Karim Roti Mataba: A Legendary Roti Shop on Phra Athit Road
Not sure what to eat on Phra Athit Road? For many people, the first answer is Karim Roti Mataba, a long-running Muslim restaurant opposite Phra Sumen Fort.
Meeting Point Management Team
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Quick answer
Karim Roti Mataba is a long-established Muslim restaurant at 136 Phra Athit Road, Phra Nakhon, on the bend opposite Phra Sumen Fort. Open for decades, it is known for chicken mataba, tandoori chicken and several kinds of khao mok biryani, with no pork on the menu. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Key takeaways
- A decades-old Muslim restaurant opposite Phra Sumen Fort
- Chicken mataba for 44 baht, well filled and gently spiced, with cucumber relish and curry sauce
- Tandoori chicken for 40 baht, punchier than typical Indian versions
- Khao mok biryani from 60 to 134 baht with chicken, beef, fish or goat; no pork
- Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Santichaiprakan Park is a short walk away
Contents
Phra Athit is an old neighbourhood with lots of tasty food. Today we are taking you to Karim Roti Mataba, a legendary roti shop on Phra Athit Road.
If you get the chance to stroll around Phra Athit, we recommend this long-running shop that has been selling for decades: Karim Roti Mataba, a fixture of Phra Athit Road for years. Anyone who tries it gets hooked. Let's get to know it better.
If you ask what to eat on Phra Athit Road, we bet Karim Roti Mataba is one of the first names that comes to mind for many people.
A Phra Athit institution
Karim Roti Mataba is an old single-unit shophouse on the bend opposite Phra Sumen Fort. Its fame hardly needs explaining. Even back when the shop had no official name (it was later named after its founder), food lovers would think of this place the moment anyone mentioned roti mataba. "Phra Athit Road roti mataba" became the unofficial trademark of this Muslim restaurant. We have been eating here since our university days, more than ten years ago now. We guarantee it is delicious, so come and try it.
Dishes you can't miss
Chicken mataba (44 baht when we visited)
If you come and don't order this, it is like you never arrived. Karim offers several mataba fillings, including chicken, beef and vegetarian. The portion is just right and the plate is not large, but the soft roti dough is packed with filling. If you don't like heavy spices, you are in the right place, because the filling here is fragrant but balanced. It is served with ajad cucumber relish and green curry sauce for extra richness. So good.
Tandoori chicken (40 baht when we visited)
Chicken marinated in yoghurt and masala spices, then grilled over charcoal, is one of the highlights. As the menu here is adapted to Thai tastes, the tandoori chicken stands out with a bolder flavour than typical Indian versions. It is served as a drumstick, so the meat is tender but not greasy, and not too dry. It comes with a dipping sauce, and wow, it is fragrant, tender and very satisfying.
Khao mok, several varieties (60 to 134 baht)
The rice is jasmine rice, cooked so the grains stay separate and not mushy, then topped with fragrant fried shallots. There are many meats to choose from: chicken, beef, fish and goat, all well cooked with no gamey smell. Spooning the meat over hot rice means its cooking juices soak in, making the flavour even richer and keeping the meat moist. It is served with an excellent dipping sauce for extra balance. Pick whichever meat you like and you will be hooked. Note that the restaurant does not serve pork.
More to try
The restaurant also serves snacks like samosas and chicken potato croquettes, a rich oxtail soup and main dishes such as massaman curry, curry and braised ox tongue stew, served with soft roti and a variety of drinks. If you are still hungry, finish with a banana and Nutella roti and you will be well and truly stuffed. Savoury to sweet, you get it all in one visit. Hungry yet? If you get the chance, drop by.
After eating, walk it off with a relaxed stroll in Santichaiprakan Park nearby. It makes for a very worthwhile day.
Karim Roti Mataba details
- Address: 136 Phra Athit Road, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
- Map: https://goo.gl/maps/8zyAHAJ1J5otA5eZ9
- Phone: 080 770 7080
- Opening hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Facebook: Karim Roti Mataba
FAQ
Where is Karim Roti Mataba?
At 136 Phra Athit Road, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, on the bend opposite Phra Sumen Fort.
What are the opening hours?
Open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Phone: 080 770 7080.
What should I order and how much is it?
Chicken mataba (44 baht), tandoori chicken (40 baht) and khao mok biryani (60 to 134 baht), based on prices when we visited.
Does the restaurant serve pork?
No. It is a Muslim restaurant serving chicken, beef, fish and goat.
The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.
