Religious Travelers - Kosher family travel in Asia challenge!

OK, here's my next kosher travel challenge. It's actually for another frum relative who wants to go to Asia for 2 weeks in August. They have a toddler, needs kosher restaurants, some place in Asia.

I immediately thought of HK or Bangkok, but HK is not really 2week european vacance destination and I'm not sure how safe the situation is in Bangkok.
Any other destinations that can fit the bill? I thought of Bali but don't think you can find kosher food that easily.

Israel is in Asia. They won't have any trouble finding kosher food there. :D

OK, here's my next kosher travel challenge. It's actually for another frum relative who wants to go to Asia for 2 weeks in August. They have a toddler, needs kosher restaurants, some place in Asia.

I immediately thought of HK or Bangkok, but HK is not really 2week european vacance destination and I'm not sure how safe the situation is in Bangkok.
Any other destinations that can fit the bill? I thought of Bali but don't think you can find kosher food that easily.
The following cities in Asia have (some sort of) Kosher Restaurants:

Tokyo
Beijing
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Singapore
Bangkok
Phuket
Koh Samui
Chiang Mai

Phuket, Kho Samui, Chiang Mai sound interesting. Can you fill me on kosher food details? I hope you are not referring to sealed meals available through hotels (which is usually not toddler-friendly).

No, they're coming from Israel so that won't work...

Here are some links:

Dream kosher villa in Koh Samui Thailand (http://www.jewishtraveladvisor.com/kosher-villa-thailand-koh-samui.php) (in Hebrew (http://www.samui-holiday-villa.com/baanwaan/Kosher.htm))

המסעדה של צביקה (http://wizataste.com/Wizataste/Home.aspx)

JewishThailand.com (http://www.jewishthailand.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/913027/jewish/Tourist-Information.htm)

Here are some links:

המסעדה של צביקה (http://wizataste.com/Wizataste/Home.aspx)



Are you sure that this places is (Glatt) Kosher? I remember last time that I was in Thailand we were told that only the Chabad places were Kosher.

Are you sure that this places is (Glatt) Kosher? I remember last time that I was in Thailand we were told that only the Chabad places were Kosher.

I have no idea concerning the degree of Kashrut at Zvika's.

According to the website (Kashrut tab), the owner is a yeshiva graduate and serves as the mashgiach.

Most of the meat is imported from Israel (Mehadrin); the rest comes from Chabad in Bangkok.

He invites diners to come into the kitchen and inspect the refrigerator and freezer.

Now, that looks more promising. More suggestions welcome!

I have no idea concerning the degree of Kashrut at Zvika's.

According to the website (Kashrut tab), the owner is a yeshiva graduate and serves as the mashgiach.

Most of the meat is imported from Israel (Mehadrin); the rest comes from Chabad in Bangkok.

He invites diners to come into the kitchen and inspect the refrigerator and freezer.

I would be quite careful, as the place is under no independent supervision at all. Basically, you have a guy who's opened a restaurant and tells you it's all kosher. He also has a 'certificate' to that effect on his website, which merely repeats that in hebrew.... Considering that Chabad has a restaurant in Koi Samui which is under supervision, why would you take the chance ?

(I think Chabad also deliver food from their restaurant in BKK all over Thailand - call them to check.)

I would be quite careful, as the place is under no independent supervision at all. Basically, you have a guy who's opened a restaurant and tells you it's all kosher. He also has a 'certificate' to that effect on his website, which merely repeats that in hebrew.... Considering that Chabad has a restaurant in Koi Samui which is under supervision, why would you take the chance ?

(I think Chabad also deliver food from their restaurant in BKK all over Thailand - call them to check.)

what Independent Supervision is any particular Chabad House under? really not much of a difference in my book , as long as the owner is Shomer Shabbos

what Independent Supervision is any particular Chabad House under? really not much of a difference in my book , as long as the owner is Shomer Shabbos
Except that according to halacha there are some very significant differences. Firstly, an owner of a for-profit establishment lacks any ne'emanus (credibility) as he is deemed a 'nogeia bedavar' i.e vested and conflict of interest. Chabad Houses are staffed by Rabbi's (the head in BKK being renowned as a tremendous talmid-chacham to boot) whom one would be most comfortable relying upon when not wanting to run afoul of the 'shulchan aruch'. For those who care about the SA, that is....

what Independent Supervision is any particular Chabad House under? really not much of a difference in my book , as long as the owner is Shomer Shabbos
Oh Please. Anyone who's been to Thailand and seen the AMAZING work that the Schluchim do over there would trust them. So if they say to avoid the place, then I am going to do just that

Oh Please. Anyone who's been to Thailand and seen the AMAZING work that the Schluchim do over there would trust them. So if they say to avoid the place, then I am going to do just that

thats your choice , I was simply making an observation

back in the 70s in Geula there was a restaurant called Gerlitz a/k/a Central no hecksher and no one cared since Everyone knew the owner and yep the Eida was none to happy. And many others would say dont eat there if theres no Hecksher you cant trust that its Kosher

And there used to be The Blue Brothers Steak House across from Rimon Kikar Zion. No hecksher other then reg Rabbanuth they had signs all over that they use only Beis Yosef meat etc not many ate there

So again if the owner of the other restaurant is Shomer Shabbos and is trust worthy I have no problems eating there.

As for Chabad there are several places where they have tried to take over everything locally and didnt and thusly if you email them and ask about places to eat they answer by us and us alone.Now to be Honest Im not 100% sure if its due to not trusting the kashrus of the other place, wanting to keep their place profitable or the in fighting that is going on within the community.

Ive never been to BKK or Thailand so Im not commenting on the people with chabad there perse. But I am finding more and more that Chabad is running things as an off shoot and a way to raise the funds they need to continue doing what they are, so sorry more and more they are no different to me then someone opening up w/o a heckshar. and not every Rabbi will be as learned as what you say the BKK Rabbi is like

Lastly a number of yrs ago I was in Orlando on Tamuz 17, the only minyan for M&M was Chabad. Went over and waited and waited then it was getting to the Zman so myself and 3 others davened. Then when it was good and dark outside the Rabbi finally was able to get 10 together and proceeded to daven a reg Mincha with keria etc . I asked him afterwards and he answered its simple just as you can daven Maariv early on a Fri afternoon, you too can daven Mincha whenever you get a minyan together. Not all Chabad Rabbis are equal, best estimate he davened Mincha at least 90 mins after the Zman

I've just noticed this thread about my restaurant in Koh Samui. As I'm the "Zvika" of the topic, I would like to take the chance to answer the doubts about the Kashrut in my place.

As mentioned I am a shomer shabbat guy from Jerusalem. I studied in Har Etzion Yeshiva in the "Gush". Since I opened the place last February it was kosher under my own supervision. As justifiably "own supervision" is not good enough for many of you, I've been working hard since I opened the business to get a valid kosher certificate. It's not easy because this thing was a de-facto monopoly of Chabad in this country, and they don't give Hashgacha to any other business. However finally my efforts bear fruits!

Next week IYH Rabbi Moshe Biegel, the Rabbi of the town Meytar (near Be'er Sheva) will arrive here to give us a Kosher certificate. He represents Tzoar organisation, the organisation of Zionist Rabbis in Israel. Zvika's Restaurant will be under supervision of Tzohar, which will send their own mashgichim to be here and gurantee every aspect of the kashruth in our place.

More information about Zvika's restaurant can be found in our website:
http://www.wizataste.com

Yochlu Avavim Ve'isba'u

I've just noticed this thread about my restaurant in Koh Samui. As I'm the "Zvika" of the topic, I would like to take the chance to answer the doubts about the Kashrut in my place.

As mentioned I am a shomer shabbat guy from Jerusalem. I studied in Har Etzion Yeshiva in the "Gush". Since I opened the place last February it was kosher under my own supervision. As justifiably "own supervision" is not good enough for many of you, I've been working hard since I opened the business to get a valid kosher certificate. It's not easy because this thing was a de-facto monopoly of Chabad in this country, and they don't give Hashgacha to any other business. However finally my efforts bear fruits!

Next week IYH Rabbi Moshe Biegel, the Rabbi of the town Meytar (near Be'er Sheva) will arrive here to give us a Kosher certificate. He represents Tzoar organisation, the organisation of Zionist Rabbis in Israel. Zvika's Restaurant will be under supervision of Tzohar, which will send their own mashgichim to be here and gurantee every aspect of the kashruth in our place.

More information about Zvika's restaurant can be found in our website:
http://www.wizataste.com

Yochlu Avavim Ve'isba'u
Sounds Good! What kind of cuisine do you offer? Can you post a link to an english menu?

I'm posting with pleasure the links to our menus.

Main menu:
http://www.wizataste.com/Wizataste/menu/main.pdf

Breakfast menu (separate hours, separate kitchen, not treif but without hashgacha):
http://www.wizataste.com/Wizataste/menu/breakfast.pdf

Zvika , Hatzlacha with your restaurant and although I dont know when I will be in your neck of the woods , I hope you are still thriving when I do make it over and can stop by and know I have a place to eat and get food.

Ive heard that story about Chabad from people in many parts, they just dont want any competition to what they have set up, so much so they usually say We are the Only place you can eat or get food at in our area. Yet after calling and speaking to people who live there as locals or have visited the area Im told of other restaurants but the local Chabad would rather that they go out of Biz so that they can have everything for themselves. this does NOT apply to all Chabad centers worldwide but does to many of them

1. We've already got the kosher certificate.

2. We don't have dairy breakfast menu any more. The rabbi didn't agree that any part of the restaurant will not be under supervision, even if the kitchen is separate. We do have a nice parve breakfast menu.

Keep looking for updates in our website המסעדה הכשרה של צביקה בקו-סמוי (http://www.wizataste.com)

The short answer is go to chabad.com and you will find Rabbi Kantor in BKK and Rabbi Hartman in Ho Chi. Both will provide you with a detailed list of where you can get kosher food. If 2 Talmud Hochims of the calibre of these 2 great Rabbis are able to live in Asia, i think any travelling businessman or family on holiday would be able to satisfy all there specific religious requirments.

Good luck

Does anyone know of a way to get Kosher food in Bali?

Does anyone know of a way to get Kosher food in Bali?
There is a (French?) couple that lives in the Seminayak area and they cook meals, host Shabbat etc.

I believe that its called Villa Shalom.

Other option is just to bring along as customs is not strict regarding bringing in meat etc

There is a (French?) couple that lives in the Seminayak area and they cook meals, host Shabbat etc.

I believe that its called Villa Shalom.

Other option is just to bring along as customs is not strict regarding bringing in meat etc

Wow that is really cool. Didn't realize that there exists anything kosher in Bali. I could not find Chabad so this is good to know. Having hard time finding link for Villa Shalom, do you have any contact info for them? Thanks.

Tzvikah,

You know anything about that Israeli Hostel in Koh Phangan? is he still there? if yes you know anything about the Kashrut in that Israeli Hostel on Koh Phangan?.

Tzvikah,

You know anything about that Israeli Hostel in Koh Phangan? is he still there? if yes you know anything about the Kashrut in that Israeli Hostel on Koh Phangan?.

Are you aware that before my question the last discussion on this thread was in 2010.

Are you aware that before my question the last discussion on this thread was in 2010.

Oh lol :) so what happend to tzvikah's place after all?

Oh lol :) so what happend to tzvikah's place after all?
Oh do not know anything about it. I was trying to get the contact info for villa shalom (or any kosher resource) in Bali.