Pad kra pao and morning glory at a Paju Thai restaurant: Drunken Thai

My husband got a long leave before his unit relocation. So lately we've been completely hooked on the fun of going out on dates to hunt down good restaurants together.

Why a spice beginner chose Drunken Thai in Paju

Honestly, I'm not usually a big fan of food with strong aromatics or heavy spices. My husband, on the other hand, absolutely loves Thai cuisine and all those vibrant, spice-packed dishes.

This time he insisted, "Just trust me and follow me!" claiming it was a proven favorite he'd visited many times. So I decided to trust him and tag along. The place he strongly recommended was none other than Drunken Thai Unjeong Yadang Branch!

Inside Drunken Thai: atmosphere, Yadang Station access and free parking

The moment we walked in, I thought, "Wow, did we actually land in Thailand?" The interior was so vivid and full of local flavor. Between the dishware and cutlery that looked like they were brought straight from Thailand and the colorful little props scattered around, it felt like my ordinary day had briefly turned into a trip to Thailand.

The location was really great too! It's near Yadang Station so it's very accessible, and Unjeong Lake Park is close by, making it perfect for a stroll after the meal as part of a date course. Plus, if you drive, there's free parking in the building's basement lot, which is really convenient.

Even I, someone who felt uneasy about spices, could enjoy so many dishes without any pressure — they were clearly prepared with care.

Seafood pad thai, the signature dish at Drunken Thai

A must-order signature dish at Drunken Thai! The pad thai loaded with seafood had the noodles soaked through with a sweet-yet-savory special sauce.

Mixing in the crunchy bean sprouts and nutty peanut powder made the umami explode. I'm not great with Thai food, but this was so addictively good I wondered why I hadn't tried it sooner.

Pad kra pao moo sap: spicy basil pork stir-fry over rice

Pad kra pao moo sap is minced pork stir-fried in spicy Thai basil sauce, served with rice and a fried egg. This spicy, salty minced pork stir-fry was a total rice thief!

Mixing it all up and taking one big bite had an addictive spiciness that just melted the stress away — it was really something special.

Sides at Drunken Thai: tod man goong shrimp cakes and stir-fried morning glory

The tod man goong we ordered as a side was crispy on the outside and packed with springy shrimp meat inside. Dipped lightly in chili sauce, the crunchy texture spread through your mouth and paired wonderfully with the main dishes.

The savory, salty stir-fried morning glory was perfect as a side dish with rice, and its crunchy texture kept coming through with every bite — my husband and I both kept marveling as we ate.

Thai beer with the meal

We sipped Thai beer between bites! The cool, fizzy beer, distinctly Thai in character, blended perfectly with the spicy-sweet dishes and elevated the exotic mood even further.

Honest verdict on Drunken Thai Unjeong Yadang Branch

This place shattered my preconception about avoiding strongly spiced food in one go! Thanks to the thoughtful preparation, rich broth, and that satisfying umami, I immediately understood why my husband had come back here again and again as a regular.

I'd highly recommend it for a special lunch break for office workers, a date course, or a family dinner spot. If you're near Unjeong or Yadang looking for something unique and delicious in Thai food, definitely check this place out!

Drunken Thai Unjeong Yadang Branch: address, hours and parking

• Address: 1102 Gyeongui-ro, Yueun Tower 1cha, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Closed: Every Monday
• Parking: Free parking in the building's basement lot