I was showing some friends around Chinatown and Kensington Market and it was lunch time. Of course, we had to go to my favourite spot, Isaan Der, and my favourite Chef, Ko. There were no objections and no other suggestions. Good! Walking in off the street, they met Chef Ko, who was sitting near the entrance. They weren't, however, impressed with the decor and ambiance until they stepped into the dining room. That's when the wow factor hit them. It's a beautiful space. As usual, everything on the menu looked great and it took a little while to settle on an Appetizer Platter, Golden Bags, Stir-Fried Soft-Shell Crab in Curry, and Fresh Noodles Pad Thai. As expected, everything was phenomenal! The crab, however, was perhaps the unanimous favourite. The curry sauce was amazing! Everybody loved the flavours and were on the verge of licking their plates clean. Chef Ko surprised us with a Mango Coconut Sticky Rice dessert that was the perfect finish to a great meal! Thank you, Chef! Two of my friends who live in Durham, are already planning their next visit, with their families. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out on some great food from a great chef. read more