Shrimp pad thai and khao pad dinner in Paju: Drunken Thai Unjeong

On cool days I just want to get outside and take it easy, haha. So I made dinner plans with a friend and headed over to Unjeong in Paju!

The area around Unjeong Lake Park has nice walking trails and plenty of good restaurants and pretty cafés nearby, so it's a great place to meet up :) We walked around the lake chatting away, and before long we started getting hungry. We decided to have something exotic and different for dinner, haha.

The place we went to is Drunken Thai Paju Unjeong Branch, known for its authentic local vibe. I've always liked Thai dishes like pad thai and fried rice, haha. A friend who lives nearby had recommended it before, so I didn't think twice and headed straight over!

The walk from Yadang Station, parking, and hours

This place is close to Yadang Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, so it's easy to get to. Come out Exit 2 and walk about 450m toward Unjeong Lake Park and you'll be there in no time.

I drove and parked in the building's parking lot.

• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00–22:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:30
• Closed every Monday

An interior filled with pieces brought straight from Thailand

The moment I stepped through the door, I loved the unique atmosphere — it felt like I'd hopped on a plane and landed in a cozy back-alley restaurant in Thailand ^u^* The flashy yet stylish pink tones blended beautifully with the exotic decor, and it was fun just looking around, hahaha.

I heard the owner personally brought over the dishes, cutlery, and every single interior piece from Thailand to design the space.

It has a hip yet comfortable atmosphere, making it perfect for a date as well as a fun meal with friends.

The menu and our order — all shrimp, three ways

Prices overall are reasonable for a restaurant near Unjeong Lake Park. Plus, noodle and rice refills are free! You can add more partway through the meal. (For fried noodles, you have to request the refill in advance, though, haha.)

The menu is packed, from pho — Thailand's signature dish — to various stir-fried noodles, fried rice, and side dishes. I wanted to try everything, which made it hard to decide,,,haha but I went with the most classic, can't-go-wrong best-seller items.

• Shrimp Pad Thai ₩12,000
• Shrimp Khao Pad ₩11,500
• Tod Mun Goong (2 pieces) ₩4,000

My friend loves shrimp, so we ordered nothing but shrimp dishes, haha.

At the self-serve bar, you can help yourself to spicy-and-tangy chili pickles and radish pickles.

All the food came out within 5-10 minutes :) haha

The umami is insane! Shrimp Pad Thai

The pad thai came on tableware that felt straight out of Thailand — stir-fried noodles, plump shrimp, and toppings of ground peanuts and finely chopped chives. The tamarind sauce's distinctive sweet-and-tangy charm soaked into the chewy rice noodles, and the flavor in my mouth was seriously incredible...

The crunch of the bean sprouts and the nutty bite of the peanut powder were a perfect match!!ㅠㅠㅠ There was so much shrimp in it, too, so no fighting over it between the two of us ^0^lol. I instantly understood why people who've visited here call this a must-try pad thai and one of the best restaurants near Unjeong Lake Park, from the very first bite, haha.

Nutty Thai-style fried rice: Shrimp Khao Pad

Next up was the shrimp khao pad, a Thai-style fried rice with beautifully separate, fluffy grains. As a Korean, a meal never feels complete without rice, haha, so I ordered this — and it was the right call.

The fluffy texture hit exactly what I was craving! Stir-fried quickly over high heat, it had zero greasiness, with a nutty, clean flavor and just the right seasoning — the kind of magic taste you can't stop eating, ㅎ0ㅎ. Take a bite of rice with shrimp on top and it's the best.

Crispy, plump shrimp croquettes: Tod Mun Goong

The tod mun goong (2 pieces) we had alongside the meal also exceeded expectations!! Tod mun goong is a Thai-style shrimp croquette — minced shrimp meat shaped into a round patty, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. Dip it in chili sauce and take a bite, and you get a satisfying crunch followed by juicy, plump shrimp bursting out... so good.

Why I want to come back, walk included

Being close to Unjeong Lake Park makes it great for a stroll before or after the meal, and parking and public transit access are both convenient, so I think I'll keep coming back whenever I'm craving Thai food in Unjeong, hahaha. If you want great pad thai and a taste of authentic Thai cooking, definitely stop by Drunken Thai, a favorite near Unjeong Lake Park, this weekend..❤️