🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Chachoengsao — known to Thais by its old nickname "Paet Riu" — has the Bang Pakong River running through it as its lifeline. Near the river mouth in Bang Pakong district the water turns brackish, so you get sea and freshwater catch meeting in one place: big-clawed river prawns with firm meat, sea crab packed with roe, fresh cockles and mussels, and sea bass raised in floating cages along the bank. Most restaurants are floating houseboats or open sala decks that jut out over the water, so you eat in the breeze and take it easy.
What to order at almost every spot is grilled river prawns (priced by size — big ones run from a few hundred up to around a thousand THB per kilo). The oozing prawn fat dipped in spicy seafood sauce is the star. After that come river prawn tom yum, sea bass fried with fish sauce or steamed with lime, and crab stir-fried in curry powder. If you're going on a weekend, call ahead to book a riverside table — the waterfront seats fill up fast.
8 Bang Pakong riverside seafood spots locals actually go to
Krua Mae Som Kliang
A restaurant on the Bang Pakong River in the Bang Tin Pet area, close to town. It's talked about for big river prawns and bold, home-style cooking. There are indoor, outdoor, and riverside zones. Order the grilled river prawns, a rich tom yum, fried fish with sauce, and cabbage fried with fish sauce, and you've got a full meal in one go.
Pu Ka A Riverside
Set on a bend of the Bang Pakong River on the Ban Pho side, where the surroundings are still lush. The vibe is relaxed, you can watch the sunset, and there's sometimes live music. Popular orders include old-school snakehead fish tom yum, squid fried with salted egg, crab meat lon (a coconut-cream dip), and grilled river prawns.
Ood Seafood
A small, local-style spot near the river bridge in Bang Pakong district, with a natural breeze. It isn't fancy, but the seafood is fresh and the flavors hit. The standouts are steamed roe crab, crab stir-fried in curry powder, prawns in tamarind sauce, salt-baked prawns, and sea bass fried with fish sauce. Big crabs are priced by weight, so budget a little extra.
Phae Khiang Nam
A large, modern-design restaurant with an air-conditioned zone, a riverside outdoor zone, and a banquet room — great for groups or families. Signature dishes are crab and sea-blite curry, grilled river prawns, the house jumbo prawns, and sea bass stir-fried with fresh bird's-eye chili.
The River Barn Chachoengsao
Once an old rice mill, now renovated into a barn-meets-European riverside restaurant that photographs well. The menu is seafood and Thai food like river prawn tom yum, sea bass with garden bird's-eye chili, and fried grouper with fish sauce. A good pick if you like a place with design.
Mathurot Ruean Phae
A restaurant on a houseboat raft jutting out over the Bang Pakong River — you can feel the raft sway gently with the boat wake as you eat, so you get the full riverside feel. Ingredients are fresh, and the standout is the grilled river prawns. Great for anyone who wants to sit right on the water in the cool breeze.
Ban Mai Rim Nam
An old wooden house by the river with a relaxed, retro feel. Seafood dishes like a sea-flavored yam with shellfish and fresh squid, plus grilled river prawns drizzled with tamarind sauce. Good for settling in for a long dinner in the breeze.
Bang Pakong Riverside
A Thai–seafood restaurant on the river in the Ban Pho area, with plenty of space and an open breeze. A handy stop on the way to Bangkok or Chonburi. Order tom yum, grilled prawns, and sea bass steamed with lime, and sit back to take in the wide river view.
How to order river prawns and get your money's worth
River prawns are priced by weight, so before ordering ask the per-kilo price and ask to see the prawns first. Pick ones with clear shells and full heads of prawn fat — when grilled, the fat oozes out. If there are just a few of you, ordering by the piece instead of by the kilo makes it easier to control the bill.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Chachoengsao 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.
Dishes you shouldn't miss at the river mouth
- Grilled river prawns — the star of the area; fragrant prawn fat, dipped in spicy seafood sauce
- Steamed sea crab / crab stir-fried in curry powder — the brackish river mouth gives you crab packed with roe and sweet meat
- Sea bass fried with fish sauce, or steamed with lime — raised in floating cages by the bank, firm and fresh
- River prawn tom yum — rich with prawn fat, boldly flavored, eaten with hot steamed rice
- Blanched or baked cockles / mussels — a snack to whet your appetite while you wait for the mains
When to go and how to get there
The most comfortable time to sit is in the evening, from late afternoon into dusk — the river breeze is cool and you catch the sunset. Midday is quieter but the sun is strong, so pick a shaded table. From Bangkok, drive via the motorway or the Bang Na–Trat road; reaching Bang Pakong or Ban Pho district takes about an hour and a bit, and Chachoengsao town is just a little further. It makes a good day trip, or a stop to eat before heading into town.
Coming on a weekday
Quiet — you can usually get a riverside table without booking, service is quick, and it's great for bringing the family or older relatives for a long, easy meal.
Coming on a weekend
The riverside seats fill up fast, so call ahead — especially at the popular spots — and allow some extra time for the food to come out.
Plan more of your Chachoengsao trip — Wat Sothon, the old market, and places to stay
See the Chachoengsao travel guide →