Burger Cafe by Chef Tan

This place opened a couple of months ago, here in Chalong, Phuket. The chef/proprietor had a restaurant in Karon for 16 years, but was forced to close earlier this year for the obvious reason. She's opened this place in what is actually her home, right at the bottom of a dead end soi, so you have to be going there to actually find it.

Very nice atmosphere, with a decent garden out front with tables (would be pleasant if it ever stops raining here). Inside it has quite a homely feel (given it's her actual home that's not surprising). Although burgers are the headline, there are other choices, though not an extensive menu.

She makes everything that can be made herself, including the burgers and bread rolls (which are a decent size and wonderfully fresh).

I'm posting a couple of photos of what we had, plus some pages from her menu (this to give lie to the often heard comments that Phuket's expensive).

It was our first visit there, though we'll be back. A few other customers, and a steady stream of Food Panda riders collecting orders for delivery.

The entrance:

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/426.jpg

The garden (not my photo, heavy rain when we were there):

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One of the two single burgers that I had (I like to eat my burgers by hand and my mouth can't handle double burgers).

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/428.jpg

and with a side of fries between us. These were decent as well, crisp and oil free.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/429.jpg

M'Sahib started with a smooth bowl which she enjoyed.

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followed by a Vegan Burger, which she also rated.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/431.jpg

Now some pages from their menu, as much as anything to show the prices. Not really a place that you would go drinking, but the beer prices would be hard to beat.

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Nice write up PAG the place looks good and it is cheap too.

They don't look shabby at all. Good prices too.

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Originally Posted by PAG

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/429.jpg

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The fries are the letdown. I don't mind crinkle-cut frozen fries but everything else in the photo was probably sourced from outside so it's the sort of thing any of us with zero skills can make at home, the only cooking part is flipping the patty and deep-frying the fries. So (to me) with the Chef having done not much more than assembly, hand cut fries shouldn't be too much to ask. Not being picky, just the personal opinion of someone who loves a good burger with fries on the side!!

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Originally Posted by Headworx

Not being picky

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...ok, your personal opinion reeks of pickiness then...thanks for the review, PAG...

^Green sent to Pag as soon as I saw his post, I don't think he's ever not gotten a green from me when he shares pics of eating out or home cooking at which he's definitely one of the very best at on this forum. If my opinion on frozen crinkle-cut fries being served by someone calling themselves Chef Tan bothers you, just mince off into some dark place and fuck yourself. Thanks.

^^^

Wrong. Tan is actually an accomplished and professional chef, and as I think I said in the preamble, she makes the patties and rolls herself. Here's a photo that I've taken from her page (I believe the Elephant Cafe is her Karon restaurant):

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/440.jpg

^Which only makes it all the more strange that she's happy serving frozen fries from Macro. As I said, just my personal opinion and I don't mind them but it's got to be laziness on the Chef's part not to make their own from scratch because it's not that hard and they're 100 times better. I can understand it at a burger stand, but not in a restaurant.

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Originally Posted by Headworx

just mince off into some dark place and fuck yourself.

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...I understand your embarrassment...I hope PAG does, too...

I must agree with Headworx that proper hand cut chips, and they are so fucking simple to do, can make or break a meal!

Tomcat..........you stick with the frankfurters and hot dogs and you make sure you have proper skin on them before doing whatever you wish to do with them.

Appreciate the comments about the chips, though I only nibble on a few of them rather than treat them as part of the meal. Think it has to be borne in mind that this is really a one man (or woman) show, and in the current climate the customer base is pretty much hit or miss.

Hand cut chips in Thailand made from local potatoes are utter shite because the potatoes are utter shite because you cannot grow decent potatoes in a tropical environment.

Chips that are ready made and imported from proper potato farming countries and those that are hand cut from potatoes imported from Australia are far, far superior.

Unless she is using either imported meat from Australia or from Thai-Francaise beef then those patties will be no different from a host of other cheapo joints peddling mediocre burgers only really suitable as a vehicle for ketchup, mayo, gherkins, tomatoes etc.

Nice review of a nice place, ran by a nice person.

The food and price point look good, the place looks like a nice place to chill and eat, but gotta agree with the frozen crinkle cut fries being served at a burger joint being a bit disappointing.


In such a nice place that's out of the way, and only going to be found by those in the know, you think it would pay dividends to up the quality of the food to fully homemade, and increase the price accordingly. 100 baht burgers and frozen crinkle cut fries are more suited to carts outside bars with names like Saint George's Cross, and Millwall til I Die.

Looks bloody delicious, including the chips.

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Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Looks bloody delicious, including the chips.

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Yes, it was very good. Didn't post as a 'greatest burger' type thread, more an example of local businesses adapting to current circumstances. That said, the burgers were very good, at least as good if not better than those I've had here at twice the price, and certainly on a wholly different level than the bland burgers typical of Thai restaurants catering to tourists.

Might have a try of this one next time I'm there.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/10/452.jpg

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Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Hand cut chips in Thailand made from local potatoes are utter shite because the potatoes are utter shite because you cannot grow decent potatoes in a tropical environment.

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The chips in my pic above are from Robin Hood at The Avenue. Ok, they've got a Chef/owner from a Michelin starred restaurant on their team but the hand cut chips there are about as good as they get anywhere in the world that I've tried. I'm assuming they're just using local spuds, it's not an expensive restaraunt.

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Originally Posted by Headworx

^Green sent to Pag as soon as I saw his post, I don't think he's ever not gotten a green from me when he shares pics of eating out or home cooking at which he's definitely one of the very best at on this forum. If my opinion on frozen crinkle-cut fries being served by someone calling themselves Chef Tan bothers you, just mince off into some dark place and fuck yourself. Thanks.

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He be shaking like boy george eating a corndog now.

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Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

boy george

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He was DJ'ing around '97-ish. Mid set I was up by the decks and off me nut on E's so gave him a good ol' handshake.

It was only 30 seconds later when I thought to myself, Christ, where the fok have those fingers... hand.... fist... been. :)

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Originally Posted by Edmond

He was DJ'ing around '97-ish. Mid set I was up by the decks and off me nut on E's so gave him a good ol' handshake.

It was only 30 seconds later when I thought to myself, Christ, where the fok have those fingers... hand.... fist... been. :)

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:chitown: