The last day of our trip was a pretty mad rush given the number of places we had to visit. We decided to skip the complimentary hotel breakfast to feast on Pratunam market’s famed wanton mee and pork trotters rice.

We arrived near 10:30 only to find a short queue that has formed. Thankfully, it took a mere 3 minutes wait before we were ushered into the restaurant. The exterior of the restaurant looked just like any eatery that you would encounter along the streets of Pratunam market but the bubbling pot of braised meat were enough to keep our tummies grumbling.

Once seated, a quick look around is sufficient to perceive the popularity amongst both Singaporeans and Malaysians. There are mainly three items the eatery is popular for and  there is no need for further introduction.

This was my second time having pork leg rice and I held extremely high expectations of it since the first that I had in Hat Yai were melty goodness. The pork trotters were well marinated and went extremely well when coupled with their signature chilli paste. In fact, there were more lean meat as compared to fatty parts but the limited fats made for a great companion with rice and dissolves instantly without leaving one feeling intimidated. The preserved vegetable was neither too salty and refreshes the tastebud with a twist.

Similar to the pork leg rice, the intestines were well marinated but it can be slightly salty for people who has a milder taste bud. I suggest having it with rice as the gravy goes well with it and leaves one craving for more.

As a great fan of wanton mee, I was similarly looking forward to this dish. The portion was rather small despite us ordering the bigger serving and looked dry and rather inconspicuous. I admit that I lowered my expectation immediately but this lard-laiden bowl of noodles changed my mind instantly. I’ve never been fancy of lard and usually avoid it in Singapore for health concerns but the lard used here were a whole different issue. The noodles were coated with a thin layer pork lard oil and every mouth was emanating with an aromatic flavor. I recommend adding a bit of the pork trotters gravy into the noodles as it was slightly lumpy given that it is rather dry. This enhances the flavor even more and makes for a smoother delivery down the throat.

J wanted to try out the soupy version and we decided to order a smaller portion to share. Do not be fool by its appearance. It’s an unassuming looking bowl of noodles but the broth was thicker than what I had anticipated.

Overall, I would say that there is a reason for its hype. The seemingly harmless bowl of lard-laiden noodles were fragrant and the aroma lingers on even after a long time has passed. The well-marinated stew of pork were a perfect match with the salted vegetables and reminds one of home.

SabX2 Pratunam Wanton Mee: 7.5/10

Address: Soi Phetchaburi 19, Pratunam, Bangkok