Description
Sakon Nakhon is known for its excellent, little Vietnamese restaurants in Tha Rae, which was settled by Vietnamese Catholic immigrants who host the most well-known Christmas celebrations in Thailand. However, the new Vietnamese restaurant "Nagi" has raised the bar with one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Northeast Thailand.
Nagi Vietnamese Cuisine & Cafe (ร้านนากี้ - อาหารเวียดนามและคาเฟ่) serves outstanding Vietnamese dishes that are not only delicious, but works of art. The attention to detail is seen not only in the food preparation, but the overall atmosphere of the restaurant, which is located very close to Wat Amalakaram (วัดอัมลการาม), home to the largest statue of Thao Wessuwan in Thailand.
The outside of Rahn Nagi is immediately recognizable by a giant statue of Nang Na Weng, a figure who is symbolic of the women who built the famous Khmer era temple Phrathat Narai Cheng Weng of Sakon Nakhon. She has a head wreathed with snakes, which represent the mythical Naga serpents said to live under Nong Han lake.
In the statue, she is removing a mask, which symbolizes the authenticity and sincerity that the restaurant strives to achieve in its service and cuisine. The prices of the menu ranges from around 180 baht to 390 baht, which is pricey by local standards but worth every satang. Note that they also add an automatic 10% service fee or gratuity to every order, which may come as a surprise to many diners, as this is rarely done in Thailand.
A few of Nagi's most popular dishes served are the Vietnamese noodle soup, made with thick Vietnamese noodles, fish look-chin, pork ribs, boiled eggs, and fried onions; grilled minced pork salad with rice noodles; and deep fried minced pork and prawns wrapped in rice paper.
Rahn Nagi (ร้านนากี้) also serves specialty drinks like "Songdao," made with green caviar, coconut, milk, and honey; and "Pang Kon," made with yuzu, cinnamon, pomegranate, orange, and mint.
In addition to being one of Sakon Nakhon's and Northeast Thailand's best Vietnamese restaurants, Nagi is also promoting itself as an "imaginary land". It is building a beautiful garden area behind the restaurant with mythological statues and waterfalls. From this garden area, you can see the nearby giant Thao Wessuwan statue, as well as a new giant Naga serpent statue under construction.
The restaurant is located about 3 kilometers southwest of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, and is nearby the sacred Naga Pu Ong Dam shrine and tourist attraction.
