🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The whole appeal of eating river fish in Ang Thong is freshness. Most restaurants sit right on the water and take their catch from local fishermen. Firm redtail catfish goes into tom yum or gets blanched for dipping, blue sheatfish becomes choo chee, and clown knifefish is scraped into fish cakes. The big river prawns, dripping with roe, get grilled or salt-roasted and eaten with hot rice by the river. This is the kind of meal that makes people passing through pull over.
8 River Fish & Prawn Spots Along the Water in Ang Thong
Ruen Pool Thong (on the Chao Phraya, near Wat Tan Chet Cho)
A wooden house right on the Chao Phraya, where the draw is river fish that villagers deliver fresh every day. Standouts include tom yum redtail catfish, choo chee blue sheatfish, fried sole, clown-knifefish fish cakes and grilled river prawns. If you're already visiting Wat Tan Chet Cho, just swing by — it's right next door.
Krua Khun Kung, Riverside Raft (Pa Mok)
A restaurant on a floating raft in the Pa Mok area, laid-back and known for fresh ingredients at fair prices. The dishes people order most are river prawns in rakam-sour soup, herb-fried sea bass, fish stir-fried with lemongrass, ho mok steamed in a coconut, and old-style sour curry. Great for families or bigger groups.
Niramit Restaurant (Sali Rong, Wiset Chai Chan, on the Noi river)
A restaurant on the Noi river over on the Wiset Chai Chan side, known for tom yum with big chunks of redtail catfish, grilled river prawns, pad thai with fresh prawns, and a lineup of country-style Thai dishes. Lots of space, easy parking, and it's been open long enough to be a regular haunt for locals around there.
Bok Tor Restaurant (Ban Hae, right on the canal)
A restaurant on the canal in the Ban Hae area. The highlights are kaeng khua with pickled bamboo and redtail catfish, grilled river prawns, salt-fried river prawns, and prawns 'krabueang' style. Finish with ice cream served in a cold coconut. True to its name (bok tor means 'word of mouth'), this is a place locals genuinely pass along.
Fa Sai Restaurant, on the Chao Phraya (Chaiyo)
A restaurant on the Chao Phraya in the Chaiyo area, with an open river view that's perfect for settling in through the evening. The menu runs to river fish and Thai-style seafood — grilled prawns, salt-grilled fish, tom yum — and it's easy to come as a group and share. Worth calling ahead on weekends, since it gets busy.
Ruen Rim Nam Seafood
A wooden riverside place with a seafood lean, offering river prawns, river fish and ocean seafood. The standouts are big grilled prawns and fresh fried or steamed fish. Shady and relaxed — a good spot for an unhurried lunch.
Canalside spots around Ang Thong town (cluster of fish & prawn places)
Ang Thong town and its surroundings have several fish-and-prawn spots lined up along the canal, known for friendly prices and fresh river catch. Good for a lunch break while you're temple-hopping in town. Walk past, read the menus out front, and pick the one with the most people sitting — that's your shortcut to deciding.
Riverside rafts around Pa Mok–Chaiyo (the raft-vibe option)
If you like eating on a floating raft, the Pa Mok and Chaiyo areas have a few raft restaurants to choose from. Cool breeze, boats drifting past — order grilled river prawns, salt-grilled fish and tom yum, settle in and soak up the full riverside feel. Great for a weekend when you want to eat slowly.
How to order and get your money's worth
River fish and prawns are mostly priced by weight, so before you order, always ask the price per kilo and the size of the fish or prawn — that way there's no surprise when the bill comes. Big river prawns are full of roe, so grilling or salt-roasting brings out the richness best, while redtail catfish is best in tom yum or blanched for dipping.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Ang Thong food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
River Fish & Prawns: What Should You Order?
First time here and not sure what to get? These are the dishes Ang Thong's riverside restaurants do well and order often. Pick a mix of both fish and prawn so you get the full picture of what this stretch of river produces.
- Tom yum redtail catfish — firm, springy catfish in a rich, punchy tom yum; the signature dish at almost every place.
- Choo chee blue sheatfish — fried blue fish in coconut choo chee curry, fragrant with curry paste and great over hot rice.
- Grilled / salt-roasted river prawns — big prawns full of roe, grilled in the shell and peeled to eat with seafood dipping sauce.
- Clown-knifefish fish cakes — scraped knifefish meat fried into bouncy cakes; a snack or a side, your call.
- Salt-grilled fish — a whole river fish grilled in salt, the flesh peeled off and dipped in jaew sauce — fresh and sweet.
- Kaeng khua / sour curry with river fish — bold country flavors that go perfectly with hot steamed rice.
Planning a riverside meal that works
Lunch while temple-hopping
Do the temples in Ang Thong town in the morning, then stop at a canalside spot in town, or at Ruen Pool Thong near Wat Tan Chet Cho, around midday.
Chilled riverside dinner
Pick a raft restaurant or a Chao Phraya spot around Pa Mok–Chaiyo, catch the cool evening breeze, and order grilled prawns and salt-grilled fish to share.
What to know before you go
Many riverside places get packed on weekends and Buddhist holy days, so if you're coming as a group, call ahead to book a table. Some spots prefer cash over bank transfer, so keep some on you. Fresh fish and prawns can be limited each day — come late morning to midday and you'll have more to choose from.
Want a place to stay near the river so you can linger over a long meal?
See the Top 10 hotels in Ang Thong →