Rare afternoon out with daughter no 1, so when asked where to go for lunch, she had no hesitation in saying “the Thai cafe”. She’s clearly a lady of taste. So proud.
So we headed down to Aberdeen Market. For those of you not local, Aberdeen Market is a hidden gem, but one which courts controversy locally. It’s another 80s time warp, very rough and ready and referred to as “the minky market” by locals. Shops come and go frequently, a minority have been there for years. You can nip in to pick up a tacky tourist souvenir, some new pants, a bottle of poppers and a fake Supreme hat, all under one roof. As you approach it, you’ll probably come across some questionable characters. It’s currently under threat from developers who want to demolish the whole thing, build offices and shops with alternative food retailers (read Starbucks, Costa etc) The traders are fighting their arses off to remain. The people of Aberdeen are divided, with some denouncing it to be “an eyesore” and demanding it be pulled down. The other side, which I fall into, passionately believes we’ve got something unique in the market, and something worth fighting for.
The reason for this is, despite its initial gloomy asthetic, due to cheap rents a variety of world food traders have started taking over units, making some amazing food at pocket friendly prices. It’s one of the city’s best kept secrets, and possibly the best place to eat in the city.
So we find ourselves in Madame Mews, as we frequently do, a Thai style cafe specialising in authentic, tasty Thai streetfood dishes. We started with the Moo Ping, one of my favourite dishes. Delicious, lean and tender pork barbecued in a tasty marinade, generously heaped onto skewers. It didn’t disappoint. Followed up with Beef Kuay-tiao Phad See Eiw. Huge flat noodles with a generous portion of sliced beef and vegetables in a deliciously rich sauce. Food was amazing as always, and we got change from £15 despite being full up.
If you like Thai food then definitely give this place a go. And check out some of its neighbours around the market. Don’t let the initial gloominess of the place put you off, it’s well worth searching out for awesome food in non pretentious surroundings.
Craft Beer Dad 