Euljiro Thai restaurant dinner date: pad kra pao moo sap, Kkai 9

I headed to Kkai 9, a well-known Thai spot in Euljiro, with my husband for dinner to enjoy some authentic Thai cooking together. Walking into a restaurant with such a local feel got our date off to a great start.

How to find the Kkai 9 entrance: the neon sign in the alley

Kkai 9 is a Thai restaurant on the 2nd floor, tucked deep inside the narrow alley of Chungmuro 5-gil. As we turned into the alley, a red neon sign greeted us in style.

At the entrance there was a banner noting the place's TV appearance, along with a standee sign for the weekday lunch discount set. In front of the stairs leading up to the 2nd floor, a Catch Table waiting kiosk was set up. Luckily the wait wasn't long, so we headed up the stairs feeling pretty excited.

What is the second-floor interior of Kkai 9 like?

The 2nd floor interior of Kkai 9 has the feel of a Thai night market, hung with traditional lanterns and rattan lighting. The moment we opened the door, the lighting caught our eyes.

It was full of that exotic, energetic air you get at an actual Thai night market. Every table was packed with people, buzzing with that particular crowded energy. The last photo shows a glimpse we caught from outside while waiting, of the signature leng saep being made — watching the kitchen pour sauce over the tower of bones was fascinating.

Kkai 9 menu and what we ordered: leng saep with a rice dish

At Kkai 9, you scan a QR code at your table to check the menu. From pad kra pao moo sap to tom yum fried rice, the menu had a neat lineup of varied dishes.

We decided to order a good spread — the visually overwhelming leng saep along with some nicely fried, fluffy rice dishes.

What comes with the table setting at Kkai 9

On Kkai 9's stainless steel table sat a water bottle, chopsticks in a chili paste container, and paper cups. On the small plate was an individually wrapped wet wipe, handy for cleaning up before the meal.

They also set out a large plastic-lined bone bucket ahead of time, so we could easily pick the meat off the bones.

Kkai 9's leng saep, served piled up like a mountain

Kkai 9's signature leng saep arrived as a surprise — huge spine bones stacked layer upon layer like a tower. Finely chopped green chilies and fragrant cilantro were piled generously on top, without a gap in sight.

The sour, spicy chili sauce had soaked all the way into the tender, boiled meat. Pulling off a piece and dipping it deep into the sauce sent a rich, exotic savoriness spreading through my mouth.

Pad kra pao moo sap: nutty, savoury minced pork over rice

Kkai 9's pad kra pao moo sap came out on a pink retro plate, topped with a golden, crisply fried sunny-side-up egg with a runny yolk. Crisp cucumber slices and a small dish of fish-sauce-based seasoning were plated alongside.

Popping the yolk and mixing it into the fluffy rice brought out a savory, salty flavor running through every grain. Taking a bite of the spicy leng saep followed by the fried rice, the two dishes complemented each other perfectly.

Chang beer and Pepsi Lime with Thai food at Kkai 9

To cut through the richness of the food, we picked cold zero sugar Pepsi Lime and Chang beer. Seeing the Thai beer in its green bottle made me feel like I was sitting at a night market on a trip abroad.

We poured the beer and cola into glass cups and toasted with my husband over our hearty spread. The crisp fizz made the spice-heavy Thai food go down so easily. It was a moment where the day's fatigue just melted away.

A table two of us cleared to the last bone

Chatting away with my husband as we ate, we ended up polishing off all that mountain of bones and rice. Next to the table, the plastic-lined bucket had a huge, mountainous pile of bones left over after we'd picked every bit of meat off.

It was such a satisfying, filling meal. The portion was so huge I wondered if we could even finish it, but the tender meat kept pulling us in until we'd cleaned the very last bone. It was a really enjoyable dinner date with my husband, wrapped in the flavors and lively vibe of Thailand, and one I think I'll remember for a long time.

Who should eat at Kkai 9?

• ⭐ Anyone who wants an exotic date with a local, authentic vibe
• ⭐ Anyone who wants to taste the deep, rich flavor of proper sour-spicy leng saep
• ⭐ Anyone in Euljiro looking for a spot to enjoy a cold beer after work

Kkai 9 location, hours and parking

• Name: Kkai 9
• Address: 6 Chungmuro 5-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed 11:00–21:30; Sat, Sun 11:30–21:30
• Parking: Not available