KEN HUNTS FOOD: Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel @ Hatyai, Thailand.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel @ Hatyai, Thailand.

Frequent travelers would understand the importance of a good hotel, that could provide absolute comfort to the trip as well as a place to recharge after a tiring day out. On our recent road trip to Hatyai, Thailand; we were fortunate to have Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel to host us. The hotel is centrally located at Hatyai yet without the bustling-noise that one would usually associate with; it is the most convenient if you are driving (the hotel has ample parking space for hotel guests) but if you are not, there are plenty of public transportation that you could opt for either. The service provided to us was top-notch but we did not expect less from the land of smiles....

Many Thanks to Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel for hosting us during our trip.

Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel is strategically located with only a short 5 minutes drive to Lee Garden Mall and a short 2 minutes drive to Green Way Night Market, best part of all, ASEAN Night Bazaar is only 3 minutes walk away from the hotel (less than a minute by car). A lot of tourist attractions (including Malaysians' favorite- Big C Supermarket) are within half an hour drive away and convenient shop (7-11 for instance) is just across the street or behind the hotel. If you must pay your pilgrimage visit to KFC and McDonald's in Thailand, they are all within the vicinity. If you do not have any transportation in Hatyai, you may of course, opt for Tuk Tuk; the drivers are ever-ready at the hotel main entrance.

Standard but well-cleaned Bathroom

Basic amenities- Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste, Soap, Shower Cap, Cotton Buds etc

Slippers/ Hangers/ Safety Box

In-Room Entertainment and Free Wifi

The rooms are pretty standard but good enough to recharge the tired shopping legs. Though not as sophisticated as we would have hoped, the hotel had everything (we need) covered; basic amenities like Shampoo and Body Wash were sufficiently provided. The in-room WiFi speed was fast either, ensuring the hotel guests are well-connected to the world. A night at their Superior Room would cost approximately RM 200 (subject to season and availability).

Eco-Green Garden View of the Old Wing

View from the Room

Swimming Pool

Hotel Lobby

Concierge

Buri Sriphu has two buildings, we had a short tour at the main building (where the restaurant and pool located). It adopts the eco-green concept where there are a lot of greens tucked within the building; not exactly a jungle-lounge for hotel guests to relax but creating a sense of nature and channels a calm and soothing vibe to the building. Checking in the hotel was swift and hassle-free, welcoming drinks were served to us while we were waiting for the verification process.

Chicken Herbal Soup

Freshly-made Scrambled Egg

Freshly-made Omelette

Toasts

Bacon and Ham (Pork)

Sunny Side Up

Condiments for Fried Rice

Breakfast menu was simple but satisfying; though not extensive but there were more than sufficient to call it a comforting breakfast. Quintessential breakfast choices like Omelette, Scrambled Egg, Bacon and Sausages were all available but if you have Asian palate, there were Chinese Herbal Soup, Fried Rice for you either. One particular item that managed to wow us was their Chinese Herbal Soup; the temperature was well-kept and was most comforting to kick start the day.

Tom Yum with Fresh Water Prawns (600 Baht)

Hatyai Deep Fried Chicken (300 Baht)

Good Tom Yum is a dime a dozen in the land of smiles- Thailand but Buri Sriphu's a class higher than others by using fresh Water Prawns... huge ones. It has a balanced medley of sweet, sour and spiciness; the Prawns were most juicy and succulent. There were plenty of roes found in the head, sweat-inducing yet extremely alluring. Another well-received item of the evening was their Deep Fried Chicken; we were glad that the Chicken was expertly cooked with crispy skin and tender meat. It was reasonably seasoned but we'd prefer to have some form of dipping sauce to go with it. It can be a tad dry to go with rice.

Deep Fried Seabass with Sweet and Sour Sauce (600 Baht)

Deep Fried Morning Glory Thai Salad (300 Baht)

Fried Fresh Water Shrimps with Tamarind Sauce (800 Baht)

Deep Fried Morning Glory can be dangerously addictive, a pity that the crunch did not last but the sweet, tangy Chili dip was able to complement the crunchy green and it certainly makes a great appetizer. Prawns with Tamarind Sauce was standard-average but the fact that they were deep fried to perfection makes them tastier than they look. It was not the ordinary Tamarind Sauce we can find here in Penang but it has stronger acidity but with weaker Tamarind flavor. The Seabass was an enjoyable dish, the pristine white flesh suggests its freshness and the size was too huge for the few of us. Sauce was sweet and sour but for that freshness, we'd probably prefer to have it steamed (with a more refreshing zesty Thai sauce).