🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The River Kwai fish that locals in Kanchanaburi eat most often are goonch catfish (pla kang) — white, firm meat with few bones, great blanched and dipped, in tom yum, or stir-fried with Chinese celery — and yeesok, the provincial fish with soft, rich flesh that's usually fried or grilled. You'll also find giant gourami, snakehead, and butter catfish at the riverside spots. One easy tip: pick a place with fish pens out front, because that's where you get genuinely fresh fish.
Top 10 River Kwai Fish Restaurants
Phai Rim Kwae
The most talked-about spot for goonch catfish. They raise the fish in river pens out front and net them only when you order, so the meat is genuinely fresh and springy. Reviews keep coming back to the blanched goonch with seafood dipping sauce, fish-sauce fried goonch, and the Chinese celery stir-fry. Easy place to sit and catch the cool breeze off the water.
Keeree Tara
A Bali-style restaurant on the Kwai Yai, only about 50 metres from the Bridge over the River Kwai, with a clear view of the bridge itself. The fish dishes people order most are tom yum goonch, grilled snakehead, and grilled-fish chili dip with fresh vegetables. A solid choice for dinner with a bridge view.
Krua Rim Nam Khun Suriya
A laid-back riverside spot where locals go to eat on their own. Known for fresh freshwater fish at fair prices — order the tom yum goonch and fried fish without denting your wallet. Simple setting, all about the flavour.
Tharaburi
A riverside place with a wide choice of fish — goonch, sheatfish, giant gourami, and yeesok. The dishes reviews mention are the goonch jungle curry and crispy catfish salad. Good for a group that wants to try several kinds of fish in one meal.
View Rim Kwae by Nueang Wang Pho
A wild-style river-fish restaurant on the Kwai Noi, with ingredients fresh from the river. The dishes people order are tom yum goonch, stir-fried wild pak wan, and crispy pork larb. Quiet natural setting by the water — a good stop on the way to Sai Yok.
Thosaphak Kan Ahan
A floating-raft restaurant on the Kwai near the Bridge over the River Kwai. Known for its blanched goonch and butter-catfish choo chee, with goonch-ball jungle curry and fish-sauce boiled chicken to try as well. Sit out on the raft, catch the breeze, and watch the river go by.
Krua Anong (Nong Khao, Tha Muang)
A home-style country restaurant out of town near Nong Khao that Kanchanaburi locals drive out to. The go-to orders are choo chee goonch, tom yum goonch, and spicy stir-fried soft pork rib — bold, fully seasoned flavours. Great if you like simple, home-cooked food.
Pla Kan Lock Home
A restaurant inside a resort on the Mae Klong, focused on river fish and Kanchanaburi jungle cooking. The dishes that draw praise are the crab-and-cha-plu coconut curry and the jungle curry. Shady, relaxed setting — good for a long, leisurely meal with the family.
Baan Kong Krua Rim Nam (Tha Maka)
A home-style spot on the Mae Klong around Tha Maka, with an air-conditioned room and freshwater fish at friendly prices. A handy stop coming in or out of town on the Tha Maka side. Fried fish and tom yum are the most-ordered dishes.
Kaan Riverkwai
A riverside spot that puts fresh, firm goonch front and centre. Newer than the old-timers, with an easy, well-styled riverside setting. Good if you want both the view and quality goonch — try it in tom yum or blanched and you'll really taste how fresh the fish is.
How to order the fish
If a place has fish pens out front, try ordering it blanched and dipped first — it's the most honest test of how fresh the fish is. If the meat is springy and doesn't fall apart, it's the real deal. Bigger fish are usually priced by weight (a few hundred baht per kilo), so ask the price per kilo and the weight of the fish before you order to avoid surprises when the bill comes.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Kanchanaburi 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 dishes worth trying
- Blanched goonch with dipping sauce — firm white meat with seafood dipping sauce; the best test of freshness.
- Tom yum goonch — bold, sharp broth with big chunks of fish, perfect over hot rice.
- Fried or grilled yeesok — the provincial fish, soft and rich, salt-grilled or fried crisp outside and tender within.
- Choo chee fish — goonch or butter catfish in a thick, sweet-salty curry sauce, well balanced.
- Fish jungle curry — goonch or featherback fish balls in a fiery jungle curry, Kanchanaburi-style.
How to pick the right spot
Want a bridge view
Go for a spot near the Bridge over the River Kwai, like Keeree Tara. Head over in the evening for the best light and a clear view of the bridge.
Want genuinely fresh fish
Pick a place with fish pens out front, like Phai Rim Kwae, where they net the fish only once you order — the meat is noticeably springier.
On a budget
Go for the home-style places locals favour, like Krua Rim Nam Khun Suriya or Baan Kong — easier on the wallet and just as tasty.
Plan a full Kanchanaburi eating and sightseeing trip — fish spots and riverside views included
See the Kanchanaburi travel guide →