foods. This is a great place to visit by foot if you are staying in center of Helsinki. Moreover, this is a great place to drink a glass of wine (well maybe two glasses or maybe a whole bottle).
AREALiterally, Hullu Kukko means Crazy Rooster, but I can assure you that only insanity in this restaurant appears in the low priced check as you are leaving the restaurant. Downstairs of Hullu Kukko restaurant is a bar area that functions as a relaxed environment for discussion. The bar offers refreshments in Hard Rock atmosphere. It is quite convenient to first eat and drink in the restaurant and then move to the first floor for a drink or two. Well, anyway, on the right, there are stairs, which take you to this second floor restaurant. Let’s go.
INTERIORSoothing pastel and some perky orange colours are the first impression after entering, then comes the sign, which states: “Please wait here to be escorted to your table”. Soon the waitress comes and asks whether we have a reservation. Obviously we don’t, but luckily there is a table for two, if we are quick enough to finish our dining in two hours. Hah! No problem.
It is mainly because of the Friday evening that people are wearing some of their finer outfits – anyhow, I start to regret not deciding to take a suit, watching well-dressed people sipping wine, makes me want to order champagne or something equally extravagant.
MENUThe menu of this restaurant is straightforward. They don’t offer wide selection of dishes, instead, seems like their philosophy is to focus on the wines. Food is there to compliment the wine of your choice, lots of salads, starters, bread and some fish, chicken and beef dishes. No wonder they favour garlic flavoured foods, they sure make you want to drink.
It is chicken for me (thank God they don't list sweet and sour on menu) and mushrooms (turn out to be one big, whole mushroom) for my wife. It didn’t take long to get our order in, but we came in just in time before people dine out, so we were among the first in the order line.
SERVICEWaitresses engage into lively discussions about different wines, which is a relief in a country like Finland, where people are not that educated on wines, yet. The restaurant is very clean and organized, but not flashy. On the walls they have paintings (or are they framed pictures?) that radiate Central European atmosphere. A huge espresso machine that has a classic feeling dominates the bar. As I already said, it wasn’t the prime time yet, so food arrived rather quickly, meanwhile we had been devouring some delicious bread. The best meal of the week, I can assure you. My lovely wife had similar thoughts about her mushroom dish. It was soon eight o’clock and the restaurant started to be crowded, this meant that we quickly asked for the check and walked out. The bar in downstairs was already completely packed.
Ichiban Japanese restaurant in Helsinki
Restaurant:
Ichiban - Japanese Restaurant.Address: Mikonkatu 8, 2nd floor
Telephone: 09 672345
Internet: www.ichiban.fi
Prices: Small Lunch 7,50 Large Lunch 9,50. Outside lunch hour, sets are over 10 euro
Food: Simple sushi below average Helsinki quality
Service: You might get some, occasionally
LOCATIONIchiban is located in the same office building block as the Helsinki World Trade Center. Although this might sound glamorous and expensive, you will notice that the surroundings of this small restaurant are almost dubious, since that side of the block is badly designed shopping center. Badly designed, in which way? Well, first of all, on your way to this second floor restaurant, you can choose from several different entries that take you to the bottom of the escalators that lead to the restaurant. If you spot the advertising signs that restaurant has on the street and other parts of the shopping center, don’t expect to have much directional guidance from those...
If you manage to find the escalators, and I am sure you will, don’t be stunned to find them out of order and decorated by graffiti. So, up you go and arrive you shall. Ignore the menu that is taped on the window - just walk right in.
INTERIORWhat will you see? You will see, a long and narrow room, with a big window on the back, counter and kitchen on the left and few tables on the right. Is the table by the window taken? If not, go and grab it! It is the best table in this restaurant.
On lunchtime, you order from the counter and pay at the same time, but as the rush hour vanes, you get real ordering service to the tables and the general feeling of eating out. Back to our lunchtime haze - after you have paid and taken necessary utensils, you can go to the table and wait for the delicious set of sushi.
Now we have some time to admire the setting of this small piece of Japan in Finland. Tell you what, I bet it were not skilled Japanese artisans who made the woodwork in this restaurant, every cozy (unfinished) little detail points to Finnish construction worker, I might be wrong of course, maybe it is all done by the owner.
FOODOh, no time for more daydreaming, the set is already on table. Waitress shoves the portion in front of me and rushes away. No extra points for service, I tell you. Salmon-nigiri, Tuna paste-nigiri, Shrimp-nigiri, sort of a Chaking-sushi and Sushi rolls. Hah, this is what you get for not having a large and dynamic economy that would enable speedy raw material deliveries. At least the salmon is fresh, and truly tasty. Others will do as I think about the price I paid for them. Gulping down mouthfuls, some green tea, vinegar ginger... Hey! Where did my sushi go? I knew, I should have ordered that bigger set, next time I know what to do.
All good things must come to an end. I put on my coat and walk out, down the stairs as the escalator only runs up, somebody should fire the designer, ah, and probably they already did...
TAO OF LIFEI feel almost adequate, as I should, I am working soon so I am not supposed to feel too good, right? Helsinki autumn gives me an extra surprise and turns on the shower. I forget where I came from and focus on getting into cover.
Ming Inn Chinese fast food restaurant
Restaurant:
Ming Inn Chinese Fast Food RestaurantAddress: Eerikinkatu 42
Telephone: 09 693 2360
Internet:
Prices: Normal portions average around 7 euros.
Food: Tasty but little variation
Service: Fast and rugged
While reading this review, you will probably start to wonder whether I am writing a paid advertisement, let me tell you that I just really like Chinese atmosphere and therefore the company of five Taiwanese ladies created overly authentic mood to the restaurant. The restaurant was bustling with Chinese conversation, giggles and laughter. Before we go any further, let me tell you a secret, actually many Chinese people in Helsinki favour this restaurant, because of satisfactory food, low prices and available seats.
LOCATIONLocation for Ming Inn restaurant is bit off the Helsinki city center, so you better reserve about ten minutes for walking or take a taxi instead. In Helsinki, the streets are very easy to follow and you will not get lost, so I recommend walking. Walking on the streets of Helsinki also help you to build up some appetite. Ok, enough chatter!
INTERIORAs you arrive to Ming Inn restaurant, you should take notice that the left side of the restaurant is a smoking area and non-smoking area is on the right. So, be careful where you leave your jacket, in case you are not a big fan of tobacco smelling clothes. In Finland and also in Helsinki, pick pockets or thieves are very rare individuals, so you dont have to watch your belongings constantly, but better safe than sorry.
Now you are ready to choose a table of your liking and then we get down to the ordering business. By the way, their sturdy seats have something you can lean on. If you have seen some American movies from sixties, then you have the right image, when I call them diner lounge seats. Hah, I really dont know the right word for them, but maybe you can give me an email and enlighten me.
FOODFinally, back to that ordering business. Menu has more or less the basic items, exactly those dishes you would imagine to be available in standard Chinese restaurant. They make great chicken, so I recommend that. Also do try their appetizers especially the soups are great. If you have a group of people, they offer convenient dining sets with appetizers, main course and dessert. These sets offer even bigger bang for your euros (bet you expected to read "buck") than the normal single dishes.
They have a really fast chef, if there is no crowd in the restaurant, your dish will come in couple of minutes, unless you choose something that requires steaming or boiling. So, stick to the fried dishes if you are in desperate hurry to get some food to your plate and to stomach from thereon. This restaurant is a great take-away place and almost half of the customers seem to order out.
SERVICEWhat about the service then? I am happy to report that it is friendly and speedy. For me it is soup and spring rolls for others, everything came to the table in a flash. Main course presented an unexpected challenge. Dishes were very large and we were not able to finish them all, luckily we chose tea as a dessert, instead of fried bananas and ice cream, so we werent completely bloated. Restaurant was happy to offer us a doggy bag, so we didnt loose anything.
All in all, we all left the restaurant, invigorated by the discussion and satisfied with the service we received. This is one of the Chinese restaurants in Helsinki that you can depend on to provide value for your money.
Starting with restaurant reviews
I do not have that much need to try out the hotel services in Helsinki area, so in the beginning I will be posting restaurant reviews. All the reviews are based on my personal and first-hand experiences. I have received no compensation while doing that so sponsoring has not tilted my opinions. However, my opinions are tilted by my tastes that skew towards Asian cuisine.
On the sidebar, I have created categories for links into different reviews, you can easily get into reviews in that way or alternatively by using the search function on the top of the page. I hope you enjoy the reviews as much as I have, while doing the field research.
