Must-see restaurants in Central Thailand

  • Sangkhlaburi Night Market

    Kanchanaburi Province

    There's as much Mon and Burmese food as Thai at Sangkhlaburi's small but popular night market. Keep an eye out for Myanmar yam kôw soy, a noodle and tofu…

  • Blue Rice

    Kanchanaburi

    Masterful spice blends, a creative menu and peaceful river views make this one of the most irresistible restaurants in Kanchanaburi. The signature…

  • Pae Krung Gao

    Ayuthaya

    A wonderfully cluttered restaurant serving top-notch Thai food. Seemingly half the punters are here for grilled river prawns, though the gaang kĕe·o wăhn …

  • Keeree Tara

    Kanchanaburi

    This refined riverside eatery is ever so slightly upriver from the melee around the bridge, and has a pretty good view of it, especially from the raft…

  • Ahahn Puen Mueang 7 Yang

    Kanchanaburi Province

    The friendly family behind the '7 Local Foods' shop in the southeast corner of Sangkhlaburi's night market (look for the big red picture menu) does…

  • Nong Noi Restaurant

    Kanchanaburi Province

    E-Thong's oldest restaurant (opened in 1999) has just a sheet-metal roof and plastic chairs, but the food – mostly Thai standards, though also Burmese…

  • Baan Unrak Bakery

    Kanchanaburi Province

    This mostly vegan cafe, part of the nonprofit Baan Unrak organisation, makes meat-free pàt tai, green curry, pizza by the slice (it tastes better than it…

  • Rahn Pa Kit

    Kanchanaburi

    To escape the mediocrity of guesthouse Thai food, look for the yellow 'Thai Food' sign at the entrance to Blue Star Guesthouse. The pair of women running…

  • Suk Jai Floating Market

    Kanchanaburi

    Despite its name, this is not a floating market, though it does take place along the river. Food is the focus and it's mostly snacks, like fried mushrooms…

  • Sainam Pomphet

    Ayuthaya

    Spider crab – either steamed or fried with curry powder (pàt pŏng gà·rèe) – is the house speciality at this small riverside restaurant. Fish 'steamboat'…

  • Malakor

    Ayuthaya

    Targeting tourists but serving authentic flavours (unless you ask them to mild it down), Malakor serves up southern catfish curry, pàd gàprow gài (chicken…

  • On's Thai-Issan

    Kanchanaburi

    Not your typical Thai-style vegan ('jay') restaurant, here On and her daughter make their Thai (and a few Isan) dishes not only healthy, but fully…

  • Earl Restaurant

    Ayuthaya

    Fresh, flavourful food, low prices and a location near Wat Mahathat make this a great choice for lunch or dinner. And while you eat gaang gà·tí (red curry…

  • Royal Nine Restaurant

    Kanchanaburi

    The menu at this little roadside restaurant is split between Thai and Western food, from green curry to grilled Norwegian salmon to wood-fired pizza that…

  • Samprasob Restaurant

    Kanchanaburi Province

    Our favourite scenic dining in Sangkhlaburi, this resort restaurant is perched above the Mon bridge with a view stretching deep back over the lake…

  • Krua Je Ni

    Kanchanaburi Province

    This easygoing restaurant, halfway along the village's main pedestrian-only street (look for cartoon-style animals and red Chinese lanterns), serves an…

  • Lung Lek

    Ayuthaya

    This locally adored hole-in-the-wall serves some of the most notable gŏoay đĕeo reua (boat noodles: a pork noodle soup with a complex soy and pig's-blood…

  • Zap Zap

    Kanchanaburi

    Though it has a broad menu, including pàt tai and panang curry, it's the spicy Isan-style sôm·đam that keep the tables full from open to close. For a…

  • Toy's Restaurant

    Kanchanaburi Province

    Toy, a transplant from Nong Khai, makes simple but delicious dishes from all corners of Thailand including massaman curry, pàt tai, Isan-style lâhp (spicy…

  • Ruen-Suan

    Kanchanaburi Province

    About as fancy as Thong Pha Phum gets, this open-air place behind the market has excellent food, including a properly spicy gaang Ъàh (jungle curry),…

  • Bang Ian Night Market

    Ayuthaya

    From fried fish to grilled bananas, this big, busy night market on its namesake street is a great destination for noshing. Sit-down dining is available at…

  • Library Cafe

    Kanchanaburi

    Stepping into this dark-themed cafe, for a moment you're transported to some hip European spot…then someone hands you eight laminated menus and it's…

  • Chao Phrom Market

    Ayuthaya

    You can find almost anything in this large covered market. From early morning to mid-afternoon the Naresuan roadside is a great place to sample Thai…

  • Rahn Nai Bon

    Kanchanaburi Province

    For Mon cuisine, every local we talked to advised us to head up the hill to this simple restaurant across from the Mon Market. The speciality is gaang…

  • Coffee Old City

    Ayuthaya

    The location across from Wat Mahathat and air-con turned up to 11 make this a good place to recharge during a day of temple-hopping. There's shrimp noodle…

  • Crab Coffee

    Kanchanaburi Province

    It's hard to miss the giant crab sculptures signalling this excellent roadside cafe, 1.7km north of Thong Pha Phum's market. The fun continues inside a…

  • Ban U-Thong

    Ayuthaya

    One of many restaurants with riverside decks along this stretch of Mae Nam Chao Phraya, Ban U-Thong focuses on seafood, with grilled river prawns and…

  • Talat Nam Wat Tha Ka Rong

    Ayuthaya

    Buying your food at this floating market, where vendors serve from boats tied to large rafts, is a great experience, though finding space at a table is…

  • Tony's Place

    Ayuthaya

    Set at the front of the eponymous guesthouse, Tony's offers a slightly ambitious menu of Western and Thai dishes (such as grilled salmon and massaman…

  • Roti Săi Măi Stalls

    Ayuthaya

    The dessert roti săi măi (silk thread roti) was invented in Ayuthaya and is sold all over town, though these stalls fronting the hospital are the most…

  • Gai Yang Mae Pong Sri

    Ayuthaya

    This hole-in-the-wall Isan (northeastern Thai) joint around the corner from Soi Farang is in its fourth decade of serving spicy sôm·đam (papaya salad) and…

  • Mon Market

    Kanchanaburi Province

    Several food vendors light their fires here in the morning, most notably a woman serving the classic Mon kà·nŏm jeen nám yah yùak – a fish-based sauce…

  • Thong Pha Phum Market

    Kanchanaburi Province

    The municipal market, right in the heart of town, is primarily for fresh meat and produce, but you'll also find vendors selling baked goods, grilling…

  • Pak Phrak Walking Street Market

    Kanchanaburi

    This is a typical Thai walking street, meaning it's mostly food for sale, not crafts and clothes (the latter more typical of Chiang Mai's tourist-focused…

  • JJ Market

    Kanchanaburi

    Kanchanaburi's most popular night market for dinner and shopping (Wednesday is secondhand day). Graze to your stomach's content on barbecued cuttlefish,…

  • Rung Arun

    Kanchanaburi Province

    You'll find earthy gaang hèt (mushroom curry) and tangy đôm yam (spicy sour soup) on the predictable but satisfying menu at this reliable restaurant in…

  • Hua Ro Night Market

    Ayuthaya

    Rather small, this riverside night market nevertheless attracts a fair number of travellers because many boat tours finish in this area.