Places to eat in Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is a fantastic place if you’re a foodie. Just give yourself a few more days to spend here when you plan your holiday and you won’t regret it.

Markets and street food

The first place to start your culinary journey is Chao Phrom market (between Ho Rattanachai and Naresuan Rd in the east side of the island). This is mainly a daily market but some of the stalls are open at night as well. It’s not a touristic place at all and the food (and the prices) are Thai standards. It’s also a good place to shop for some handcrafts and second hand clothing.

For the food stalls head to the covered area and you’ll find all the traditional Thai dishes for as low as THB30. There are also a number of Muslim vendors, so it’s a good chance to try different cuisines. The sellers don’t speak any English so sometimes you’ll have to use your imagination to understand what they’re offering you.

There are a couple of other night markets on the island – e.g. in Uthong Road opposite Koh Loi – but this is definitely the one where we would recommend you to go.

Thai Food

What Ayutthaya is known for, besides the ruins of course, are the boat noodles, kuai tiaw ruea. This reputation comes from the times when the Chinese were sailing the rivers selling noodle soups with vegetables, pork’s blood and liver. Nowadays you have a bit more choice of the meat to add to your bowl of noodles, but it still remains a simple but extremely tasty dish that you can have for THB10 (!!!) a bowl. You will find places selling noodles everywhere on the island but one of the best is Jaymoui on Uthong soy 12.

While touring the temples, do stop for a quick lunch at Malakor (Chikun Road,Hua Ro –8am–10pm, closed Monday). A wonderful view of Wat Ratchaburrana will keep you company while you’re eating simple traditional Thai dishes at almost market prices. Try pad thai or pad see yew (THB50). This is also a good option for vegetarians: choose whatever you want from the menu and they will cook it for you with tofu instead of meat.

Ayutthaya giant prawns

Another famous Ayutthaya’s specialty is giant river prawns. Tourists from Bangkok drive here every day, and especially during the weekends, just to have a taste of them. Go to the southwest of the island and you’ll find a big choice of riverside restaurants offering them. Prawns are not at all cheap, though (over THB1000 for a kg) but even if you’re on a budget, you can enjoy freshly cooked freshwater fish at a more reasonable price.

For a real food experience in an nice setting, grab a taxi and head to Ruay Goong Pao (74 Moo 2, Samkhok-Sena Road, Mai Tra, Bang Sai – open every day 10am–10pm). The restaurant is quite a long drive south of the island, but you will eat the best river prawns you can imagine sitting on a floating raft right in the Chao Praya River. One kg of giant prawns is sold for THB1500 and they are so good that the best way to have them is just grilled: they don’t need any seasoning to alter their flavour.

Western and International food

Farang Street, where a lot of accommodation options are located, is the place where you find an abundance of international bestsellers like pizza and burgers at reasonable prices, but not only. Every night a lot of street vendors set up their stalls where you can sample Thai dishes for less than THB50.